Volunteers work to create haven for rare butterfly

The Caithness Countryside Volunteers met last Sunday (9 June) to help create habitat for the rare small blue butterfly at Castlehill. The volunteers cut back vegetation and dug out rank roots to create an area which will be suitable for planting plugs of kidney vetch, the small blue caterpillar’s food plant. One of the volunteers, Mary Legg, has been growing the plant at home from seed collected in the local area. Due to the cold snap the plugs were not big enough to be planted out on Sunday but the volunteers will return at a later date to plant the plugs.

The event has been supported through CSV Action Earth organised by the Community Service Volunteers. As part of this year’s campaign, SNH will be supporting around 170 projects in Scotland through grant awards of up to £500, aimed at groups that will help support and encourage volunteer activity through practical environmental projects.

Marina Swanson, The Highland Council Countryside Ranger and event organiser said: “I’d like to thank the volunteers who turned up on Sunday. The digging was hard work but hopefully the kidney vetch will do well in the area we have cleared and help expand the range of the small blue butterfly. We are grateful for the grant received from CSV as we have been able to buy some new tools. We will have another planting event and if anyone wishes to get involved, please get in touch.”

The Caithness Countryside Volunteers is organised through the Highland Council’s Planning & Development Countryside Rangers and is always looking for new members. If you wish to find out more about the group, please contact Marina Swanson on 01955604588 or e-mail marina.swanson@highland.gov.uk