1.30.3.              The Characteristics of the Cite

  1. Greenlaw Moor SPA and Ramsar site has a total area of 245.81 ha. The site consists of an important heather moorland and includes raised mire and two pools. The area of raised moss is well developed and supports a typical flora, including regionally uncommon mosses. Internationally important numbers of pink-footed geese winter at the site. Human activities include livestock grazing, cutting of vegetation, recreation, and hunting.

1.30.4.              Conservation Bbjectives

  1. Advice on management and operations of Greenlaw Moor SPA and Ramsar are unavailable.
  1. The conservation objectives for the site are:
  • To avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained; and
  • To ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • Population of the species as a viable component of the site
  • Distribution of the species within site
  • Distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species
  • Structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species
  • No significant disturbance of the species

1.30.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. Table 1.24   Open ▸ provides a summary of the protected features within the site, their condition within the site (where known) based on the latest NatureScot SCM assessment, and the broader conservation status of the protected features.
  2. Feature condition refers to the condition of the protected feature at a site level. Broader conservation status is the overall conservation status of the feature within the UK based on Stanbury et al., (2021).
Table 1.24:
Greenlaw Moor SPA Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.24: Greenlaw Moor SPA Feature Condition Assessment


1.31. Loch of Kinnordy SPA and Ramsar site

1.31.1.              Site Overview

  1. Loch of Kinnordy SPA is a eutrophic loch with associated wet meadows and marshes in Angus, Scotland. The site is of international importance for its wintering and breeding birds.
  2. The boundary of the SPA is coincident with that of the Loch of Kinnordy Site of Special Scientific Interest.
  3. Key literature sources include:
  • Loch of Kinnordy SPA - Citation (NatureScot 2018m);
  • Loch of Kinnordy SPA - Conservation Objectives (NatureScot 2018n);
  • Loch of Kinnordy SPA - Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (JNCC 2018h);
  • Loch of Kinnordy SPA - Features (NatureScot 2014c); and
  • Loch of Kinnordy Ramsar - Citation (NatureScot 2022b).

1.31.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • Greylag goose (non-breeding)
  • Pink-footed goose (non-breeding)

1.31.3.              The Characteristics of the Site

  1. Loch of Kinnordy SPA and Ramsar site has a total area of 86 ha. It contains a nutrient-rich loch and associated wetland communities consisting of basin mire, swamp, and fen. The loch was formerly much larger in extent, but a series of drainage attempts were made, initially to facilitate marl removal. However, it has been increasing in extent in recent years due to the silting of the loch's current outflow stream. Vegetation includes various types of grasslands, willow, alder and birch woodlands, fen communities supporting reedbeds, and various scarce plant species. Internationally important numbers of geese winter at the site. Human activities include recreation, hunting, and fishing.

1.31.4.              Conservation Objectives

  1. Advice on the management and operations of Loch of Kinnordy SPA and Ramsar site is unavailable.
  1. The conservation objectives of the site are:
  • To avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained; and
  • To ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • Population of the species as a viable component of the site
  • Distribution of the species within site
  • Distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species
  • Structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species
  • No significant disturbance of the species

1.31.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. Table 1.25   Open ▸ provides a summary of the protected features within the site, their condition within the site (where known) based on the latest NatureScot SCM assessment, and the broader conservation status of the protected features.
  2. Feature condition refers to the condition of the protected feature at a site level. Broader conservation status is the overall conservation status of the feature within the UK based on Stanbury et al., (2021).
Table 1.25:
Loch of Kinnordy SPA Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.25: Loch of Kinnordy SPA Feature Condition Assessment


1.32. Din Moss - Hoselaw Loch SPA and Ramsar site

1.32.1.              Site Overview

  1. Din Moss – Hoselaw Loch SPA and Ramsar site is located on the northern slopes of the Cheviot Hills in southern Scotland. Hoselaw Loch is a mid-attitude loch that is surrounded by Din Moss, an area of raised bog with associated lagg fens. It is one of the most complete examples of raised mire in this area of Scotland.
  2. Key literature sources include:
  • Din Moss – Hoselaw Loch SPA - Citation (NatureScot 1988a);
  • Din Moss – Hoselaw Loch SPA - Conservation Objectives (NatureScot 1988b);
  • Din Moss – Hoselaw Loch SPA - Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (JNCC 2015f);
  • Din Moss – Hoselaw Loch SPA - Features (NatureScot 2015d); and
  • Din Moss – Hoselaw Loch Ramsar - Citation (NatureScot 2021g).

