Topic “Vegetation and wildlife in the uk”

1. Vegetation of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (their specific features).

the natural vegetation of the British Isles is deciduous forest dominated by oak. Human occupation has left only scattered woodlands and areas of wild or seminatural vegetation outside the enclosed cultivated fields. Few of the fine moorlands and heathlands, wild though they may appear, can lay claim to any truly natural plant communities. Nearly all show varying degrees of adjustment to grazing, swaling (controlled burning), or other activities. Woodland now covers less than one-tenth of the country, and, although the Forestry Commission has been active since its creation in 1919, nearly two-thirds of this woodland remains in private hands. The largest areas of woodland now stand in northeastern Scotland, Kielder and other forests in Northumberland, Ashdown Forest in Sussex, Gwynedd in Wales, and Breckland in Norfolk. The moorlands and heathlands that occupy about one-fourth of the total area of the United Kingdom consist of arctic-alpine vegetation on some mountain summits in Scotland and the much more extensive peat moss, heather, bilberry, and thin Molinia and Nardus grass moors of the highland zone. Similar vegetation exists on high ground in eastern Northern Ireland and on the Mournes, and there are considerable areas of peat moss vegetation on the mountains of Antrim. In the lowland zone, where light sandy soils occur, the most common plant of the moorlands is the common heather—whose deep purple adds a splash of colour to the autumn countryside—but these areas also contain bilberry and bell heather. A strip of land immediately bordering the coastline has also largely escaped exploitation by humans and domesticated animals, so that patches of maritime vegetation often appear in approximately their natural state.

2.National Parks of the uk (describe 3-4 national parks).

1)Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park

Closer to the central belt of Scotland, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park offers a more varied landscape, with shimmering lochs, rolling hills, and charming villages. This park is a favorite for those seeking a mix of outdoor adventures and cultural experiences. From boating on Loch Lomond to exploring the quaint town of Callander, there’s something for everyone.Wildlife enthusiasts will delight in the opportunity to spot red deer, otters, and even golden eagles soaring overhead. The park’s diverse terrain makes it ideal for activities like kayaking, fishing, and scenic drives. For a more relaxed experience, visitors can take a cruise on Loch Lomond, which provides stunning views of the surrounding hills and islands. Additionally, the park is known for its family-friendly trails and picnic spots, making it a perfect destination for travelers of all ages.

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park (Scottish Gaelic: Pàirc Nàiseanta Loch Laomainn is nan Tròisichean) is a national park in Scotland centred on Loch Lomond and the hills and glens of the Trossachs, along with several other ranges of hills. It was the first of the two national parks established by the Scottish Parliament in 2002,[2] the second being the Cairngorms National Park. The park extends to cover much of the western part of the southern highlands, lying to the north of the Glasgow conurbation, and contains many mountains and lochs. It is the fourth-largest national park in the British Isles, with a total area of 1,865 km2 (720 sq mi) and a boundary of some 350 km (220 mi) in length. It features 21 Munros (including Ben Lomond, Ben Lui, Beinn Challuim, Ben More and two peaks called Ben Vorlich) and 20 Corbetts. The park straddles the Highland Boundary Fault, which divides it into two distinct regions - lowland and highland - that differ in underlying geology, soil types and topography.[3] The change in rock type can most clearly be seen at Loch Lomond itself, as the fault runs across the islands of Inchmurrin, Creinch, Torrinch and Inchcailloch and over the ridge of Conic Hill. To the south lie green fields and cultivated land; to the north, mountains.The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park lies close to Scotland's heavily populated Central Belt, and the area has long been popular with visitors. Principal attractions are viewing scenery and wildlife, walking, climbing, water sports, and other outdoor activities. In 2017, there were 2.9 million visits to the park, of which 2.1 million were day visits and 783,000 were made by visitors staying overnight within the park. It was established in 2002. The national park extends to cover much of the western part of the southern highlands, lying to the north of the Glasgow conurbation. The park authority defines the park as being split into four sections: Breadalbane, Loch Lomond, The Trossachs, and Cowal.

History. Following the Second World War, a committee was established to consider the issue of national parks in Scotland. The report, published in 1945, proposed national parks in five areas, one of which was Loch Lomond and The Trossachs. The government designated these five areas as "National Park Direction Areas", giving powers for planning decisions taken by local authorities to be reviewed by central government, however the areas were not given full national park status. Despite this long history of recommendations that national parks be established in Scotland, no action was taken until the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park was designated as such under the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000, which was one of the first pieces of legislation to be passed by the Parliament.[23] The park was formally established on 1 July 2002.

