View of Braidburn Valley Park - December

Braidburn Valley Park

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Below you will find the latest news items. You can click on the title of any item to open it up and comment if you wish.

Feb 20
2015

Living Fossils in Braidburn Valley Park

Dawn Redwood leaves

Dawn Redwood leaves

Have you noticed the new trees that have been planted in the Park in the last few weeks?

 

 

 

 

Dawn Redwood in winter

Dawn Redwood in winter

The City of Edinburgh Council have planted over 30 new trees mostly along the burn side. Two of these are Dawn Redwood  (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) and are located near the middle bridge. These trees are unusual in that they are the only living species in their genus and were only known from fossil records until the 1940s. In 1941 a Mr Chan discovered the trees growing in a village in central China and in 1944 other trees were discovered and seed collected. These seeds were grown at the Arnold arboretum in the USA and the resulting trees planted out. The trees are easily propagated and quick growing so they soon became popular as an ornamental tree and were planted throughout Europe and the USA. Although a conifer they are deciduous and so shed their needles in winter like a larch which creates a striking winter profile.

The other trees that have been planted are hazel bushes, again along the burn side, which will produce lovely catkins (‘lambs tails’) in the spring. They are small native trees which are good for wildlife.

Replacement trees have been provided for some of the new cherry trees that failed in the last couple of years. Most of these died due to vandalism but a few also succumbed to the weather Some of these are the native Gean (Prunus avium), and some are ornamental Japanese cultivars.
The final species planted is Swamp cypress (Taxodium distichum) along the burn side near the stage area. This is another deciduous conifer that grows well by water and is native in the southern USA, particularly the Everglades. They will give good shelter for wildlife but hopefully not alligators!

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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Jan 24
2015

Wingnut tree

The Friends group recently planted a new tree  at the south end of the Park between the bridge and the end of Fly walk. This replaces a Sweet Chestnut which died last year probably due to the wet conditions in this area. The new tree is a Caucasian Wingnut (Pterocarya fraxinifolia) which is a spreading tree with a short trunk. It has catkin-like flowers that go on to form tassels of small winged nuts in the autumn. The tree was chosen as it is hardy and likes moist conditions, so should be at home in this damp, windy section of the Park.Wingnut tree planing Jan 2015

 

Thanks to all those who helped take out the old tree and plant the new one. Many hands made light work to plant this large tree complete with stakes and protective cage.

 

The tree was supplied by Damhead Nursery (http://www.damheadnursery.co.uk/)

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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Jan 20
2015

AGM 2015

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Friends of Braidburn Valley Park took place on Sunday 8th March 2015.

AGM Minutes 2015

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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Jan 17
2015

Lastest Valley Voice

The winter edition of the Friends Group newsletter has just been published. Take a look at what has been happening in the Park in the last few months

The Valley Voice is available for viewing or downloading on our website. Click here to view all  copies. This edition includes articles on :

  • Last September’s Fun Day
  • All You Wanted to Know about the Medal Routes Project
  • Honorary Tree Warden’s Report
  • An obituary to Jean Blades

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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Nov 22
2014

Tree work at the south end of the Park

 

Cherry tree fellingTree works at the south end of the park are set to continue into next week. Earlier in the year the Council Trees and Woodlands officers identified a number of the old cherry trees that were diseased or rotten at the base as well as 5 of the tall Lombardy poplars along the southern boundary of the Park were in poor condition. As a safety measure the trees identified are being felled. The loss of these trees from this area is regrettable but, as they are alongside a path, public safety is paramount. The Friends group will be working with the council on a plan to replace the cherry trees but this is dependent on funding.

 

 

Lombardy poplar

The path along the southern boundary is likely to be closed at times when the felling is taking place. Most of the wood from the trees is being stacked in this area and will be left to rot away as a wildlife habitat.
If you have any queries on this work or suggestions on new planting please get in touch with the Park Tree Warden (treewarden@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk ) or Mike Shields (Mike.Shields@edinburgh.gov.uk ) the Community Parks Officer at the Council or simply leave a comment below

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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Sep 29
2014

Autumn work parties

This autumn the Friends of Braidburn Valley Park are planning to carry out some simple tree maintenance work in the Park to ensure the trees that have been planted in the last few years are well cared for. The work is mainly pruning new trees, cutting back encroaching vegetation, felling small dead trees with bow saws and removing a few stakes. We may also have a few small trees and shrubs to plant. Gloves and all necessary tools will be supplied by the Friends Group.

