Supporting guidance for vulnerable priority species

Date published: 15 January, 2024

For recent changes to this guidance, please see the bottom of the page.

Table of Contents



In order to score points under this criterion, you must:

  • confirm that the management option / capital item proposed is within the appropriate mapped range for the vulnerable priority species or, in the case of freshwater pearl mussel, associated with one of the key rivers stated on the VPS recording form
  • include management options and/or capital items in your application that will benefit the species, located appropriately within the holding, as indicated in the guidance for each vulnerable priority species below
  • submit your information using the vulnerable priority species recording form

The management options and capital items that should be adopted for each species are identified below, along with further supporting guidance on each species.

Please also ensure you can meet any relevant legal requirement relating to Protected Species; see further details in the Protected Species section of this webpage.

Supporting guidance for farmland waders is available.

In order to score National Priority points for farmland waders, you must undertake one or more of the following capital items to improve habitat condition where you can meet the eligibility requirements, unless you can provide evidence that significant capital work has already been undertaken or that the area already supports significant populations of waders:

If there is dense rush cover within fields proposed for wader management this should be addressed to ensure VPS points are awarded. Avoid tokenism, which will result in no wader points being awarded (e.g. creating one wader scrape when several fields are proposed for wader management).

In addition, you must undertake at least one of the following management options, where you can meet the eligibility requirements:

You must ensure that you locate management options in appropriate locations.

Do not:

  • plant trees or hedges within 30m of wader nesting and feeding sites
  • apply for wader management options on land within 30m of established hedgerows, scrub, trees and woodland.

Curlew, Lapwing, Snipe, Oystercatcher, Redshank: the range for these species is the whole of Scotland so no wader range maps are provided. However, you must be within the target area for the wader options.

Corncrake requirements are detailed in the specialist corncrake option pages and further information is contained in the supporting guidance.

Further information is available from the RSPB.

In order to score National Priority points for corncrake, you must undertake at least one of the following management options, where you can meet the eligibility requirements for the option:

In addition, if you manage mown grassland for corncrake, you must undertake at least one of the following management options / capital items as per the option requirements for Corncrake Mown Grassland:

Corn bunting requirements are detailed in the specialist corn bunting option pages and further information is contained in the supporting guidance.

Further information is available from the RSPB.

In order to score National Priority points for corn bunting, you must either undertake the Corn Buntings Mown Grassland, option where you can meet the eligibility requirements for the option, or undertake at least three of the following management options / capital items, where you can meet the eligibility requirements

Chough requirements are detailed in the specialist chough option pages and further information is contained in the supporting guidance.

Further information is available from the RSPB.

In order to score National Priority points for chough, you must undertake at least one of the following management options, where you can meet the eligibility requirements for the option:

Twite nest in mature heather, or occasionally bracken.

Availability of seed, especially later in the breeding season, appears to be a key requirement for breeding twite. However, these seed sources tend to be on enclosed, in-bye land that is adjacent to the moorland habitats where they nest. VPS points, therefore, relate to providing food and cover on the in-bye ground.

Moorland management for twite should therefore concentrate on maintaining stands of mature heather and bracken in areas immediately adjacent to hay meadows and unimproved seed-rich grassland. These areas should be protected from muirburn and overgrazing.

Further information is available from the RSPB.

In order to score National Priority points for twite, you must undertake at least two of the following management options, one of which must be Wild Bird Seed for Farmland Birds, where you can meet the eligibility requirements for the option:

In addition, you must undertake the following capital item:

Throughout the year, black grouse use a wide range of habitats for nesting, feeding, lekking (displaying), chick-rearing, cover and shelter.

Heather and blaeberry are important foods for adult black grouse throughout the year and grasses, sedges, rushes and herbs might be eaten depending on local availability.

Adult females benefit from eating protein-rich foods such as cotton grass buds in the spring, as this helps them to get into good breeding condition. Insects, including caterpillars and sawfly larvae, are an important food source for chicks.

Maintaining a range of habitats, including wet flushes, is therefore important for black grouse.

In order to score National Priority points for black grouse, you must undertake at least one of the following management options, where you can meet the eligibility requirements for the option:

Hen harrier prey primarily on small mammals, particularly short-tailed field voles, and a range of birds, particularly meadow pipits and grouse chicks. Merlin specialise in catching small birds, and short-eared owls feed mainly on small mammals.

All three species prefer to nest in heather-dominated vegetation at least 30 centimetres tall, although harriers and short-eared owls will also nest in tall rushes and bracken. Mixtures of heather and grass appear to be preferred by both voles and meadow pipits.

You should therefore aim to create a mix of heather and rough grassland with some rank areas at least 30 centimetres tall.

