As of September 2025 there are now 25 species of butterfly which have been recorded in the Pentland Hills (see our leaflet for details). Five of these species (Speckled Wood, Small Skipper, Wall, Holly Blue and Large Skipper) have only arrived in the late 2010’s / early 2020’s, probably as a result of climate change, extending their range northwards up the east coast of Scotland.
Recent new recordings:
2025: Clouded Yellow – Bavelaw (A continental visitor rather than a Scottish species)
2025: Large Skipper – Dolphinton, former Tarmac quarry
2025: Purple Hairstreak – Oak trees beside Lymphoy House
2023 Holly Blue – Malleny Garden, Balerno (& again in 2024)
The Purple Hairstreaks found in 2025 may have been here some time, but are incredibly difficult to spot unless one knows where to look, and when.
A colony of Northern Brown Argus, a tiny butterfly found in niche habitats in eastern Scotland and NE England, was officially recorded for the first time in 2021 beside the River North Esk above Carlops. Further NBA sites along the valley of the Lyne Water have been cionfirmed.
But generally the overall picture for butterflies and other pollinators is one of long-term decline.
FoP have started a programme of creating wildflower meadows that will support pollinators, but with an emphasis on those plants which provide the caterpillar foodplant for some of the more interesting, colourful and scarce rural butterfly species.
The species we are currently targeting are Common Blue, Small Copper, Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary, Northern Brown Argus and Orange Tip, but all butterflies and pollinators will be welcome in our meadows.
In addition to the species already here there are another four or five species which can either be found “within sight” of the Pentlands, heading our way as a result of climate change, or occasionally “blown in” from Europe. One or two might even be hiding in a remote corner somewhere in the Pentlands.
Sites
We are have started working with a number of landowners to create wildflower meadows and / or improve local habitats:
- A third area at Roamers Wood was taken on in 2025
- Hillend (2025)
- Loganlea Reservoir (2025)
- Roamers Wood, West Linton – two areas (2024)
- Baddinsgill / Lyne Water, West Linton (2023)
- Harlaw, Balerno (2023
- Patieshill Farm (multiple sites), Carlops (2022)
- West Linton Arboretum, beside the Golf Club (2022)
- Silverburn Arboretum (2022)
- Garvald Home Farm (2022)
All sites need an “autumn haircut” where we cut the vegetation and remove it to reduce the nutrients, thereby weakening the grass.
At sites where the turf is so thick we need to lift it, the plan is to extend the perimeter every year.
We will rely more on harvested seed, and top the planting up with the specific foodplants of the target species.
During 2025..
At Patieshill we again extended the perimeter quite significantly – and the first Dark Green Fritillaries were found roosting in the meadow.
At WL GC we extended the perimeters of the three patches.
Three new sites have been taken on.
The Yellow Rattle at Harlaw and Baddinsgill has established so well we have harvested seed to use on the more grassy sites.
During 2024…
We took on a new area at Roamers Wood beside the “Meeting Circle” and a trial area in the long central boulevard. Old grass was raked, strimmed, raked and wildflower seed planted.
At Harlaw, wild blackthorn seedlings were dug up and re-located to Patieshill. Plants were planted where we had removed the blackthorn. We then raked, strimmed the original area, raked and spread wildflower seed.
At WLGC there was some early season top up planting in the area opened up in autumn 2023.
During 2023…
At Patieshill a hillside meadow area was prepped and initial plantings made. There was a slight problem with sheep accessing the enclosed area and dining on out wildflowers, but once they were removed the plants began to consolidate. A lot of dampland plants were planted in the “glade”, and time will tell how well they’ve established.
The largest area we are tackling is about 1/3 acre of grassland at Baddinsgill. The initial hard cut of the area was carried out by the farm in autumn 2023. This was followed up with a squad raking up the grass and some initial planting & seed sowing. Those who have been there on willow-spiling workdays or installing gabions beside Lyne Water will know the spot, just after the stone wall at the corner of the field. There are already a few of the target butterfly species in the vicinity, plus all the “usual” grassland species.
At West Linton Arboretum (beside the Golf course) we planted out the initial parts of two out of the three areas in the spring. In the autumn we established the initial part of the third section.
We finally got agreement from PHRP to extend the small wildflower meadow at Harlaw, and did an initial cut and some planting in he extended area.
In 2022 we started with a number of small sites at:
Silverburn arboretum
Garvald Home Farm
West Linton Arboretum (beside the Golf Club)
Patieshill Farm (multiple sites)
As part of the overall strategy for Patieshill in 2022 we started meadow-making work in a number of experimental sites offering different habitat conditions within the reserve
