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Special Areas of Conservation

Glen Tanar

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority North Eastern Scotland
Centroid* NO459927
Latitude 57.02222222
Longitude -2.891666667
SAC EU Code UK0012756
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 4178.58
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of Glen Tanar SAC

General site character

  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (10%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (30%)
  • Dry grassland, Steppes (5%)
  • Coniferous woodland (55%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Glen Tanar supports, adjacent to and above the native 91C0 Caledonian forest, extensive stands of dry and wet heath, and smaller areas of 7130 blanket bog. The wet heath comprises representative examples of both of the main northern Atlantic wet heath communities, i.e. M15 Scirpus cespitosusErica tetralix wet heath and, in particular, M16 Erica tetralixSphagnum compactum wet heath.

  • Glen Tanar supports, adjacent to and above the native 91C0 Caledonian forest, extensive stands of dry and wet heath, and smaller areas of 7130 blanket bog. The dry heath comprises representative examples of the main European dry heath communities of north-east Scotland, i.e. H12 Calluna vulgarisVaccinium myrtillus heath and H16 Calluna vulgarisArctostaphylos uva-ursi heath. There are also transitions to heath communities more typical of western Scotland, including both H10 Calluna vulgaris-Erica cinerea heath and H21 Calluna vulgarisVaccinium myrtillusSphagnum capillifolium heath. Species occurring here which are associated with dry heaths in north-east Scotland include petty whin Genista anglica, intermediate wintergreen Pyrola media, and interrupted clubmoss Lycopodium annotinum. Transitions to more alpine heaths are also present, mainly at higher altitude.

  • 91C0 Caledonian forest  * Priority feature

    Glen Tanar is representative of the North East biochemical region. It is the largest Caledonian forest area in this region and is the third-largest pinewood in the UK. Although genetically part of the North East region, ecologically the site may be considered part of the adjacent Cairngorms complex. Unlike most pinewoods in Scotland, Glen Tanar retains a wide range of age-classes of trees, exhibiting active colonisation of open areas by young trees, and with significant areas of juniper Juniperus communis understorey. The site contains nationally important populations of capercaillie Tetrao urogallus and black grouse T. tetrix, and is probably the most important locality in Britain for Scottish crossbill Loxia scotica.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.