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Special Areas of Conservation

Tayvallich Juniper and Coast

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority Highlands and Islands
Centroid* NR712825
Latitude 55.9806
Longitude -5.6681
SAC EU Code UK0030287
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 1213.16
* 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 Tayvallich Juniper and Coast SAC

General site character

  • Tidal rivers, Estuaries, Mud flats, Sand flats, Lagoons (including saltwork basins) (1%)
  • Salt marshes, Salt pastures, Salt steppes (1%)
  • Shingle, Sea cliffs, Islets (1%)
  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (0.5%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (2%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (75.5%)
  • Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (10%)
  • Improved grassland (4%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (13%)
  • 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

  • 5130 Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands

    Tayvallich represents an important and extensive outlier of Juniperus communis formations on the west coast of Argyll. This is the only representation in the SAC series of the habitat in western Scotland. The juniper formations occur in an extremely varied habitat mosaic – dry wooded ridges grade into heathland and grassland, with flushes, valley mires and open water transition communities. The juniper is regenerating locally.

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

  • Not Applicable

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

  • 1065 Marsh fritillary butterfly Euphydryas (Eurodryas, Hypodryas) aurinia

    This site contains a number of marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia sub-populations which are most likely part of the same metapopulation present at Taynish and Knapdale Woods. Together with the latter site, Tayvallich Juniper and Coast represents the species in the northern part of its UK range. The population is of the Scottish form E. aurinia scotica, which is completely isolated from populations in England and Wales

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

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