Sticky catchfly: Numbers of rare plant treble in Ochil Hills

Lindsay Mackinlay, head of ecology at the FFC, said: “Many good people have worked over many years to try and conserve this gloriously beautiful plant at Dumyat.

“We were blown away by the willingness of so many people and organisations to help us count the number of plants up in the crags.

“We are even more delighted that the plant appears to be doing really well since we have reduced the grazing up there.”

It is hoped that the species will continue to expand across the Ochils, with other land managers helping to join up existing populations of the plant.

NatureScot operations officer Stuart Bence, who surveyed the Dumyat plants in 2013, said: “These are absolutely amazing results.

“When we carried out the previous survey, we never thought we would see such high numbers and it is great news that the population seems to be spreading.

“To see the species going from being on a knife-edge to recovering so well is fantastic and just goes to show the benefits that the changes to land management in the area have brought about.”

The conservation work has also benefited the rare Northern Brown Argus butterfly, which was seen on Dumyat for the first time in 100 years in 2023.

The habitat changes for sticky catchfly also supported the common rockrose plant which the butterfly’s caterpillars feed on.