THE butterfly swirled and bobbed on fast-beating wings as I wandered along the hill path between Tillicoultry and Alva.

It was a speckled wood butterfly – a new arrival to Clackmannanshire with this species having only recently arrived from haunts further west over the last few years.

They have a typically fast flight and like to haunt glades and clearings, such as found by the woodlands at Wood Hill, through which this path passes through.

Their arrival is a sign of the ever-changing aspect of nature, much of which in recent times has been fuelled by climate change.

This path between Tilly and Alva, which follows a course along the lower edge of the Ochils, is a wonderful place to walk, offering fine views over the Clackmannanshire landscape.

It is also an environment rich in mining history. Mining in the Ochils for silver, copper and cobalt became a feature of some western parts of the hills in the 18th century, albeit with mixed fortunes.

The most successful were the Alva Silver mines, situated in the steep glen between the Nebit and Wood Hill, the debris from which can still be seen today.

One of these shafts struck the biggest mass of silver ore to be found in the British Isles in 1714, with between £40,000 and £50,000 raised over a few months, a considerable fortune in those days.

Before I reached the woods at Wood Hill, an elder bush hanging heavy with berries caught my eye.

Whether a shrub or a tree, I am never sure, but the elder holds a special place in our culture from the earliest of times and the flowers and berries make delicious wines and jams.

The fruits of dog rose – rosehips – were also about. As a child, I recall peeling away their thick red skins to collect the seeds within, which had the capacity to cause discomfort similar to that of itching powder when sneakily placed in my brother's clothing.

These hips can be used to make tea and jelly, and generations of children have been brought up on the syrup, which is rich in vitamin C.

It is always worth examining dog roses closely, for sometimes they feature bright frilly growths known as 'robin's pincushions', which are caused by the larvae of a tiny gall wasp that feeds on the host plant.

These fuzzy balls are attractive to the eye and don't seem to harm the plant.

As I looked upon this berry abundance, my mind drifted towards thoughts of the fieldfares and redwings that will soon be swooping upon our shores from northern Europe, and which love to gorge upon this wild fruit as soon as they arrive.

When they do so, there is a short period of time when they mix company with some of our summer visitors such as swallows and martins.

It is a special time, like a changing of the shifts with the old guard about to move out and the new arrivals establishing themselves.

It is also a compelling reminder of just how attractive many birds find Scotland as a place to live, where our mostly mild climate ensures plentiful food no matter the time of year.