botany – Paisley Natural History Society

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”

Mountain Pansies

We have recently returned from a very pleasant holiday in the Spey Valley. On our favourite evening stroll, high above the River Spey near Kingussie, we were delighted to discover that you do not need to be in the mountains to see Mountain Pansy. We were staying in a cottage at Ruthven, just outside theContinueContinue reading “Mountain Pansies”

Braving the weather on a New Year Plant Hunt

Large red multi-storey building next to a river which has burst its banks and two swans standing on the grass in the foreground

Every year the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland (BSBI) organise a New Year Plant Hunt. All you have to do is spend a couple of hours looking for wild plants in flower between 29 December 2024 to 1st January 2025. Ours was arranged for 31st December. It is a lovely way to spend aContinueContinue reading “Braving the weather on a New Year Plant Hunt”

Glow-worm weekend on Isle of Cumbrae

Close-up of a beetle with two lower segments of its body glowing bright green and perched in a grassy area.

22-23 June 2024 Fintry Bay We arrived on the Isle of Cumbrae at lunch time and headed over to the Fintry Bay Café, with beautiful views over the Clyde Estuary. After a delicious lunch we made our way along the coast towards Millport and discovered the walking track uphill to Millport Golf Club. Our routeContinueContinue reading “Glow-worm weekend on Isle of Cumbrae”

Beginners’ Botany with Michael Philip at Thornly Park

A group of people standing in a grassy area surrounded by trees

A group of 7 members gathered for this evening walk on 5th June, to learn about botany in the grassland adjacent to South Avenue, Paisley. It was led by Michael Philip, Vice-county Co-recorder for Lanarkshire (vc77) and co-ordinator of the Renfrewshire Vice-county (vc76) Botany Network. Rather than repeat the same route as last year, weContinueContinue reading “Beginners’ Botany with Michael Philip at Thornly Park”

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”

Glorious grasslands

PNHS has had a botany-filled fortnight starting with the first of our study group visits to Whinnerston Braes on 29 June followed by our Beginners Botany outing on 6 July. Whinnerston Braes is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its flower-rich grassland and a group of us went along to have a look andContinueContinue reading “Glorious grasslands”

Botanical wanderings in and around Lochwinnoch in 2020/21

Older members of the PNHS might recall the Thursday evening local study excursions of the ‘80s. For a short period we were joined by an enthusiastic youngster, Jim Blackwood from Lochwinnoch, who showed great botanical interest and promise. Sadly, after a short stay he left for the ‘lights of London’. That was that, until aboutContinueContinue reading “Botanical wanderings in and around Lochwinnoch in 2020/21”