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Special Areas of Conservation

Tulach Hill and Glen Fender Meadows

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority Eastern Scotland
Centroid* NN859639
Latitude 56.75277778
Longitude -3.866666667
SAC EU Code UK0012891
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 1584.68
* 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 Tulach Hill and Glen Fender Meadows SAC

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%)

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

  • 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 dioicaPinguicula vulgaris mire, with some M9 Carex rostrataCalliergon cuspidatum/giganteum mire developed as basin mire in hollows. The predominant CarexPinguicula mires occur in mosaics with local open flushes of M11 Carex demissaSaxifraga 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

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

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