North Roe Meadow
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Vascular plant assemblage | Unfavourable Declining | — | 2013-10-01 |
Description
North Roe Meadow North Roe Meadow Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is located in the north-east of the Northmavine peninsula, in the north mainland of Shetland. It is notified for the presence of two Shetland endemic (not occurring anywhere else) hawkweed populations. North Roe Meadow SSSI supports the largest population of the nationally and locally rare Northroe hawkweed Hieracium northroense along with smaller numbers of the nationally rare Shetland hawkweed Hieracium zetlandicum. Both species are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (schedule 8). They occur within an area of species-rich neutral grassland under maritime influence. They are mainly concentrated on and around a small rocky knoll, although they have also been recorded in several other parts of the site.
Species mentioned
Show the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a hawkweed | Hieracium northroense | Not listed in GB list | herb | asteraceae |
| a hawkweed | Hieracium zetlandicum | Not listed in GB list | herb | asteraceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Glanville fritillary Melitaea cinxia |
Endangered | Hieracium spp. |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Hieracium spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Hieracium spp. |
| Broad-barred white Hecatera bicolorata |
Near Threatened | Hieracium 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.