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Special Areas of Conservation

Insh Marshes

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority Highlands and Islands
Centroid* NH808018
Latitude 57.0917
Longitude -3.9667
SAC EU Code UK0019812
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 1157.26
* 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 Insh Marshes SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (18%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (36%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (10%)
  • Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (25%)
  • Improved grassland (1%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (8%)
  • 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

  • 3130 Oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of the Littorelletea uniflorae and/or of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea

    Insh Marshes is a major wetland site covering a representative section of the River Spey from Newtonmore to Kincraig. The flood-plain mire supports several waterbodies that are excellent representatives of oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters. The waterbodies range from the relatively large Loch Insh to small un-named lochans. Loch Insh is an excellent example of a mesotrophic, species-rich loch supporting populations of shoreweed Littorella uniflora, water lobelia Lobelia dortmanna and quillwort Isoetes lacustris and is noted for its exceptionally rapid water turnover, as the River Spey flows through the loch. The River Spey is one of the largest, least polluted and unmodified river systems in Britain and the waterbodies have a high degree of naturalness.

  • 7140 Transition mires and quaking bogs

    Insh Marshes in north-east Scotland is the largest transition mire in the UK. This site is representative of the flood plain mire type. The vegetation is a relatively uniform area of S27 Carex rostrata – Potentilla palustris tall-herb fen in which Sphagnum is found locally. String sedge Carex chordorrhiza is a rare sedge that occurs at this site and only one other, Scottish, site in the UK. It is more frequently found in this mire type in continental Europe.

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

  • 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.