Projects Species on the Edge By Paul Kirkland - Coastal Treasures Project Development Officer Scotland’s coast and islands provide a refuge for some of our most beautiful and unusual, but most vulnerable, species. Species on the Edge is a partnership of eight organisations; NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage), Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC), Bat Conservation Trust, Buglife, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife and RSPB. With support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are developing a project to aid the survival of 40 species in seven landscapes around the coast. ARC is co-ordinating work in the Solway where the natterjack toad reaches its northern limit. It only has a tenuous foothold here and may be down to a few hundred adults, needing more breeding pools and better terrestrial habitat. Additional target species along the Solway include the northern brown argus butterfly (pictured above), purple oxytropis plant, chough and the extraordinary tadpole shrimp, only found within the UK here and in the New Forest in Hampshire. Threats facing these species include habitat loss and the impact of climate change on coastal habitats.
Other Species on the Edge project areas include the Outer and Inner Hebrides, Shetland and Orkney, where work is focussed on species such as great yellow bumble bee, slender scotch burnet moth, short-necked oil beetle, terns and the Scottish primrose.
Projects
The development phase finishes in September and we will then apply to the Lottery for additional funding for implementation over four and a half years. The project would aim to achieve much of its work through communities, empowering them to conserve their local heritage. Advice to achieve multi-species benefits will be developed for landowners, with events to demonstrate wildlifefriendly management techniques.
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For more information contact paul.kirkland@arc-trust.org or go to https://tinyurl.com/ naturescot-sote-project or www.arc-trust.org/coastal-treasures
Photo top right: Northern brown argus butterfly. Middle left: Natterjack toad pool on the Solway, Bottom left: Natterjack toad © Paul Kirkland (ARC).
