Botanical Survey
A Preliminary Report on the Natural Vegetation and Opportunities for its Enhancement, by Michael E. Braithwaite, Clarilaw, Hawick. (Based on a walk round the eastern half of the property on 27th April 1991 by M.E. and P.F.Braithwaite.)
Introduction
Chisholme is a compact estate of 75 hectares on a hillside facing north-west above the Borthwick water near Roberton at NT41-12-lying between 175m. at the foot of the Churnton Burn to 280m. in Lodge Plantation. Over half the estate is woodland. The 18th century Chisholme House lies centrally at 240m. The underlying geology is Silurian but the soils vary from free draining on the main slope to areas with very impeded drainage and some small areas with peaty soils. Although typical soils are slightly acid there is substantial basic flushing and it may well be that the original settlement here was a recognition of neutral soils agriculturally richer than the average up the Borthwick Water.
History
The names of the Churnton Burn and Chisholme itself apparently indicate a former small-scale cheese industry. It would not be surprising if these names date back as much as a millennium rather than a few centuries with interesting implications for the continuity of grazing of some of the grasslands. Whitrig Wood conjecturally refers to the wood below the grassy rig above Parkhill, today a striking contrast with the dark heather on Chapel Hill. (This contrast of course relates largely to a grazing regime but may relate also to fundamental variation in the soils.) It seems rather probable that Whitrig Wood is to some extent native woodland, perhaps largely reduced to scrub before its enclosure in the 18th century estate but then largely recovering some of its former character despite varied planting over the years.
The original vegetation of the Borthwick Water is considered likely to have consisted of wet meadows along the river much shaded by alder and willow giving way on the drier ground of the lower slopes to a mixed woodland of elm, oak and ash with elm and ash predominating on the deeper soils up some of the side burns. The upper slopes generally being scrubby oakwood giving way to birch and heather on the high ground. It seems likely that the original woodland cover at Chisholme may have had a lower proportion of oak and more ash and elm than was typical in response to the less acid soils, evidenced today by the widespread survival of moschatel over the eastern half of the property. The western half is likely to have had a more moorland character before enclosure.
Wildlife Management
This report does not seek to prescribe a management plan for the woodlands, not least because the owners objectives are not yet adequately known. Nevertheless it does seek to draw attention to the areas with the greatest richness of natural vegetation in response to the owners known objective to incorporate wildlife management into their overall plan as this is likely to be best achieved firstly by taking advantage of natural resources and only secondly by adding additional features.
The key wildlife feature of the estate is seen to be the woodland and wetland communities up the Churnton Burn and extending through Whitrig Wood to an area of about 15 hectares. Despite extensive felling, most sadly the recent felling of ash and elm with its associated lichen flora in the lower part of the Churnton Burn, the whole remains a semi-natural woodland of some significance in regional terms. It has great potential for restoration, and, particularly when seen together with the adjacent moorland on Chapel Hill, provides a continuity of habitat right through from valley woodland to heather moor, a sequence adequately preserved but rarely in the Borders.
The amenity potential of this woodland is equally great. If a relatively low density of trees is aimed at with a variety of glades an attractive network of paths could be developed through it.
A relatively low density of trees would imply a loss of potential timber value both in relation to quantity and quality, but nevertheless timber of significant value could eventually mature.
Notes on Individual Features
1. House policies
Lords and Ladies established. This was doubtless originally an introduction. Red Campion recently established.
2. Walled Garden
Brittle Bladder-Fern and wall-rue on walls.
3. Pond
High density of ornamental waterfowl eliminates scope for significant wetland vegetation as does gradient of bank.
4. Burnside above
Woodland vegetation present such as dogs mercury, greater stitchwort and wild strawberry, but very fragmentary and of no significant value.
5.Whitrig Wood - west
Young birch. Wet areas with marsh valerian and a variety of sedges. Dry areas with an abundance of hairy wood-rush. This area was probably open moorland before the 18th century enclosure.
6. Whitrig Wood - centre
Birch, some old birch part windblown. A few oak. The flora is suggestive in places of old oak woodland with goldilocks, buttercup, moschatel, bugle and wood sedge.
7. Whitrig Wood - east ( and upper Churnton Burn)
Rather scattered trees of birch, oak, rowan with frequent willow. Bird cherry in one place but a strange lack of shrubs except for willow and some hawthorn. The willows include goat willow and presumably grey willow but require attention later in the season. There are open areas lower down. An increasing variety of woodland plants is present with wild strawberry, dogs mercury, moschatel and wood cranesbill in the richer places. Three-veined sandwort. Good wet areas with some sedges including Carex Rostrata and others with much marsh hawksbeard and some common valerian.
8. Trackside
Grassland communities with hardheads, cross wort, lady’s mantle etc..
9. Lower Churnton Burn
Excellent woodland communities typical of former ash/elm woodland with oak on the upper slopes. Tree cover currently sadly reduced to fragments. Hazel strangely not recorded but a good patch of bird cherry. Hard Shield fern by the burn with alternate-leaved golden saxifrage as well as opposite-leaved, woodruff, goldilocks buttercup, greater stitchwort, good colonies of wood cranesbill, hairy St. John’s-wort, primrose, wood anemone and much dogs mercury.
10. Fathill Plantation
Fragmentary colonies of moschatel at margins despite coniferisation.
11. Wet patch and lower pasture with scattered trees
Very disappointing.
12. Lower Field
Good old grassland characterised by abundant pignut. Variety of herbs probably reduced by nitrogen fertilisers applied in the past. Very scarce on rocky knowes are wild thyme, heath milkwort, and the sedge Carex caryophyllea. Despite its evident antiquity, the conservation interest is very modest and the wildlife interest could be increased by managing as parkland by planting specimen trees. The burn is canalised or sunk into a pipe and the whole field is well drained.
