Brerachan Meadows

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 56.7532, -3.6007

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Also within

Perth and Kinross County

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Lowland neutral grassland Favourable — 2010-02-12

Habitats

Northern hay meadow

Description

BRERACHAN MEADOWS Brerachan Meadows is situated in Glen Brerachan, 8km north-east of Pitlochry. The two meadows are 700m apart on the banks of Brerachan Water. The site is of special importance for its species-rich lowland neutral grassland. The grasslands include wet meadow and northern hay meadow, both rich in the plant species, such as wood cranesbill Geranium sylvaticum and melancholy thistle Cirsium heterophyllum, that make up these unusual plant communities. Other notable species include spignel Meum athamanticum which is nationally scarce, and globeflower Trollius europaeus and dark-leaved willow Salix myrsinifolia which are uncommon in Perthshire.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
melancholy thistle Cirsium heterophyllum LC herb asteraceae
wood cranesbill Geranium sylvaticum LC herb geraniaceae
spignel Meum athamanticum LC herb apiaceae
globe flower Trollius europaeus VU herb ranunculaceae
dark leaved willow Salix myrsinifolia LC tree shrub salicaceae

Plant communities

MG3 — Northern hay meadow

Anthoxanthum odoratum-Geranium sylvaticum grassland

Carex caryophyllea, Carex panicea, Luzula campestris, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium cuspidatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Anthriscus sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium heterophyllum, Crepis paludosa, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leucanthemum vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis discolor, Cardamine pratensis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria media agg., Equisetum arvense, Lathyrus montanus, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium medium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia sativa, Vicia sepium, Geranium sylvaticum, Ajuga reptans, Thymus praecox, Orchis mascula, Euphrasia nemorosa, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla acutiloba, Alchemilla glabra, Alchemilla glomerulans, Alchemilla monticola, Alchemilla subcrenata, Alchemilla vestita, Alchemilla wichurae, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Potentilla erecta, Sanguisorba officinalis, Saxifraga granulata, Viola lutea, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Avenula pubescens, Briza media, Bromus hordeaceous, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens