CITATION BILSTON BURN SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST

Site code: 204

NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE: NT 270649, NT 282648

OS 1:50,000 SHEET NO: Landranger Series 66 1:25,000 SHEET NO: Explorer Series 344

AREA: 16.59 hectares

NOTIFIED NATURAL FEATURES

Biological: Woodland: Upland Mixed Ash Woodland Geological: Stratigraphy: Lower Carboniferous [Dinantian-Namurian (part)]

DESCRIPTION

Bilston Burn is located within the valley of Bilston Glen, south of Loanhead, Midlothian.

Geological exposures run along the length of the valley bottom, showing major, inland Dinantian (Lower Carboniferous) sections, proving much of the local Carboniferous succession. The locality’s section can be considered as a standard for the Lower Limestone and Upper Limestone Groups in the area. The local succession of named coals and limestones has been proved and the section also includes the ‘fish bone-bed’, lying below the Bone Bed Limestone. These are irreplaceable sections for Lower Carboniferous rocks in the Lothian area and of great importance for comparisons between sites in the Midland Valley. The site is divided into two compartments by a large area of colliery spoil.

The mixed deciduous valley woodland of Bilston Glen comprises a mix of ash, oak and elm with a ground flora characteristic of ancient woodland. Ancient woodland is scarce and declining in the Lothian area and Bilston Glen is one of the few remaining examples in Midlothian.

NOTIFICATION HISTORY

First notified under the 1949 Act: 1956 Re-notified under the 1981 Act: 11 March 1986 (with a 15.6 ha decrease in area) Notification reviewed under the Nature Conservation () Act 2004 Act: 29 April 2008

REMARKS A composite site in two parts Measured area of site corrected (from 17.1 ha)