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. 32, May 2008 (84kb pdf)

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 survey, www.edinburgh.gov.uk/parksurvey. 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?

Friends in Good Shape to Continue Hill Improvements

At the AGM the Chairman summarised the activities of the past year and indicated some of the likely events in the coming year.

Undoubtedly the most contentious issue is concerned with the effects the Zoo's Master Plan could have on the area. As you will be aware the Council rejected the plan to change the status of land currently designated greenbelt to build houses inside the Zoo along the west perimeter.

The latest development is that there will be a local public enquiry to consider all objections to the City of Edinburgh Local Plan. The enquiry is expected to start in September 2008 . Mr Richard Bowden B.Sc MPhil MRTPI and Mr Dan Jackman BA (Hons) MRTPI have been appointed as Inquiry Reporters.

The Friends have been in discussion with other organisations on this matter. The situation with regard to the enquiry, is that in the Corstorphine Hill part of the Enquiry, the assumption is that the Zoo will object to the Council Planning Committee’s decision to delete the Zoo’s housing proposal from the Local Plan. So the Council will be defending that decision and the Friends and other local bodies will be supporting the Council and, in effect, objecting to the Zoo’s objection. The Friends have had two meetings with local Councillors and other local organisations - the Community Councils of Corstorphine, Drum Brae and Murrayfield and the Corstorphine Trust. We are planning to co-operate in producing written and oral evidence at the Public Enquiry setting out reasons for opposing the Zoo’s proposals, while supporting better ways of funding and developing the Zoo.

Obviously there is a wide range of individual views on these issues, which people are completely free to express but the majority consensus in the five bodies is strongly against the Zoo’s housing proposals along Kaimes Road and its proposals to take into the Zoo part of the open ground of the Hill Park near Corstorphine Road.

The next step is the official meeting on 15th May at 4.30 in the City Chambers when the Enquiry Reporters will explain the procedures for the Enquiry and answer questions about it. There will be no discussion about the merits of the various arguments. The Friends and the other four local bodies will take part in this meeting. After it, we will co-operate in composing our written and oral evidence to the Enquiry in September.

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 293kb).

Ranger's Report

Following the business of the AGM, Eddie introduced the ranger, David Kyles. David explained that since the first of April he had officially taken over from his predecessor and was responsible for Corstorphine Hill, the river Almond walkway (Cammo to Cramond) and Edinburgh’s foreshore and coastal areas. David went on to update us on numerous activities, demonstrating his grasp of the current activities on the Hill in particular. As you can see David is being kept very busy.

Safety felling and the felling of Dutch elm diseased trees again took place late last year.
Orientation panels and threshold signs now in place. There are still issues with the need for more space/points to put up notices and display information and every attempt is being made to remedy the problem.
Picnic benches are in place;the Rangers are aware of concerns over the siting of 2 benches in particular and will look to address this in the coming weeks.
Six seats are currently in storage and their location will be decided in consultation with the Friends.
Some 30 bird boxes, 2 kestrel boxes and 12 bat boxes are available. The positioning of the boxes will be carried out in consultation with the appropriate experts.
The Trees and Woodland Officer is aware that replacement of some of the recently planted trees as part of the woodland plan is required.
Salmonberry and Invasives – Salmonberry cutbacks were meant to have been treated, but only some of the treatments have been carried out, however, the best method to tackle the problem is being investigated. Mapping of all Invasives will be carried out over the next 6-8 weeks.
Path maintenance is required and budgeted. There is a need to scrape certain paths back, install more cross drains/culverts and unblock drainage ditches especially on the eastern side of the Hill.
Funds should be available to replace a few Parkland Trees, alternatively the Council Biodiversity fund may be able to support this project.
Clermiston Road fence, some sections have been removed and more require removal due to their unsightly dilapidated state. More planting up of the hedge with perhaps some sort of temporary fence/barrier to stop trampling of hedge and allow it to establish.
On the Education front the Ranger Service has delivered outdoor learning programmes to local Primary Schools and has organised guided walks including badger walks.

History Book - Press Release

A new history of Corstorphine Hill looks at all aspects of this familiar Edinburgh landmark.

Corstorphine Hill - The Finest Views The Eye Can Feast On, takes its title from the impressions of the 19th century travel writer W F Fyfe. It looks with verve and humour at the history of the hill and those who lived on it.

The book is published on 4th April 2008 by the 'Friends of Corstorphine Hill'. The author, Alison MacKintosh, is an editorial consultant and former journalist who has lived close to the hill and knows it well.

"The Friends of Corstorphine Hill asked me to find someone to write a history of the hill," says Alison. "I must admit I didn't try very hard, as I quickly decided I wanted to write it myself."

Humans first made their mark on its landscape over 5,000 years ago, and its residents have included an early landscape gardener and a pioneering woman doctor. Among its enthusiastic visitors were some of Scotland's greatest writers and artists. In Sir Walter Scott's opinion, "The view from these hills is one of the most magnificent in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh".

The book is the first to draw together the various aspects of the hill, including its archaeology, geology, wildlife, and its part in Scottish history. It will be welcomed by all those with an interest in the history of Edinburgh.

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 Ł5 plus postage and packing Ł1-50 (UK) Ł2-80 overseas airmail.

Copies can be obtained from Fred Davies, contact details in Newsletter No. 31 , or ordered through any member of the committee. It will also be on sale at our stall at the Corstorphine Fair.

EVENTS UPDATE

Corstorphine Fair

The Fair is on Saturday 7th June from 11.00 am till 4.00 pm. Make sure you visit the Friends’ stall where you can learn what is keeping us busy and buy your copy of The History of the Hill. (You could get your copy at the fair and save on the postage - you could buy several copies in advance of Christmas and give them to friends who grew up in Corstorphine and who have since moved away).

Guided walks

A summer programme of guided walks has now been arranged 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.

Evening talks

A winter programme of evening talks was now been arranged for the season 2007/2008. Topics include 'Plantlife Project', 'Pentlands Regional Park', 'Wildlife Crime Officer' and 'RSPB in Scotland'. 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 Ł1 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 - June 2008