You are in > Home > News & Events > News Archives > Magical Meadows - Two Perthshire Open Days

Magical Meadows - Two Perthshire Open Days (Archived Content)

SAC News Release Ref. No: 09N30
Published: 30 Jun 2009

Wildflower meadow (opens in new window)

Some very special Perthshire wildflower meadows will be on show in June and July this year. Perthshire is one of the top three regions in the UK for so called “calcareous grasslands,” growing on soils rich in lime and producing wildflowers otherwise rare in Scotland. Local farmers are co-operating in a project to encourage them and now two open days are planned to let the public and other farmers see the results of their work.


The project to protect and restore rare grasslands in Highland Perthshire is celebrating its second anniversary. It was set up in 2007 by the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) to increase awareness of highland Perthshire’s wildflower-rich, calcareous grasslands and their conservation importance. They support a huge range of wildflowers, including many rarities such as orchids and gentians. They also attract an impressive range of insect wildlife including many rare species like the mason bee or butterflies such as the northern brown argus. If these grasslands disappear then the species that depend on them will disappear too.

Perthshire is lucky to have such unusual grasslands which are often associated with the Downs of southern England. The aim of the project is both to highlight the fact that they are under threat from changes to grazing regimes, the spread of bracken and weeds such as thistles, scrub invasion and even tree planting and also to encourage sympathetic management and restoration if required.

During the first two years of the project numerous farmers have been in touch with SAC to ask for advice about managing and restoring grasslands. Four Demonstration Sites have been set up, where restoration and management works have been put in place to enhance the grasslands.

The work has included scrub removal, weed control, fencing to allow the reintroduction of grazing or the implementation of a controlled grazing regime. Local seed has been sown into semi improved grassland and the bracken has been brought under control. The work has been funded by the Tayside Biodiversity Action Fund, SNH and the Cairngorms National Park Authority. Some of these sites are now receiving management payments under the SRDP Rural Priorities Scheme.

These demonstration sites are the focus of Open Days, where farmers and others interested in the meadows can find out more about restoration techniques and management and see the wonderful range of wildflowers.

The first visit will be on 30 June to Keltneyburn Meadow near Aberfeldy and Chesthill at Glen Lyon, starting at 2pm.

The second visit will be on 15 July to Strathgarry Farm at Killiecrankie starting at 7pm.

Everyone is welcome to come along.

The Project has another year to run, so if you would like advice about species-rich grasslands or if you would like to visit a Demonstration Site then please contact Christine Hall of SAC. 

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus

News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Senior Communications Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

Add to Address Book | Help