Major survey set to start on Ben Nevis North Face

The north face of Ben Nevis is internationally important for geology and plant life, and is also important for birds. The mountain, and some of its satellite hills, provide exceptional habitats for rare arctic-alpine flora. Their importance is reflected in the Ben Nevis Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The three-year initiative by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will involve 10 experienced climbers and two climbing botanists. They will conduct a roped access botanical survey of the 125 hectares that make up the steep north face of the Ben.

Also involved in the work is Midland Valley Exploration, who are providing geological survey technology and expertise. They will help investigate the influence geology has on the distribution of the plants.

It is thought a number of new locations for rare species will be found, as well as some species which have so far gone unrecorded on Ben Nevis. The survey will also assess any effects of recreation and climate change on the health of the rare plants.

Cathy Mayne of SNH said: “We are very excited to be doing this joint venture between professional botanists, climbers and geologists. It will yield important new records on the rare plants found on Ben Nevis. The results should tell us more about the geology of the face and the influence this has on plant distribution. It should also flag up any imminent threats to the plants and help us decide if any action is needed to help them.”

She added: “Finding something not previously recorded here would be a real bonus and incredibly exciting were it to happen.”

SNH has invested £52,000 in the three-year Ben Nevis North Face project – part of the Nevis Landscape Partnership scheme. It involves two botanists and up to 10 climbers under the supervision of a Mountain Guide, and one or more SNH officers.

This week climbers are finding out more about the special plants that live in the shady gullies and ledges of their mountain workplace and learning how to identify individual species. This will also raise awareness among climbers of the vulnerability of rare plants on the face.

The training will be followed by one-week surveys next week then again in 2015 and 2016.

And at the end of the three years a blueprint will exist for repeating this kind of collaborative work on other cliffs in Scotland at which botanical records are scarce or absent.

ENDS