Northern Isles Area MEADOW Ground Floor Site of Special Scientific Interest Stewart Building Alexandra Wharf SITE MANAGEMENT STATEMENT Lerwick ZE1 0LL Site code: 1239 Tel: 01595 693345 E: [email protected]

Purpose

This is a public statement prepared by SNH for owners and occupiers of the SSSI. It outlines the reasons it is designated as an SSSI and provides guidance on how its special natural features should be conserved or enhanced. This Statement does not affect or form part of the statutory notification and does not remove the need to apply for consent for operations requiring consent.

We welcome your views on this Statement.

Natural features of North Roe Meadow SSSI Condition of feature (date monitored) Vascular plant assemblage Unfavourable, declining (August 2008)1

Description of the site North Roe Meadow Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is located in the north-east of the peninsula, in the of . This site consists of relatively species-rich grassland and a dry rocky knoll which supports large numbers of hawkweeds belonging to the genus Hieracium. Hawkweeds are perennial herbs with yellow, dandelion-like flowers and lance-shaped leaves. The genus Hieracium consists of a large number of species, or microspecies. This diversity is the result of an unusual reproductive mechanism: they produce seeds asexually, without fertilisation by pollen. Hawkweeds are notoriously difficult to identify and most species do not have a common name. Species are grouped into sections. In Shetland, there are 24 known species of hawkweed, with 4 sections represented. The section Alpestria is a group restricted to Scandinavia, Greenland, Faroe and the British Isles, with 21 species present in Britain. Of these, 16 are endemic to Shetland: they occur nowhere else. North Roe Meadow provides habitat for 2 of them. The largest population of Northroe hawkweed Hieracium northroense and an important population of Shetland hawkweed Hieracium zetlandicum grow on the site. The condition of the hawkweed communities was last assessed in September 2008 and was found in unfavourable condition. Both species had declined in numbers and tall grasses dominated the sward, potentially reducing suitable habitat for hawkweeds.

1 Provisional assessment until site condition monitoring form has been approved

1 Past and present management The site is divided into three strips by ditches split between two occupiers. Until recently the site was managed as a traditional hay meadow, with livestock excluded from mid-May to September, hay cut from the more level areas in August and sheep grazing intermittently in the autumn and winter. Small amounts of fertiliser were occasionally applied to the areas cut for hay. At times, vegetables were cultivated in the eastern end of the site. This management allowed hawkweeds to flower in the summer and aftermath grazing removed the annual growth of grass from the uncut areas, preventing herbs from becoming choked. A management agreement was in place for 5 years after notification to ensure continuation of favourable practices. Tenancy has now changed and hay is no longer harvested. The rocky knoll was fenced off in 2001 to protect the most significant hawkweed populations from sheep grazing and the rest of the site is grazed year-round.

Objectives for Management (and key factors influencing the condition of natural features) We wish to work with the owners and occupiers to protect the site and to maintain and where necessary enhance its features of special interest. SNH aims to carry out site survey, monitoring and research as appropriate, to increase our knowledge and understanding of the site and its natural features. 1. Maintain and enhance the unique hawkweed communities Past management of the site had provided suitable conditions for hawkweed populations to thrive. It may not be practical to reinstate the late hay cutting followed by aftermath grazing regime that favoured H. northroense. However the populations would benefit from management practices replicating its effects. Absence of grazing in the late spring and summer would allow herbs to flower and produce seeds. Introducing sheep in the autumn is necessary to ensure grasses are grazed down. Other factors affecting the natural features of the site Hawkweed ecology: the processes affecting the distribution and abundance of hawkweed populations are not fully understood. Counting annually the number of adults and juveniles of each species present on the site could improve knowledge of population dynamics. Legal protection: Northroe hawkweed and Shetland hawkweed are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (schedule 8), making it an offence to intentionally pick, uproot or destroy plants, or sell them.

Date last reviewed: 17 March 2011

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