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This survey was in response to an action the bluebell species action plan for North Lanarkshire. A key action was to compile "an inventory of sites".
There was a bluebell survey undertaken as part of the "Spring Woodland Flowers Survey" by the Conservation and Greening Unit in 1997. This survey was publicised through the local press and over 20 people took part in the survey. 87 site records were submitted covering 60, 1-kilometre squares. The distribution of bluebells was scattered but concentrated in the west of the council area.
The 2004 survey was publicised on local television, the local press and on the Council web-site. The response was disappointing with 1 record from the general public. There were however many records from members of North Lanarkshire Council's Conservation and Greening Unit. The 2004 survey identified 38, 1 kilometre squares with bluebells present. These areas were closely linked to watercourses. This is not surprising as this is were most of our ancient or long established woodland is found.
Following this survey, a trawl of all the records of bluebells from various surveys, SINC data, Motherwell District Council records and the NL Local Record Centre database was completed and a post 1980-distribution map of this species compiled. The lack of a single, up to date, electronic database did devalue the worth of this distribution data, as it cannot be updated readily.
The results were surprising, nearly a third (153) of the 1-kilometre squares in North Lanarkshire have a colony of bluebells in them. The 3, 10 kilometre squares containing Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Coatbridge and Airdrie and Motherwell account for 70% of all the bluebell records. The most easterly colonies are found at the eastern end of the Forrestburn reservoir near Harthill.
Unfortunately this survey give no indication of the health of these bluebell woods, merely the presence or absence of this species. However, as bluebells are strongly associated with ancient or long established woodland then the preservation of this habitat and its positive management will in turn ensure a future for the bluebells of North Lanarkshire.
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