Pentland Post October 2019 A work team clears the path on the approach to Maiden’s Cleugh Friends of the Pentlands is a Scottish Charitable Incor- porated Organisation Registered in Scotland Number SCO 35514 Where am I? Old farm buildings on a Pentland hillside Answer at the foot of Page 6 It’s Our Arthur! Readers of the Edinburgh News in August may have seen an article titled “Hard-working Arthur Helps Steer Festival”. It starts: “Council chiefs have paid tribute to one of Midlothian Outdoor Festival’s most dedicated volun- teers…..” referring, of course, to Arthur McKenzie, well known in our circles as ever-present on work parties and regular Pentlands walker. It ends with a quote from Arthur – “I’d climb the walls if I had to stay in and watch day- time telly.” From a man in his mid-eighties this is inspirational! Editorial This edition of Pentland Post will be my last as editor, and is, in fact a joint effort by my replacement, Peter Moore, and myself. Peter will assume the role of editor next year, mainly responsible for this magazine and the production of our calendar. Thanks to all who have supported me over the last five years, especially John Stirling and Ian Combe, both regular suppliers of excellent material. Con- tributions from members for this magazine are what make it a good read, so, on Peter’s behalf, I ask you all to consider sending in articles and photographs for May 2020. David Syme BOARD MEMBER PROFILE At the AGM in May the Chair appealed for 3 new Board members to fill vacancies. This note indicates what being a Board member involves - to help and encourage members to consider the role. An interest in the Pentland Hills, and ways in which Friends of the Pent- lands can contribute to maintaining and improving them through its ac- tivities is important. However, involvement as a volunteer is not a pre- requisite and a mix of members with different ages, genders and per- spectives benefits the Board. (The Annual Review gives information on the extent of FoP activities.) There is scope to contribute ideas, advice and views on issues, using your experience, knowledge and skills. Issues are diverse such as the resource implications (volunteer and financial) of possible new initia- tives, planning issues, suggesting improvements in ongoing activities and signing off on major decisions. An injection of greater familiarity with IT and use of social media would be welcome. New members could be invited (though not compelled) to take an in- terest in and lead on specific matters or fill one of the specific posts, es- pecially when this utilises existing knowledge, strong interest or skills. The Board normally meets five times a year, usually from 7 to about 9pm, with a limited amount of preparatory reading of papers. When a Board member is in the lead on an activity, initiative or issue this will, of course, need more time. A Board member is a Trustee of the charity. This entails responsibility for the sound governance and financial man- agement of the Friends of the Pentlands and its operation in accord- ance with its constitution. You will find the members of the Board committed, active, with a shared purpose, and friendly. PENTLANDS INSECTS Victor Partridge Natural Heritage Officer, City of Edinburgh Council I remember as a child finding a caterpillar and putting it in a jam-jar to see what happened. However, when it died I felt guilty and got out books from the library to see how I could help the next one make that amazing transformation into a butterfly or moth. My interest grew and after watching a tv pro- gramme called “Elusive Butterflies” I wrote to the presenter asking, “How could I become a lepidopterist (someone who studies moths and butterflies)?”. The presenter wrote back that there was not really a paid job as a Lepidopterist. Well many years later, I may not be a lepidopterist, but a small part of my job does include surveying for butterflies and getting other people interested in these beautiful creatures. Butterflies are of course probably the most beautiful of insects but according to the first global scientific review, the world’s insects are hurtling down the path to extinction, with more than 40% of insect species declining and a third endangered. We are starting to understand and be aware that insects are not so much pests as essential to nature and ourselves. Insects are at the heart of every food web, they pollinate the large majority of plant spe- cies, keep the soil healthy, recycle nutrients, control pests, and much more. Insects are food for many birds and mammals, so without them we would lose most of our animals. Click Beetle How are insects doing in the Pentland Hills? The short answer is they