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Welcome to the Perthshire Society of Natural Science web site.
All Programmes for the 141st Winter Syllabus 2008-2009 are now available.
Please enter either the appropriate Section to view full details or visit the Programme page with the link button on the left of this page to view all main PSNS Parent Body and Section Lectures for 2008-2009.
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Latest News:
The Parent Body of PSNS holds its first meeting on Friday, 14th November when John Mitchell of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh presents “Curation, Collection and Cultivation”. Having completed studies at Elmwood College, Coupar, John joined the staff of the RBG twenty five years ago. Today, as Rock and Alpine Supervisor he has a dedicated team who work through the seasons sowing seeds, propagation, potting bulbs and constantly checking plants in the Alpine House and in the Rock Garden. Alpine plants from all over the world form the Collection of historic and international importance at RBG where the Rock Garden was begun in 1871 with the Alpine House being built in 1914.John is in demand as a leader of botanical tours and as a plant hunter in Europe, China, Yunnan and more recently in Tibet. This will be a unique insight into the work of the Botanic Garden, future plans and the thrill and enjoyment of plant-hunting in India.
Moira Hutchison, Redgorton is the speaker at the Open Meeting on Friday, 28th November. Moira, a member of the Society, visited Africa in January this year and entitles her talk “Little and Large (Namibia/Botswana)”.She spent three weeks travelling from the coastal Namib desert to the inland delta of Okavanga which dries up and vanishes. Game reserves were visited and Moira returned with a large collection of African landscapes and wild life. A highlight of her holiday was a two-hour flight in a hot-air balloon enjoying superb views and concluding with a champagne breakfast.
At the Botanical Section’s meeting on Wednesday, 12th November the guest speaker is Martin Robinson of Enochdhu. He will present “Japan, Land of the Rising Sun (and snow and ice)”. When working for RSPB Martin was Worden of Killiecrankie but for the past eight years he has been doing freelance projects in Scotland carrying out ecological survey work. In January, 2007 Martin spent two weeks in Japan at the invitation of Japanese friends. He will share with his audience the fine landscapes, the variety of habitats and the distinctive botanical and ornithological species native to that fascinating country.
Mr Mark Hamblin, Duthil, Carrbridge is the guest speaker at the meeting of the Photographic Section on Wednesday, 19th November. He entitles his digital presentation “Wild Images of Nature”. Mark is a professional photographer of wildlife and landscapes contributing to magazines and providing photographic illustrations for books. In his youth he was a keen bird-watcher so teaching himself photographic skills. He himself has published a book about the Peak District National Park and was co-author of “Wildlife of the Cairngorm National Park” and “Tooth and Claw”. He made his home in Scotland about eight years ago and at present is working on a book of landscapes.
On Wednesday, 24th November at the meeting of the Archaeological and Historical Section the subject is “The Battle of Dunkeld and the First Jacobite Rebellion”. The speaker, Grant Carnegie, Alyth, describes himself as an amateur historian with a strong interest in the first Jacobite rising. Bonnie Dundee shattered the army of General Mackay at Killiecrankie in 1689, opened up the route to Perth but was himself killed. The Jacobite command passed to Colonel John Cannon, a professional soldier, but in his way stood a force of volunteers full of hatred for King James II. A regiment had been raised from the Cameronians and under Colonel Clelland faced the Jacobite attack at Dunkeld. Looking beyond the facts Grant Carnegie will analyse why Mackay failed to win at Killiecrankie and who were on the battlefield at Dunkeld, why they were there and what their motivation was.
News Archive:
Visit to Markinch and Falkland - July 2008
On Saturday, 5th July members of the Society travelled to Markinch where Mr Bruce Manson of the recently formed Markinch Heritage Group gave a guided tour. Beginning at Markinch Primary School with mention of the Victorian and 20th Century suburbs members were led back in time through the Georgian buildings of the early 19th Century. Mr Manson pointed out architectural features-the crow stepped gables and skewputts at the roofs of several houses. Markinch has an interesting collection of the latter. They are cylindrical with cable or rope carved into the stone. One was carved with leaves and berries.
In early times the site of Markinch was a marshy peat bog surrounding a high dry area. We followed our guide uphill to Markinch Church standing prominent above the town. The Church was a plain rectangular building with a fine square Norman tower and a conical spire added in 1807.The site may well date back to pre-historic times. The early church was dedicated to St. Drosten, a missionary of the 6th Century. In the 11th Century the Bishop of St Andrews granted land at Markinch to a group of Culdee monks. Later it was granted to Augustinian monks and in 1243 the church was re-dedicated to St John the Baptist. The Norman tower of Markinch Church is one of finest in Scotland.
A very interesting feature was pointed out on one of the stones of the church-a group of deep narrow scores .These had been made by early archers sharpening their arrows for archery practice. The Bow Butts lay quite a distance away at the foot of the hill.
Below the church nestled the oldest houses in Markinch where stagecoaches stopped on route to Edinburgh in pre-Railway times. When the Railway boom of the 1840s arrived the railway workers at Markinch found track-laying difficult because of the spongy peat bog. Large quantities of trees were felled to form "rafts" on which the lines were laid.
Whisky-blending and paper making became two of the main industries of Markinch. In 1983 the Haig firm transferred its blending plant to Leven. In the 1830s the water supply to the mills was irregular due to drought, frost or flooding and a canal was formed from Loch Leven with lades to supply the individual mills. Most of the 19th Century mills are now gone. The paper mills of Tulles Russell are the last main users of Leven water.
