Interactive Mapestry Tour!

The Kelpies are the largest equine sculpture in the world.  They were created as a space where communities could come together.  The Kelpies name reflects the mythological beasts the possess the strength and endurance of 100 horses, a quality relating to the area's landscape, the endurance of its inland waterways and strength of its local communities.

Four species of deer are found in Scotland: red, roe, fallow and sika. Red and roe deer are native species.

Hedgehogs are carnivores you may be lucky to spot in your garden or neighbourhood.  They root through hedges and undergrowth to find mainly prey to make up their diet which can include worms, frogs, mice, snails or centipedes.  Their stiff, sharp spines on their body are a defensive mechanism - they curl into a ball if a predator attacks.

We have 26 different kinds of ladybird in the UK - most are voracious predators of aphids and can act as pest control in our parks and gardens.  Different species vary in terms of their colour but also the number of spots on their back.

The common toad is one of the UK’s most charismatic animals and for many of us it is one of our earliest wildlife memories.

It is a widespread amphibian found throughout Britain though is absent from Ireland. Common Toads prefer deeper water bodies in which to breed, including fish ponds, farm ponds, reservoirs or village ponds. They have rough, ‘warty’ skin and tend to crawl rather than hop. Common Toads produce a toxin from a pair of glands on their back which makes them distasteful to would-be predators.

Great Crested Newts are the biggest newt species in the UK and have been around for approximately 40 million years.

They are widely distributed throughout Britain but this distribution is extremely patchy; they’re absent from Ireland and have disappeared from many sites across Europe. They are the largest of our native newt species. During the breeding season males develop a jagged crest which has a break at the base of the tail and females take on a ‘bulky’ appearance.

The Common Frog is easily our most recognisable amphibian. They’re found throughout Britain and Ireland, in almost any habitat where suitable breeding ponds are near by. Common Frogs have smooth skin and long legs for jumping away quickly. Garden ponds are extremely important for common frogs, particularly in urban areas.

The Common Lizard is around 15cm long and usually a shade of brown.  Their scaly skin isn't smooth like a newts and they move quickly away on land when disturbed, provided they've warmed up sufficiently in the sun.  They favour open, sunny areas with dense cover nearby and feed mostly on slugs, worms and other insects.

Daffodils are a familiar site as we approach spring.  These bright yellow flowers can flower from six weeks to six months depending on the environmental conditions.  Their bulb can regrow for several seasons.  They are tolerant of colder conditions so can be found throughout the UK.

A rustle in the bracken. A flash of zig-zag and it’s gone! Our most striking snake: the adder! You’ll never forget the excitement for seeing your first one.

Adders are found throughout Britain, right up to the north of Scotland, but their secretive nature and camouflaged markings mean they often go unnoticed. This can sometimes be a good thing – as the only venomous snake in the UK they have often been persecuted in the past. Adder bites are painful but rarely fatal and usually only occur if the snake is disturbed or deliberately antagonised. Adders are a sturdy looking snake and are easy to distinguish from the other native species.