"The machair, Gaelic for fertile grassy plain, is a precious, globally important outpost of biodiversity, supporting everything from purple orchids and nodding blue campanulas to endangered birdlife, otters and rare bumblebees."
"Crofters have managed areas of machair as low-intensity pastureland, improving its fertility, grazing livestock and growing crops on sustainable cycles sympathetic to wildlife regeneration."
"The greatest extent of machair lies on the Scottish archipelago, notably the islands of Barra, Uist and Harris, where it has a fascinating symbiotic relationship with traditional agriculture."
The machair, a rare coastal habitat in Scotland's Outer Hebrides, formed 8,000 years ago from glacial sediment and sea deposits. It features diverse wildflowers and wildlife, including endangered species. The machair's fertility is enhanced by traditional crofting practices, which involve sustainable agriculture. This unique ecosystem is primarily found on the islands of Barra, Uist, and Harris. The resurgence of crofting supports wildlife regeneration and sustainable land use, making the machair an important site for biodiversity and cultural heritage.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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