Pitarrig Meadow

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 56.7167, -3.6994

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Also within

Perth and Kinross County

Condition (NatureScot)

Unfavourable No Change (2) Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Lowland dry heath Unfavourable No Change — 2015-02-19
F2 Lowland wet heath Unfavourable No Change — 2015-02-19
F3 Springs (including flushes) Favourable — 2015-02-19

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Peatland

Peat habitats store centuries of carbon and depend on a stable, waterlogged water table. Warmer, drier summers dry out peat, making it far more vulnerable to wildfire and to carbon release — a pressure that can undo years of restoration work regardless of how well the site is otherwise managed.

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Peatland / Mire

Description

Pitarrig Meadow Pitarrig Meadow lies adjacent to the A924, 3km north-east of Pitlochry, and comprises a relatively large area of unimproved pasture and heath crossed by wet flushes on the slopes above the valley of the River Tummel. Pitarrig Meadow is considered of national importance for its mosaic of flushes, and wet and dry heaths. The mosaic is particularly species-rich due to localised mineral enrichment resulting from underlying base-rich rocks. Pitarrig Meadows is also notable for its plant species diversity, a number of which are locally rare in Perthshire, including small white orchid Pseudorchis albida, broad-leaved cottongrass, Eriophorum latifolium, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, globe flower Trollius europaeus and Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla. A number of uncommon butterflies and moths, including the Nationally Scarce heath rivulet moth Perizoma minorata ericetata have also been recorded at the site.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea NT herb orchidaceae
small white orchid Pseudorchis albida VU herb orchidaceae
Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla LC herb liliaceae
globe flower Trollius europaeus VU herb ranunculaceae
heath rivulet Perizoma minorata Not listed in GB list moth geometridae
broad leaved cotton grass Eriophorum latifolium LC sedge cyperaceae

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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Golden plusia
Polychrysia moneta		 Endangered Trollius europaeus
Rosy marsh moth
Coenophila subrosea		 Near Threatened Eriophorum 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

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa