Nature – Perthshire Society of Natural Science

Download the Nature Section’s latest Newsletter and Annual Bulletin. Past issues are available from the PSNS Publications page.

Winter Talks Programme 2023 – 24

In the Sandeman Room, AK Bell Library, Perth, Wednesdays at 7.30pm

As 2023 draws to a close, we can reflect on a great series of talks, appreciated by good audiences whom have been rewarded with informative, entertaining, varied – the acclamations could go on – presentations.

Join us in 2024 in the Sandeman Room of the AK Bell Library for our next series of talks

2023

October 25^th, “Earth: a user guide,

How the Earth works and how we can live within its means.

Dr Clive Mitchell, Strategic Resource Manager: Nature and Climate. NatureScot

November 15^th, “Doing Bird….,”

An archive birdsong project in HMP Perth

Steve Urquhart, Sound Artist and Radio Producer

December 6^th, “Scottish Spiders,”

Dr Alistair Lavery, arachnologist

2024

January 10^th, “The Isle of May Uncovered,”

Work and life on the island, research to puffins and everything in between. And what you can see during the year.

David Steel, Nature Reserve Manager, NatureScot

January 31^st, “My first year as BSBI Scotland Officer”

The role, botanical highlights of the year, the Plant Atlas promotion and a look to the future of the BSBI in Scotland

Matt Harding, BSBI Scotland Office

February 28^th, “Perthshire Local Biodiversity sites, projects progress and their place in planning,”

Robert Wills, PKC

March 6^th, “Perthshire’s threatened Butterflies and Moths,”

Anthony McCluskey, Conservation Manager, Butterfly Conservation, Scotland

March 20^th, AGM and Member’s Night

The Nature Section was formed in 2022, merging the Botanical and Ornithological sections, to cater for all interested in any aspect of the natural world, in Perthshire and beyond. Our aim is to provide talks and activities that will appeal to everyone with an interest in the study of the animals, (including the diversity of insects), plants and fungi; soils and geology

In addition to the series of winter indoor talks, field outings will remain an important part of our programme. These provide the opportunity for members of any expertise, or none, to learn about our local nature from those with experience in identifying and recording wildlife.

Who are we?

We are a club for people interested in plant life, birds, insects, fungi, or, in brief, our wildlife, its natural history and its conservation.
We aim to encourage people with an interest in our wildlife to develop that interest …….
….. by providing the opportunity with indoor talks and outings, and encouraging an individuals own activities.

You may be taking a new interest in wildlife, a keen observer or just wanting to find out more about the wonderful life we can see every day; we can help you with study and enjoyment.
We hope to encourage taking notes and keeping records. We encourage members to make use of national recording forums such as BirdTrack and the schemes of organsiations such as Buglife, The Mammal Society &c.
Please contact us to register your interest at perthshirenature@btinternet.com
Or contact the section secretary, Liz Lavery at eldlavery@outlook.com

Birds Foot Trefoil, *Lotus corniculatus*

For a society with a long history, one of the principal aims of our earlier members was to form a collection of the flora and fauna of Perthshire. We no longer collect specimens for museum displays (!) but observe, conserve and enjoy our birdlife, and maybe collect some images. It all supports our winter evenings, which inform and entertain with avian news, and a chat over tea.

Frog, Jeff Banks

New members are welcome to join us, on our summer outings or at our winter lectures held in the Sandeman Room at the AK Bell Library, York Place, Perth PH2 8EP on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm. Evenings conclude over tea and coffee.

Bulletins and Newsletters of the Section

The Nature Section produces an annual Bulletin with longer articles describing past activities, and occasional Newsletters giving members more topical news and updates.

The former Botanical and Ornithological Sections each produced regular Bulletins, the Botanical Section every year until 2022, and the Ornithological Section from 1963-2012 and thereafter occasional newsletters, recording Section activities and wildlife sightings. Bulletins can be downloaded from the PSNS Publications page. The Botanical Section Bulletins also have a downloadable Spreadsheet index to excursion venues described in Section Bulletins.

Read the Ornithologists contributions to the PSNS’ “40 years of change and a Year of Covid” on this web site.

Magpie Moth, Jeff Banks

A little bit of our History

The outstanding work of Francis Buchanan White, the founder of the PSNS, resulted in the publication of the Flora of Perthshire in 1898 after his death. The Flora includes records made by other members, including the Birnam Postie, Charles Macintosh, whose botanical interests influenced Beatrix Potter. Latter day members helped to compile The Checklist of the Plants of Perthshire (available to purchase – see our publications page), and we continue our efforts to update our knowledge of the flora of this, very special area. We work closely with other organisations such as Plantlife, the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland and the Botanical Society of Scotland.

Today, PSNS members continue to be involved in community activities. For one Doors Open day at Perth Museum and Art Gallery our members produced a series of educational panels on the “Architectural Significance of Plants”