13. Pond
Good colonies of marestail, Hippuris vulgaris (not to be confused with the horsetails which are also present.)
Summary of interesting native plants
Species recorded 130. Total present perhaps 180-200. Generally the flora of the area is well represented in relation to the situation.
Trees - birch, ash, oak, elm, alder )the oak probably only represented by planted trees).
Shrubs - bird cherry, hawthorn, goat willow, grey willow, rowan.
Herbs etc. (selected species) - hard shield-fern, moschatel, ladies mantle (Alchemilla glabra only), wood anemone, lords and ladies, the sedges Carex caryophyllea and C. sylvatica, opposite and alternate-leaved golden saxifrage, pignut, marsh hawksbeard, wild strawberry, woodruff, wood cranesbill, marestail, hairy St. John’s-wort, hairy woodrush, dogs mercury, three-veined sandwort, burnet saxifrage, primrose, goldilocks buttercup, greater stitchwort, marsh valerian, common valerian.
Species not seen which one would have expected to see:-
Shrubs - no record was made of hazel or wild rose.
Climbers - no record was made of honeysuckle or ivy.
Herbs - it would have been nice to have found early-purple orchid by the Churnton Burn. It was a little too early for flowers and leaves could easily have been overlooked. If present this species would be hard put to survive the fragmentation of the woodland canopy. Similarly meadow saxifrage was not found, but the habitat and altitude is marginal for this plant.
A Second Report
on the Natural Vegetation of the Chisholme Estate and Opportunities for its Enhancement, by Michael E. Braithwaite (based on a walk around parts of the property on 8th June 1991)
History
The preliminary report failed to identify alder as a major component in the former woodland in the wet areas of Whitrig Wood adjacent to the upper half of the Churnton Burn. Alder was probably dominant over a considerable area with a mixture of other trees grading in on the drier ground. Willow does not seem to have been a major component in this woodland.
A map is attached showing conjectural sketch of the ancient woodland structure up the Churnton Burn.
Wildlife Management
A key factor of the present wildlife interest is seen to be the lack of drainage in much of Whitrig Wood. While drainage would be likely to enhance the forestry prospects it would have a strongly adverse effect on the flush communities that have been associated with alder wood. This is an area where management objectives require to be set.
The frontage on the Borthwick Water deserves mention in passing. This is a small length of little more than 100m. with modest specific interest. Riverside trees are relatively scarce up the Borthwick Water and it is suggested that a strip of native trees by the river would be a contribution to the river ecology whether or not the field behind was replanted.
Notes on individual features (see estate map)
1. Whitrig Wood - east
This is the area with alder wood communities.
A large crab apple is a feature. The few sycamore could be regarded as unwanted introduction depending on the management policy selected. The ash are quite well colonised by the liverwort, Frullania tamarisci.
2. Whitrig Wood - centre and west
Much of the birch vegetation is on former conifer plantation where the soil structure has been much disturbed. The specific vegetation interest is lower than first thought, though the birch is becoming an attractive feature and coppice management for firewood on a rotation basis would be a possible management option.
2a. Meadow
Old pasture but of low botanical diversity.
3. Lodge Plantation
Little specific wildlife interest. Low botanical diversity. Some heather. Red-berried elder is a well established introduction.
4. Policy woodland near Lodge
Fine bluebell colonies. Bluebells are scarce as a native in this area and a few mauve specimens appear to indicate some inter-breeding with garden populations of iish bluebell. If originally introduced, they have naturalised marvellously well. There are some rhododendron adjacent. Rhododendron and bluebells do not mix and a dividing line could be chosen beyond which self-seeding rhododendron are eradicated. Bluebells do best under oak but will flourish adequately under a variety of trees as long as the canopy is not too dense.
5. Grassland in policies round house
the best natural grassland communities remaining are here and are quietly pleasant with cuckoo flower, pignut, crosswort, ox-eye daisy, bulbous buttercup etc.. The present management is very helpful with some longer grass as well as short mown grass. It might be pleasing to cultivate some more ox-eye and plant it out in suitable places in the grass.
6. River edge, Borthwick Water
Patches of yellow iris and bottle sedge, but no communities of specific interest. The opposite bank is sympathetically managed with a good rough grassland strip between the river and the arable fields, so more trees on the Chisholme bank would provide variety.
7. Foot of Churnton Burn
Several patches of hazel bushes. It would be attractive to see more hazel planted up in this burn as, in time, it could help to preserve the woodland flora in the absence of mature elm. Such old elms as do produce coppice growth are also of conservation value as refugia for the web of wildlife dependent on elms.
The few sycamore and the horse chestnut could be regarded as unwanted introductions depending on the management policy selected.
8. Garden
Grey speedwell, scarce in this area, was detected as a weed.
Summary of native plants
Species previously recorded 130. Added 45. Total 175. Likely coverage 80-85% giving a total present probably in excess of 200 species. The number of species is quite good considering the upland situation of the estate. Species of general interest added include northern marsh orchid, hazel, ladies bedstraw, bluebell, yellow iris, ox-eye daisy, creeping jenny (introduced deliberately), crab apple, red-berried elder (introduced by birds) and zig-zag clover.
This species list to date includes no rarities. Relatively scarce species that help to typify the communities present at Chisholme are moschatel, alternate leaved golden saxifrage, marsh hawksbeard, wood cranesbill, northern marsh orchid, marsh valerian and bird cherry.
To my mind the beauty of the woods at Chisholme is the good range of the typical plants of the area in relatively natural communities over a large enough area to give a sense of continuity with a touch of enchantment.
