Scotland’s first butterfly reserve is reporting a significant increase in butterfly numbers this summer – and it could all be down to the interventions of Highland cattle.
Set up by Forestry Commission Scotland in partnership with Butterfly Conservation and Forest Research in 2003, the Allt Mhuic nature reserve - on the north Shore of Loch Arkaig - aims to support several species of butterfly, particularly the nationally important ‘Chequered Skipper’, that only occurs in the UK within a 25 mile radius of Fort William.
As part of this project the Commission pioneered large scale habitat and species management through the use of a conservation grazing programme using 15 young Highland Cattle. However it became apparent in 2009 that it wasn’t working as had been hoped and that butterfly numbers were still declining.
Kenneth Knott, for the Commission, said:
“The decision was taken to change the grazing regime on the lower slopes from summer to winter grazing and early indications suggest that the change is benefiting butterfly numbers. As the season has progressed at least five species on the site have shown improvements in numbers, which is excellent news and we are looking forward to getting the end of season figures to compare to previous years.”
“That early success led us to hold a couple of open days earlier in the year and we had around 100 people show up from all over the country. We even had some people who had travelled up from Peterborough – and they told us their local pub was called the Chequered Skipper – but I don’t think that was the only reason they came!”
The chequered skipper butterfly count shows a 160 per cent increase (up from 3 to 8 in the monitored transect), with the first ever male territories being mapped. Indications are that numbers of the dark green fritillary have shown a 250 per cent (up from 8 to 28) increase and the small pearl bordered fritillary and the speckled wood butterflies have doubled in number.
The local recorder on the site Tony Millard said:
“The whole site looks really good and the results this year are fantastic. The introduction of the cattle has made a real difference to the quality of the site, making the conditions and the habitat much more amenable to several butterfly species.
“An early success like this is really encouraging and we hope we are on course to see further improvement next year. It’s a great example of how more natural land management techniques can bring additional benefits."
Other species such as Dragonflies are also showing a positive response to the changes, increasing in numbers and exceeding those found in the control areas.
Kenneth Knott added:
“It is a great to see responses like this, particularly when using such a naturalistic approach with the Cattle. The Cattle are doing a great job and are thriving on the area, proving that the traditional Highland breed was the right choice for our conservation work on this site.”
The reserve will continue to be used as a site for developing grazing regimes for other conservation sites within Lochaber forest district and beyond.
Notes to Editors
1) Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the Scottish Government’s forestry directorate and manages the 665,000 hectare national forest estate. The Commission protects, manages and expands Scotland’s forests and woodlands in a way which benefits biodiversity, communities and the economy. www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland
2) Alt Mhuic reserve lies on the north Shore of Loch Arkaig approx 15 miles from Fort William and is open all year round.
3) Highland Cattle are present all year but graze different habitats within the reserve according to season. Currently there are 15 cattle as a permanent group on the site, part of the wider Garry Pinewood cattle grazing project. At least two other sites are now being grazed on a regime that we pioneered at the Butterfly Reserve, but The Alt Mhuic reserve remains the first and will be the core of the Commission’s butterfly management within the forest district.
4) Detailed monitoring of butterfly species and habitats has been carried out by Forest Research and independent consultants since the reserve was established. www.forestresearch.gov.uk
5) The Chequered skipper butterfly is one of six key species in Forestry Commission Scotland’s Biodiversity Action Plan, which aims to carry out work across the national forest estate to help conserve and enhance species numbers. The other key species are, black grouse, capercaillie, pearlbordered fritillary, juniper and red squirrel.
6) Butterfly Conservation is the largest insect conservation charity in Europe with nearly 15,000 members in the UK. Its aim is the conservation of butterflies, moths and their habitats. It runs conservation programmes on over 100 threatened species of butterfly and moth as well as world leading recording and monitoring programmes. For more information, visit www.butterfly-conservation.org
7) For more information about the reserve and the butterfly species present visit http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/text/172/allt_mhuic_loch_arkaig.html