Natural Heritage Service Newsletter. June 2013 ... be particularly good for wildlife and conservation â many are ... b
Natural Heritage Service Newsletter June 2013
Welcome to the first Natural Heritage Service Newsletter. As this is the first one we wanted to introduce you to the team and the parks which we manage. In 2012 the Pentland Hills Regional Park Rangers and City of Edinburgh Council Countryside Rangers merged to form The Natural Heritage Service. This service has a new focus and is concentrating on managing the estate including Pentland Hills Regional Park and twelve natural Heritage Parks within the city. These parks can
nesting and a wildflower meadow which provides food for bees and butterflies plus a pond for frogs and toads. Craigmillar Castle Park is a historic landscape with stunning views of Edinburgh, the park has new and old woodlands surrounding Scotland’s best preserved medieval castle (owned by Historic Scotland). It also has grassland, and meadows, where you can find butterflies. Or watch birds of prey flying above. SOUTH NEIGHBOURHOOD
be particularly good for wildlife and conservation – many are Local Nature Reserves, green flag
Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local
parks, as well as having areas of wildlife,
Nature Reserve includes a wooded gorge, scrub
geological and archaeological importance plus of
and grassland. There are stunning views of
course they are very popular with the people of
Edinburgh, signs of otters, bats and birds. There
Edinburgh (and beyond), who come to exercise,
is also a nature trail and historic buildings to
enjoy the peace, wildlife and stunning views.
discover.
Sites we manage
Burdiehouse Burn Valley Park Local Nature Reserve is where you can follow the burn through
NORTH NEIGHBOURHOOD Ravelston Woods Local Nature Reserve has lovely mixed woodland with stunning bluebells in spring. You can look for the ice house and signs
old and new woodland to see the heron and wander through the meadow looking for butterflies. SOUTH WEST NEIGHBOURHOOD
of badgers. Easter Craiglockhart Hill Local Nature Reserve EAST NEIGHBOURHOOD Meadow’s Yard local Nature Reserve is a hidden gem, a great place to see foxes, birds and butterflies. It has scrubby woodland excellent for
offers stunning views from its wooded hill. Follow the nature trail to discover the woodland, marsh, grassland, scrub and a pond full of bird life; great for bats at dusk.
WEST NEIGHBOURHOOD
and Lammermuir Hills from ‘The Ridge’. Follow the Great Glen Mystery trail (family friendly) and
Walk along The wooded River Almond Walkway
the Glencorse View trail (2.7 miles/4.5km).
to see evidence of water mills, the kingfisher and otter.
Bonaly Country Park has woodland and heather moorland. There is Torduff Water trail (1.5
Corstorphine Hill Local Nature Reserve is another wooded hill, home to badgers and birds of prey. It
miles/2.5km), orienteering, woodlands, and reservoirs.
has views of Edinburgh and grassland areas to run around in.
Hillend Country Park has an Iron Age Hill fort, wildflower meadow and open grassland. Enjoy
Cammo Estate was the first designed landscape in Scotland. It is now a wildlife haven full of history with ruined buildings, pinetum and canal
stunning views of Edinburgh, East Lothian and the Firth of Forth while you walk the Capital View trail (2.5 miles/4km).
pond. There are birds of prey, deer, signs of badgers and lots of bees and butterflies in our
Harlaw is a great place to take the family, there is
stunning meadow.
the Wildlife Garden, Black Springs wildlife refuge. You can walk around the reservoirs or learn about
ACROSS NEIGHBOURHOODS Walk along the prom of Edinburgh’s Foreshore past grassland, sandy and rocky shoreline. Take your binoculars to see waders and other sea birds. Water of Leith Walkway (Balerno to Leith) includes Colinton and Craiglockhart Dells. You can walk over 12 miles of wooded riverside following part of the old railway line. There you
wildlife on the Biodiversity trail. Threipmuir Reservoir & Bavelaw Marsh (SSSI) is a great place to watch birds from the bird hide. It includes Red Moss, Edinburgh’s only lowland raised bog and a wildflower meadow. Investigate Castlelaw Souterrain and Hill fort, look for green hairstreak butterfly, and enjoy views of Glencorse reservoir, Flotterstone Glen and Midlothian.
will see evidence of old mills, kingfisher, signs of the otter and roe deer.
Harperrig Reservoir provides water for Leith. You can see cairns castle, take a short walk around
PENTLAND HILLS REGIONAL PARK
the scots pine woodland, visit the bird hide, and
The Regional Park is a living working landscape
walk along the reservoir or up to cauldstane slap.
with a 100km network of way marked routes to
There is also Woodpecker walk (500 metres) and
enjoy. It includes:
the south shore linear path (1.6 miles, 2.6km).
Flotterstone, a mix of woodland and farmland in a
Boghall Farm/Woodhouselee is a farm used by
valley, with waterfalls and glacial features. There
Scottish Rural College, leading to Castlelaw,
are views across Midlothian, the Scottish Borders
Hillend Country Park and Allermuir Hill.
Meet the Team
Jessica Morgado - Volunteering, (maternity leave)
You will find us based at the Hermitage of Braid,
Mike Wyzgowski - Temp Assistant Estate Worker
drop in or give us a phone if you have any
(Feb/present)
questions. Alan McGregor - Natural Heritage & Regional Park Manager 0131 529 2422
Senior Natural Heritage Officers Jenny Hargreaves - Estate management 0131 529 2405 Susan Falconer - Nature conservation and volunteering 0131 529 2406 Susan Dickson - Communication and Visitor Experience 0131 529 2407
Natural Heritage Officers Martin Duncan - CEC Access Officer (50%) and woodland 0131 529 2416 Victor Partridge – Biodiversity and volunteering 0131 529 2403 Lee Rankin - Estate, paths and infrastructure 0131 529 2408 David Kyles - Estate, Landscape and conservation 0131 529 2421 Paula Bell - Interpretation and communication 0131 528 2404 Caroline Paterson - SOAC and signage 0131 529 2409 Velda Weir - Recreation and community engagement 0131 529 2402 Gwen Stewart - Administration Officer 0131 529 2401
