In 2022 a new Nature Section was formed, bringing together the Botanical and Ornithological Sections with others interested in all aspects of the natural world, biodiversity, ecology and the environment. We will continue to offer a wide range of winter talks, excursions and other activities. For more details, please see the Nature Section web page www.psns.org.uk/nature.
Nature Section
Contact us at birdsatpsns@btinternet.com
LECTURES and EXCURSIONS
Winter talks programme October 2022 – March 2023
In the Sandeman Room, AK Bell Library, Perth, Wednesdays at 7.30pm
| 2023 | ||
| January 11 | ‘Perth – Biodiversity Capital of Scotland’ | Dr Mike Robinson. CEO RSGS |
| February 1 | ‘Challenging Upland Futures’ | Dr Rosalind Bryce, Director, Centre for Mountain Studies, UHI |
| Some sustainability challenges in the uplands including deer management, tourism, future of crofting etc. | ||
| February 8 | The work of the Tayside Raptor Study Group | Logan Steele |
| In the 20th year of the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme, an overview of its activities in Perthshire including fieldwork with Golden Eagles | ||
| March 1 | Insects and Pollination | Althayde Tonhasca, NatureScot |
| March 22 |
AGM + ‘Life in the uplands: Tanzania and Malawi’ |
Martin Robinson |
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Please try to attend the AGM as the future direction of the Section is guided after our first year. |
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| 2022 | Our winter year in retrospect | |
| October 26 | Rewilding & Beavers | Louise and Paul Ramsay, Bamff Estate |
| November 16 | Seagrasses | Richard Lilley, Project Seagrass, Firth of Forth |
| Unfortunately, the talk ‘Project Seagrasses’ was cancelled. Instead, Tom Ryan gave an excellent talk, including demonstration, ‘How to photograph birds in flight’. | ||
| December 7 | The Firth of Tay, The birds and the Tay Estuary Low Tide Count of last winter | Norman Elkins, SOC |
The Botanical Section welcomes anyone interested in all kinds of plants. Join us from spring to autumn on our Summer excursions to explore the many beautiful places of Perthshire and discover their fascinating flora. We hold about twelve excursions a year, either in the evenings, during the week or at weekends. Our searches cover a wide range of habitats, from mountain tops to river valleys, looking at plants throughout the seasons and ending with a fungal foray. There is at least one excursion organized for the summer that takes us beyond the boundaries of Perthshire. Members are always on hand to help with plant identification and with the understanding of our flora.
During the winter months the Botanical Section organizes six talks on different aspects of plant life or natural history. The evening meetings are very popular and we finish the evening over a cup of tea or coffee with a chance to chat to the speaker and other members.
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.
The section publishes an annual bulletin and copies are available to download on the PSNS Publications page.
For more information about Botanical Section activities contact the section secretary, Liz Lavery at eldlavery@outlook.com
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”
LECTURES and EXCURSIONS
Please try to attend this meeting and the AGM as the future direction of the section should be decided. Papers for the AGM can be downloaded from the links below:
All indoor meetings are held on Wednesdays at 7.30pm in the Sandeman Room, AK Bell Library, York Place, Perth PH2 8EP. Evenings conclude over tea and coffee.
Bulletins of the Section
The Section produces an Annual Bulletin recording activities over the previous year. Bulletins can be downloaded from the PSNS Publications page. A Spreadsheet index to excursion venues described in Section Bulletins can also be downloaded.