Today, as the second round of FIRNS grants are made, the nature finance investment fund surpasses the £4m mark! Good news for the communities and partnerships at the heart of agricultural, fishery, woodland, urban and rural nature restoration in Scotland.

orlo.uk/FacililtyforIn…

It's the time of year where the butterflies are starting to appear more and more - and we love it! Check out this absolute beauty: the pearl bordered fritillary butterfly. ©Lorne Gill-NatureScot

Amazing to watch this guillemot lay this morning. The one in the middle. An all too rare sight this year and no male present alongside is unsual. Odd to see a guillemot egg without any markings. #SuperSeabirdSunday UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology The Seabird Group NatureScot

Yellow-legged Asian hornets, a non-native invasive species, are predators of several species, including honey bees. There's been one credible sighting in Scotland, so identifying this species is important, and any suspected sightings reported.
ℹ️ orlo.uk/TaIqj 🐝

It's the perfect time - during #INNSWeek - to feature the fantastic Scottish Invasive Species Initiative on our blog! Scottish Invasive Species Initiative is the largest invasive non-native species control project in Britain, managing 1,580km of riverbank a year! @invasivesp orlo.uk/KVMro

Why do butterflies and moths, like this meadow brown butterfly, have false eyes (also known as eyespots)? They're a clever tactic to distract or deter predators, possibly mimicking the eyes of predators and making them think they're facing a larger and dangerous predator.

🆕 Scientists are asking people in Scotland to be on the lookout for mosquitoes, as new research shows they can be found in many locations across the country. 🦟

Learn more and find out how you can report sightings here ➡️ gla.ac/3QCQ8w8

Invasive Species Week starts today - learn more about this global threat to biodiversity, costing Scotland £246m a year. Join NatureScot's Stan Whitaker tomorrow for a webinar on how Scotland monitors & responds to non-native species threats orlo.uk/vUarg #INNSWeek

A beach walk can be great for your mental/physical health. Spotting wildlife is a bonus, but it is easy to get too close.

It's best to keep your distance to avoid this happening. If you have a dog, keep it on a lead or under close control.

More tips: orlo.uk/xR9BE

Jewel of the north, Primula scotica, or Scottish primrose - whatever you call it, this beautiful flowering plant is found only in Scotland, and mostly on our windswept coastal habitats, close to cliff edges.

Spotted here at Yesnaby, Orkney.😍

📷 ©Lorne Gill/NatureScot

Whether it's grounding, bathing or 'plootering', simply moving your body into the outdoors and surrounding yourself with nature can really support good mental health.

Why not head out today and see what you can do in your local area?

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #GreenHealth

Fixed link, apologies:😳⤵️ qmu.ac.uk/study-here/pos…

👀Have you spotted one of our new interpretation panels?

#PeatlandACTION has unveiled four new panels at peatland restoration sites across Scotland, adding to the six installed last year!

Find out where to find them in our latest blog post: t.ly/z4Phv

Great to have you with us!

We may enjoy the romantic idea of an open fire, but the reality is that these can quickly get out of control - devastating wildlife and local communities.

Heed wildfire warnings. If fires are permitted when camping, use a stove.

More tips: orlo.uk/cgD8q #KnowTheCode

Wood anemone is part of the buttercup family and grow slowly in our ancient woodlands. In Gaelic this star-shaped species is known as the windflower. Listen along to the pronunciation and give it a try for yourself.

Maerl is protected within 11 Scottish MPAs. A new report investigates monitoring options aimed at detecting change in this important habitat’s condition. Evidencing trends over relatively short time frames underpins our MPA management advice.

orlo.uk/MaerlBedsResea…

Between 11-26 years old and want to connect with nature and take positive action for biodiversity and the climate? We've got just the thing for you - The Future Routes Fund!

Individual grants: £500 to £2K
Team grants: £1-5K

🌎 orlo.uk/TheFutureRoute…

#GreenHealthWeek

This week's #FridayFeature is this wonderful side profile of a pensive puffin from Rosemary in Aberdeenshire on Instagram – thanks for sharing! If you'd like a chance to feature across our channels, tag us or use #NatureScot

📷: IG/rtmsnaps