23rd August 2025
A visit by the Nature Section if the Perthshire Society of Natural Science, was organised by Liz Lavery who is Secretary of the Nature Section and is a botanist. The Nature Section was created by merging the Botany and Ornithology Sections in 2022.
Eleanor Stamp (Nature Scot's Quality Assurance lead for Grassland-related data or content) gave advice about how to control Tufted Hair Grass, Wavey Hair Grass and rushes in order to maintain species rich grassland. if grazing animals cannot be used then autumnal scything of a small area might be instructive.
Tufted Hair Grass is only palatable to herbivore when young. As it grows it defends itself with silica (rather like Horsetail). It is possible to cut yourself on the stems if you rub you hand along them.
Tufted Hair Grass (Deschampsia cespitosa)
Wavey Hair Grass (Deschampsia flexuosa)
Chris Stamp, Perthshire Area Organiser for Butterfly Conservation (East Scotland Branch) and Butterfly Recorder for East Perthshire was on the walk and gave interesting information about the northwards movement of butterfly soecies such as the Wall Butterfly which has appeared near Bridge of Cally.
Chris works with Anthony McCluskey who is recorder for Mid Perthshire.
Here is a link to a Chris Stamp video of a Purple Hairstreak butterfly resting on Eleanor Stamp's hand.
Also on the walk was Mike Bell, President of the Perthshire Photographic Society. He had a very capable camera with him and took photos of Sundews.
The walk was a short one (as you would expect for botanists) - up to the dyke gate and a short way along the Red Path. The crab Apple tree was visited and the party went by car up to Tomphubil to examine the Limestone flora there. The limestone on Dun Coillich was deemed too distant for the party to reach on foot. There were about 8 people on the walk.
Link to the Perthshire Society of Natural Science