are probably doing ok, but as we only survey for two species annually, we do not really know. Generally, if the habitat is conserved, insects are safe. The farmers and landowners in the Regional Park have been manag- ing their land for hundreds of years which makes a haven for insects. In recent years, more trees have been planted. If this does not destroy rare habitats, this is good as woodland can support a huge number of insects. We have recorded 97 species of insect in the Pentland Hills Re- gional Park, but there are many more to be discovered. Butterflies and dragonflies are reasonably easy to identify, but when you start trying to work out what species of fly or bug you are looking at, it gets tricky. An expert on dung beetles (beetle pictured above) who visited the Pentland Hills last year, found three new species which are nationally scarce! Each year the Regional Park conducts surveys inviting the public to Painted Lady Butterfly look for two locally rare butterflies, the green hairstreak and small- pearl-bordered fritillary. The results from that show that they are doing ok and we often find the green hairstreak at new sites in the park. This year was very exciting as we found the small-pearl-bordered fritil- lary at two new places. The likelihood is that they have been there all the time but we just do not have the time to look everywhere during the short period they are flying. So next time you are out for a walk in the Pentland Hills, keep your eyes open for the important little crea- tures and let us know what you have seen. PENTLAND BURNS FLOWING TO THE FIRTH OF FORTH AND THE NORTH SEA: Ian Combe As a young lad growing up in Portobello I spent many happy hours exploring, well, mainly paddling, up the Figgate Burn with my pals. Only recently did I consider how this water managed to wind its way to the sea. This is a brief account of the source and routes of the main waters flowing from the east side of the Pentland Hills out into the North Sea, with one exception which takes us west. The waters are grouped below according to the their final destination. FIGGATE BURN Clubbiedean Burn rises in the north west side of Harbour Hill and flows into Clubbiedean Reservoir. From there it runs into Torduff Reservoir, from which any overflow joins Bonaly Burn, of which more below. Blacklaws Burn and Dean Burn rise be- low the north slopes of Bonaly Reservoir joining to become Bonaly Burn. This then joins Howden Burn which rises in Capelaw Hill, passing through Dreghorn, Braidburn Valley Park and Hermitage of Braid where it becomes Braid Burn. It pro- gresses via Cameron Toll and Peffermill, where it is joined by Jordan Burn. Onwards via Duddingston it becomes Figgate Burn and eventually enters the sea at Portobello. Clubbiedean Burn tumbling nto Torduff Reservoir BRUNSTANE BURN Hare Burn rises in Allermuir Hill and flows via Swanston Golf Club to join Swanston Burn which it- self rises in Caerketton Hill progressing via Swanston Cottages and Lothianburn to become Lothian Burn. Joined by Pentland Burn at Burdiehouse it becomes Burdiehouse Burn and progresses via Little France and Niddrie to becomes Niddrie Burn. Reaching Brunstane it becomes Brunstane Burn and flows into the sea at Eastfield just east of Joppa. Pentland Burn Lothianburn looking noted above is fed by Boghall Burn which rises in Allermuir and back to Caerketton Hill Caerketton Hills and flows via Pentland Mains to Burdiehouse. RIVER NORTH ESK : River North Esk has its source in North Esk Reservoir and, joined by Fairliehope Burn, de- scends via Carlops and Habbies Howe, where it is fed by Carlops Burn and Back Burn. It flows on via Auchencorth, Penicuik, Auchendinny on through Roslin Glen to Hawthorn Den Castle, Polton, Lasswade, Melville Castle, Dalkeith Country Park finding the sea finally at Musselburgh. River North Esk has a number of other tributaries summarised below: A: Loganlea Burn flows from Loganlea Reservoir via Glencorse Reservoir and becomes Glencorse Burn. This burn runs through Flotterstone to Glen- corse and on to join River North Esk . B: Lawhead Burn rises between Carnethy and Turn- house Hills to beome Cuicken Burn which runs Glencorse Burn going under the A702 at through Penicuik before joining the River North Esk Flotterstone C: Silver Burn rises on Scald Law to join River North Esk D: Quarrel Burn flows from the Quarrel Reservoir and transforms into Eight Mile Burn then Braidwod Burn and Cornton Burn before joining River North Esk. E: Monks Burn rises in Greenlaw and Cap Law before becoming Nine Mile Burn and then joining River North Esk. RIVER TWEED: Lyne Water flows out of Baddinsgill Reservoir and is joined by Wakefield Burn rising from King Seat.