The alpacas have had their annual haircut!

Dom was very well behaved for the shearer, Hester and Stella were a bit feistier.

They all look fabulous now – here are Stella & Hester enjoying a hay delivery with the sheep!

Ranger Adam’s favourite flower the Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) is flowering now.

We always know when to look for it as it flowers around his birthday on the 4th of June.

Did you know the Flag Iris is associated with the heraldic symbol the Fleur-de-lis?

The end of June brings the end of school trip season. The ranger team welcomed over 3,300 pupils aged between 2 to 16 years old and their teachers to the grounds of Kelburn Estate.

With many of them joining the ranger-led sensory walks led by Rangers Emily, Lucy, Leanne, Sharna and Carol through the glen, gardens, and waterfall gorge.

This little Blackbird (Turdus merula) needed some help during the scorching weather.

Ranger Sharna picked him up dehydrated so he stayed in the Ranger House to recover before being released.

The team have seen him out foraging again as he is very distinctive with his white spots – this is called leucism and is a genetic condition affecting pigment similar to albinism.

Chris the Head Gardener spotted this swarm of Honey Bees forming on the path behind the museum.

The ranger team contacted the local bee-keeper Steven who came and collected them safely that evening – he reckons they are a breed of Honey Bee called a Buckfast Bee!