Berriedale Water
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Upland birch woodland | Unfavourable No Change | — | 2026-02-18 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Sandstone
Description
BERRIEDALE WATER Berriedale Water Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is located approximately 7km southwest of Dunbeath in Caithness. The site is designated for its nationally important birch woodland habitat. Native woodland is a rare habitat in Caithness and, along with Langwell Water SSSI just to the south, this is the largest native woodland in the county. The woodlands grow on the slopes surrounding the Berriedale Water. There are many large blocks of open, semi-natural broadleaf woodland dominated by downy birch Betula pubescens and rowan Sorbus aucuparia, together with aspen Populus tremula and willow Salix sp. Fragments of hazel Corylus avellana woodland can be found on dry sandstone outcrops whilst alder Alnus glutinosa grows in the wetter areas. The ground flora is predominantly acid grassland with many woodland mosses and ferns, including hard fern Blechnum spicant, beech fern Phegopteris connectilis and oak fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris. The upper and drier slopes give rise to a more diverse woodland field layer including blaeberry Vaccinium myrtillus, chickweed wintergreen Trientalis europaea, wood sage Teucrium scorodonia and wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella.
Species mentioned
Show the 12 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hard fern | Blechnum spicant | LC | fern | blechnaceae |
| oak fern | Gymnocarpium dryopteris | NT | fern | woodsiaceae |
| beech fern | Phegopteris connectilis | LC | fern | thelypteridaceae |
| wood sorrel | Oxalis acetosella | LC | herb | oxalidaceae |
| wood sage | Teucrium scorodonia | LC | herb | lamiaceae |
| chickweed wintergreen | Trientalis europaea | Not listed in GB list | herb | primulaceae |
| billberry | Vaccinium myrtillus | LC | shrub | ericaceae |
| alder | Alnus glutinosa | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| downy birch | Betula pubescens | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| aspen | Populus tremula | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| rowan | Sorbus aucuparia | LC | tree | rosaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Speckled footman Coscinia cribraria |
Critically Endangered | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Dark bordered beauty Epione vespertaria |
Endangered | Populus tremula |
| Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia |
Endangered | Teucrium scorodonia |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Scarce chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta |
Vulnerable | Populus spp., Populus tremula |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus tremula, Sorbus aucuparia, Vaccinium myrtillus |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Alnus glutinosa, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Populus spp. |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| No common name Zeugophora turneri |
Vulnerable | Populus tremula |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Purple emperor Apatura iris |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Sorbus aucuparia |
| Minor shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Populus spp. |
| Rosy marsh moth Coenophila subrosea |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Betula pubescens |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp. |
| The Silurian Eriopygodes imbecilla |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Betula spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula spp. |
| Scotch burnet Zygaena exulans |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| White prominent Leucodonta bicoloria |
Regionally Extinct | Betula spp. |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.
Plant communities
U4 — Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland
Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Galium saxatile grassland
Matches 3 species from the description above: Blechnum spicant, Oxalis acetosella, Vaccinium myrtillus
Show 82 indicator speciesCalluna 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
U3 — Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland
Agrostis curtisii grassland
Matches 2 species from the description above: Teucrium scorodonia, Vaccinium myrtillus
Show 34 indicator speciesCalluna 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
U5 — Upland acid grassland, Upland calcareous grassland
Nardus stricta-Galium saxatile grassland
Matches 2 species from the description above: Blechnum spicant, Vaccinium myrtillus
Show 79 indicator speciesEmpetrum 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
U2 — Brownfield, Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland acid grassland
Deschampsia flexuosa grassland
Matches 1 species from the description above: Vaccinium myrtillus
Show 40 indicator speciesBetula 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
M25 — Blanket bog, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture, Upland acid grassland
Molinia caerulea-Potentilla erecta mire
Show 85 indicator speciesSalix 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