This blog has been written by Innes Manders, from Catkin Ecology for our partners D&G Woodlands.
As part of their Coastal Woodlands preparation work, D&G Woodlands are leading a search for Rock Whitebeam.
Rock Whitebeam, Sorbus rupicola, is the only widespread tree species native to the British Isles which could be considered a real specialist of coastal woodlands – coastal records make up over half of its total UK distribution. Therefore, D&G Woodlands’ work to study, conserve and restore coastal woodlands in Dumfries and Galloway, as part of the wider Solway Coast and Marine Landscape Connections Project (SCAMP), has opened up an exciting new opportunity for appreciation of this nationally scarce tree species. The only problem – there isn’t any here…
There are no records of Rock Whitebeam on the Atlantic coast between Morecambe Bay and Ayrshire. However, the species is likely under-recorded, and was for example, found in The Burren, Ireland for the first time in 2019.
It’s always a good day when you see Rock Whitebeam. The author visiting a Rock Whitebeam site in Western Scotland.
Survey site selection has focussed on coastal crags which provide access to strong light and a refuge from the hungry mouths of large herbivores. While the species occurs across a bemusing range of geology, its strongholds tend to be on calcareous bedrock, so this survey will focus on sites with higher Calcium carbonate availability.
D&G Woodlands have also launched a local citizen science bid, for pictures of wild whitebeams in Dumfries & Galloway to be identified.
It’s quite possible no Rock Whitebeam will be found in our upcoming survey, and it could be argued that there is no need to introduce the species if it is not here. However, across Scotland most Rock Whitebeam populations are small and vulnerable to chance events such as rockfalls, storms and landslips. Furthermore, as palaeoecological studies have shown the presence of Rock Whitebeam on the nearby islands Arran for at least 6000 years, it appears likely that Rock Whitebeam did once occur in Dumfries and Galloway.
Therefore, we believe creating a small number of new populations in suitable habitat from locally collected seed will boost biodiversity, national resilience and interest in an uncommon but delightful coastal specialist.
