Burning the brash at Silklake Quarry Conservation site, Portland

Silklake Quarry Conservation site, Portland

The priority today is to burn up the material we cut during our recent workparties. This assumes that the wind swings round to the SW as forecast for Friday.

EuCAN CIC is working with the Portland Nature Community Interest Company to look after the conservation management of the Bumpers Lane Housing Development site at Silklake Quarry. The aim on this site is to control the unwanted scrub species like Buddleia, Wild Clematis and Cotoneaster that are threatening to take over a lot of the banks and reseeded limestone areas. While Buddleia is a brilliant nectar plant for butterflies, it is extremely invasive. It is tending to dominate many of the banks from where the seeds spread everywhere! Clematis is even worse!

Meet at 9am at the parking area shown on the map. Bring work gloves and refreshments. It would help if you could let me know in advance if you are planning to join us.

Chalkhill Blue butterfly, now seriously threatened in Dorset but found at Silklake.

     Small Blue butterflies are breeding on the Kidney Vetch