Keltneyburn

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 56.6296, -4.0101

Condition (NatureScot)

Unfavourable Declining (1) Favourable (3)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Lowland acid grassland Unfavourable Declining 2013-03-20
F2 Lowland neutral grassland Favourable 2013-03-13
F3 Vascular plant assemblage Favourable 2013-03-20
F4 Upland mixed ash woodland Favourable 2009-11-05

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

KELTNEYBURN Keltneyburn lies some eight kilometres west of Aberfeldy. It is notified for its upland mixed ash woodlands (valley woodland) in the gorge of the Keltneyburn, its orchid rich lowland neutral and acidic grasslands, and its assemblage of rare plants. The gorge woodland occurs as a narrow strip on Dalradian schists. It exists on steep, sometimes inaccessible and unstable slopes on either side of the main burn and its tributaries. The woodland is composed of ash, hazel, rowan and bird cherry, with birch and a little oak and on the upper slopes. The ground flora has abundant dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis. The grassland is an intricate mixture of types and is selected for two of these. The first is lowland neutral grassland which is orchid-rich on the deeper soils. It occurs on gently sloping land and hollows throughout Balchroich Meadow to the south west of the Keltneyburn. The meadow is particularly notable on account of its large number of plant species including large populations of species of restricted distribution. Plants of interest include greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha, spignel Meum athamanticum and fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, The other grassland type is lowland acid grassland which has elements of a heath and is moderately species-rich. It is chiefly confined to well-drained morainic hummocks in Balchroich Meadow and beside Inchgarth Farm. This vegetation type is particularly notable since it contains a large population of the increasingly rare and vulnerable small white orchid Pseudorchis albida. The ground flora of the woodland is species-rich with a large number of higher plant species of restricted distribution including the very rare tall-herb whorled Solomon’s seal Polygonatum multiflorum. In both grassland and woodland habitats there are a number of other rare plants in addition to those already mentioned including small cow-wheat Melampyrum sylvaticum, bird’s nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis and field gentian Gentianella campestris.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
field gentian Gentianella campestris LC herb gentianaceae
fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea NT herb orchidaceae
small cowwheat Melampyrum sylvaticum VU herb orobanchaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
spignel Meum athamanticum LC herb apiaceae
birdsnest orchid Neottia nidus-avis VU herb orchidaceae
greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha NT herb orchidaceae
Soloman's seal Polygonatum multiflorum LC herb liliaceae
small white orchid Pseudorchis albida VU herb orchidaceae

Plant communities

M25 — Blanket bog, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture, Upland acid grassland

Molinia caerulea-Potentilla erecta mire

Salix cinerea, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex echinata, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Calliergon giganteum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Angelica sylvestris, Carum verticillatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Serratula tinctoria, Cardamine pratensis, Lobelia urens, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Hypericum pulchrum, Hypericum tetrapterum, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Epilobium palustre, Dactylorhiza maculata, Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Phragmites australis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Osmunda regalis

U1 — Brownfield, Lowland dry acid grassland

Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Rumex acetosella grassland

Quercus robur, Calluna vulgaris, Ulex europaeus, Ulex minor, Carex arenaria, Luzula campestris, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus introflexus, Ceratodon purpureus, Dicranum scoparium, Brachythecium albicans, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidium rugosum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum piliferum, Syntrichia ruraliformis, Ptilidium ciliare, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia foliacea, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia tenuis, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Peltigera canina, Achillea millefolium, Filaginella uliginosa, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leontodon hispidus, Leontodon saxatilis, Logfia minima, Pilosella officinarum, Pilosella peleteriana, Senecio vulgaris, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis ramosissima, Arabidopsis thaliana, Arabis hirsuta, Erophila verna, Teesdalia nudicaulis, Campanula glomerata, Campanula rotundifolia, Arenaria serpyllifolia, Cerastium arvense, Cerastium fontanum, Sagina apetala, Sagina procumbens, Scleranthus perennis, Silene conica, Silene otites, Silene viscaria, Spergularia rubra, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria media agg., Crassula tillaea, Sedum acre, Sedum album, Sedum anglicum, Umbilicus rupestris, Anthyllis vulneraria, Astragalus danicus, Lotus corniculatus, Ornithopus perpusillus, Trifolium campestre, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium repens, Trifolium sp., Vicia sativa, Centaurium erythraea, Eriodium cicutarium, Geranium molle, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Thymus serpyllum, Chamerion angustifolium, Plantago coronopus, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, Veronica agrestis, Veronica arvensis, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica polita, Veronica spicata, Fallopia convolvulus, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Reseda lutea, Potentilla argentea, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium saxatile, Galium verum, Urtica dioica, Viola tricolor, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis vinealis, Aira praecox, Anisantha sterilis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Bromus hordeaceous, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Koeleria macrantha, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Aphanes arvensis, Pteridium aquilinum

