TINGON Ground Floor Site of Special Scientific Interest Stewart Building Alexandra Wharf SITE MANAGEMENT STATEMENT Lerwick ZE1 0LL Site code: 1539 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. Tingon blanket bog with behind. We welcome your views on this statement.

Natural features of Condition of feature Other Tingon SSSI (date monitored) relevant designations Blanket bog Favourable maintained – (July 2001) and Tingon RAMSAR, Tingon SAC Breeding bird assemblage Favourable maintained (upland) (July 2002) Red-throated diver (Gavia Favourable maintained Ronas Hill – North Roe stellata), breeding (July 2001) and Tingon SPA Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), Favourable maintained breeding (June 2002)

Features of overlapping Natura Condition of feature SPA or SAC sites that are not notified as SSSI (date monitored) natural features Great skua (Stercorarius skua), Favourable maintained Ronas Hill – breeding (June 2002) North Roe and Tingon SPA Merlin (Falco columbarius), breeding Unfavourable declining Ronas Hill – (June 2007) North Roe and Tingon SPA Acid peat-stained lakes and ponds Favourable maintained Tingon SAC (August 2004)

Description of the site Tingon Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) consists of extensive moorland to the north of Gluss Water and Turning Hill on the Tingon peninsula. The in-bye land of the abandoned crofts of Sumra, Sannions and Ockran is excluded from the site, as is the relatively recently improved land around Tingon Farm. The site is predominantly blanket bog (a globally rare habitat) with smaller areas of coastal grassland and dry heath. The northern part of the site is one of the best areas of blanket bog in and has several small lochs and peaty pools. Blanket bog forms where the climate is cool and the rainfall high. One of the main components of the bog surface is Sphagnum moss, which, after it dies and becomes compressed under the living surface, turns into peat. Where a significant proportion of the bog surface is Sphagnum moss the area is termed as ‘active’ blanket bog, because peat is still forming. Within the blanket bog are several, highly acidic (dystrophic), peaty pools that are also of international importance. These pools are characteristically stained brown from contact with the surrounding peat and support a limited range of plants and animals. This habitat is a characteristic of Scottish peatlands and is rare, particularly in southern UK.

The site is of national and international importance for these two habitats (blanket bog and the acidic peaty pools) and for its populations of breeding red-throated diver and great skua. Tingon is an important site for red-throated diver with a breeding population of around 1% of the GB population. The site’s great skua population is not in itself notable but in combination with the numerous pairs on the Ronas Hill-North Roe SSSI amounts to over 1% of the GB and Western European population within the Ronas Hill- North Roe and Tingon SPA.

The nationally-important breeding whimbrel population has declined severely in recent years, with just a single pair in 2009. This is in line with a general decline throughout Shetland and requires to be assessed at the next site condition monitoring visit.

The site supports a nationally important assemblage of breeding moorland birds including merlin, golden plover, dunlin, snipe, redshank, curlew, greylag goose and arctic skua. Ringed plover, greenshank and raven have bred in some years and twite and teal have been recorded though not proven to breed.

The site is also noted for the presence of a large number of natural peat mounds. It is not known how these formed but they appear similar to mounds found in sub-arctic regions of Europe that are formed by frost heaving.

Red-throated diver Common snipe

Past and present management There is no known record of past management of the SSSI but the land is likely to have been grazed by cattle, sheep and ponies. In the north and east, the site adjoins three abandoned crofts and it is likely that peat was formerly cut on the SSSI in the vicinity.

The site is entirely rough grazing for sheep and occasionally Shetland ponies. The site can be divided into two units; the 4.8km2 to the north of Sand Water (83% of the SSSI) which is managed by Tingon Farm and the remaining area to the south which is part of the Breiwick and Hamnavoe Common Grazing.

The land belonging to Tingon Farm is grazed year round by pure Shetland ewes/gimmers and cheviot cross Shetland ewes/gimmers. Tingon Farm and SNH had previously entered into a management agreement which has now expired.

The southern section is an unregulated scattald, and part of the Breiwick and Hamnavoe Common Grazing.

Objectives for Management (and key factors influencing the condition of natural features) We wish to work with the owners and land managers 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 and monitor the effectiveness of its management.

The EU Habitats and Birds Directives oblige Government to avoid, in SACs and SPAs, the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species, as well as disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated, in so far as such disturbance could be significant in relation to the objectives of these Directives. The objectives below have been assessed against these requirements. All authorities proposing to carry out or permit to be carried out operations likely to have a significant effect on the European interests of this SSSI must assess those operations against the relevant Natura conservation objectives (which are listed on our website through the SNHi - SiteLink facility).

1. To maintain the existing extent of blanket bog Ensure appropriate stocking levels are maintained to avoid over grazing or trampling. Avoid other activities likely to cause damage to the bog such as use of vehicles and drainage works.

2. To maintain and if possible improve the population of upland breeding birds and ensure there is no loss of suitable habitat. Avoid reduction in water levels of pools and lochans and avoid activities likely to disturb birds during the breeding season.

Date last reviewed: 12 January 2011