Over 200 species of birds and over 25% of all the species of plants known to occur in Britain have been recorded in the national park. The park is home to many of the species most associated with the Scottish highlands, including capercaillie, red deer, red squirrel, Scottish wildcat, golden eagle, peregrine falcon, black grouse, buzzard and osprey. Beavers are also now present in the park, with signs of beaver activity being observed on Loch Achray in the Trossachs during a survey undertaken over the winter of 2017–18; the beavers are assumed to have spread there from the existing population on the River Tay.A colony of wallabies has lived on Inchconnachan, an island in Loch Lomond, since 1940. Native woodland in the park includes area of Atlantic oakwoods, Caledonian pinewoods, and areas of wet woodland.[31] Higher up there are important upland habitats such as heathland, blanket bog and willow scrub.[32] The park has 22 large lochs and 50 rivers and larger burns, along with numerous smaller lochs, lochans and burns. These waters support fish species such as salmon, trout, Arctic charr, powan and river, brook and sea lampreys.

The park is centred on Loch Lomond, the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area, with a surface area of 71 km2 (27.5 sq mi).[4] The loch contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles. It is a popular leisure destination, and is surrounded by hills,[10] including Ben Lomond on the eastern shore, which is 974 metres (3,196 ft) in height, and the most southerly of the Scottish Munro peaks.

The Trossachs are an area of wooded hills, glens (A deep valley in the highlands) and lochs (lake, narrow sea bay ) that lie to the east of Loch Lomond. The name was originally applied only to a small woodland glen that lies at the centre of the area, but is now generally applied to the wider region. They have long been visited by tourists due to the relative proximity of major population centres such as Glasgow and Stirling, and the area remains popular with walkers, cyclists and tourists.The wooded hills and lochs of the area may be considered to represent a microcosm of a typical highland landscape,[13] and the woodlands are an important habitat for many species.Much of the Trossachs area is protected by various different conservation designations, including the "Great Trossachs Forest" national nature reserve.

Main objects

1. Loch Lomond is the largest lake in the UK by surface area. There are many islands scattered across the lake, including Inchmurrin, which is the largest island in a freshwater body in Britain.

2. The Highland Fault (Хайлендский разлом) runs directly through the lake, dividing it into two parts: a lowland and a highland. In the south, there are green fields, while in the north, there are mountains.

3. Trossachs is an area of wooded hills, valleys, and lakes to the east of Loch Lomond.

4. 21 Munros (горы высотой выше 914 м). There are 21 Munros (mountains over 3,000 feet (914 m)) in the National Park, of which 16 are within the Breadalbane section of the park. Ben Lomond is one of the most frequently climbed mountains in Scotland.

!!!! Ben Lomond - 'Beacon Mountain', Situated on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, it is the most southerly of the Munros. Ben Lomond lies within the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park and the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, property of the National Trust for Scotland. On a clear day, it is visible from the higher grounds of Glasgow and across Strathclyde. Ben Lomond's summit can also be seen from Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Britain, over 40 miles (64 km) away. Ben Lomond's popularity in Scotland has resulted in several namesakes in the former English colonies Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States – see this list. The mountain is mentioned directly in the popular folk song "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond"( The song tells the story of a conversation between two captured Jacobite soldiers after the 1745 rebellion. One of the soldiers is preparing for execution, while the other is about to be released. The song reflects the grief, regret, and longing for freedom of the doomed soldier, who will never again see his beloved Loch Lomond.). The name Ben Lomond is generally agreed to mean "beacon mountain" or "beacon hill". Lomond is of Brittonic origin and derived from the element lumon meaning "a beacon" (Welsh llumon).[5][6][7] This element, preserved in Scots as lum meaning "chimney",[5] is found in other hill-names such as the Lomond Hills in Fife and Pumlumon in Wales.[5] Like these hills, Ben Lomond is likely to have been perceived as a central point, probably the meeting-point of several territorial boundaries, where a signal beacon may have been frequently lit.

Facts. The peak is rocky and cone-shaped.

There is a geodetic station at the top of the mountain.

The mountain is located on the watershed of the Scottish rivers that flow west and east.

The geology of Ben Lomond is dominated by granites, schists, diorites, porphyries, and quartzites.

The upper part of the mountain corresponds to the mountain tundra zone. It is home to species such as peregrine falcons, red grouse, tundra grouse, red grouse, and golden eagles.

Domestic sheep graze on the mountain's slopes.

The mountain's easy accessibility from Glasgow and Central Scotland and its relative ease of ascent have made it a popular tourist destination.

Since 1967, a dedicated rescue unit has been operating in the area.

The usual route up Ben Lomond is via the 'tourist path', a wide, eroded and easy path which is roughly paved in steeper sections This track was created owing to the mountain's status as one of the most popular in Scotland and climbs the gentle Sròn Aonaich ridge, before ascending a steeper section to the rocky summit ridge.An alternative route follows the Ptarmigan ridge to the summit along a steeper and rockier path. The Ptarmigan path is the second most popular route, followed by a third route which approaches from Gleann Dubh.Despite the comparative ease of the tourist route, Ben Lomond can present a significant challenge to inexperienced walkers, especially in poor weather conditions.