Gorse Under Attack on Reserve

The protection of delicate wild flowers and giant industrial machinery do not usually sit well together – but yesterday diggers moved on to a nationally important nature reserve to carry out essential environmental work.

The St Cyrus National Nature Reserve in Aberdeenshire became home to huge earth-moving equipment, brought in to lead the fight against invasive gorse, which is destroying habitats.

The bulldozers will be used to clear seven acres of the thick- growing plant in the southern end of the reserve.

Manager Andy Turner said the work was vital to protect rare wild flowers which are under threat from the gorse.

He said: “The gorse is now spreading across an area that was formerly a wild flower meadow and is out-competing more diverse and important plant species.

“It is very acidic and when its needles drop it prevents growth underneath the bushes.

“By clearing the area we should create a habitat suitable for the wild flowers the reserve is noted for.

“This is also a site of special scientific interest and that is predominantly a result of the wild flowers we have here, some of which are very rare.”

He added that some small areas of gorse would remain to provide shelter for breeding birds, but would be reduced to a manageable level.

When the removal of the plant is complete, a more environmentally friendly method will keep it that way.

The reserve has a plan to introduce a herd of Highland cattle to munch their way through the plant.

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