Tag Archives: nature

The Herald of Winter – and other November fungi

Posted on November 13, 2020 by

As the trees turn bare and opportunities for momijigari diminish – a Japanese word for admiring the colours of autumn leaves – lower your eyes when out on your woodland walks and you’ll find that there are still a good … Continue reading →

Posted in foraging, Fungi, mushrooms, Uncategorized, woodlands | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Lockdown Sessions – NatureScot’s virtual house band

Posted on August 28, 2020 by

During the early days of lockdown when most of us were just getting acquainted with Zoom, the NatureScot Virtual House Band was formed. Each in their own little corner of Scotland the musicians merged to entertain the troops with some … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Nature in art, SNH, Staff profile, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Career through a lens: my favourite photographic memories

Posted on August 25, 2020 by

Working with us for over forty-five years now, our celebrated NatureScot photographer, Lorne Gill, has seen many changes to Scotland’s countryside. The creation of the West Highland Way and several other long-distance routes, two National Parks and the reintroduction of … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Nature in art, photography, Staff profile, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Aiteann – ceangal eadar Dà Dheoch / Juniper – a link between Gin and Whisky

Posted on August 13, 2020 by

Bidh daoine a’ ceangal aiteann ri sine ach air a’ Ghàidhealtachd tha am preas cuideachd ceangailte ri uisge-beatha / Juniper is intimately linked with gin but, in the Highlands of Scotland, it also has connections to whisky … Aiteann – … Continue reading →

Posted in Folklore, Gaelic, plants, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Marvellous Mining Bees

Posted on July 7, 2020 by

The discovery of mining bees in Simon Ritchie‘s parents’ garden inspired him to read-up on these scarce burrowing insects. There are more than 1,300 species of mining bee around the world. However, only a fraction of these species are known … Continue reading →

Posted in bees, gardens, Insects, National Nature Reserves, St Cyrus National Nature Reserve, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

An dreathan-donn – eun beag leòmach / the wren – small and ‘conceited’

Posted on June 26, 2020 by

Ged a tha an dreathan-donn beag, gu dearbh chan eil e bog / The wren might be diminutive, but in Gaelic tradition, it has a high opinion of itself… An dreathan-donn – eun beag leòmach Ann am beul-aithris nan Gàidheal, … Continue reading →

Posted in Beinn Eighe NNR, Birds, Folklore, Gaelic, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Lockdown Nostalgia

Posted on June 12, 2020 by

Nature has helped many of us through the various challenges of the past few months. We’ve watched nature thrive through our screens and spent time observing life with fresh eyes and ears in our gardens and from windows. We’ve really … Continue reading →

Posted in green health, Natural Health Service, Nature in art, paths, photography, plants, Uncategorized, urban nature, wild flowers, woodlands | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tadpole Tails and Water Dragons

Posted on June 8, 2020 by

An overheard conversation between mother and child during a local stroll made Biodiversity Opportunities Adviser, Zeshan Akhter, wonder if lockdown is providing many people the time to look deeper into the nature that surrounds them… To convince myself the wider … Continue reading →

Posted in amphibians, Uncategorized, urban nature, woodlands, Young people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

World Environment Day: Your lockdown nature stories

Posted on June 5, 2020 by

In these unprecedented and difficult times, many of us have found solace in the natural world and a renewed interested in, and appreciation of, nature. We recently asked people to share with us some of their memorable stories and images … Continue reading →

Posted in biodiversity | Tagged , , , , , ,

Noticing change in times of uncertainty.

Posted on May 27, 2020 by

Chris Mackie is a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh’s Moray House School of Education and Sport. His research is funded by Scottish Natural Heritage’s Magnus Magnusson studentship. In this post, he reflects on how the current situation can … Continue reading →

Posted in green health, Green infrastructure, Natural Health Service, Outdoor learning, Uncategorized, urban nature, Young people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,