Despite their proximity to large centres of population, a fairly intensively
farmed landscape, and reasonably high recreation pressures, wildlife
manages to hide in pockets around the Regional Park.
Roe deer are often spotted in and around the woodlands, particularly
by early morning walkers.
Badgers are around as well as Brown Hare, Red Fox, Stoats and Weasels.
Look out for their tracks and signs.
Otters are more elusive and would take a visit to the far west of the
park to catch a glimpse of them.
Smaller mammals such as Wood Mice, Common Shrews and Short-tailed Voles
are more commonly seen as skeletal remains in Owl pellets, which at
least tells us they are around!
Water Shrews and Water Voles are more rare and we are actively seeking
them out in the Park. Common and Soprano Pipistrelle Bats are widespread
around the Park.
The variety of habitats around the Pentlands provides for a range of
bird life. Red Grouse live on the heather moorlands and many birds more
commonly found on the coast, such as Curlew, Oystercatcher and Redshank
breed in our uplands.
The open hills are home to Peewits (also known as Lapwings), Skylarks,
Golden Plovers, and Meadow Pipits. Keep your eyes and ears open as many
of these birds call and display high above their nesting areas.
Black Grouse are a Pentland rarity whose numbers are in serious decline.
Woodland areas will give you an opportunity to see and hear many of
our regular birds such as Song Thrush, Blackbirds and Chaffinch. The
Pinewoods in particular are a good place to look out for Treecreeper,
Goldcrest and Coal Tit.
Those interested in creatures of a more slimy disposition are not disappointed,
with Common Toads, Smooth and Palmate Newts and Common Frogs found in
wetter areas. These habitats are great too for Large Red Damselflies
and the Common Hawker Dragonfly.
Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Common Blue and Peacock butterflies
are found throughout the Pentlands. The day- flying 6- Spot Burnet Moth
with its red and black colouring is a stunning sight amongst summer
flowers.
The Pentlands are home too, to a wide variety of plants and fungi. Heather
moorland is a unique and increasingly scarce habitat. In wet areas,
Cranberry and Hairy Stonecrop are found. Juniper, once widespread on
the hills is becoming quite rare.
Fungi are particularly evident in autumn with many woodland species
such as Fly Agric and Penny Bun to be found. Undisturbed grassland also
hosts large numbers of brightly coloured waxcap fungi. Please follow
the mushroom code and be confident in your identification if picking
fungi!
To ensure habitats of the Pentlands are conserved and the vitality of
wildlife found there protected, the Regional Park undertakes practical
management work often related to biodiversity action plans. These form
a vital element of the achievement of Park aims. As well as surveying
for particular plant and animals, recent conservation projects have
included, clearance of overgrown ponds, collecting juniper berries for
future seeding, planting reeds, coppicing alder trees erecting and checking
bird and bat boxes and clearing invasive species.
Much of this work is achieved through the welcome support of teams of
volunteers. These range from British Army cadets, Scout packs and include
conservation groups such as the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
and the Dirty Weekenders from Edinburgh University. The Tiphereth Pentlands
group of adults with a learning disability, make a superb contribution
to the overall management of the Park through the work they undertake.
Our own Volunteer Rangers too, contribute through sterling conservation
work all year round.
Useful link: Lothians
Conservation Volunteers
The Regional Park is committed to undertaking Biodiversity Action Plans
as they apply in the Pentland Hills. The Regional Park has played a
significant role in the Biodiversity Partnerships of the City of Edinburgh,
Midlothian and West Lothian Councils. These local Biodiversity Action
Plans contribute to fulfilling the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and
the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
For more details contact the Biodiversity
Officers in each council. Click on the links below.
Edinburgh's
Biodiversity Action Plan
Midlothian
Biodiversity Action Plan
West Lothian Biodiversity Action Plan
Scottish
Biodiversity Forum
UK
Biodiversity Action Plan (pdf document)
Wildlife crime is sadly a fact of life. Badger setts can be disturbed,
birds' eggs stolen, animals attacked by dogs and birds of prey illegally
poisoned. If you see anything suspicious affecting wildlife in the hills,
please contact Lothian and Borders Wildlife Crime Officer and the Pentland
Hills Ranger Service.
More details are found on these web sites
The
Mountaineering Council of Scotland, Police Wildlife Crime Officers
Partnership
for Action Against Wildlife Crime
For information about environmental and wildlife groups in the Lothians
you could try the Edinburgh
and Lothian Environmental Directory or for more information about
particular species
General
Scottish
Wildlife Trust
Scottish National Heritage
Badgers
Edinburgh &
Lothians Badger Group
Bats
Scottish Bats
Butterflies
Butterfly
Conservation
Birds
RSPB
Scotland
Scotland's
Bird Club
Reptiles
Froglife
