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Report on winter tree id walk at Jenny’s Well

Group of 11 people standing around a path next to a holly bush with mature leafless trees behind

Thirteen tree-lovers gathered at Jenny’s Well on a pleasant, if chilly, Sunday afternoon on 18th February, for a spot of winter tree identifying. We were accompanied by Matt and May, from the Friends of Jenny’s Well, who were doing a litter pick round the site. Kirsty, who led the walk, helped by Judy, had previouslyContinueContinue reading “Report on winter tree id walk at Jenny’s Well”

Some outings for your diary

Hand holding a twig with a large pointed reddish brown bud at the end

First outing of the new Strathclyde Lichens Group Dave Mellor is leading a lichen trip to Shieldhill Glen on Tuesday 12th March.It’s an outing of the newly formed Strathclyde Lichens Group and will be meeting at the Cornalees Bridge car park, Greenock Cut Visitor Centre at 10.00 am.Anyone interested in joining in should email DaveContinueContinue reading “Some outings for your diary”

Report on lichen outing at Muirshiel Country Park

Group of people wearing waterproof clothing, bending over looking at pale lichen growing on a log covered in moss

Craig Postlethwaite led another excellent walk for the society, sharing his knowledge about lichens. There was a very good turn out for the walk on 27th January. Not put off by the bitterly cold winds we dawdled along the track examining lichens on logs, trees and stone walls. Craig has written this report on the walk and includedContinueContinue reading “Report on lichen outing at Muirshiel Country Park”

Bursaries for natural history courses

Bursaries of up to £400 available for natural history courses Looking to improve your plant ID skills? Interested in recording and identifying wasps? Or would you like to learn how to track mammals? Since 2009, Biological Recording in Scotland (BRISC) and the Glasgow Natural History Society (GNHS) have been offering bursaries for natural history training courses. These bursariesContinueContinue reading “Bursaries for natural history courses”

New Year plant hunt

Two people dressed in waterproofs wearing backpacks and woolly hats bending over looking at plants on the ground. They are standing at the edge of a cobbled lane with stone walls on either side.

Plans for outings are always at the mercy of the weather at this time of year. However, on the morning of the 30th December, the weather looked promising, some sleat was forecast but otherwise it was a dry, clear day. Seven people showed up looking forward to hunting for for wild plants in flower around Oakshaw, Paisley. ContinueContinue reading “New Year plant hunt”

Please help save Coul Links AGAIN!

Screengrab with photograph of coastline with title 'Save Coul Links' and text below

Highland Council votes to grant permission for golf course development despite overwhelming opposition. The Conservation Coalition asks for your help to stop this. Councillors voted by eight in favour, six against to allow the plans by developer C4C for Coul Links, near Embo in East Sutherland, against the advice of Highland Council’s own planning officers,ContinueContinue reading “Please help save Coul Links AGAIN!”

Help with Lichens

twig with a number of different lichens one bushy, one foliose and the rest crust-like with colours ranging from grey, orange and black

Offer of Zoom sessions and short outings Following the talk he gave for PNHS in November, Craig Postlethwaite has offered to run a few short zoom calls to show common lichens and the relevant identification characteristics from the Field Studies Council guides e.g. terminal soredia on Parmelia sulcata. He could then follow up with aContinueContinue reading “Help with Lichens”

Call for Bog Squad volunteers

Group of people with saws cutting down young birch trees

Butterfly Conservation are running a couple of Bog Squad work parties at Sergeantlaw Moss this winter and looking for volunteers to come along and help out. Weather permitting the days are:Saturday 2nd DecemberandSaturday 13th JanuaryTime: 10am – 3pm (but leaving early is not a problem)Tools are supplied and gloves if you want them, but youContinueContinue reading “Call for Bog Squad volunteers”

Celebrating Brocktober!

It’s October – time to celebrate the Badger. The charity Scottish Badgers organise the month-long Brocktober festival to raise awareness of badgers and the issues they face. Entering into the spirit of the festival, Paisley Natural History Society are delighted that Joe Connelly, Species Protection/Information Officer with Scottish Badgers, is giving the talk at ourContinueContinue reading “Celebrating Brocktober!”

Peatlands of Gleniffer

Bog with clumps of flowering yellow Bog Asphodel and pink Cross-leaved Heath in foreground and grassy hill with trees in background

Introduction The general area occupying undulating and slightly elevated land to the the south of Paisley is part of the Gleniffer Braes. As can be seen from the soil map below there are substantial areas of peatland within this area. Some are intact and some degraded or afforested. ©Crown Copyright Scotland’s Soils maps, Scottish GovernmentContinueContinue reading “Peatlands of Gleniffer”