A city wildlife spot which was suffering from its own popularity - with both human and feathered visitors - has had a make-over. Blackford Pond, part of Blackford Hill local nature reserve, is popular with joggers, dog walkers and families with children. Over the years the banks had been steadily worn away by the action of the water, water birds grazing the edges and human activity.
So local group Friends of the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill decided to approach Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the City of Edinburgh Council ranger service for help.
The resulting grant money meant that the group could arrange for repair to the banks and improvements to the habitat for wildlife. The chosen solution was to install barriers of elm cuttings anchored by larch posts to form a new boundary to sections of the bank, and to fill the newly created bays with a variety of native water plants such as yellow flag Iris, water mint and various kinds of sedge."
“Elm and larch were the preferred materials for the bank barriers because of their exceptional resistance to rotting under water," said Rob Elton, of the Friends of the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill.
"We hope that these barriers will provide a long-term solution to the erosion problems. At the same time, the hardy water plants will form a solid complex of roots behind the barriers. Gradually as more organic matter is washed over the barriers from the main pond there will be a thicker bank to withstand the damaging effects of grazing by ducks and swans."
John O’Keefe, SNH’s access officer for the Lothians, said: “We were pleased to be able to help with the restoration of Blackford Pond. The ducks, moorhens and other water birds make this a really great place for people to enjoy wildlife in the city. I’m really looking forward to seeing the bank growing up into a colourful habitat. Credit has to go to the volunteers for their hard work cutting elm saplings and planting the water plants. Without them this project would not be the success it is.”
Scottish Natural Heritage contributed £7,805 towards this project and the South Central Neighbourhood Partnership of the City of Edinburgh Council contributed £5,000.