In order to score National Priority points for hen harrier you must undertake at least one of the following management options, where you can meet the eligibility requirements for the option:

The marsh fritillary is a butterfly that lives on damp grassland and moorland. Its range in Scotland is restricted and centred on Argyll and neighbouring islands. It is mainly reliant on traditional agriculture through light cattle grazing, ideally by traditional breeds.

The aim is to create a patchwork of short and tall vegetation, five to 25 centimetres in height, with areas of abundant devil’s-bit scabious (the caterpillar’s sole food plant) and a supply of nectar sources.

Sheep selectively feed on scabious and can severely reduce or even eliminate it from the sward. The main threats to this species are habitat loss and inappropriate land management. Uncontrolled burning, drainage, and cessation of grazing can also be detrimental.

Further information from Butterfly Conservation:

In order to score National Priority points for marsh fritillary, you must undertake at least one of the following management options, where you can meet the eligibility requirements:

The great yellow bumble bee is a specialist species which requires extensive areas of open, flower-rich grassland. Few such habitats are self-sustaining, requiring sympathetic management to maintain a diverse sward.

As well as abundant nectar and pollen, bees also need some undisturbed grassland as nest areas. They frequently make nests in abandoned rodent burrows, so management that provides habitat for voles and other rodents will also encourage bees, where there are also flower-rich areas nearby.

The management options below have been chosen because we consider them likely to provide these conditions. Options such as Wild Bird Seed for Farmland Birds can be especially beneficial where the seed mix includes nectar-rich species such as borage.

To ensure maximum benefit for the great yellow bumblebee and other pollinators, ensure a diversity of flowers throughout May to September, in particular red clover (and other legumes, such as meadow vetchling) and knapweed.

In order to score National Priority points for great yellow bumble bee, you must undertake at least one of the following management options / capital items, where you can meet the eligibility requirements:

Lowland agricultural land is the key habitat for great crested newt, which requires aquatic and terrestrial habitats to enable them to breed, forage, disperse and hibernate

Historically, farming has favoured this species, particularly through the creation of ponds that are open (not heavily shaded), are close to other ponds, don’t support fish or duck, and contain clean water and abundant aquatic vegetation.

Great crested newt also require suitable terrestrial habitat nearby. This includes rough grassland with patches of tall herb and scrub, hibernation sites and refuges (for example, piles of logs or stones, drystone walls, deciduous woodland and scrub), and habitat corridors linking breeding ponds and terrestrial areas, such as hedgerows, scrub, overgrown field margins and rough grassland (for example, buffer strips).

Further information from the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust:

In order to score National Priority points for great crested newt, your holding must be within the priority area for the species. You must undertake at least one of the following management options, where you can meet the eligibility requirements for the option:

In addition, you must undertake the following capital item:

Freshwater pearl mussels are large shellfish that live in several of our clean rivers and burns.

They are one of the longest living invertebrates in the world, living for over 100 years. They live amongst gravel on the riverbed and feed by filtering water. They are extremely sensitive to pollution and this is one of the main reasons they are critically endangered.

Good land management is one of the most important factors to ensure they survive. Actions to reduce silt getting into rivers, including creating water margins, reducing diffuse pollution and improving bankside woodlands, can all help to ensure Scotland’s populations survive.

Further information is available from NatureScot

In order to score National Priority points for freshwater pearl mussel, you must undertake at least two of the following management options / capital items, where you can meet the eligibility requirements:

You must also confirm that the management options or capital items proposed are within catchments draining to any of the following Special Areas of Conservation and Sites of Special Scientific Interest:

  • Special Areas of Conservation (SAC): AbhainnClais an Eas and Allt a’ Mhuilinn; Ardnamurchan Burns; Ardvar and Loch a’ Mhuilinn woodlands; Foinaven; Glen Beasdale; Inverpolly; Mingarry Burn; North Harris; Rannoch Moor; River Borgie; River Dee; River Evelix; River Kerry; River Moidart; River Moriston; River Naver; River Oykel; River South Esk; River Spey.
  • Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Loch Lubnaig Marshes; Loch Stack and River Laxford.
(The designated site boundaries are on the NatureScotSitelink website.)

Action to restore freshwater pearl mussels populations in other river catchments can also be a priority, but will require an endorsement from NatureScot submitted as part of the application.

Section Change
Introduction Updated VPS recording form.
Farmland waders: curlew, lapwing, redshank, snipe and oystercatcher Revised text
Great crested newt Added text indicating you must undertake the capital item Pond creation and restoration for wildlife

Click 'Download this page' to create a printable version of this guidance you can save or print out.