2023 County Report for Angus

Theo Loizou

As part of his work for Scottish Water, Theo Loizou (TL) undertook several peatland surveys at the Backwater Catchment hills of the north-west of the VC.  A few of the highlights included:

Meum athamanticum (Spignel).  An extensive population (many thousands) occurs along the banks of the Hole Burn.

Vaccinium microcarpum (Small cranberry).  New records were found in active blanket bog at the southeastern corner of Bruntshields, close to the watershed with Glen Posen and also at Corwharn.

In lowland Angus TL has also been undertaking surveys for the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) as well as surveys with Robin Payne of Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS) for Angus Council.

Berula erecta (Lesser water-parsnip). Significant populations of this RPR species were re-found by TL and Anne Burgess (AB) at the Montrose Basin in an area known as The Lurgies.  Also found in this area was Scrophularia auriculata (Water figwort).  There are currently only three known sites of this plant in Angus.

At Balgavies Loch, the Nationally Scarce Cicuta virosa (Henbane) and Lysimachia thyrsiflora (Tufted loosestrife) continue to thrive.  However, the RPR species Rumex hydrolapathum (Water dock) was not detected and may be extinct.

During the LNCS survey a new population of Calamagrostis epigejos (Wood small-reed) was found at Mains of Aldbar near Brechin.  Equisetum pratense (Shady horsetail) was found locally in abundance just east of Reekie Linn and the rare hybrid with E. fluviatile (known as E. × mchaffieae) may be present at this site.

Theo Loizou