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Special Areas of Conservation

Green Hill of Strathdon

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority North Eastern Scotland
Centroid* NJ316164
Latitude 57.23333333
Longitude -3.133333333
SAC EU Code UK0030159
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 640.91
* 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 Green Hill of Strathdon SAC

General site character

  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (10%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (65%)
  • Dry grassland, Steppes (23%)
  • Inland rocks, Screes, Sands, Permanent Snow and ice (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

  • 5130 Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands

    Green Hill of Strathdon represents an unusual form of Juniperus communis formations in the eastern Scottish Highlands with a species-rich basiphilous flora influenced by the underlying serpentine rocks. Juniper scrub is associated both with Calluna-dominated heaths and grassland. There are many junipers scattered over a large area, especially in the Calluna heath, but smaller, denser stands also occur in both heath and, unusually, in species-rich grassland.

  • 6130 Calaminarian grasslands of the Violetalia calaminariae

    Green Hill of Strathdon represents Calaminarian grasslands on open serpentine debris within Calluna moorland at low altitude in the eastern Scottish Highlands. There are a number of small, scattered areas of serpentine debris similar in character to those on Hill of Towanreef. The vegetation includes frequent spring sandwort Minuartia verna, scurvygrass Cochlearia officinalis, mossy saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides and thrift Armeria maritima.

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.