Clearing buddleia and other undesirables from the banks at Silklake Quarry Conservation site, Portland

Silklake Quarry Conservation site, Portland

We shall be working with the Dorset Countryside Volunteers today. The priority will be to remove as much as possible of the buddleia that has established itself on the banks that surround this wildlife conservation area. We will be burning if the conditions are right.

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, and to encourage as much as possible the indigenous calcareous plant species. 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 9.30am 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 that we have sown on the scrapes at Silklake.