Working to secure the future of rare species

SINCE our Back from the Brink project started in summer 2017 there has been a huge amount of work undertaken to achieve our aim of restoring and maintaining a network of limestone grassland sites, with the aim of conserving rare plants, insects and other wildlife.

To date, practical conservation work led by our conservation officer with the help of volunteers has amounted to a total of 221 volunteer days.

This work is helping to secure the future of a number of rare and threatened species.

Soil scrapes have been created at a site to aid the regeneration of Juniper, a plant which has declined due to a lack of grazing and management.

Without areas of bare open soil Juniper seeds cannot germinate so this work will allow a new generation of Juniper plants to grow.

Scrub removal has taken place at several sites to restore wildflower-rich swards, while at the same time providing ideal conditions for species such as the Duke of Burgundy butterfly and the rugged oil beetle.

Work is also underway to get potential reintroduction sites into good condition to support the Large Blue butterfly. The project aims to facilitate at least one further reintroduction of this butterfly to Gloucestershire. Planting wild thyme and wild marjoram, its larval food plants, will help the butterfly survive in the future.

Further work to help the Duke of Burgundy has also taken place.

By working closely with the National Trust and the Commoners at Rodborough Common, temporary paddocks were installed this year on the common. Moving cattle around those areas of the common most in need of grazing means we can keep the scrub to the right level and allows the cowslips to thrive, both of which are needed by the Duke of Burgundy.

More practical conservation work will take place this winter.

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