THE HABITAT

Dr Chris Miles, chairman of the Southern Upland Partnership, was previously manager for Scottish Natural Heritage, and he rates Langholm Moor, with its 250-plus species of plants, a natural treasure.

But he says it is the area’s diversity that sets it aside. “Langholm Moor’s geology and location make it fairly complex and it’s this complexity that leads to diversity,” said Dr Miles. “Its hilltops are broad and rounded with peat bogs that are host to their own range of plants like cotton grass, cloudberry, bog ashpodel, and sundews.

“The sides of the hills are steep and rocky with crags. They support habitats for ferns, one of the less common is green spleenwort.

“The moor is cut into by some significant watercourses, like the Tarras Water. This broad valley has remnant native woodland of mostly of birch and willow, but also unusual things such as aspen.”

He explained how calcium carbonate in boulder clay enriches the springs and flushes that emerge on the hillsides creating green areas where unusual plants can be found. “There are also nice populations of grass-of-parnassus, as well as marsh valerian, which is relatively uncommon.”

They and other plants such as northern marsh orchid and the common spotted orchid are indicators of a “good, wetter habitat”.

Dr Miles said: “The buyout is an exciting proposal as those behind it would have nature as the driving purpose for its management. We are in an era where we are worried about our loss of important wildlife sites. “We have to do something about it as a society.”