Highland Rangers help protect rare butterfly habitat. (06/12/07)

An extremely rare butterfly found at Ardersier Common on the Moray Firth will have a better chance of survival thanks to works being organised by Countryside Rangers with The Highland Council’s Planning and Development Service.

Ardersier Common, just east of the village, is not only home to the Dingy Skipper butterfly and other wildlife but is also a popular walking and picnic area for locals. A series of paths around the common have become overgrown with the spread of gorse bushes.

Local wildlife is suffering as a result of gorse taking over large areas of the site. Bushes are shading out many of the wildflowers and grasses which grow there. A lack of these food plants will have a knock on effect on wildlife including the rare dingy skipper butterfly which breed on the site.

The Highland Council is taking action to control the gorse and will be employing a contractor to cut it back with a tractor and flail in the next few weeks. At the same time repairs will also be made to the car park area.

Paul Kirkland Director of Butterfly Conservation Scotland said: "We are very pleased to support this work. The Dingy Skipper is a charming little butterfly, but declining fast across the UK, and the monitoring work our volunteers have done suggests that the Moray Firth area now supports the best populations in Scotland.  A mix of scrub and flower-rich grassland is ideal for this butterfly, and much other wildlife besides.”

Councillor Drew Hendry, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Planning, Environment and Development Committee said: “This work at Ardersier Common underlines the vital role that our Countryside Rangers have in fostering the natural heritage of the Highlands, benefiting  the local wildlife, the Highland community and also, in this case, biodiversity on a national and UK scale. “

Highland Council’s Countryside Ranger John Orr, who will be overseeing the work said: “There was a large fire here three years ago which caused a lot of destruction to local wildlife during the nesting season. Since then the gorse has come back with vengeance. We need to clear it to keep the paths open to encourage visitors and to maintain the great diversity of species we have at Ardersier Common.”

The Highland Council Countryside Rangers are a partnership between The Highland Council and Scottish Natural Heritage with the aim of promoting public enjoyment and appreciation of the countryside and conserving wildlife.

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