Insh Marshes midweek Birch-bash October 20th 2021

This was a follow-up to September's work party and continued to remove regenerating birch which is shading out aspen suckers, the leaves of which are the only food of Dark Bordered Beauty moth caterpillars.  This is one of only 3 sites for Dark Bordered Beauty moth in Scotland and the moth has not been seen at one of these sites for the last two years, so possibly we are now down to just two sites - Insh Marshes and Balmoral Estate.

Eight folks turned out for the day, including five that were new to BC events.  The lovely autumnal weather continued, with it being dry, bright and mild, (out of the wind at least).  Most of the group worked away with tree poppers, uprooting birches and giving the aspen suckers room to flourish.  The other members of the group carted the uprooted birches into the mature woodland and piled them up to make habitat piles for various beasties.

During the course of the day, we created a birch-free and aspen-filled corridor down a slope to a sheltered hollow where we hope the adult moths will enjoy a warm micro-climate when they are flying in July and August next year.

It was a very satisfying day of physical exercise and plenty of chat with like-minded folk.

Pete Moore

Uncleared on the left, cleared on the right

The team at work