← Back🌱 Urban park

Portmore Gardens

1 ha

WildlifeBirdsDogs

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome1 ha

Getting here

55.72826, -3.19464

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

6 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Greylag Goose, Magpie, Jay +81 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Greylag Goose, Magpie, Jay +81 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Common Carder Bee, Blue-tailed Damselfly +20 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Common Carder Bee, Blue-tailed Damselfly +20 more · last seen 2025

Free

Family friendly

Good match

Urban park — family destination

Free

Picnic day out

Good match

Urban park — open green space

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Cross Borders Drove Road (West Linton to Traquair)Walking route

Named routePoint-to-pointNational walking route

🚴

Cycling

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

The Eldons / EddlestonCycling route36 km

Named routeRef redLength 36 kmPoint-to-pointLocal cycle route

Peebles to EddlestonCycling route

Named routeLocal cycle route

🚵

Mountain biking

3 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Glentress Black RouteMountain bike route29 km

Named routeLength 29 km

Capital TrailMountain bike route

Named route

Great North Trail (Scottish Borders)Mountain bike route154.8 km

Named routeLength 154.8 kmNational Cycle Network

Wildlife to spot

7,100 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

7,100 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds85 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2025

Buzzard · Greylag Goose · Magpie · Jay · Common Gull +80

BuzzardButeo buteo
Greylag GooseAnser anser
MagpiePica pica
JayGarrulus glandarius
Common GullLarus canus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Coal TitPeriparus ater
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
NuthatchSitta europaea
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
DunnockPrunella modularis
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
SiskinSpinus spinus
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Mute SwanCygnus olor
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
RavenCorvus corax
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
JackdawColoeus monedula
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
SwallowHirundo rustica
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
WigeonMareca penelope
Great TitParus major
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2024
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
Tree SparrowPasser montanus
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
RookCorvus frugilegus
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2024
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
LapwingVanellus vanellus2024
SwiftApus apus2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
CurlewNumenius arquata
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2024
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2023
GoosanderMergus merganser2023
WhitethroatCurruca communis2023
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
GreenfinchChloris chloris
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2024
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2024
TealAnas crecca2024
PochardAythya ferina2023
RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2023
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2023
CootFulica atra
Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2024
CuckooCuculus canorus2024
MerlinFalco columbarius2023
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2023
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2023
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2023
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2023
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2023
Barn OwlTyto alba2023
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2023
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2022

🦌

Mammals12 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2026

Badger · Grey Squirrel · Brown Hare · Red Squirrel · Soprano Pipistrelle +7

BadgerMeles meles2025
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
Brown HareLepus europaeus
Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris2025
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2023
Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2023
Pipistrelle Bat speciesPipistrellus2025
Fallow DeerDama dama2023
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2023
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2023
StoatMustela erminea2023
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2022

🐸

Amphibians1 species

summer

2023

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects23 species

springsummer

2025

Large Red Damselfly · Common Carder Bee · Blue-tailed Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Azure Damselfly +18

Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum
Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans2023
Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2023
Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2023
Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa2023
Green Dock BeetleGastrophysa viridula
Early BumblebeeBombus pratorum
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2023
White-tailed BumblebeeBombus lucorum2023
Scarce Scabious ClubhornAbia candens
Loensia fasciataLoensia fasciata2024
Clay-coloured WeevilOtiorhynchus singularis2024
Cartodere nodiferCartodere nodifer2024
Polydrusus cervinusPolydrusus cervinus2024
Hairy Spider WeevilExomias pellucidus2024
Common HawkerAeshna juncea2023
Volucella pellucensVolucella pellucens2023
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2022
Rhinoceros BeetleSinodendron cylindricum2022
Denticollis linearisDenticollis linearis2022
Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum2022
Ctenicera cupreaCtenicera cuprea2022

🌿

Plants101 species

springsummerautumn

2024

Creeping Thistle · Creeping Buttercup · Perennial Rye-grass · Creeping Soft-grass · Pineappleweed +96

Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis
PineappleweedMatricaria discoidea
Common Hemp-nettleGaleopsis tetrahit
RedshankPersicaria maculosa
GroundselSenecio vulgaris
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
Large-flowered Hemp-nettleGaleopsis speciosa
Short-fruited WillowherbEpilobium obscurum
KnotgrassPolygonum aviculare
Shepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastoris
Meadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensis
Corn SpurreySpergula arvensis
Common ChickweedStellaria media
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2022
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2022
Common NettleUrtica dioica2022
Soft-rushJuncus effusus2022
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Pale PersicariaPersicaria lapathifolia
Curled DockRumex crispus
Spear-leaved OracheAtriplex prostrata
Italian Rye-grassLolium multiflorum
Fat-henChenopodium album
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera
Lesser Sea-spurreySpergularia marina
Marsh CudweedGnaphalium uliginosum
Danish ScurvygrassCochlearia danica
Changing Forget-me-notMyosotis discolor
Hairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsuta
Reflexed Saltmarsh-GrassPuccinellia distans
Common OracheAtriplex patula
Marsh FoxtailAlopecurus geniculatus
Fringed PearlwortSagina filicaulis
CharlockSinapis arvensis2022
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2022
Scentless MayweedTripleurospermum inodorum2022
TimothyPhleum pratense2022
Common Ramping-fumitoryFumaria muralis2022
DaisyBellis perennis2022
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum2022
Bifid Hemp-nettleGaleopsis bifida2022
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua2022
Floating Sweet-grassGlyceria fluitans2022
Common FumitoryFumaria officinalis2022
Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper2022
Field PansyViola arvensis2022
Common CouchElymus repens2022
SunflowerHelianthus annuus2022
Musk-mallowMalva moschata2022
Glaucous SedgeCarex flacca2022
Marsh ThistleCirsium palustre2022
Marsh-bedstrawGalium palustre2022
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2022
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris2022
YarrowAchillea millefolium2022
Hard-fernBlechnum spicant2022
Mouse-ear-hawkweedPilosella officinarum2022
BeechFagus sylvatica2022
Sticky Mouse-earCerastium glomeratum2022
Downy BirchBetula pubescens2022
Lodgepole PinePinus contorta2022
Purple Moor-grassMolinia caerulea2022
Red-berried ElderSambucus racemosa2022
Green-ribbed SedgeCarex binervis2022
TormentilPotentilla erecta2022
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa2022
Sharp-flowered RushJuncus acutiflorus2022
Himalayan CotoneasterCotoneaster simonsii2022
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana2022
Water HorsetailEquisetum fluviatile2022
White CloverTrifolium repens2022
Field Wood-rushLuzula campestris2022
Pill SedgeCarex pilulifera2022
Bog StitchwortStellaria alsine2022
Wavy Hair-GrassAvenella flexuosa2022
Common DuckweedLemna minor2022
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum2022
Grey AlderAlnus incana2022
Veronica serpyllifolia subsp. serpyllifoliaVeronica serpyllifolia subsp. serpyllifolia2022
Dryopteris affinisDryopteris affinis2022
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas2022
Early Pampas-grassCortaderia richardii2022
Marsh VioletViola palustris2022
Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris2022
Bog AsphodelNarthecium ossifragum2022
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa2022
BilberryVaccinium myrtillus2022
Lesser SpearwortRanunculus flammula2022
RowanSorbus aucuparia2022
SnowberrySymphoricarpos albus2022
HeatherCalluna vulgaris2022
Rusty WillowSalix cinerea subsp. oleifolia2022
DandelionTaraxacum2022
RhododendronRhododendron ponticum2022
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur2022
RaspberryRubus idaeus2022
Bog PondweedPotamogeton polygonifolius2022

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

7,100 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds85 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2025

Buzzard · Greylag Goose · Magpie · Jay · Common Gull +80

BuzzardButeo buteo
Greylag GooseAnser anser
MagpiePica pica
JayGarrulus glandarius
Common GullLarus canus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Coal TitPeriparus ater
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
NuthatchSitta europaea
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
DunnockPrunella modularis
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
SiskinSpinus spinus
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Mute SwanCygnus olor
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
RavenCorvus corax
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
JackdawColoeus monedula
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
SwallowHirundo rustica
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
WigeonMareca penelope
Great TitParus major
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2024
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
Tree SparrowPasser montanus
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
RookCorvus frugilegus
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2024
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
LapwingVanellus vanellus2024
SwiftApus apus2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
CurlewNumenius arquata
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2024
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2023
GoosanderMergus merganser2023
WhitethroatCurruca communis2023
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
GreenfinchChloris chloris
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2024
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2024
TealAnas crecca2024
PochardAythya ferina2023
RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2023
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2023
CootFulica atra
Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2024
CuckooCuculus canorus2024
MerlinFalco columbarius2023
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2023
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2023
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2023
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2023
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2023
Barn OwlTyto alba2023
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2023
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2022

🦌

Mammals12 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2026

Badger · Grey Squirrel · Brown Hare · Red Squirrel · Soprano Pipistrelle +7

BadgerMeles meles2025
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
Brown HareLepus europaeus
Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris2025
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2023
Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2023
Pipistrelle Bat speciesPipistrellus2025
Fallow DeerDama dama2023
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2023
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2023
StoatMustela erminea2023
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2022

🐸

Amphibians1 species

summer

2023

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects23 species

springsummer

2025

Large Red Damselfly · Common Carder Bee · Blue-tailed Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Azure Damselfly +18

Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum
Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans2023
Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2023
Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2023
Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa2023
Green Dock BeetleGastrophysa viridula
Early BumblebeeBombus pratorum
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2023
White-tailed BumblebeeBombus lucorum2023
Scarce Scabious ClubhornAbia candens
Loensia fasciataLoensia fasciata2024
Clay-coloured WeevilOtiorhynchus singularis2024
Cartodere nodiferCartodere nodifer2024
Polydrusus cervinusPolydrusus cervinus2024
Hairy Spider WeevilExomias pellucidus2024
Common HawkerAeshna juncea2023
Volucella pellucensVolucella pellucens2023
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2022
Rhinoceros BeetleSinodendron cylindricum2022
Denticollis linearisDenticollis linearis2022
Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum2022
Ctenicera cupreaCtenicera cuprea2022

🌿

Plants101 species

springsummerautumn

2024

Creeping Thistle · Creeping Buttercup · Perennial Rye-grass · Creeping Soft-grass · Pineappleweed +96

Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis
PineappleweedMatricaria discoidea
Common Hemp-nettleGaleopsis tetrahit
RedshankPersicaria maculosa
GroundselSenecio vulgaris
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
Large-flowered Hemp-nettleGaleopsis speciosa
Short-fruited WillowherbEpilobium obscurum
KnotgrassPolygonum aviculare
Shepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastoris
Meadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensis
Corn SpurreySpergula arvensis
Common ChickweedStellaria media
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2022
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2022
Common NettleUrtica dioica2022
Soft-rushJuncus effusus2022
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Pale PersicariaPersicaria lapathifolia
Curled DockRumex crispus
Spear-leaved OracheAtriplex prostrata
Italian Rye-grassLolium multiflorum
Fat-henChenopodium album
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera
Lesser Sea-spurreySpergularia marina
Marsh CudweedGnaphalium uliginosum
Danish ScurvygrassCochlearia danica
Changing Forget-me-notMyosotis discolor
Hairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsuta
Reflexed Saltmarsh-GrassPuccinellia distans
Common OracheAtriplex patula
Marsh FoxtailAlopecurus geniculatus
Fringed PearlwortSagina filicaulis
CharlockSinapis arvensis2022
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2022
Scentless MayweedTripleurospermum inodorum2022
TimothyPhleum pratense2022
Common Ramping-fumitoryFumaria muralis2022
DaisyBellis perennis2022
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum2022
Bifid Hemp-nettleGaleopsis bifida2022
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua2022
Floating Sweet-grassGlyceria fluitans2022
Common FumitoryFumaria officinalis2022
Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper2022
Field PansyViola arvensis2022
Common CouchElymus repens2022
SunflowerHelianthus annuus2022
Musk-mallowMalva moschata2022
Glaucous SedgeCarex flacca2022
Marsh ThistleCirsium palustre2022
Marsh-bedstrawGalium palustre2022
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2022
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris2022
YarrowAchillea millefolium2022
Hard-fernBlechnum spicant2022
Mouse-ear-hawkweedPilosella officinarum2022
BeechFagus sylvatica2022
Sticky Mouse-earCerastium glomeratum2022
Downy BirchBetula pubescens2022
Lodgepole PinePinus contorta2022
Purple Moor-grassMolinia caerulea2022
Red-berried ElderSambucus racemosa2022
Green-ribbed SedgeCarex binervis2022
TormentilPotentilla erecta2022
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa2022
Sharp-flowered RushJuncus acutiflorus2022
Himalayan CotoneasterCotoneaster simonsii2022
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana2022
Water HorsetailEquisetum fluviatile2022
White CloverTrifolium repens2022
Field Wood-rushLuzula campestris2022
Pill SedgeCarex pilulifera2022
Bog StitchwortStellaria alsine2022
Wavy Hair-GrassAvenella flexuosa2022
Common DuckweedLemna minor2022
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum2022
Grey AlderAlnus incana2022
Veronica serpyllifolia subsp. serpyllifoliaVeronica serpyllifolia subsp. serpyllifolia2022
Dryopteris affinisDryopteris affinis2022
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas2022
Early Pampas-grassCortaderia richardii2022
Marsh VioletViola palustris2022
Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris2022
Bog AsphodelNarthecium ossifragum2022
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa2022
BilberryVaccinium myrtillus2022
Lesser SpearwortRanunculus flammula2022
RowanSorbus aucuparia2022
SnowberrySymphoricarpos albus2022
HeatherCalluna vulgaris2022
Rusty WillowSalix cinerea subsp. oleifolia2022
DandelionTaraxacum2022
RhododendronRhododendron ponticum2022
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur2022
RaspberryRubus idaeus2022
Bog PondweedPotamogeton polygonifolius2022