Local Wildlife
Our gardens provide a home for a wealth of Scotland’s native species, ranging from butterflies to birds and bats. It is estimated that over TWO THOUSAND species of plant, insect, bird, and animal may be present in any ONE single National Trust for Scotland garden. That includes species such as the Pygmy Shrew, which is about as heavy as a 1p piece, to a mature Oak, which could have over 400 different species of insect and mite living upon it! Some of our rarest species can be found at home in our gardens, including:

• nationally important assemblages of Waxcap fungi on the lawns of Haddo House (at what is probably the best site for waxcaps in the country) and Hill of Tarvit,
• a nationally rare lichen on trees at Leith Hall
• 5 bat species found living and feeding in National Trust for Scotland gardens throughout the central belt.

Other examples of wildlife you may see are otters at Malleny Garden or red squirrels in the gardens at Brodick Castle.

Global wildlife
Plant species that are becoming threatened in their native lands abroad are cared for in our historic plant collections, ensuring that the species survives. The National Collections in our care, maintained under a scheme co-ordinated by the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens, are just one example of our important plant holdings.

Birds, such as Swifts and Swallows, also frequently nest and breed in our gardens after long trips from Africa. In winter we receive Scandinavian birds, such as Fieldfare and the exotic-looking Waxwing.

Garden Practices
As part of our conservation aims, the National Trust for Scotland tries to minimise where possible the harmful environmental impact of gardening and to seek ways to maintain or enhance the diversity of wildlife inhabiting our gardens. For example, our policy is to try to reduce our use of peat to help protect fragile raised-bog habitats in both the UK and Ireland.

Surveying and Monitoring Wildlife
In the last few years we have started to undertake wildlife audits within our gardens. In order to help with this huge task we are asking both staff and visitors to record what species they see in our gardens at all times of the year.

All of this information, together with specialist surveys, will help to direct action to conserve and further enhance the wide range of wildlife found in all areas of our gardens, and contribute to our on-going monitoring of species. For example, in 2002 there were over 90 pairs of breeding birds from 19 different species recorded in Geilston Gardens.

Want to find out more?
Why not visit our gardens to see ‘Garden for Life’ in action, and enjoy the diverse flora and fauna living there? Many of our gardens contain nectar-rich borders, providing food for a wealth of insects, or contain examples of features and practices relating to Garden for Life.