The BBC Wild Isles series is certainly shining a spotlight on the amazing wildlife we have in the British Isles. Catch up on the series here if you have missed an episode.

This week’s instalment is sure to contain more thrilling footage as we explore Britain’s grasslands. These stunning habitats are botanically richer than any other and support a wealth of life above and below ground.

This is why our reserve staff and volunteers are working continually to conserve some of Scotland’s surviving but fragmented wildflower meadows by cutting back bracken, gorse and invasive plants. This is labour-intensive and in some instances cattle and sheep can do the same job much more easily, and more effectively.

Our Flying Flock of hardy Hebridean and Shetland sheep along with our robust herd of Shetland cattle graze on many of our reserves at different times of the year. Grazing helps to trample fast-growing grasses and prevent wildflowers being overtaken by scrub. They also help to maintain areas of open water benefiting not just flora but insects and amphibians.

Reserves where sheep or cattle graze include Petershill Wildlife Reserve in West Lothian and Dumbarnie Links in Fife. Find out more about our conservation grazing here.

On the Ayrshire coast, the Irvine to Girvan Nectar Network is creating a network of nectar and pollen-rich habitats. Work is underway on farms, golf courses, country parks, schools, wildlife reserves, a railway station, dementia hospital ward, a distillery and amenity land to create and maintain wildflower meadows for pollinating insects.

Different approaches have been trialled such as green hay, large meadow creation and small pocket wildflower areas within communities.

The UK has seen a decline of over 95% of the UK’s wildflower meadows since the Second World War and a resulting drop in our wild pollinating insects. Conserving and creating more species-rich grasslands is vital to saving wild pollinators. Read more about the Irvine to Girvan Nectar Network here.

Watch these videos to help you care about wildflowers and the butterflies and moths who rely upon them for food and shelter.

If you want to take action read our guides How to sow a wildflower meadow and How to build a bee hotel.

You can also visit some of our colourful grassland reserves to appreciate these special but fragile places that we need to protect across the country.

Bo’Mains Meadow, West Lothian – wildflower meadow
This reserve has two wildflower meadows: the northern meadow, which was a former reservoir that has been filled in, and the southern meadow, which has been undisturbed for many years and is now a wonderful unimproved species-rich meadow.
Find out more here.

Talich, Highland – calcareous grassland
Rich grassland flora can be found in clusters around calcareous springs, encouraging a proliferation of orchids such as the Lesser Butterfly-Orchid and the Heath-Spotted Orchid which we survey every year.

Find our more about the reserve here.

Gailes Marsh, South Ayrshire – dry coastal grassland
Gailes Marsh features dry coastal grassland, marshland and a pond, all sheltered by mixed woodland. The species-rich grassland attracts many butterflies, bees, hoverflies and other pollinating insects. Mining bees find the conditions favourable for nesting.

Find out more about the reserve here.

Join us

Our reserves are free to access but as a charity, we rely on the support of nature lovers like you to keep our critical conservation work going. Join today from just £3 per month and help to protect Scotland’s wildlife for the future.