High Life Highland Countryside Rangers

14/08/2026

🍃 Discover the Fascinating World of Lichens! 🍃

Have you ever stopped to take a closer look at the amazing miniature ecosystems growing on trees, rocks and walls around us?

Join the High Life Highland Countryside Rangers for a Lichen Workshop at Fortrose Library on Wednesday 2nd September, 3pm to 5pm.

Perfect for beginners, nature enthusiasts and anyone curious about the natural world, this friendly session will introduce you to the incredible diversity of lichens and teach you how to start recognising different species in the field.

🌿 Learn what lichens are and why they matter
🌿 Explore their fascinating variety and forms
🌿 Gain practical identification skills
🌿 Connect with fellow nature lovers

📍 Fortrose Library
📅 Wednesday 2nd September
⏰ 3:00pm – 5:00pm

🎟️ Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lichen-workshop-fortrose-library-tickets-1984138734366

🍃🌱

14/08/2026

Every season has its characteristic flora, and August in the Gàidhealtachd means Devil's Bit Scabious! We usually think of this beautiful wee flower as purple in colour, but if you explore you'll often find a wide range of colours from deep blue to white, and everything in between, like these examples found by the River Laxford. Sometimes, even when we think we know a species, it can still surprise us!

This lovely flower is also the foodplant for the marsh fritillary butterfly, and is relied on by the very rare scabious mining bee, mostly found further south-east around Badenoch and Strathspey. For me, it reminds me that summer has now passed its peak and turns my thoughts towards beautiful Autumn.

13/08/2026

Want to climb Arkle, one of the Northwest Highlands' most dramatic and iconic mountains?

HLH Countryside Ranger Service and North West Highlands Geopark are teaming up to guide you to the summit of Arkle, a dramatic quartzite peak looming 787 metres above the rugged west coast.

Book your place via the link below:

A guided ranger / geologist walk to the summit of Arkle, one of the Northwest's most remote, dramatic and iconic peaks

11/08/2026

10/08/2026

A wonderful couple of days at the Belladrum Festival creating animal masks and pinecone creatures with families. Great to be working alongside HLH High Life Highland Libraries & Highland Archive Centre! 🐸🦊🐤🐭

07/08/2026

A big thank you for everyone who has been sending in their pollinator counts despite the mixed weather. There is still time to do one.
Here are some of the great photos you sent in. Thanks to Kate Copestake, The Inverness Botanic gardens and Karl Macleod

The Big Highland Polintaor Count runs until the 9th August. Choose one of our designated Meadow Mosaic patches OR you can choose a wildflower meadow near you that you know and love. Make sure you do the count when the weather is dry and warm.
The Online Count form and instruction can be found here:
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8892310/Highland-Wildflower-Mosaic-Project-The-Big-ANNUAL-Pollinator-Count-2026

06/08/2026

Morefield Ullapool as part of the BIG pollinator count happening all over the Highlands. If you have a patch in your garden or local to you, take part in the county this week.
Link in our Bio to the online form.
Not only will you be contributing science, stopping in amongst these places to watch for 30 minutes is very relaxing. Listen to the buzzing and enjoy all the textures and colours that diversity brings. 🐝

06/08/2026

Thank you to my volunteers helping me count yesterday at the Ullapool meadow sites.

After torrential rain the day before, they must have been hungry. These sites are havens to hide, feed and breed in.

A glance over to the next door monoculture of grass is enough to tell you what havens the meadow mosaic sites are for these important invertebrates.

06/08/2026

Lots of fun being had today in Ullapool Library making land yachts. This one is on until 12 and then it is on to circuits at 2pm. Drop in!