Events – Paisley Natural History Society

Magical moths of Jenny’s Well

group of people looking a a moth identification guide

Friday 17th July 2026 We had a magical evening of mothing led by Gordon Phillips and hosted by Friends of Jenny’s Well. At 9:30pm Gordon and other local moth experts, Paul Tatner and Paul Mapplebeck, set up their moth traps at various locations around the ponds area of the reserve. It was a warm, balmyContinueContinue reading “Magical moths of Jenny’s Well”

Outing at Jenny’s Well Local Nature Reserve, Paisley

Photograph of six people outdoors in a grassy, wooded area, engaged in nature observation. One person stands reading from a paper, while others listen attentively, with one person crouching to take a photograph, and several wearing backpacks and outdoor clothing.

Saturday 2 May 2026 A combined group of Paisley and Glasgow Natural History Societies joined the outing round Jenny’s Well Nature Reserve. We began in the wetland area which is at the site of a former quarry, later used for landfill, and now capped over and filled with grassland, woodland and wetlands which are homeContinueContinue reading “Outing at Jenny’s Well Local Nature Reserve, Paisley”

Lichen Walk – Gleniffer Braes and Bardrain Wood

28th February 2026 This was our fourth lichen walk and the third that has gone to Gleniffer Braes. Nine of us met at the highest car park near the electricity sub-station and headed off towards Bardrain Wood. The fence posts along the edge of the path hold many species of lichen. These are ones thatContinueContinue reading “Lichen Walk – Gleniffer Braes and Bardrain Wood”

Our 2026 New Year Plant Hunt finds

Group of six people standing in a row with an old building and waterfall in the background

On 3 January we had our third New Year Plant Hunt in Paisley. The weather had been very unkind for the last two of these outings, with snow one year and torrential rainstorms the next. This year however, it was dry and dare I say it, sunny (albeit very cold). Seven of us started outContinueContinue reading “Our 2026 New Year Plant Hunt finds”

PNHS meetings start back for 2025/26

We are looking forward to our first meeting of 2025/26 this Thursday 4th September, starting at 7.30pm. Instead of the planned talk, which has been postponed at short notice, we have asked our members to give the talks on Thursday! Come along prepared to tell us about what fires your enthusiasm for nature! Bring photographs orContinueContinue reading “PNHS meetings start back for 2025/26”

GNHS and PNHS outing to Boylestone Quarry, Barrhead

Saturday 26th July 2025 Boylestone Quarry is a geological SSSI on the outskirts of Barrhead. The site was quarried for road metal but has been disused for decades. The main mineralogical interest of the quarry is the presence of prehnite (calcium aluminium silicate). The walls of the quarry also feature a good example of twoContinueContinue reading “GNHS and PNHS outing to Boylestone Quarry, Barrhead”

PNHS Moth Evening at Muirshiel Visitor Centre

Two people looking at a moth trap with a bright light

Friday 20th June 2025 A wild night was had by the few who ventured out after 9pm on a Friday night to go mothing up by Lochwinnoch. Gordon Phillips had arranged with Pat Emslie, Ranger at Muirshiel Country Park, to host a moth trapping evening to which members of PNHS were invited, along with localContinueContinue reading “PNHS Moth Evening at Muirshiel Visitor Centre”

Join in the Big Butterfly Count

Brown and white butterfly on yellow flowers

The Big Butterfly Count started yesterday, Friday 18th July and and runs until Sunday 10th August. Male Common Blue butterfly It is an annual UK-wide survey organised by Butterfly Conservation. By taking part we can help them assess the health of our environment simply by counting the amount and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) thatContinueContinue reading “Join in the Big Butterfly Count”

Outing at Dykebar and Hollybush, Paisley

group of people wearing waterproofs and carrying umbrellas in a woodland standing next to a log on the ground

14 June 2025 A small group of six, brave enough to come out, despite the wet weather, set off through the woodland shelterbelt at Dykebar hoping to get protection from the rain. The plan wasn’t as effective as we’d hoped, but without the downpour we would never have seen what turned out to be theContinueContinue reading “Outing at Dykebar and Hollybush, Paisley”

PNHS Greenan shore outing

group of 6 people standing in foreground with hill in the background

Saturday 3rd May 2025 An adventurous five members turned up in glorious sunny conditions and despite the strong westerly breeze there was plenty of Green-veined Whites and Orange-tips already flying about. This trip was about seeing the Lesser Whitethroat and hopefully the Holly Blue butterfly as I had seen both in amongst the coastal HawthornContinueContinue reading “PNHS Greenan shore outing”