A wildflower area of a Castle Douglas park has been given a tidy up.
Volunteers from the National Trust for Scotland gave the section of Lochside Park its annual cut using a specialist flail mower.
The machine ensures the vegetation cut can be removed effectively, maximising the biodiversity and species mix on the site.
National Trust for Scotland engagement ranger, Mary Smith, said: “Visiting the meadow prior to mowing we were really excited to see pollinator activity on knapweed and birds foot trefoil, even this late in the year.
“It was a great morning’s work from our volunteer team, as we cut and raked the meadow to help it to produce more wildflowers next year – these will help increase biodiversity not just in the meadow but as part of the jigsaw in increasing biodiversity across the Castle Douglas area.”
The meadow was created in a bid to solve a flooding problem in that area of the park.
Alder, cherry, birch and rowan trees were planted there earlier this year thanks to a project led by Castle Douglas Community Council, funded by the South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant Scheme.
Local resident, Jools Cox, said: “This area of wildflower meadow, together with the memories garden orchard and meadow at the other end of the park, has contributed hugely to the increase in moths, butterflies, pollinating insects and birds spotted this summer.
“There was a noticeable increase in swifts and swallows over the park.
“The pockets of wildflowers and seeding grasses in the park, and increasingly in domestic gardens in the town, are essential to sustain the local biodiversity that is severely under threat from intensive farming methods and climate change.”
Local councillor, Iain Howie, added: “This project is an excellent example of collaborative working between the NTS, Dumfries and Galloway Council and the community council which has converted a barren unproductive area and turned it into a wildlife haven.
