A MAJOR project designed to address the problem of habitat loss for wildlife on Portland is proving to have a significant impact.

Dorset Wildlife Trust, working on behalf of the Portland Nature Conservation Forum and in partnership with other organisations, undertook the project to fight back against the cotoneaster species.

Cotoneaster is a waxy leaf bush which had been dominating many areas of the island. Up until 2011, the species was said to be smothering, fragmenting and destroying the native limestone grassland and its associated communities of species.

Exposed limestone in the abandoned quarries had created a network of habitats which rare plants and wildlife thrived in, including 27 species of national scarce, rare or vulnerable plants and 99 species of invertebrates.

A project, funded by Viridor Credits and other local companies, has taken place over the last three years in order to transform Portland’s landscape and remove cotoneaster.

After the removal of cotoneaster, many small seedlings of the limestone grasses started reappearing. This led to an increasing number of plant species and the recovery of the butterflies and moths that rely on them for food.

Butterfly species that have since flourished include the Lulworth Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Small Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Adonis Blue and Grayling. All of these species have recorded higher numbers in 2015 than they did in 2012 and have been spread across more sites.

After three years of work, the cotoneaster appears to be all but gone.

Sam Hamer, the Portland Living Landscape officer, said: “This project has been so important, Portland has the highest quality of limestone grassland and associated habitat found anywhere in the world. It is so rich and full of life I see it as the rain forest of the grassland world.”

Sam said there was a new focus for Portland. He said: “We aim to continue growing our volunteer group to tackle future removal and management works.

“Through the Portland Quarries Nature Park, it is vital we raise more awareness around issues such as the damage caused by invasive species, arson and vandalism, with a view to increasing the value of this special landscape for future generations”.