Arisaig Farms

When James Colston took on the management of Arisaig Farms in the west Highlands of Scotland, over 30 years ago, he never imagined he’d become obsessed by the wonderful world of a small endangered butterfly species, the Chequered Skipper.

Its survival is just one benefit of decades of work, encouraging and protecting tree growth on the 10,000 acre hill farm.   The key to James’s approach is what he calls “cow power”.   James explained his approach to Kathleen Carragher beside a small loch where the Chequered Skippers will soon be putting in an appearance.

A report for BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today

Broadcast April 2025

Reporter:   Kathleen Carragher

Producer:   John Deering