Month: March 2024

The programme comprises the Section excursions and links to other organisations for joint excursions. Booking should be made before joining an excursion with the PSNS or contact with the host organisation. The following posts give the PSNS Nature Section programme, invitations from The Dundee Naturalist’s Society, the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, The Botanical Society of Scotland, Faith Anstey’s workshops, the Butterfly Conservation, Scotland and the Tayside and Fife Fungal Group. TaFFG have a programme of Forays in addition to that listed, at which PSNS members are also welcome.

The summer programme is detailed below, by month. These may be amended as dates are confirmed. Locations and time to meet up will be emailed to you on booking. To book please contact Jeff Banks,  nature@psns.org.uk   or  Liz Lavery  eldlavery@outlook.com  

April

Tuesday, 30th April, 6-8pm: Ospreys and Holy Grass, Loch Leven, Burleigh Sands

May

Sunday, 12th May, 7:30am-11:am: Bird Song and Bluebells, Kinclaven North Woods

Saturday, 18th May: Plant Families Workshop, with BSBI, booking required, see BSBI post below, Townhill Community Centre, Dunfermline

Monday, 20th, Rare Butterflies & Moths Workshop, Pearl-bordered Fritillary & Small Dark Underwing Moth, Dun Coillich Community Woodland, near Aberfeldy. Contact https://butterfly-conservation.org/events/Scotland

Wednesday, 22nd May, 6 pm, Field, Woodland & Reed Bed Birds, Errol

Saturday/Sunday, 25/26th, May: Survey of Sticky Catchfly, Dumyat, Clackmannan. Contact lindsay@thefutureforestcompany.com  For people with a head for heights!

June

Saturday, 15th, all day: Meum and herb rich grassland, Enochdhu, Pitarrig/ Straloch moraines

Date to be arranged: Rockrose & Northern Brown Argus, Kirton Hill, Perth

July

Wednesday, 3rd July, 18:00-20:00: ‘An amazing orchid & wildflower meadow,’ New Mill, Clunie

Friday, 5th July; Northern Brown Argus Workshop,   Tummel Shingle Islands SWT Reserve, near Pitlochry

Sunday, 7th July, 11:00 – 15:00, Upland Orchid Meadow, Braeleny, Callander 

Saturday, 20th July: 2 walks: Low-level walk to look at grasses and mountain plants, or a mountain day for sedges and grasses. Ben Lawers

Saturday, 27th July, 11:00-15:00: A walk round Pitlochry, exploring town and woodland

August and September

Saturday 3rd August:  Wildlife Site Survey, Weem Woods

 August date to be confirmed :  Wildlife Site Survey, Juniper Wood, Balnagard Reserve

Saturday, 14th September Fungus Foray, Killiecrankie

Joint meeting with Tayside and Fife Fungal Group, and Dundee Naturalists

The Dundee Naturalist’s are planning a full programme of excursions during the year to cover a range of interests.    PSNS members are welcome to join them.

View the programme at  https://dundeenaturalists.org.uk/events/

BSBI have a full programme of events.

These can be viewed at   https://bsbi.org/field-meetings-and-indoor-events

Of particular interest may be

18th May, 10am-4.30pm: Identifying Wildflower Families

Townhill Community Centre, Dunfermline

22nd June, 10am-4.00pm: Start to Identify Grasses.

Falls of Clyde SWT Reserve, New Lanark

Booking is essential

The BSS have a full programme of summer outings, see  https://botsoc.scot/events/

An informal plant identification WhatsApp group is led by Faith Anstey at what may be short notice. Contact faithanstey@gmail.com  to join the group.

Butterfly Conservation Scotland hold a number of meetings through the summer. These can be viewed at https://butterfly-conservation.org/events/scotland

The following may be of particular interest;

Monday, 20th April: Rare Butterfly and Moth Workshop, Dun Coillich, Nr Aberfeldy

Friday 5th July: Northern Brown Argus Workshop; Tummel Shingle Islands

Anthony McCluskey is creating a mailing list for notifying those interested in forthcoming events. To be included in the mailing contact amccluskey@butterfly-conservation.org