Pentland Post
February 2008
Welcome to the February 2008 edition of Pentland Post. If you would rather you can download a copy of Pentland Post by clicking here so you can print off a copy and read at your leisure.
In order to
download a copy you will need
to have the Adobe® Reader® installed on you computer, which can be downloaded
from the Adobe
website.
 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
The new year has got off to a good start. Events have been well attended and we have an ever more ambitious programme of project work.
Despite some wintry weather 19 members enjoyed a cold and sleetly walk in December. The ‘winter warmer’ walks in January attracted 41 walkers and we all much enjoyed the mince pies and mulled wine after our exertions.
Carlops
was once again the location for our February talk and 38 members greatly
appreciated Julian Warman’s talk about SWT reserves in the Lothians. Nearly half
of those present also enjoyed a very sociable meal in the Allan Ramsay before
the talk.
A revised programme of events for 2008 is being issued simultaneously with this Newsletter. Please note that it contains details of how to book for the walk on 15 March and the BBQ on 13 June.
We hope to be able to spend the balance of the grant from SNH for the bird hide on binoculars. These would be held by the Rangers, but be made available to groups visiting the hide.
A few of us have been out helping the Rangers with their annual tree maintenance programme. We have been checking stakes and guards on saplings and sprinkling herbicide. We wondered why people planted trees in such awkward places and then remembered that some of us had planted them in those awkward places!
A bird hide with a camera has been positioned at Harlaw and action is in hand to install a monitor inside the Visitor Centre. Bill Oddie just doesn’t know the level of the competition.
Work has begun on the
new path from Boghall to Castlelaw. We have the necessary permissions, much of
the hardware and the funding. With some intrepid self-help, i.e. hard labour, we
are hopeful that the work can be completed this spring.
We are working on providing a small, new bird hide at Fairliehope, near Carlops. We had hoped to move the old bird hide from Threipmuir to Failiehope but, sadly, it was just too old and fell apart in the dismantling process. Success will depend on securing grant funding.
One finger post has been installed at Crosswood, just off the A70 a bit south of Harperigg Reservoir, and four finger posts will be installed in that area later this year. That work will link in with our major way-marking project in the SW Pentlands in 2006.
ScotWays have some old Victorian cast iron signs. Four of these have been refurbished and will be repositioned on Pentland routes, probably with dry stonework bases.
We are looking at the feasibility of improving the black grouse habitat near Carlops. We will seek expert advice on whether that idea has a reasonable prospect of success before proceeding. If we get the green light we will work on securing funding this year but the work, which is likely to be mainly planting out, will be in 2009.
Midlothian Council has turned down the application to develop a wind farm at Auchencorth Moss near Penicuik by 11 votes to three. It remains possible that the developer will appeal.
We have been monitoring Scottish Waters plans to construct a new Water Treatment Works near Flotterstone and a new pipeline to connect it to the existing facilities at Fairmilehead and Alnwickhill. Scottish Water intends to lodge planning applications at the end of February. We have discussed the plans with representatives of Scottish Water and are satisfied that they are doing their best to minimise the environmental impact of the development. Much of the facility will be below ground, what is above ground will be landscaped to minimise visual impact, the facility will have a ‘living’ roof and a strip of trees will screen it from the road.
Details about the AGM, which will be held on 6 May, are being issued separately.
Membership is approaching the 300 mark, which is most encouraging, although 27 individuals and 22 families have still to renew for 2008.
Many members have added a donation when paying their subscriptions and since renewal notices were issued last November these have totalled £425. That sum is very much appreciated and is a most useful addition to our projects fund.
We are most grateful to Helen Aitken, Janet Clark and Maggie Paterson for providing the ‘goodies’ for the ‘winter warmer’ walk. They were much appreciated and the ‘begging bowl’
raised a magnificent £92 to swell our projects fund. We also have cause to thank Helen Aitken for producing a Society Christmas card based on Ian Renwick’s painting ‘Winter Light over Theipmuir’. The profit from the sale of the cards amounted to £164.
There is still time to join up for a moth indentification course. Spend 2/3 hours learning how to identify moths followed by setting up moth traps and, the following morning, returning to see what the traps contain. Once trained individuals could participate in moth surveys. If you are interested please contact John Stirling on 0131 449 3456 or at: j.stirling@btinternet.com
Spring is the time to get back out to enjoy some healthy exercise and appreciate the countryside. This five mile circular walk from Carlops is our ‘Walk of the Season’. Park in the village and head back towards Edinburgh. About 100 metres beyond the village take the steps to your left. A path leads onto the unclassified road that leads to Nine Mile Burn. A bit before Nine Mile Burn turn left onto the track to Spittal Farm. Follow the way markers around the farm and head up the track to the col between Patie’s Hill and Greystone Head. At the top take the path to the left and head down to North Esk Reservoir, taking care on the steeper parts. Cross the reservoir dam and, at North Esk Cottage, pick up the track that leads back to Carlops via Fairliehope. Keep a look out for brown hares, buzzards and kestrels. If you have done your homework, reflect on the Carlops witches, who gave the village its name; the area’s association with Allan Ramsay’s pastoral comedy The Gentle Shepherd, and the paintings and drawings of the area by the distinguished artist Victoria Crow, of Kitleyknowe, many of which portray the life and landscapes of shepherdess Jenny Armstrong who was born at Fairliehope in 1903.
To some extent the old Waterman’s House at Harlaw has become the Friends ‘home’. It has been an excellent location for our ‘Teas & Cakes’ days and it is also the meeting place for the Executive Council. Against that background the following story will be of interest.
Some 60 years ago
Christine’s bachelor uncle Archie was an assistant to Mr Young the waterman and,
on taking up his position, stayed with him in the Waterman’s house. A single
deck tram shop was in existence at that time.
When Mr Young retired, c1957, and Archie took over as the waterman he invited his brother Malcolm to join him at Harlaw and he moved in with his wife, Nettie, and daughters Carol and Christine.
At that time the house was two-storied. On the right of the front door was the sitting room, which was only used on Sunday’s, or when visitors called. To the left of the front door was the living room and, beyond, the kitchenette. Upstairs there were two bedrooms and a bathroom.
Behind the house there was a wheelhouse that generated electricity for a nearby paper mill as well as the Waterman’s house. However, on Sundays and some Saturdays, when the mill was not working, the wheel was shut down and the household had to resort to paraffin lamps and candles.
Nettie was very enthusiastic about the tram car sweetie shop and filled it with many provisions including teas, which were much appreciated by the many day-trippers. Sadly, when Malcolm and his family returned to Airdrie the sweetie shop petered out.
Are there any more Harlaw stories out there?
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have launched a new online information system for studying the country’s wildlife and nature. To find out more visit: www.snh.org.uk/snhi
We have agreed to sponsor this year’s Pentland Inspirations art and photographic competition which will include exhibits from anywhere within the Pentlands and not just within the Regional Park. Now is the time to get out with your camera and compete.
The Paths for All Partnership are running a ‘paths to health’ campaign with the slogan ‘Walk more, feel the difference’. To learn more visit: www.pathstohealth.org.uk
It’s good for Hills to have Friends
