Friends of Corstorphine Hill

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

Chairman's Tidings

2009 saw us entering the walled garden for the prestigious Green

Pennant and the hill for the Green Flag!! We were successful in winning the Green Pennant but not with the Green Flag. Our success with the Green Pennant meant we were the first garden in Scotland to win this accolade of which we are very proud as this is a national award.

We entered for the Edinburgh in Bloom Competition and won 3rd prize in the community garden category.

2009 was also our Tenth Anniversary and we celebrated it in style. On the 8th of August we had our first open day which was a great success with a turn out of approximately 500 people. The following day we followed up with a dinner at the Best Western Capital Hotel; this was enjoyed by all with a fair amount of credit going to the hotel staff for the excellent service we received.

In 2010 our secretary Donald Gorrie is still representing our interests with the plans of the zoo. At the moment the wheel seems to be turning in our favour. We have arranged a meeting with David Windmill the Chief Exec of the zoo on the 1st March and it will be very interesting to hear their latest plans, it will also give us an opportunity to give them our ideas.

How the Zoo Sees Its Development

At the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Corstorphinehill , David Windmill gave a short presentation about the Zoo, where it is now and how he sees future developments. No date has been placed upon when a new plan might be presented but he declared a total commitment to consultation with ourselves. Although Mr Windmill had to depart for another engagement, two of his team remained to answer questions. Several points were raised during the discussion and it was apparent that consultation as early as possible in the process would beto our mutual benefit.

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).

Walled Garden

Many of the Friends will know about the successes of the Walled Garden in competitions and recorded in previous Newsletters. This year we will be involved with the 'Its Your Neighbourhood' campaign which is about rewarding efforts towards environmental improvement and community involvement: hanging baskets not necessary! Go to www.beautifulscotland.org for more information.

Corstorphine Fair

The Corstoprhine Fair 2010 will be on Saturday 5th June, 11am - 4pm, in St Margaret's Park. We will have a stall and will need volunteers to be on duty to meet the public on that day.

Spring Report from the Countryside Ranger Service

After the coldest December and January on record, it’s nice to see some greenery around after the thaw!

Out on the hill, despite the weather, regular patrolling has been taking place. When the snow was lying, it was an ideal opportunity for tracking the mammals of Corstorphine Hill, especially the badgers, quite amazing just how active these creatures are at this time of year – some people believe they hibernate which is not the case, they do reduce their activity and there’s more reliance on using fat deposits but active foraging and territorial marking takes place all year.

Corstorphine Hill LNR has again been put forward for a Green Flag Award – a quality assurance scheme for parks and gardens. It was unfortunate not to receive the award last year; however, with judge’s comments taken on board and acted on in the intervening period, a positive result is expected by all this time round.

Over the past 6 months, there have been a couple of unfortunate accidents out on the hill involving dogs and their owners. It is often the case when out walking on the hill that you deviate from the main path network and explore some of the wilder areas, you never quite know what you might find; a fox resting up in a spot of sunshine, butterflies flitting from flower to flower or some rabbits cropping the turf. It is always worth bearing in mind that at one stage a few hundred years ago there were 10 working quarries on the hill, there are also a number of wells which watered the workers. All the wells are capped and fenced off and all the steep drops along the formal path network have some sort of barrier in place. Make sure you know your orientation; look for landmarks that indicate where quarrying took place, but most importantly, go out and enjoy Corstorphine Hill LNR for what it is taking into account the natural and historic man-made features that could pose risks.

History Book

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 (135kB pdf).

EVENTS UPDATE

Evening talks

A winter programme of evening talks has been arranged for the season 2009/2010. Topics include 'History of Cramond', 'Houses of Corstorphine Hill', 'Medicinal Herbs' and a visit to 'Beechwood House' . Further details can be found at this link.

Guided walks

The programme of summer guided walks has been arranged for the season 2010. Topics include: 'Birds', 'Natives, Naturlised and Nasties II', 'Storytelling for Children', 'Butterflies, Bees and other Beasties', 'Herbs and Medicinal Plants' and 'Fungus Foray'. Additional outings include 'Guided Badger Walk' and 'Guided Walk around Cramond Island'. Further details can be found at this link.

Tower

The plan is to open the Tower every Sunday throughout the summer. Further details at this link.

GET INVOLVED...

Volunteers

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.