Loch Freuchie Meadows

Also within

Perth and Kinross County

Condition (NatureScot)

Habitats

Carr, Northern hay meadow

Description

Loch Freuchie Meadows Loch Freuchie Meadows is located at the south east end of Loch Freuchie, in Glen Quaich, 2.5km west of Amulree. The site is of special importance for its lowland neutral grassland. The site formerly consisted mainly of grassland known as northern hay meadow, a rare type of lowland neutral grassland maintained by traditional hay management. Although this vegetation type remains in small areas, much of the site has changed to a more common type of wet neutral grassland, dominated by meadowsweet, because of management changes in recent years. It is one of the few remaining areas of northern hay meadow in Scotland and is particularly notable for the presence of tall herb species such as globe flower Trollius europaeus and wood cranesbill Geranium sylvaticum with frequent angelica Angelica sylvestris and valerian Valeriana officinalis. Spignel Meum athamanticum a nationally scarce species occurs, and the locally unusual species bay willow Salix pentandra is found on the loch shore and in a small area of willow carr.

Species mentioned

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.

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