The Friends is a group of people who have joined together to help look after the Corstorphine Hill area, for the benefit of people, animals, plants and the landscape. We organise practical activities such as tidying-up and planting, improving paths and signs; we run guided walks and evening talks. Our longer-term aims include developing the old walled garden at Hillwood, and the old nursery at Beechhill, and raising funds for an education centre.

LATEST NEWS

Current newsletter: Newsletter No. 35, June 2009 (189kb pdf)

Ten Years In Business

We would like to announce our celebration of the founding of the Friends of Corstorphine Hill by having an Open Day in the walled garden on Saturday 8th August between 2.00pm - 4.00pm. As you know, we are competing for the Green Flag Award for the Hill and the Green Pennant Award for the Walled Garden and, if successful, it will be more reason for celebrations. Please come and join us in the entertainment, which we are providing and everyone is welcome. There will be barbershop choir singing, pipe music and a tombola stand. In addition, we hope to have pony rides for the children. There will be trips to the Corstorphine Tower for anyone who would like to see the marvellous views from the top. We also plan to lay on a guided flower and tree walk to point out some of the interesting plants growing on the Hill. Our committee look forward to meeting you all on the day.

Eddie Price

Ten Years and Still Improving

At the Annual General Meeting the Chairman thanked all the volunteers who in various ways contributed to the efforts which made the Friends so successful. In particular he thanked Alison MacKintosh for producing the History of the Hill. The book has been a great success. The woodland improvements have also been much appreciated.

This year the Hill has been entered in the Green Flag Award scheme and the Walled Garden in the Green Pennant competition . This is surely a reflection on the achievements of the past ten years. There are some very positive ideas as to how the anniversary should be celebrated.

Paul Edie then summarised the achievements over the past ten years, which was quite inspirational. Those who heard of how the Friends had influenced events over the past decade for the first time, were impressed. Even those who had experienced the events themselves were equally impressed. One can only wonder at what would have resulted due to the lack of maintenance on the Hill. Excavation of water tanks may have taken place. There would be no restful garden to sit in, no educational material, and perhaps more important there would be a lack of community spirit, all of which makes living in Corstorphine particularly pleasant.

Finally the Chairman thanked the Capital Hotel for providing the venue. Now that the former college has been reduced to a pile of rubble, the hotel has stepped in to provide venues for meetings which have been used for our winter talks as well as the AGM and we are delighted with the service that has been provided.

Chairmans's Spring Tidings

On reflection of our achievements during 2008 , I would undoubtedly say our greatest success was the publication of our book "The Finest Views The Eye Can See". This gives an insight to the history of Corstorphine Hill and is an excellent read. Anyone interested in owning a copy can purchase this book at a price of £5.00 from Corstorphine Library or from members of the committee.

2008 also planted the seeds for our applications for both the GREEN FLAG AWARD (for the Hill) and THE GREEN PENNANT AWARD (for the Walled Garden) If we are successful then the walled garden will be the first Green Pennant awarded inScotland.

Some unfinished business from last year is the woodland management plan, which has instigated some significant changes to the hill. Anyone walking round the hill will have noticed the improved path ways, the new seats and picnic tables and observedthe trees and lack of intrusive Rubus, also the bird and bat boxes.

Looking forward to 2009, our secretary Mr Donald Gorrie has worked very hard representing our best interests during various meetings regarding the zoo planning application. I would like to thank him for pushing for a positive out come. Decisions will be made in June or July this year. Please keep your fingers crossed and letcommon sense prevail.

This year is our 10th anniversary of the Friends and if we are successful with our award applications they will certainly be the pinnacle of our celebrations.

We have now, with funding from the Edinburgh Biodiversity Partnership spent £800.96 this year on plants to replenish the walled garden. We will take delivery of the plants in March. As usual if there are any volunteers willing to assist with theplanting we would be most grateful. “Some things have never changed!!!!!”

Eddie Price

Ranger's Spring Report

An article by David Kyles (Ranger, Countryside Ranger Service, City of Edinburgh Council) can be found in the March newsletter; describing activities undertaken since September on Corstorphine Hill, mentioning Forest Education Programme, Stevenson College, BTCV, mountain biking, forestry crews, Green Flag Award and Green Pennant Award.

Potential Problems Anticipated to Result from the Zoo Master Plan

The article (Newsletter No. 31) on the potential problems anticipated to result from the Zoo Master Plan can be found on this link, with the accompanying map on this link, both as pdf files (18kb and 473kb).

History Book

Since publication of our book in April, the sales have exceeded our expectations. To date we have sold over 400 copies. It is testament to the writing skills of our author Alison that every person who has read it has thoroughly enjoyed the journey. Local sales have been excellent thanks to the Corstorphine Library and the Dower House. Postal sales have also been good with a number of copies being sent down south and elsewhere in Scotland. With Christmas on the horizon, do you know someone who would like a copy?

Corstorphine Hill - The Finest Views The Eye Can Feast On
Published 4th April 2008 by 'The Friends of Corstorphine Hill'
48pp, 15 colour illustrations, 18 black & white.
Price £5 plus postage and packing £1-50 (UK) £2-80 overseas airmail.

Copies can be obtained from Fred Davies (old fashioned contact details in Newsletter No. 31) or ordered through any member of the committee.

Online Survey

City of Edinburgh Council would like to know what you think about your local park or greenspace. You can submit feedback using their on-line Parks and Greenspace Survey. It will be accessible throughout the next year, so please re-visit it whenever there is something about Corstorphine Hill that you would like to comment (or indeed any of Edinburgh's parks and greenspaces). For instance, is it a wildlife haven or a waste ground? Do you love it or loathe it? Is it litter-strewn or is it litter free? Would it be improved by restrictions on mountain bikers?

Countryside Ranger Service - Volunteers

The City of Edinburgh Council Countryside Ranger Service is also looking for volunteers. More details can be found on this link (26kb pdf).

EVENTS UPDATE

Evening talks

A winter programme of evening talks has been arranged for the season 2008/2009. Topics include 'Badgers and the Badger Group', 'Railways of West Edinburgh' and 'Edinburgh Tramways Project'. Further details can be found at this link.

Guided walks

A summer programme of guided walks has been arranged for the season 2009. Guided walk topics include "Birds", "Natives, Naturalised and Nasties", "Medicinal Plants", "Badgers", "Storytelling in the Walled Garden", "Butterflies, Bees and Beasties" and "Fungal Foray". Further details can be found at this link.

Tower

The plan is to open the Tower on Sundays at fortnightly intervals throughout the summer. Further details at this link.

GET INVOLVED...

Volunteers

We need volunteers - if you can join in with any of our activites, such as

committee work
giving a talk
leading a walk
newsletter delivery
newsletter production
organising talks
organising walks
taking a turn on the Tower rota
Walled Garden maintenance

please let us know ... many hands make light work ... and you will be made most welcome.

Friends membership renewal

The fee is £1 per member per year. Donations are also always very welcome! Please hand in your name(s) and fee(s) to any of the committee members.

Comments, suggestions and information are welcome
Email to: friends@corstorphinehill.org.uk

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Latest update - March 2009