Our tour ended on the hill of Dalginch, the site of the cemetery. Dalginch is suggested by E.J.G Mackay in 1897 as the capital of Fife in early times where justice was administered and courts held. As a centre of power and administration of justice in the 12th Century it is likely to have had connections with the Earls of Fife.
By the 17th Century, during the reign of Charles II, a burgh charter was secured in 1673 and Markinch became a Burgh of Barony.
After lunch we journeyed to Falkland where a visit to the House of Falkland had been arranged. The house is interesting, fascinating in parts and very unusual. Designed by William Burns in 1839-1844 for Margaret and Onesiphorus Tyndall Bruce it has fine Jacobean ceilings, wood panelling and a magnificent, wide, carved oak staircase. William Burn was a foremost Victorian house architect and the new house is said to have cost £30,000.When first married Margaret and Onesiphorus lived in Nuthill House
Visit to Kibble Palace in Glasgow Botanic Gardens and Kelvin Art Gallery - May 2008
On Saturday, 3rd May the first of the PSNS Parent Body Outings took place when members and friends visited Kibble Palace at Glasgow Botanic and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
John Kibble gifted his glass house at Coulport to the City of Glasgow in 1872.Once erected and extended the iron and glass building was used as an entertainment and events venue. By the 1880s it became a magnificent glasshouse for plants. By the 1990s the wrought iron and the cast iron beams, resting on ornate pillars, were badly corroded. The project for restoration of the whole structure began and funding was gradually procured, including a generous grant from Heritage Lottery.
As we were guided through the restored Palace which opened in November, 2006, all admired the pristine white-painted ironwork, the new panes of stippolyte glass and freshly paved walkways.
This is now the new environment for the great variety of plants removed from the old structure for the refurbishment. In the entrance the large circular pond had a fine tree fern displayed on the stone-built central island. A room to the left was the area for insectivorous and carnivorous plants. Planted on a central raised bed and raised shelving at the walls the plants could be closely studied. Here were varieties of the pitcher plant and also plants which trapped their prey in sticky leaves. Another room displayed plants adapted to survive in very warm climates such as the Canary Islands have. Here were cacti and the sedums which can store water for their needs.
A wide, paved corridor led to the rotunda below the large dome. Here were some of the distinctive white sculptures placed throughout the glasshouse. Interest was also added by several modern panels of art work in the rotunda.
In Victorian times the Gardens had squirrel seats for visitors. These were made of oak with cast iron ends showing a pattern of leaves surrounding a squirrel. One of the seats had survived and it was decided at the restoration to make copies and place them in Kibble Palace.
The great dome and rotunda are the largest parts of the building and two massive Japanese Banana Plants, growing towards the dome, dominated the area. The grove contained many species of tree ferns as the Glasgow Botanic Gardens hold the National Collection of these unique plants. During the restoration work these plants were moved out of Kibble Palace and based at Bellahouston. This was a risk.However, apart from losing a few damaged leaves they are none the worse and are thriving happily again.
Around the central areas of tree ferns were four plant beds. In one were the plants native to South America-Fuschia and Nicotiona and in another flowering Camellias and other temperate zone plants .The third plant bed displayed natives of Austalasia such as Bottle Brush and Banhsia while the fourth bed was devoted to South African natives and included Strelitzia and Proteas,now available in our florists here.
Our members appreciated the warm welcome of the staff of the Botanic Gardens and the informative talk. Everyone enjoyed this global tour of the botanical world.
The afternoon was spent at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. An hour-long tour had been arranged with friends of Glasgow Museums, a large group of volunteers who provide this service for visitors. This is one of the oldest Friends’ organisations in the UK.
Having met our guides we set off as the organ recital began at 12:30pm, a daily occurrence. The massive organ by London-based Lewis and Co. was built for the 1901 Glasgow Exhibition which closed in November, 1901.The organ was then moved into Kelvingrove.
Our guides focused on some of the important pieces in the vast collections at Kelvingrove.The art collection includes works of French, Dutch and Italian masters but a treasured item is the iconic “Christ of St John of the Cross” by Salvador Dali purchased by Director Dr.Tom Honeyman in 1951.Another treasure is Rembrandt’s “A Man in Armour” which was in a collection of 70 paintings owned by artist John Graham-Gilbert, a collection which was bequeathed by his widow on 1877.
Many collections have been gifted over the decades.Archeological collections spanning the world, national history collections and collections of furniture, pottery and glass are held at Kelvingrove.
Our guides took us to and excellent display of Arms and Armour, pieces which had actually been used in battle and which had been collected by R.L.Scott, chairman of the shipbuilding and engineering company. In 1939 he donated this collection to Kelvingrove.
The magnificent building of Kelvingrove opened in 1901.Constructed of red sandstone from Locharbriggs, Dumfries the exterior is embellished with sculpted figures, carved crests and coats of arms. By contrast a pale blond stone is used inside. This came from the Giffnock quarry.
Kelvingrove celebrated its centenary in 2001.A decision was made to restore the building and modernise the displays. Funding was obtained and work began.
On this visit members appreciated the new thematic approach in the displays. Gone were the mahogany-framed glass cases and the rigidity of Victorian displays. Technology is used in hands-on experiences, commentaries and dramatic lighting effects. The emphasis is on interactivity and inter-relationship.