Glen App and Galloway Moors

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 55.0386, -5.0249

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Ayrshire and Arran CountyWigtown County

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus), breeding Favourable — 2009-05-28

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Peatland

Peat habitats store centuries of carbon and depend on a stable, waterlogged water table. Warmer, drier summers dry out peat, making it far more vulnerable to wildfire and to carbon release — a pressure that can undo years of restoration work regardless of how well the site is otherwise managed.

Habitats

Blanket bog, Upland acid grassland

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Peatland / Mire

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
hen harrier Breeding

Description

Glen App and Galloway Moors Glen App and Galloway Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) consists of three adjacent upland areas to the north of Castle Kennedy 7km northeast of Stranraer and 3km south of Ballantrae. These areas, which comprise a mosaic of blanket bog, wet/dry heath and acid grassland habitats used by a variety of upland moorland breeding birds, are effectively split by the A77 trunk road and a large expanse of commercial forestry which extends eastwards from the A77 to the eastern boundary of the SSSI. Amongst the moorland birds present is the hen harrier Circus cyaneus, a species listed in Annex I of the EC Birds Directive, and for which the SSSI is of national and European importance by virtue of regularly supporting 2% of the great Britain breeding population. Hen harrier Circus cyaneus, breeding

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
hen harrier Circus cyaneus VU (Breeding) bird-hawk falconidae

Plant communities

M1 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Sphagnum auriculatum bog pool community

Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Carex limosa, Eriophorum angustifolium, Rhynchospora alba, Rhynchospora fusca, Trichophorum cespitosum, Eleocharis multicaulis, Juncus bulbosus, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum subnitens, Cladopodiella fluitans, Gymnocolea inflata, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Drosera anglica, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Utricularia intermedia, Utricularia minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Scheuchzeria palustris, Molinia caerulea

M2 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Valley mire

Sphagnum cuspidatum/recurvum bog pool community

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Andromeda polifolia, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Carex canescens, Carex magellanica, Carex rostrata, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Aulacomnium palustre, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum tenellum, Cephalozia connivens, Cephalozia lunulifolia, Gymnocolea inflata, Mylia anomala, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Drosera anglica, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Agrostis canina, Deschampsia flexuosa, Molinia caerulea

M3 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Eriophorum angustifolium bog pool community

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Erica tetralix, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Campylopus brevipilus, Drepanocladus fluitans, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum papillosum, Gymnocolea inflata, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Drosera rotundifolia, Agrostis canina, Molinia caerulea

M15 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Upland wet heath

Scirpus cespitosus-Erica tetralix wet heath

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex demissa, Carex dioica, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Schoenus nigricans, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bulbosus, Juncus conglomeratus, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus atrovirens, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Scorpidium revolvens, Scorpidium scorpioides, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophozia ventricosa, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Pleurozia purpurea, Aneura pinguis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Succisa pratensis, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Hypericum pulchrum, Triglochin palustre, Pinguicula vulgaris, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Dactylorhiza maculata, Euphrasia officinalis, Pedicularis palustris, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Trientalis europaea, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum

M17 — Blanket bog

Scirpus cespitosus-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex demissa, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Schoenus nigricans, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Huperzia selago, Aulacomnium palustre, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus atrovirens, Campylopus flexuosus, Campylopus setifolius, Campylopus shawii, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum imbricatum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum strictum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Diplophyllum albicans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Mylia taylorii, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Pleurozia purpurea, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania gracilis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Pinguicula vulgaris, Narthecium ossifragum, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Agrostis canina, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta

M18 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Erica tetralix-Sphagnum papillosum raised and blanket mire

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Andromeda polifolia, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Cephalozia connivens, Cladopodiella fluitans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Hypogymnia physodes, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Narthecium ossifragum, Rubus chamaemorus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Molinia caerulea

M19 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Calluna vulgaris-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire

Empetrum nigrum, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Betula nana, Arctostaphylos alpinus, Vaccinium microcarpum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex nigra, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Mylia taylorii, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Ptilidium ciliare, Hypogymnia physodes, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia bellidiflora, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia tenuis, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Cornus suecica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Pinguicula vulgaris, Narthecium ossifragum, Neottia cordata, Potentilla erecta, Rubus chamaemorus, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant

M20 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Valley mire

Eriophorum vaginatum blanket and raised mire

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex bigelowii, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Drepanocladus fluitans, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum papillosum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Cephaloziella hampeana, Diplophyllum albicans, Gymnocolea inflata, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia taylorii, Ptilidium ciliare, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Rubus chamaemorus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina

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

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