Brerachan Meadows
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Lowland neutral grassland | Favourable | — | 2010-02-12 |
Habitats
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
Show the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Salix spp. |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Salix spp. |
| Golden plusia Polychrysia moneta |
Endangered | Trollius europaeus |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| Scarce chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Salix 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
MG3 — Northern hay meadow
Anthoxanthum odoratum-Geranium sylvaticum grassland
Matches 3 species from the description above: Cirsium heterophyllum, Geranium sylvaticum, Trollius europaeus
Show 88 indicator speciesCarex 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