Latest news

Dangerous Norway maple cut down

Saturday, 24 October, 2020 - 14:24
A large Norway maple which had root-heaved from the slope below Randolph Cliff and was hanging over the walkway had to be cut down the other day by the Forestry department for safety reasons. Ian Morrison, the Trees and Woodlands Officer, had already anticipated that the tree would need pruning and had programmed a crown reduction to alleviate wind-loading to the canopy. However increased and heavy rainfall, which creates soggy unstable ground, and swirling winds when the tree is in leaf, affected the tree causing it to heal over. The arisings and stump will be left to enhance biodiversity and...
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Sewage weed in the Dean Valley

Wednesday, 30 September, 2020 - 17:06
Sewage weed or filamentous algae Cladophora and Vaucheria, seen here in the Dean Valley, indicates high nitrogen levels in the water. Cycling down the Water of Leith walkway from Slateford today, 29th September, the river was low and there was an absence of sewage smell recently detected after extreme rain conditions and high river flow. Questions were recently asked at the CEC Council meeting as reported in WOLCT news letter . However we now know that sewage will overflow into the river when there are huge downpours of rain and the algae could well be an indicator of this. When...
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Dean Village Landslip to be rectified at last

Saturday, 25 July, 2020 - 19:04
Four years after the failed renovation of the car parking area adjoining the modern house next to the Dean Cemetery there is hope that the landslip will be finally stabilised allowing the path along the river between the Dean village and Belford bridge to be safely reopened. However it could take 6 months for work to be carried out. This image taken on the 15 th April 2016 shows how pile drilling and concrete works to rectify the landslip from the top level next to the house was unsuccessful days after the job was completed for the second time. It...
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Ivy cleared on Mackenzie Bridge

Saturday, 18 July, 2020 - 22:10
At last the ivy has been cleared off the railings on the Mackenzie Bridge at Stockbridge. It has revealed the damage which can be done to the beautiful antique and original ironwork. Let us hope they will be re-painted and mended soon. Continual care and maintenance of our heritage ironwork is important but it is made a great deal easier if hedges, plants and ivy are not allowed to grow up through them. Now revealed, by the ivy removal, is the second arch of the bridge for the old mill lade taking water to Silvermills and Canonmills downstream. And growing...
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