A summary was carried out of 2235 ha of semi-natural woodland within Loch Lomond Regional Park. The woodlands were classified by the National Vegetation Classification as far as possible to sub-community level. Eight main community types were recorded although only five account for 95% of the woodland.
Some particularly extensive areas of certain woodland types occur especially on the east side of the loch. Most notable are stretches of W11a (sessile oak dominant) and W7c (alder dominant) which are probably the largest woods of their type in Scotland. Some of the sub-communities recorded are of markedly western distribution and are at or near their eastern limit at this latitude. They provide habitat for a number of oceanic species, particularly bryophytes and ferns again near their eastern limit of distribution.
Nearly
all the woods are grazed, mostly by sheep but also be cattle, deer and
goats and few are regenerating sufficiently to ensure survival. Proliferation
of bracken is particularly severe among the scattered birch woods on the
west and Rhododendron infestation is severe in a few areas also, mostly
on the west. Very few woods show signs of recent active management.