Thousands of rare snails released in Pentland Hills as part of conservation efforts

Thousands of rare pond mud snails have been released into wetlands around the Pentland Hills.

The release is part of a conservation project run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) which involved the release of over 3,000 snails into ponds and marshes near the Threipmuir Reservoir and Bavelaw Marsh area.

Pond mud snails were once a widespread species in the UK but are not only found at a few sites.

Around 3,000 snails were released around the Pentland Hills. RZSS

Dr Helen Taylor, deputy head of conservation at RZSS, said the charity has been successfully breeding the vulnerable species since 2017 and has “learned a lot during that time”.

She said although the breeding programme will give the wild population a significant boost, the release does not signify the end of the charity’s work.

Pond mud snails were once a widespread species in the UK but are not only found at a few sites. RZSS

“Regular monitoring is required to check the species is not only surviving but thriving. It’s brilliant to be able to do this kind of work right on our doorstep, just outside Edinburgh – proof that conservation doesn’t have to be restricted to remote locations,” she said.

Pond mud snails play an important role in the ecosystem, acting as natural cleaners by consuming dead plants and organic waste.

They also help control excessive algal growth and recycle nutrients back into the water.