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 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 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 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 ita 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 , 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 atvpro- 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 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 . It pro- gresses via Cameron Toll and Peffermill, where it is joined by Jordan Burn. Onwards via 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 it becomes Burdiehouse Burn and progresses via and Niddrie to becomes Niddrie Burn. Reaching 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 and Habbies Howe, where it is fed by Carlops Burn and Back Burn. It flows on via Auchencorth, , 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 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. It flows on to West Linton beyond which it is joined by the West Wa- ter running from the West Water Reservoir. The Lyne Wa- ter continues to Romanno Bridge and joins the River Tweed near Neidpath Castle, proceeding onwards via Pee- bles to meet the North Sea at Berwick-on-Tweed.

Lyne Water at West Linton RIVER CLYDE: Medwin Water rises in Craigengar and runs via Garvald to be joined by another West Water Burn thereafter becoming South Medwin and flowing into the River Clyde and thus flowing west to . However water is channelled from Medwin Water via Garvald Burn at Garvald, originally to turn a water wheel (a mill race), and this flows to join Lyne Water which as described above ends up in the North Sea.

Medwin Water at Garvald I know, you are quite right…I should have used a flow chart!!!

Where am I? Page 2 You are on the south-eastern slope of Hill, where the Battle of Rullion Green was fought in 1666. Early Morning Rush Hour On The Pentland Hills

Geese make rippling tidemarks on the October sky. The air from the east has a blade in it.

Down at Bonaly gate, a roe deer, nervy as a rock, refused to blink as I crept past.

Light thrusts daggers through clouds. Longannet's dead chimney gleams a gilded column against dark hills. As grouse go on grousing, the Queensferry Crossing strums three golden harps for me on the wind.

Below, the madness of that far-off burn in spate's the swirling of the A seven twenty. Over the Lammermuirs a silver ladder bids me to its secret skylight in the loft. Perhaps I'll hide there as It looks as if that speck's A runner heading up towards Hare Hill. ©Angus D H Ogilvy October 2016 A View from Scald Law Dr Andrew Marsden (Trustee)

Andrew (seen on Scald Law) has been a consultant in emergency medicine since 1979, retiring (finally) from the NHS in 2017. He divides his time between his Edin- burgh flat and the Elgin cottage he shares with his wife, Zoe. His other interests include gardening, the Slow Food movement and activities as a Senior Fellow at the Royal Col- lege of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He keeps himself fit by daily swimming and regular cycling, both activities he re-started in the past two years.

I joined the Friends following my move to Scotland in 1992 where I was to take up a post as Medical Director with the Scottish Ambulance Service. I had always been fond of the outdoor life in my early days – as a Queen’s Scout, a volunteer warden with the Yorkshire Dales National Park and, as an undergraduate, a medical officer with a Schools Hebridean Society ex- pedition to Mingulay in 1971. In my limited spare time from duties as an A&E Consultant in Wakefield, Yorkshire, I explored the South Pennines “On t’Tops around Todmorden” and took several happy holidays in the Lakeland Fells. We are so fortunate to have the Pentland Hills on our doorstep! Alas, my busy work scheduled limited access and over-eating and over-weight re- stricted my ability to get the best of the opportunities presented by the Friends. Things changed with retirement and, after a few sessions helping in the Har- law Wildlife Garden, I started attending work day parties and over the last two years have been out in the hills at least once a week.

So why do we volunteer? I can state four obvious reasons:- I suppose the main reason is to benefit from the beauty, diversity and tran- quillity of this wonderful upland area so close to the city. Every vista is differ- ent, every season brings fresh charm and every change in weather presents new challenges. Being on the hills has contributed in a huge way to my renewed health and fitness. How can one not lose weight when sweating up the hill with half a sleeper held by one arm and a trug of tools in the other? The work we do is varied and hugely satisfying. What an achievement it is, at the end of the day, to review a completed stile or sleeper bridge or re- stored and re-way-marked heritage trail. Or to walk the route some time lat- er and remark “We did that!!”. And what an amazing opportunity for a sep- tuagenarian to assimilate new skills such as willow spiling, dry stane dyking, arboriculture or footpath construction using sheep fleece and barrow loads of No 1. And the fellowship one experiences. Despite the varied and diverse back- grounds all our workday volunteers are kindred spirits. They are sources of rich (and sometimes ripe) anecdotes, wisdom and experience and great fun to work and rejoice with. Before I retired, I was frequently asked how I would fill my days? Would I not stagnate after a long and satisfying professional career? Fat chance of that as a Pentlands volunteer. And long may the work and play continue in the hope that, in another twenty years I will have a further chance to reflect with a “view from Scald Law”.

World Clean-up Day 21 September - The Stats Who better than John Stirling to coordinate the efforts of seven Pent- lands organisations to rid the hills for litter? Thirty-eight volunteers swept through eleven routes armed with pickers and bags. They re- moved twenty large refuse bags of litter from our hills. Three cheers!

Bog Bridge Building On Thieves Road (rising to the challenge with an unlikely sonnet)

With calipers we grapple the dead weights of the wooden sleepers, one each end, and teeter along with quickening gaits till the feeling's gone, then stop to bend our arms to get the blood back and swap hands then lift again.

The bog sucks at the spades, unclogging the syke that the old bridge spans; turf's hacked back, rot cut out. New sleepers laid on top, three wide, are braced and nailed to joists with four inch clearance either side to fix to posts that dead-eye Arthur drives home with a mell and dab-hand Andrew anchors with the drill. With non-slip staples battered in the job is finished. 'Well, yes, is there a poem here, Angus?' asks Hamish.

©Angus D.H. Ogilvy July 2019

Angus, on left, surveys the scene as he finds

inspiration for his next poetic work

A challenge too far? We are looking for a ditty for volunteers to chant as they get stuck into the graft of a Work Party day out, to keep the spirits up and the midges away. Your unworthy editor was taking his grandsons fishing at Clubbiedean in July when he met this work party on the old path from Torduff up to Clubbiedean. Jungle- bashing, step laying, path bottoming…. All in a a day’s work . Note our Chair leading by example.

The Centenary Hedge we planted at Drover’s Cottage, Harperrig, is now 5 years old and in a healthy state. It shields the track from drifting snow and is already popular with nesting birds. The Bridge at Flotterstone Next year’s calendar will be “Waters of the Pentlands”. More pho- tographs than ever be- fore have been sub- mitted! Theme for 2021 is: “Favourite Places in the Pentlands

Wheelchair Walks A great deal of preparatory work has gone into the establishment of these “walks” when people use an electric scooter to enjoy the Harlaw and Threipmuir areas of the Pentlands. Making it worthwhile is this letter to coordinator Iain Morrice: Hi Iain Thank you so much for arranging such a lovely trip for me. I really enjoyed my day out and meeting the Friends of the Pentlands. Reminded me of many happy days spent walking in the hills. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. I would love to come again so if you send me the form to complete either EMail or hand it in I will book up.

Our Logos We have two; the rectangular hills one is used for correspondence, the circular one on all our signage. The butterfly is the Green Hair- streak, and the plant the blaeberry. Both can be found in our hills.

Footnote: Seen descending Poet’s Glen in the summer – a young lady riding a unicycle! What next?