U2 — Brownfield, Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland

Deschampsia flexuosa grassland

Betula pendula, Quercus hybrid, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex europaeus, Carex nigra, Eriophorum vaginatum, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus pyriformis, Dicranum scoparium, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum piliferum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Cladonia gracilis, Chamerion angustifolium, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium saxatile, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa annua, Pteridium aquilinum

U3 — Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland

Agrostis curtisii grassland

Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex binervis, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Luzula campestris, Dicranum scoparium, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia impexa, Hypochaeris radicata, Teucrium scorodonia, Polygala serpyllifolia, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Pteridium aquilinum

U4 — Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland

Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Galium saxatile grassland

Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex caryophyllea, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Lophocolea bidentata, Conopodium majus, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Taraxacum officianalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus montanus, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Thymus praecox, Euphrasia officinalis, Oxalis acetosella, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Polygala serpyllifolia, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla erecta, Poterium sanguisorba, Galium saxatile, Galium verum, Viola lutea, Viola palustris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Avenula pratensis, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Lolium perenne, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Chara curta

U5 — Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland

Nardus stricta-Galium saxatile grassland

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex demissa, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Sphagnum papillosum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia muelleriana, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Pleurozia purpurea, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania gracilis, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia uncialis, Cirsium palustre, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Cerastium fontanum, Equisetum palustre, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Trifolium repens, Narthecium ossifragum, Plantago lanceolata, Polygala serpyllifolia, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Alchemilla alpina, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant

U10 — High montane heath and snow bed, Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland dry heath

Carex bigelowii-Racomitrium lanuginosum moss-heath

Empetrum nigrum, Kalmia procumbens, Vaccinium myrtillus, Salix herbacea, Carex bigelowii, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Juncus squarrosus, Juncus trifidus, Luzula spicata, Diphasiastrum alpinum, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Andreaea alpina, Aulacomnium turgidum, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum scoparium, Kiaeria starkei, Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium heterostichum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum hamulosum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Sanionia uncinata, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum longisetum, Polytrichum piliferum, Polytrichum strictum, Anastrepta orcadensis, Diplophyllum albicans, Nardia scalaris, Ptilidium ciliare, Alectoria nigricans, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia cervicornis, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia crispata, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia rangiferina, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Ochrolechia frigida, Peltigera canina, Sphaerophorus globosus, Thamnolia vermicularis, Achillea millefolium, Antennaria dioica, Gnaphalium supinum, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Minuartia sedoides, Silene acaulis, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Armeria maritima, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Alchemilla alpina, Potentilla erecta, Sibbaldia procumbens, Galium saxatile, Viola palustris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Nardus stricta

U11 — High montane heath and snow bed, Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland dry heath

Polytrichum sexangulare-Kiaeria starkei snow-bed

Empetrum nigrum, Salix herbacea, Carex bigelowii, Juncus trifidus, Huperzia selago, Conostomum tetragonum, Pohlia drummondii, Pohlia ludwigii, Pohlia nutans, Dicranum fuscescens, Kiaeria falcata, Kiaeria starkei, Racomitrium canescens sens.lat., Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium heterostichum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Oligotrichum hercynicum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichastrum sexangulare, Anthelia juratzkana, Barbilophozia floerkei, Lophozia sudetica, Marsupella emarginata, Moerckia blyttii, Nardia scalaris, Pleurocladula albescens, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia bellidiflora, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia uncialis, Solorina crocea, Gnaphalium supinum, Cerastium cerastoides, Silene acaulis, Alchemilla alpina, Sibbaldia procumbens, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola palustris, Agrostis capillaris, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca vivipara, Nardus stricta, Cryptogramma crispa, Blechnum spicant, Athyrium distentifolium