Ballo and Harperleas Reservoirs

Also within

Fife CountyPerth and Kinross County

Condition (NatureScot)

Description

BALLO AND HARPERLEAS RESERVOIRS Ballo & Harperleas Reservoirs are located in the Lomond Hills, approximately 7km north-west of Glenrothes, Fife. The two reservoirs are the most extensive mesotrophic open water sites in Fife and support a number of unusual submerged aquatic and inundation plant communities, including extensive beds of Chara and Potamogeton species. Several locally rare/scarce vascular plant species occur including various-leaved pondweed Potamogeton gramineus, skullcap Scutellaria galericulata, knotted pearlwort Sagina nodosa, false fox-sedge Carex otrubae and brown sedge Carex disticha, as well as the nationally rare needle spike-rush Eleocharis acicularis. The locally scarce water purslane Lythrum portula and the nationally rare autumnal water-starwort Callitriche hermaphroditica and mudwort Limosella aquatica have also been recorded. Ballo Reservoir is of regional importance as a winter resort for wildfowl and occasionally supports nationally significant numbers of whooper swans.

Species mentioned