The City of Edinburgh Council is planning to introduce two new nature reserves, with a third which might be expanded.
Under new plans, Wester Craiglockhart Hill and Little France would be designated as Local Nature Reserves, while the existing nature reserve at Easter Craiglockhart Hill would be greatly expanded.
Local Nature Reserves are special conservation areas in Edinburgh to preserve protected flora and fauna, while offering opportunities for recreation and enjoyment. Many, but not all, are managed to help wildlife and geology.
There are, however, concerns over the council’s handling of the consultation process for the nature reserves, with the last public consultation for Wester Craiglockhart Hill closing in 2019, and Little France Park in 2020.
Craiglockhart Hill, in Edinburgh’s Southwest (C) Charlie Ellis
Council officers, who have recommended that city councillors approve their plan to create the nature reserves say that each site has presented special opportunities for the study and research of British flora and fauna.
Little France Park, the largest of the three sites, for example, has been described as a “naturalised site” with locally rare and desirable habitats comprising reclaimed farmland, semi-improved grassland, newly planted woodland and specimen trees, wetland and open still water areas, a blue corridor, species rich grassland, and scrub.
The park has a significant number of skylark, buzzard, kestrel, and yellowhammer birds reliant on the local ecosystem, while being particularly rich for locally rare butterflies and other invertebrates.
Recent surveys on Wester Craiglockhart Hill identified the presence of national and locally important plant species, such as welted thistle and common rock rose, as well as protected species of bats and badgers.
A map of the proposed Wester Craiglockhart Hill nature reserve (C) Edinburgh Council
The hill is also believed to have significant education potential, being adjacent to Edinburgh Napier University and within walking distance of two high schools.
All three sites are managed by Edinburgh Council’s Parks and Openspace scheme, with smaller local “Friends of” groups handling the day-to-day management.
In their report, due to be discussed by councillors at Thursday’s meeting of the Culture and Communities Committee, council officers said:
“Each site provides special opportunities for study and research of British flora and fauna and the conditions in which they live, and for study of earth sciences of special interest in the area; and/or preserves the special natural or earth science interest in the area.”
The proposed Little France Park nature reserve (C) Edinburgh Council
They added: “Study and research into, or preservation of, nature or the earth sciences should be a priority objective and not as an incidental land management consideration.
“Environmental education, conservation, surveying, promotion for research and species and habitat monitoring and the preservation of habitat all feature in the management objectives of Wester and Easter Craiglockhart Hill and Little France Park.”
Little France Park covers an area of 45 hectares, while Wester Craiglockhart Hill covers just more than 10 hectares.
The Easter Craiglockhart Hill Local Nature Reserve would be expanded from around 10.5 hectares to around 20 hectares.
Christopher Cowdy, Conservative councillor for the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward, said that while, he “broadly supports” the plans, question marks remain about the consultation process.
A map of the Easter Craiglockhart Hill reserve expansion (C) Edinburgh Council
Speaking today, he said: “I am on the whole very supportive of the proposal to extend the Easter Craiglockhart Hill Local Nature Reserve and create a new Wester Craiglockhart Hill Nature Reserve.
“Friends of Craiglockhart Hill is a very popular group who are committed to the sympathetic management of the Hill.
“Their Annual General meeting is always very well attended which reflects both their hard work and the high value the local community places on this great asset enjoyed not just by the local community but the wider city and visitors from further afield.”
He added: “I do, however, note that the consultation for these plans were closed back in 2018 and 2019 and I am not convinced much more recent engagement has been carried out.
“Certainly the Craiglockhart Community Council was not made aware of the Report to Committee and I would have expected Council Officers to have at least informed them and the Friends of Easter Craiglockhart Hill in plenty of time to offer feedback.”
Councillors will decide upon the changes at Thursday’s meeting of the Culture and Communities Committee.
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