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About the Area: Wildife, Plants and Animals
in the Annan Area
Numerous species of important plants and animals are found
in the Annan area [printable
version of this page].
Many can be seen within walking distance of Annan, or even in
the centre of the town itself: River Annan | Waterfoot | Seafield | Barnkirk
Point | The Solway Mosses | Kelhead
Water | Hoddom Castle | Powfoot
Annan Town Centre
Although designed and built for people, the town of Annan also
supports a diverse range of wildlife. No detailed studies have
been done in Annan to date, but it is known that sandstone buildings
can quickly acquire lichens and one sandstone church in Wales
was found to have over 160 species.
Inside some of the buildings, Pipistrelle Bats find
a daytime hideaway; many of them can be seen feeding over the
River Annan and local gardens during summer evenings. Noctule
Bats are a much rarer sight but are known to use a hollow tree
in Everholm Park, one of only a few roosts known for this species
in Scotland. River Annan
The River Annan is renowned for its Salmon and Sea Trout,
but a further 25 species of fish have been recorded.
On the banks, particularly around Brydekirk there are a number
of small woods which provide shade and shelter for fish and
aquatic insects, fishing perches for Kingfishers, breeding
sites for Otters, as well as a habitat for many woodland plants
and animals, including Bluebells and Spotted Flycatchers.
Grassy riverbanks along the Annan still support Water Voles,
a species which has undergone a major decline in Britain.
Waterfoot
The saltmarsh, or merse as it is locally known, at Waterfoot
to the south of the town is especially important for wildlife.
Thrift and Scurvy Grass are flowers typical of this habitat,
but the locally rare Hard Grass also grows here.
Oystercatchers, Lapwings and Redshanks all breed on the merse,
joined in the winter by many other species including Dunlins,
Golden Plovers and Twites.
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Seafield
The remains of the railway viaduct at Seafield provide a
good vantage point for watching seabirds passing through the
Solway Firth. In the spring Pomarine and Arctic Skuas often
fly past.
Barnkirk Point - Newbie
A shingle beach extends from the estuary of the River Annan
westwards to Powfoot. This is the only shingle occurring in
the inner part of the Solway Firth and includes a spit that
extends out into the estuary of the River Annan.
This area is one of only two on the Solway coast for Ray’s
Knotgrass. Sea Spurge and Sea Kale can also be found here
and Ringed Plovers nest. During the winter large number of
birds gather at high tide, at times including over 1000 Ringed
Plovers, 400 Bar-tailed Godwits and 30 Turnstones.
The Solway Mosses
The Solway Mosses consist of several peat bogs scattered
across the low-lying plain of the Solway. Some are now designated
as the most important wildlife habitats in Europe, but around
Annan most were damaged by tree planting or peat extraction
before their value was fully realised.
Kelhead Flow, although planted with trees still retains open
areas with Sphagnum mosses, Cranberry, Bog Rosemary and Large
Heath butterflies. The latter two in particular are uncommon
in Britain.
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Kelhead Water
The former limestone quarry at Kelhead is one of the few
places in the region to have grassland dominated by calcareous,
or lime-loving, species. Common Twayblade and other orchids,
Fairly Flax and Barren Strawberry are all found here.
Hoddom Castle and
Farm Walks
The walks at Hoddom offer the opportunity to see some of
the local farmland. Most of it is grassland, of limited use
to wildlife, but the drystone dykes, hedges, hedgerow trees
and field margins that surround them are extremely valuable
for species such as Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows.
 Powfoot
Large numbers of birds gather offshore at Powfoot, sometimes
including over 10,000 Oystercatchers and 200 Knots. However,
nearby, the former Royal Ordnance factory demonstrates that
unusual wildlife can also be found on industrial sites.
All Scottish species of amphibian are found here including
the rare Natterjack Toad and Great Crested Newt. The heathland
vegetation also has breeding Lesser Whitethroats.
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