1.32.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • Greylag goose (non-breeding)
  • Pink-footed goose (non-breeding)

1.32.3.              The Characteristics of the Site

  1. Din Moss – Hoselaw Loch SPA and Ramsar site has a total area of 50.58 ha. It contains a small freshwater lake with associated fen and raised mire that provides a roosting site for internationally important numbers of wintering geese (2,008) from the Icelandic breeding population. Human activities include bird hunting on nearby lands.

1.32.4.              Conservation Objectives

  1. Advice on the management and operations of Din Moss – Hoselaw Loch SPA and Ramsar site is unavailable.
  1. The conservation objectives for the site are:
  • To avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained; and
  • To ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • Population of the species as a viable component of the site
  • Distribution of the species within site
  • Distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species
  • Structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species
  • No significant disturbance of the species

1.32.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. Table 1.26   Open ▸ provides a summary of the protected features within the site, their condition within the site (where known) based on the latest NatureScot SCM assessment, and the broader conservation status of the protected features.
  2. Feature condition refers to the condition of the protected feature at a site level. Broader conservation status is the overall conservation status of the feature within the UK based on Stanbury et al., (2021).
Table 1.26:
Din Moss – Hoselaw Loch SPA Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.26: Din Moss – Hoselaw Loch SPA Feature Condition Assessment


1.33. Fala Flow SPA and Ramsar site

1.33.1.              Site Overview

  1. Fala Flow SPA and Ramsar site is situated within the Lammermuir Hills in the Scottish Southern Uplands. The Flow is a blanket mire, unusual due to the presence of pools which seldom occur in blanket mires located at such low altitudes.
  2. Key literature sources include:
  • Fala Flow SPA - Citation (NatureScot 1990a);
  • Fala Flow SPA - Conservation Objectives (NatureScot 1990b);
  • Fala Flow SPA - Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (JNCC 2015g);
  • Fala Flow SPA - Features (NatureScot 2009ah); and
  • Fala Flow Ramsar – Citation (NatureScot 2021h).

1.33.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • Pink-footed goose (non-breeding)

1.33.3.              The Characteristics of the Site

  1. Fala Flow SPA and Ramsar site has an area of 317.75 ha. Fala Flow is in the Lammermuir Hills to the south-east of Edinburgh. It is a blanket mire, with some pools, developed at a lower altitude than most blanket mires in Midlothian. The vegetation comprises heather Calluna vulgaris/cottongrass Eriophorum spp., with other characteristic species including cowberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea and Sphagnum bog-mosses. Such mires are scarce and declining in Midlothian and this example is relatively undisturbed. The mire and pools support an internationally important goose roost.

1.33.4.              Conservation Objectives

  1. Advice on the management and operations of Fala Flow SPA and Ramsar site is unavailable.
  1. The conservation objectives for the site are:
  • To avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species (listed below) or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained; and
  • To ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • Population of the species as a viable component of the site
  • Distribution of the species within site
  • Distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species
  • Structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species
  • No significant disturbance of the species

1.33.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. Table 1.27   Open ▸ provides a summary of the protected features within the site, their condition within the site (where known) based on the latest NatureScot SCM assessment, and the broader conservation status of the protected features.
  2. Feature condition refers to the condition of the protected feature at a site level. Broader conservation status is the overall conservation status of the feature within the UK based on Stanbury et al., (2021).
Table 1.27:
Fala Flow SPA Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.27: Fala Flow SPA Feature Condition Assessment


1.34. Loch Leven SPA and Ramsar site

1.34.1.              Site Overview

  1. Loch Leven in central Scotland is the largest natural eutrophic lake in Britain. It is a relatively shallow loch, surrounded by farmland, with a diverse aquatic flora and shoreline vegetation. The boundary of the Loch Leven SPA follows that of the Loch Leven SSSI except for the exclusion of 4 ha of SSSI towards the northern end of the loch.
  2. Key literature sources include:
  • Loch Leven SPA - Citation (NatureScot 2000a);
  • Loch Leven SPA - Conservation Objectives (NatureScot 2000b);
  • Loch Leven SPA - Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (JNCC 2015h);
  • Loch Leven SPA - Features (NatureScot 2007b); and
  • Loch Leven Ramsar - Citation (NatureScot 2022c).

