Nethan Gorge Explained

Lower Nethan Gorge
Alt Name:Part of the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve
Map:Scotland South Lanarkshire
Location:South Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
Nearest City:Lanark
Coords:55.6969°N -3.8822°W
Governing Body:Scottish Wildlife Trust
Url:http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserve/lower-nethan-gorge/
Upper Nethan Gorge
Alt Name:Part of the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership
and Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve
Map:Scotland South Lanarkshire
Location:South Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
Nearest City:Lesmahagow
Coords:55.6841°N -3.9076°W
Governing Body:Scottish Wildlife Trust
Url:http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserve/upper-nethan-gorge/

Nethan Gorge is a natural gorge carved by the River Nethan, in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Geography

Nethan Gorge is split into two officially designated and actively protected Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Lower Nethan Gorge and Upper Nethan Gorge.

Both sites are referred to as nature reserves by the owner, the Scottish Wildlife Trust. They are also both contributing reserves to the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve.

Lower Nethan Gorge

The Lower Nethan Gorge reserve, near Lanark, is one of the best examples of semi-natural woodland still surviving in the Clyde Valley.[1] Ash and elm woodlands grow on its steep slopes.[1]

The gorge is home to many species of flora and fauna, including green woodpeckers, otters, and badgers.[1]

Lower Nethan Gorge was declared a part of the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve in 2007.[2]

Upper Nethan Gorge

The Upper Nethan Gorge reserve, near Blackwood and Lesmahagow, is part of the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership and the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve.[3]

The reserve's woodlands support a large range of species, including locally uncommon plants such as broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), wood melick (Melica uniflora), and meadow saxifrage (Saxifraga granulata).[3]

Great spotted woodpeckers and buzzards can also be seen.[3]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lower Nethan Gorge reserve. Scottish Wildlife Trust. 22 January 2012.
  2. Web site: The Story of the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve. Scotland's National Nature Reserves. Scottish Natural Heritage. 22 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20141127090412/http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/nnr/The_Reserve_Story_for_Clyde_Valley_Woodlands_NNR.pdf. 27 November 2014. dead.
  3. Web site: Upper Nethan Gorge reserve. Scottish Wildlife Trust. 22 January 2012.