Portmoak Moss

Portmoak Moss is a Dragonfly Hotspot, established in 2014. It is owned by the Woodland Trust and has recently undergone peatland restoration work which will hopefully improve the habitat for Dragonflies in the future.

Opening times, entry costs, facilities and directions

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Things to see

Portmoak Moss is one of the few surviving raised bogs (areas of deep, wet peat) in central Scotland. Since 2002, a habitat restoration project has been underway to restore the core of the peat dome to a functional raised bog by removing tree cover and damming ditches across 12ha of the site. Sphagnum species are now showing a strong recovery. Dragonflies breed in the blocked drainage runnels and hunt across the heather moorland of the Moss.

Top species

Common Hawker

A moorland specialist.

Flight period is June to November.

Large with paired spots down the body.

Image by Dave Smallshire

Seasonal Highlights

The best time to see the greatest number of dragonflies is on a sunny day throughout July and August, but early-emerging damselflies can be spotted from late April onwards. The Common Hawkers can be seen mating and then ovipositing in the drainage runnels throughout August.