1.34.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • Whooper swan (non-breeding)
  • Pink-footed goose (non-breeding)
  • Shoveler (non-breeding) Spatula clypeata
  • Non-breeding waterfowl assemblage including the following additional named components:
  • Gadwall
  • Teal
  • Pochard
  • Tufted duck Aythya fuligula
  • Goldeneye

1.34.3.              The Characteristics of the Site

  1. Loch Leven SPA and Ramsar site has a total area of 1611.29 ha. The site, the largest nutrient-rich lake in Britain, is an excellent example of a wetland with multiple uses in balance with its natural heritage interest. Consisting of several islands surrounded by damp pasture, the site is of national entomological importance and includes several nationally rare species of aquatic flora. The loch provides feeding, roosting and wintering sites for internationally important numbers (averaging 18,463 individuals in winter) of swans, geese and ducks. Human activities include intensive trout fishing, bird hunting, and general recreation.

1.34.4.              Conservation Advice

  1. Advice on management and operations of Loch Leven SPA and Ramsar site is unavailable.
  1. The conservation objectives for the site are:
  • To avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species (listed below) or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained; and
  • To ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • Population of the species as a viable component of the site
  • Distribution of the species within site
  • Distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species
  • Structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species
  • No significant disturbance of the species

1.34.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. Table 1.28   Open ▸ provides a summary of the protected features within the site, their condition within the site (where known) based on the latest NatureScot SCM assessment, and the broader conservation status of the protected features.
  2. Feature condition refers to the condition of the protected feature at a site level. Broader conservation status is the overall conservation status of the feature within the UK based on Stanbury et al., (2021).
Table 1.28:
Loch Leven SPA Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.28: Loch Leven SPA Feature Condition Assessment


1.35. Gladhouse Reservoir SPA and Ramsar site

1.35.1.              Site Overview

  1. Gladhouse Reservoir SPA lies in the Moorfoot Hills of the Southern Uplands of Scotland, about 20 km south of Edinburgh. It is a public water-supply reservoir, with limited aquatic and emergent vegetation. The reservoir is the largest freshwater body in the Lothians and is surrounded by both coniferous and mixed woodland and grassland. It has a number of small islands.
  2. The boundary of the SPA is coincident with the Gladhouse Reservoir SSSI.
  3. Key literature sources include:
  • Gladhouse Reservoir SPA - Citation (NatureScot 2018o);
  • Gladhouse Reservoir SPA - Conservation Objectives (NatureScot 2018p);
  • Gladhouse Reservoir SPA - Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (JNCC 2018i);
  • Gladhouse Reservoir SPA - Features (NatureScot 2009ai); and
  • Gladhouse Reservoir Ramsar - Citation (NatureScot 2021i).

1.35.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • Pink-footed goose (non-breeding)

1.35.3.              The Characteristics of the Site

  1. Gladhouse Reservoir SPA and Ramsar site has a total area of 186.58 ha. It contains a large freshwater reservoir with several small islands. There is limited development of aquatic vegetation, although there are marginal areas of fen. The reservoir is a roosting site for internationally important numbers (3,440) of wintering geese.

1.35.4.              Conservation Advice

  1. Advice on management and operations of Gladhouse Reservoir SPA and Ramsar is unavailable.
  1. The conservation objectives for the site are:
  • To avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species (listed below) or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained; and
  • To ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • Population of the species as a viable component of the site
  • Distribution of the species within site
  • Distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species
  • Structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species
  • No significant disturbance of the species

1.35.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. Table 1.29   Open ▸ provides a summary of the protected features within the site, their condition within the site (where known) based on the latest NatureScot SCM assessment, and the broader conservation status of the protected features.
  2. Feature condition refers to the condition of the protected feature at a site level. Broader conservation status is the overall conservation status of the feature within the UK based on Stanbury et al., (2021).
Table 1.29:
Gladhouse Reservoir SPA Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.29: Gladhouse Reservoir SPA Feature Condition Assessment


