Natural Heritage Service Newsletter

June 2013

nesting and a wildflower meadow which provides Welcome to the first Natural Heritage Service food for bees and butterflies plus a pond for frogs Newsletter. As this is the first one we wanted to and toads. introduce you to the team and the parks which we manage. Craigmillar Castle Park is a historic landscape with stunning views of , the park has In 2012 the Regional Park Rangers new and old woodlands surrounding Scotland’s and City of Edinburgh Council Countryside best preserved medieval castle (owned by Rangers merged to form The Natural Heritage Historic Scotland). It also has grassland, and Service. This service has a new focus and is meadows, where you can find butterflies. Or concentrating on managing the estate including watch birds of prey flying above. Pentland Hills Regional Park and twelve natural Heritage Parks within the city. These parks can SOUTH NEIGHBOURHOOD be particularly good for wildlife and conservation – many are Local Nature Reserves, green flag and 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 old and new woodland to see the heron and wander through the meadow looking for Ravelston Woods Local Nature Reserve has butterflies. lovely mixed woodland with stunning bluebells in spring. You can look for the ice house and signs SOUTH WEST NEIGHBOURHOOD of badgers. Easter Hill Local Nature Reserve EAST NEIGHBOURHOOD offers stunning views from its wooded hill. Follow the nature trail to discover the woodland, marsh, Meadow’s Yard local Nature Reserve is a hidden grassland, scrub and a pond full of bird life; great gem, a great place to see foxes, birds and for bats at dusk. butterflies. It has scrubby woodland excellent for

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 Local Nature Reserve is another miles/2.5km), orienteering, woodlands, and wooded hill, home to badgers and birds of prey. It 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 stunning views of Edinburgh, East Lothian and in Scotland. It is now a wildlife haven full of the Firth of Forth while you walk the Capital View history with ruined buildings, pinetum and canal 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 wildlife on the Biodiversity trail.

Walk along the prom of Edinburgh’s Foreshore Threipmuir Reservoir & Bavelaw Marsh (SSSI) is past grassland, sandy and rocky shoreline. Take a great place to watch birds from the bird hide. It your binoculars to see waders and other sea includes Red Moss, Edinburgh’s only lowland birds. raised bog and a wildflower meadow.

Water of Leith Walkway (Balerno to Leith) Investigate Castlelaw Souterrain and Hill fort, look includes Colinton and Craiglockhart Dells. You for green hairstreak butterfly, and enjoy views of can walk over 12 miles of wooded riverside Glencorse reservoir, Flotterstone Glen and following part of the old railway line. There you 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