Culbin Bar

General site character

• Tidal rivers, Estuaries, Mud flats, Sand flats, Lagoons (including saltwork basins) (40%)
  
• Salt marshes, Salt pastures, Salt steppes (25%)
  
• Coastal sand dunes, Sand beaches, Machair (10%)
  
• Shingle, Sea cliffs, Islets (20%)
  
• Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (5%)
  

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

• 1220 Perennial vegetation of stony banks

  Historically, Culbin Bar in north-east Scotland formed part of the same shingle aggregation as Lower River Spey – Spey Bay to the east. Although sea-level rise has separated the sites, they are still linked, being maintained by the same coastal processes. Culbin Bar and the Lower River Spey – Spey Bay are, individually, the two largest shingle sites in Scotland and together form a shingle complex unique in Scotland. They represent Perennial vegetation of stony banks in the northern part of its range in UK. Culbin Bar is 7 km long. It has a series of shingle ridges running parallel to the coast that support the best and richest examples of northern heath on shingle. Dominant species are heather Calluna vulgaris, crowberry Empetrum nigrum and juniper Juniperus communis. The natural westward movement of the bar deposits new ridges for colonisation. Being virtually unaffected by damaging human activities, Culbin Bar is an example of a system with natural structure and function.

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

• 1330 Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae)
• 2110 Embryonic shifting dunes

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

• Not Applicable