Dear Ms. Davis,

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002

I refer to your request dated 17 April 2009 requesting that certain information be provided to you:

Thank you very much for your reply. I would like to take you up on your offer of further information about the Carmunnock bypass - any info you have about the ecological interest of this particular site

would be most useful.

I can confirm that the Council holds the information that you are requesting.

The Council is treating your request as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

I have attached a report on the Carmunnock by-pass and its amended management, which includes a note on the species recorded at the site. If you want further information please contact the Biodiversity Officer, Keith Watson, email [email address] phone0141-287-5665?).

I hope that this provides the information that you require.

The Council accordingly has complied with your request. If, however, you are of the opinion that this is not the case please contact my Office Manager, Jim Donaldson at the telephone number detailed above.

Yours sincerely

Robert Booth

Executive Director

Land and Environmental Services

Carmunnock By-pass

Location: NS590574

The Carmunnock By-pass comprises broad strips of short cut amenity grassland and stretches of steeper embankment. The site has been amenity cut for many years but it had been noted that orchids (Northern Marsh and Common Spotted) were present on the site, but every year they got mown during the programmed mowing regimes. The soil appears neutral and quite clayey with impeded drainage (compaction) which encourages various damp grassland elements and mosses.

In 2006 a couple of small (c. 10m x 10m plots) were established where the cutting regime was amended to an annual cut and lift. In 2007 these plots were extended to cover a broader area. The site was visited in summer 2007 and the following sample table was recorded:

Species Sample data, June 2007

A follow up visit on July18th 2008 noted that the vegetation remains short and diverse, although the turf is getting thicker. Species such as Prunella vulgaris and other wildflowers, including the orchids, appear to have decreased in abundance or are rather less visible due to the predominance of graminoids. In general the turf is diverse but has a fairly repetitive pattern across the whole stretch. Frequent species recorded include Juncus conglomeratus, Holcus lanatus, Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca rubra, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Carex ovalis, Carex flacca, Rumex crispus, Trifolium pratense, Ranunculus repens, Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Cerastium fontanum.

The amenity cutting regime and soil conditions had allowed for the survival of a range of species, but the flowering of most species was limited, which limited the biodiversity and amenity value. The change to an annual cut has allowed flowering but is not ideal for some of the low growing species, which may out competed by the vigorous grasses. The ideal cutting regime is likely to be a periodic cut and lifts (e.g. a few early spring cuts and then late season cuts with an intervening flowering period). This would support the low growing wildflowers and also increase the visual amenity.

Carmunnock Bypass

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FOIDM090L - J Craig