Hazel2

Three sessions are planned in October to tackle the work and the dates are :

Sat 4th Oct 10.00 – 12.00
Sun 12th Oct 14.00 – 16.00
Sat 18th Oct 14.00 – 16.00

 

 

 

Please let us know if you are interested in helping by emailing treewarden@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk with your name and a contact number as well as which sessions you can attend
Thank you

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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Sep 16
2014

Autumn clean up Sept 28th

Our autumn clean up is on Sunday 28th September from 2pm to 4pm. Please join us to help clear up the Park and remove rubbish from the Park and the burn

Just come to the area on the main path (south of the ‘stage’) and pick up the equipment you need. Look out for the banners. We supply waders for those who fancy paddling, gloves, litter pickers, bags etc.

There are free refreshments for all those who join in.

Hopefully see you there

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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Sep 2
2014

Tea in the Park Fun day 2014 : Sat 6th Sept

This year’s BIG event is almost here!.

Tea in the Park Fun Day

Saturday, 6th  September 2014 from 14:00 – 16:30

 

Magic Ian– Magician and balloon modeller

Old Spice Ceilidh band

Morningside Pipe Band,

as well as face painting, raft building, 2 bouncy castles, beat the goallie, Fire engine, coconut shy, quizzes, bar, cafe and home baking.

As usual the highlight at the end of the day will be the World Famous Duck Race.

Please come and join us, the forecast looks good – bring a picnic and make a day of it!

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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Aug 2
2014

What Flavour is Our Urn?

You may be familiar with the saga of the ornamental stone urn on the right hand pillar at the park’s main entrance. After standing there for 80 years, in 2013 it was knocked off and smashed by a contractor’s vehicle. Last summer, a replacement was created and put in place but it is much more yellow then its left hand counterpart. The Friends of Braidburn Valley Park came up with ‘Project Yoghurt’ to speed up the natural colonisation process and even up the colours.

Painting a thin layer of diluted yoghurt on stone acts as a spawning ground for bacteria and fungi – the initial biological colonisers. However, they have a hard time getting started when the stone is sterile. The yoghurt layer gets them going, then green algae come along, then lichen. The Friends were delighted that Waitrose in Morningside were able to help by donating 5 litres of natural, low fat yoghurt (although we would have been happy with any flavour!). At the end of July, we got out the long ladders and painted and squirted the yoghurt on the urn to make sure that it was completely covered.

Painting yoghurt on the stone urn

Historic Scotland advises that it will take at least six months before we see any lichens or algae starting to grow. Initially they will be tiny millimetre diameter pinheads. They will only growa millimetre or so a year even with the help of the yoghurt, with lichens probably appearing on the sunlit (drier) side and green algae on the shaded (damper) side.

The Friends ask our regular park users to keep an eye on the right hand urn and when you are next eating yoghurt, think of its more unusual uses!

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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Apr 8
2014

Creating a Buzz in Braidburn Valley Park

Work is underway to enhance the habitat in Braidburn Valley Park to provide suitable haunts for bumblebees. These bees, that we are all familiar with, have very specific requirements for both nesting and feeding. Bumblebees are becoming increasingly scare in Britain as the habitat they require is lost. Areas such as parks and gardens can provide a refuge for them. There are 5 or 6 species of bumblebees that frequent the Park and all these can be seen in the early summer feeding on the existing wildflower meadow at the south east end of the Braidburn Valley Park created over 6 years ago (see Bumblebee Conservation trust for lots of information on bumblebees).

It may be surprising but Bumblebees, like most birds, start breeding very early in the year. The queens emerge from hibernation and begin searching for a nest site in late Feb or early March depending on the weather and species. They mostly nest underground and excavate small burrows in loose soil or take over existing holes made by mice or voles. As well as nesting sites their other main requirement is energy! They need nectar and pollen from early flowers such as Willow and Primroses or else they will starve and be unable to create a nest and lay their eggs. By July it is all over with the new queens hibernating for the winter in August.

