Lielowan
Meadow Reserve
is an unimproved meadow about 2.6 hectares in area.
It has a long southward sloping bank which is fed by lime-rich water
from the old lime workings adjacent to the reserve.
Because of this the soil which varies from alkaline on the north bank
to acid along the wet south boundary, is able to support over 120
different species of flora.
Access
to the Reserve
Car parking at the site is limited to around four cars on the grass
verge of the B914 Kelty to Saline road (see map).
If more parking is required, permission should be sought from Mr Hunter
of Roscobie Farm (telephone him on 01383 731571) to ask if he will
allow parking on the farm road.
The safest way into the site is via
the path
shown on the map. There is also access from the road by two gates.
However walking along the busy B914 road can be dangerous. Keep a
lookout for traffic as there have already been three accidents at this
spot.
PRINT OUT a copy of this Web page
and take it
with you when you visit the reserve.
The major attraction of the reserve is the variety of
plants
(over 120
species) which include Sanguisorba minor (Salad Burnet), Carex
pullescens (Pale Sedge), and although Platanthera chlorantha (Greater
Butterfly Orchid ) has been recorded it has not been seen for some
time. Collared Dove and Reed Bunting have nested in the summer and
Snipe have visited the wetter areas.
Historical Perspective
The site was drained using fireclay pipes running from
north
to south
into a large pipe which terminates at the south east corner. And until
around 1969, hay was cut annually.
However the drains soon choked allowing the lime rich
water to
seep out of the bank and spread over the site to the lower south and
east. Because of this the south facing bank and the northern edge near
the road are well drained and relatively alkaline while the southern
and eastern areas where the water collects are wet and acid.
The southeast corner has had to be fenced off to keep
the
sheep from
getting bogged down in this part of the reserve.
The site became an SSSI on January 16th, l990. Prior to
this
sheep,
cattle and even horses had been grazed on the site.
In October 1992 the site was gifted to the Scottish
Wildlife
Trust by
British Coal and since then a regime of sheep grazing, restricted to
Spring and Autumn, has been adopted.
Management
Since 1993 the site has been grazed with about 30 sheep
in
Spring and Autumn only, as it is too wet in the winter and the animals
have to be taken off from early June until September to allow the
plants to seed. The Salad Burnett and Pale Sedge have been monitored
annually to try to maintain a healthy population. Some strimming has
been carried out to try to stop the spread of the Junctus.
Why not visit
another of our reserves?
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drop-down list below
and click on your choice.
