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Special Areas of Conservation

Rhinog

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Wales
Unitary Authority West Wales and The Valleys
Centroid* SH649297
Latitude 52.8478
Longitude -4.005
SAC EU Code UK0012945
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 3144.31
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of Rhinog SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (1%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (5%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (75%)
  • Dry grassland, Steppes (8%)
  • Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (3%)
  • Improved grassland (3%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (4%)
  • Inland rocks, Screes, Sands, Permanent Snow and ice (1%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • 4030 European dry heaths

    Rhinog is representative of upland European dry heaths in Wales. On shady slopes, the site contains what is considered to be the best development of H21 Calluna vulgaris – Vaccinium myrtillus – Sphagnum capillifolium heath outside Scotland. Other NVC types represented include H8 Calluna vulgaris – Ulex gallii, H10 Calluna vulgaris – Erica cinerea, and H12 Calluna vulgaris – Vaccinium myrtillus heaths.

  • 91A0 Old sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles

    Rhinog in north Wales contains high-quality examples of old sessile oak woods. This woodland is continuous with that in the adjacent Coedydd Derw a Safleoedd Ystlumod Meirion/ Meirionnydd Oakwoods and Bat Sites, and is best considered with that site.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.