For details about the existing wildflower meadow see the Friends of Braidburn Valley website

IMG_2904

To complement the existing wildflower meadow created over 6 years ago the Friends group are now creating 2 new smaller areas of wild flowers on the east side of the Park.

The first is at the base of the embankment below Comiston Road. This area had the turf removed by the Green Team at the end of March and was sown with a wildflower mix. Plug plants of perennial species will be added in the next few months. The old turfs have been used to create 2 small mounds and their loose structure will provide nesting sites for the bees as well as an area for wildflowers such as Vipers bugloss and Thyme.

IMG_2595                                                         IMG_2593

The second area is the old rose bed alongside Comiston Road near the old tram shelter. The Council removed the old roses last winter and offered the bed to the Friends group to transform into a nectar heaven for bees. We will be helped by students from Edinburgh University as part of their Edinburgh University Global Environment, Politics and Society MSc programme. Again we will use a mixture of seed and plug plants to create the bee habitat ensuring we have plants to provide that all important early nectar.

The turf is removed to reduce the soil fertility and therefore the vigour of grass which would out compete the flowers we are trying to encourage. To reduce the vigour of the grass further we will sow a plant called Yellow Rattle (so named because the seeds rattle on the plant when ripe in the autumn) which is parasitic on the grass roots. This has been very successful in the original wildflower meadow. If you look at the grass in summer you can see the height of the grass visibly reduced where the Yellow Rattle is growing.

Next time you are in the Park take a walk up to the south east corner to see the new and old wildflower meadows. Hopefully you will spot bumblebees buzzing around but don’t leave it too late as winter starts again in August!

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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Apr 6
2014

Spring Clean

Our Spring clean and clear up is on Sunday 27th April from 2pm to 4pm. Please join us to help clear up the Park and remove all the rubbish that has blown in over the winter.

Just come to the area on the main path (south of the ‘stage’) and pick up the equipment you need.We supply waders for those who fancy paddling, gloves, litter pickers, bags etc.

There are free refreshments for all those who join in.

Hopefully see you there!

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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Feb 12
2014

Tree works at the south end of the Park

As mentioned in the news article just before Christmas several cherry trees were brought down in the gales in December. The Council Trees and Woodlands officers also identified 5 other cherry trees that were diseased or rotten at the base and these will be felled shortly. In addition they carried out a survey of the tall Lombardy poplars along the southern boundary of the Park and some other trees in this area. Unfortunately 5 of the poplars and a birch tree were found to be in a dangerous condition and these will be need to be felled.

The loss of these trees from this area is regrettable but, as they are alongside a path, public safety is paramount. The Friends group will be working with the council on a plan to replace these trees.

If you have any queries on this work or suggestions on new planting please get in touch with the Park Tree Warden (treewarden@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk ) or Mike Shields (Mike.Shields@edinburgh.gov.uk ) the Community Parks Officer at the Council or simply leave a comment below

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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Jan 20
2014

Help us Update the Park Management Plan

One of the strengths of The Green Flag Award is for a park to have a Management Plan.  This sets out what makes the park special and what needs to be done to continually improve the park for people, wildlife, local heritage, etc.

The Braidburn Valley Park Management Plan has reached the end of its current five year period.  The Friends are keen to get your views on what should be done in the next five years to improve the park for all.  We will then work with the Council to get as many ideas as possible taken into consideration.

Please take a look at the current Management Plan on our website.  Let us have your thoughts by the end of February by contacting us on info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk.

Thank you for your support.

 

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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Dec 22
2013

Cherry Tree trefoil: storm damage

The storms and strong winds of the last couple of weeks have unfortunately brought down a few of the old cherry trees.These are mainly in the avenue at the south most end of the Park on the steep hill. The council have cleared these away but several other trees in this area are rotten at the base and will also need to be felled  before they too fall victim to the gales.Storm damage 2013

Around 15 of the 40 trees in this avenue have been blown down or have had to be removed for safety reasons in the last few years. The Friends group will be looking at options with the council to find funding to replace this avenue of cherry trees.

Please take care when walking in this area in the strong winds that are forecast in the next weeks or so.

If you have any comments or questions about this post please email us at info@braidburnvalleypark.org.uk .

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