1.36. South Tayside Goose Roosts SPA and Ramsar site

1.36.1.              Site Overview

  1. South Tayside Goose Roosts SPA and Ramsar site comprises seven lochs, a number of smaller water bodies and other wetland habitats in Strathearn and Strathallan to the west of Perth.
  2. The site is overlapped completely by parts of three SSSI: Carsebreck and Rhynd Lochs SSSI, Drummond Lochs SSSI, and Dupplin Lakes SSSI.
  3. Key literature sources include:
  • South Tayside Goose Roosts SPA - Citation (NatureScot 2018q);
  • South Tayside Goose Roosts SPA - Conservation Objectives (NatureScot 2018r);
  • South Tayside Goose Roosts SPA - Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (JNCC 2018j);
  • South Tayside Goose Roosts SPA - Features (NatureScot 2014d); and
  • South Tayside Goose Roosts Ramsar - Citation (NatureScot 2021j).

1.36.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • Greylag goose (non-breeding)
  • Pink-footed goose (non-breeding)
  • Wigeon (non-breeding)
  • Non-breeding waterfowl assemblage

1.36.3.              The Characteristics of the Site

  1. South Tayside Goose Roosts SPA and Ramsar site has a total area of 332.17 ha. The site incorporates three widely separated component sectors consisting of seven permanent, freshwater lakes ("lochs"), numerous smaller water bodies, and various wetland habitats, including one of the largest raised bogs in the region. The lochs provide roost sites for internationally important numbers of wintering geese and for nationally important numbers of nesting ducks.

1.36.4.              Conservation Advice

  1. Advice on management and operations of South Tayside Goose Roosts SPA and Ramsar site is unavailable.
  1. The conservation objectives for the site are:
  • To avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species (listed below) or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained; and
  • To ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • Population of the species as a viable component of the site
  • Distribution of the species within site
  • Distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species
  • Structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species
  • No significant disturbance of the species

1.36.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. Table 1.30   Open ▸ provides a summary of the protected features within the site, their condition within the site (where known) based on the latest NatureScot SCM assessment, and the broader conservation status of the protected features.
  2. Feature condition refers to the condition of the protected feature at a site level. Broader conservation status is the overall conservation status of the feature within the UK based on Stanbury et al., (2021).
Table 1.30:
South Tayside Goose Roosts SPA Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.30: South Tayside Goose Roosts SPA Feature Condition Assessment

 

1.37. Westwater SPA and Ramsar site

1.37.1.              Site Overview

  1. Westwater SPA and Ramsar site is located 320 m above sea level in the Pentland Hills. It is an artificial reservoir forming part of the Lothian water supply.
  2. The boundary of the SPA is coincident with Westwater Reservoir SSSI.
  3. Key literature sources include:
  • Westwater SPA - Citation (NatureScot 2018s);
  • Westwater SPA - Conservation Objectives (NatureScot 2018t);
  • Westwater SPA - Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (JNCC 2018k);
  • Westwater SPA - Features (NatureScot 2016d); and
  • Westwater Ramsar - Citation (NatureScot 2021k).

1.37.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • Pink-footed goose (non-breeding)
  • Non-breeding waterfowl assemblage

1.37.3.              The Characteristics of the Site

  1. Westwater SPA and Ramsar site has a total area of 49.8 ha. It contains an artificial reservoir providing part of the region's water supply. The site supports internationally important numbers of wintering pink-footed geese, among various other wintering waterbirds. Human activities include recreation, fishing, and hunting.

1.37.4.              Conservation Objectives

  1. Advice on management and operations of Westwater SPA and Ramsar site is unavailable.
  1. The conservation objectives for the site are:
  • To avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species (listed below) or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained; and
  • To ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • Population of the species as a viable component of the site
  • Distribution of the species within site
  • Distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species
  • Structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species
  • No significant disturbance of the species

1.37.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. Table 1.31   Open ▸ provides a summary of the protected features within the site, their condition within the site (where known) based on the latest NatureScot SCM assessment, and the broader conservation status of the protected features.
  2. Feature condition refers to the condition of the protected feature at a site level. Broader conservation status is the overall conservation status of the feature within the UK based on Stanbury et al., (2021).
Table 1.31:
Westwater SPA Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.31: Westwater SPA Feature Condition Assessment