2021 County Report for Dunbartonshire

Michael Philip

2021 saw the adoption in Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire of the ‘loose network model’ developed successfully in Lanarkshire in recent years.

In Dunbartonshire this allowed the setting of an ambitious goal: to achieve a fresh record for every monad in the vice-county (702 in total) over a ten-year span.  The response has been impressive, resulting in contact with 50 botany enthusiasts, 31 of whom have taken part in fieldwork.  19 field outings were held, and there was a lot of additional recording by individuals and informal collaborations.

Over 19,000 records have been uploaded to the DDb, including over 10,000 New Monad Records.  The primary focus so far has been to target the 108 previously unrecorded monads (30 visited, with good lists in 25) and the 106 monads with no recording activity since before 1987 (34 visited, with good lists in 21).  And significant increases have been made to the records for 35 monads with fewer than 10 species previously recorded.

In urban areas, highlights have included Anemanthele lessoniana (Pheasant's-tail) and Cyperus eragrostis (Pale Galingale).  By contrast, some highlights of upland recording have been Platanthera bifolia (Lesser Butterfly-orchid) on a site feared lost, constant vigilance for Neottia cordata (Lesser Twayblade) found in 13 monads this season - and a huge colony of Botrychium lunaria (Moonwort) on the southern skirts of Ben Vane.

Dunbartonshire is a small vice-county with a delightful array of habitat, from coast to high hills and from urban sprawl to the western shore and islands of Loch Lomond.  Come and help us sometime!