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. 33, September 2008 (80kb pdf)

Plans, Housing, Zoo, Appeals and Proposed Developments on the Hill

As the Friends endeavour to keep up with the the continuing saga. Below is an update of what we believe to be the current situation, described by Donald Gorrie.

FoCH are co-operating with four other local organisations – Corstorphine, Murrayfield and Drum Brae Community Councils and the Corstorphine Trust and with local residents in and around Kaimes Road – and are co-ordinating our response to the issue of whether the Zoo’s proposals for 120 or so houses and flats on their land adjoining Kaimes Road should be included in the city’s Local Plan or not. Our group has had several meetings, including one at the Zoo to be briefed on the details of their proposals and the thinking behind them and one with the Convener and Vice-Convener of the Council’s Planning Committee.

Having deleted the Zoo’s proposals from the Local Plan, the Council is on the same side of the argument as ourselves and we are co-operating with them, as we are advancing similar arguments. We have submitted a Stated Case to the Inquiry into the Local Plan.

The issue of the Zoo’s housing proposals is likely to be heard on December 3rd. The points we have concentrated on are:-

the strongly felt and widespread local opposition to the Zoo’s proposals in our communities;
the intrusion into an Area of Great Landscape Value and an important part of the Green Belt to build houses for which there is no demand in planning or housing policy - they are proposed only to make money for the Zoo;
creating a precedent for future applications for housing developments on Corstorphine Hill;
the visual intrusion into a major part of many fine views in Edinburgh, replacing trees with houses and a road and tarmac or paved areas and replacing the Zoo’s frontage onto Corstorphine Road with blocks of flats, concealing the Zoo completely from passing motorists and bus passengers;
causing serious increases in traffic and parking problems in and around Corstorphine Road - the Zoo proposes one road to serve all the traffic to and from the Zoo, the hotel and the 120 houses with a traffic light junction onto Corstorphine Road just east of the Forestry Commission;
they will have to enable safe crossing over the main road by all Zoo visitors, who are not parked in the car park, and possibly compete with another new traffic light at the Pinkhill junction;
the harm to the plants and wildlife on Corstorphine Hill, the increase in atmospheric pollution, and the increased risk of flooding.

Any member wishing to read our full statement should contact Donald Gorrie for a copy.

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).

Ranger's Report

An article by David Kyles (Ranger, Countryside Ranger Service, City of Edinburgh Council) can be found in the latest newsletter; describing activities undertaken since May on Corstorphine Hill, including maintenance, events, volunteer groups and environmental education.

'Forest Education' At Corstorphine Hill

To date Corstorphine Hill has hosted three ‘Forest School’ programmes through mainstream education as part of Edinburgh’s Forest School pilot project 2006-2008. Corstorphine Hill has proved to be an exemplar site for showcasing the ‘Forest School’ project with awareness visits with Health Scotland, Scottish Executive (now Government) educational policy staff, Community Tree Wardens and Career Professional Development woodland taster days for teachers. Visits from Scottish Natural Heritage and the South African Eco-Schools Co-ordinator and National English, Welsh and Scottish Forest Education Co-ordinators have also taken place. For further details, read the article by Jenny Watters (Forest Education Development Officer) which can be found in the latest newsletter.

History Book - Press Release

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 was successfully undertaken for the season 2008. Guided walk topics include "Birds", "Wildflowers", "Butterflies, Bees and Beasties", "Trees and Woodland" 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 - October 2008