Biodiversity

The Bugs in Gardens project would like to invite everyone along to this summers extravaganza, our Garden Wildlife Festival to be held on Sunday 31st of July 2011 at NTS Threave Gardens near Castle Dou

Natterjack Toads, one of our region's noisiest neighbours, will be the focal point of an evening talk and meeting at WWT Caerlaverock Wetlands Centre on the evening of Thursday 24th March.

We were recently sent a photo of a bug seen back in 2008 and has turned out to be a first for the county! The juniper shieldbug (Cyphostethus tristriatus) was found in a garden in the middle of Dumfries when a hedge was being removed.

Interested in gardening? Whether you are a beginner or more experienced come along to our garden wildlife day on 26 March and have your chance to ask the experts questions and find out what you can do to encourage wildlife into your garden.

The Environmental Resources Centre launched its new project “Bugs in Gardens” in July at Allanton Peace Sanctuary. The project is looking to encourage people to take more of an interest in the invertebrates they come across in their gardens and to send in these records. Many invertebrates play vital roles in helping to keep our gardens healthy and productive through pollination, pest control and soil conditioning. However lots of species are in decline due to loss of habitat and changes in how our countryside is managed.

Invasive plants along our river corridors are the focus of a new project in Dumfries and Galloway. DGERC are helping to map records of invasive species on behalf of the project partnership, and project officers are working with landowners to facilitate its control

Dumfries and Galloway now appears to have a new species of reptile resident in the region.

The national mayfly recording scheme are asking for help in recording one of the distinctive mayflies that will emerge on our rivers this spring.

Butterfly Conservation have published a new free guide to help with identification of the butterflies and moths of Dumfries & Galloway and Ayrshire.

A new field guide to mosses and liverworts has just been published by the British Bryological Society (BBS), with new keys, photos and illustrations.