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Caithness Biodiversity Index

Nature & Environment Index

Parks & gardens
Although town parks and urban trees are rare in Sutherland, towns and villages such as Lochinver, Durness, Bettyhill, Melvich, Helmsdale, Brora, Golspie and Dornoch have woodland, riverside and coastal walks joining the towns to the surrounding countryside.

Birds such as house martins and swallows are dependent on buildings and agriculture. Song thrushes are declining in number, mainly as a result
of excessive hunting and the over-use of pesticides in their wintering areas outwith the county, but they are still quite common.

Roadside verges
Hedges and species-rich verges have also been identified as a locally important habitat in Sutherland, retaining once abundant farmland plants such as orchids, ragged robin, meadowsweet and water avens for local communities and visitors to admire.

Armadale