Site of the Month: Lynn Glen (January 2024)

Located just south of Dalry in North Ayrshire this site is of considerable geological interest. The 320 million year old limestone formations have been carved by the water exposing a wide range of marine fossils including corals, bivalves and conodonts, which are believed to be amongst the earliest known vertebrates.

These damp gorge conditions have created an ideal habitat for non-vascular plants and ferns to thrive. Locally uncommon fern species can be found growing in the crevices and walls of the gorge including Beech Fern Phegopteris connectilis, Soft Shield-fern Polystichum setiferum and Narrow Male-fern Dryopteris cambrensis. 

The water provides an important habitat for invertebrates like Orange-striped Stonefly Perlodes mortoni which attracts Dipper Cinclus cinclus and Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea to the site. Amongst the canopy and trunks of the gorge woodland Goldcrest Regulus regulus and Treecreeper Certhia familiaris can often be seen foraging.

Malcolm Haddow

SWSEIC Support Officer