Tulach Hill and Glen Fender Meadows

General site character

• Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (1%)
  
• Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (15%)
  
• Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (65%)
  
• Dry grassland, Steppes (9%)
  
• Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (1%)
  
• Improved grassland (1%)
  
• Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (6%)
  
• Coniferous woodland (2%)
  

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

• 7230 Alkaline fens

  This site in the southern Scottish Highlands has extensive spring-fed Alkaline fens associated with limestone-rich drift. This is the most extensive and species-rich alkaline fen system in Scotland. The main NVC type present is M10 Carex dioica – Pinguicula vulgaris mire, with some M9 Carex rostrata – Calliergon cuspidatum/giganteum mire developed as basin mire in hollows. The predominant Carex – Pinguicula mires occur in mosaics with local open flushes of M11 Carex demissa – Saxifraga aizoides mire. The fens occur in a complex topography, with drier and wetter habitats and well-developed zonations to dry and flushed calcareous, acid and neutral grasslands, acidic species-poor fen, ericaceous sub-shrub heath and species-rich fen-meadow. It is representative of the northerly variants of the habitat type and supports a rich assemblage of rare northern fen species, such as Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla and false-sedge Kobresia simpliciuscula. Other arctic-alpine and northern species, including hair sedge Carex capillaris, alpine meadow rue Thalictrum alpinum and marsh hawk’s beard Crepis paludosa, are also represented.

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

• 4030 European dry heaths
• 6210 Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (* important orchid sites)
• 8240 Limestone pavements  * Priority feature

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

• 1013 Geyer's whorl snail Vertigo geyeri

  Geyer’s whorl snail Vertigo geyeri is found at this central Scottish site in upland, base-rich flushed mires at an altitude of 170–345 m. It occurs in a rich assemblage of arctic-alpine plants, and at some flushes it has been recorded with another Annex II species, 1015 round-mouthed whorl snail Vertigo genesii.

• 1015 Round-mouthed whorl snail Vertigo genesii

  The round-mouthed whorl snail Vertigo genesii occurs at an altitude of 315–430 m in several base-rich flushes at this central Scottish site. In some of these flushes it has been recorded with another Annex II species, 1013 Geyer’s whorl snail Vertigo geyeri. The flushes contains a rich assemblage of arctic-alpine plants, including false sedge Kobresia simpliciuscula and Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla.

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

• Not Applicable