Location – Merrick, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

Client – Forestry and Land Scotland

https://forestryandland.gov.scot/

Rope Access Downy Willow Scion Collection

In 2025, Highland Access Ltd successfully completed a rope access scion collection project for Forestry and Land Scotland on the north face of the Merrick in Dumfries & Galloway. The work formed part of the Forestry and Land Scotland rope access seed collecting framework and focused on Downy Willow (Salix lapponum), a nationally scarce upland species.

Using technical rope access, the team safely accessed steep, remote crags to select and collect cuttings (scions) from multiple Downy Willow plants. The objective was to capture a broad range of genetic variation to enhance the resilience and long‑term viability of future populations. All plant locations and associated data were logged using the TickAudit app, and each individual plant was physically tagged on site.

Problem

Downy Willow populations in Scotland are fragmented and often confined to exposed crags and ledges. On the Merrick, key plants are located on the north‑facing cliffs, where access is extremely challenging without specialist skills.

This presented several issues:

• Restricted access to plants: Steep, rocky terrain made it difficult to reach individual shrubs safely.
• Risk of limited genetic material: Without targeted collection from a spread of plants, restoration work could be based on a narrow genetic pool, reducing resilience to environmental change.
• Need for precise mapping and traceability: Conservation programmes require accurate coordinates and plant‑level records to inform propagation, monitoring, and future management.

Forestry and Land Scotland required a safe, efficient, and highly controlled method to reach these plants, collect scions, and record detailed data for each individual.

Solution

Highland Access Ltd deployed an experienced rope access team under the Forestry and Land Scotland rope access seed collecting framework. The approach combined:

• IRATA‑standard rope access techniques for safe work on steep and exposed ground.
• Botanical expertise to identify, select, and sample suitable Downy Willow individuals.
• Digital data capture and mapping using the TickAudit app, supported by coordinated mapping of all collection areas.

Each plant accessed was tagged in the field, and its location was recorded with precise coordinates. A comprehensive map was produced showing all areas where cuttings were taken, providing a clear spatial overview of collection effort and genetic coverage.

Importance

This project illustrates the key role of rope access in delivering practical conservation for rare upland species occupying difficult terrain. By combining safe access, careful plant handling, and rigorous recording, the Merrick scion collection has:

• Strengthened the genetic basis for future restoration: Material was taken from a wide range of individual Downy Willows, supporting more robust and adaptable future populations.
• Improved traceability and monitoring potential: Each plant was tagged, logged, and mapped, allowing future revisits for monitoring, additional collection, or management.
• Supported strategic conservation planning: The provision of coordinates and detailed mapping gives Forestry and Land Scotland a clear spatial overview of existing plants and collected material.

Key Benefits

• Enhanced Genetic Diversity:
  Scions were collected from multiple individual Downy Willow plants across the Merrick’s north face, helping build more resilient future populations.

• Safe Specialist Access:
  Rope access allowed technicians to work securely on steep, exposed crags that are otherwise extremely difficult to reach.

• Tagging and Traceability:
  Every plant sampled was tagged, and its details recorded, enabling accurate re‑identification and long‑term monitoring.

• High‑Quality Data and Mapping:
  All locations and associated plant data were captured using the TickAudit app, and a coordinated map of collection areas and coordinates was supplied to the client.

• Efficient Delivery in Remote Terrain:
  The project was completed in a focused, well‑planned operation, providing Forestry and Land Scotland with high‑value conservation data and plant material.