Water of Leith Conservation Trust
@wolct.bsky.social
Working to protect and improve Edinburgh's river, for the benefit of wildlife and our community. A healthy river cared for by its community
We had volunteers out litter picking the in Leith today, & in the boat pulling rubbish out of the water. We counted a new record of 312 cans collected! We also gave some attention to maintaining paths & removing graffiti, while the survey team surveyed our 4 managed meadows🤘😎
Many thanks today to our highly skilled plant ID volunteers who are helping further our own plant knowledge as we plan for a possible schools biology field study in the Pentlands.
Another session on the Murrayburn at Heriot-Watt, hitting one of the hotspots for Himalayan Balsam before the seeds start popping and travelling downstream into the Water of Leith. We'll have to keep returning to get it all but perseverence is the key!
A morning of Balsam bashing on the Murrayburn at Heriot Watt university with @wolct.bsky.social This area is a hotspot of invasive species which then seed down into the Water of Leith.
Families had a lovely time at our recent Water of Leith session with Gillian from Water of Leith Conservation Trust 🌿 We explored nature, discovered tiny river creatures, created a nature mandala and even stepped into the river. Next session: Tuesday 4 August. Details coming soon in WhatsApp 🧡
Monday morning in Dean Village was most productive. The wading team covered a long stretch of river from Rocheid to Miller Row pulling out rubbish and balsam. On Dry-land, the team weeded around the millstones and buildings, removed gaffiti, and cut invasive buddleia. Brilliant!
Up close with a #Kestrel! Amazing shot by George Kelsey on the Water of Leith, Edinburgh.📷️👏 Did you know, kestrels - see UV trails to track rodents - will steal prey from barn owls - use cavities or roofs for nests Numbers have halved since 1970, so do look up!
Another spot at the little haven between WOL and Longstone Inn @wolct.bsky.social and @longstonecc.bsky.social Clouded Yellow Butterfly. Not uncommon elsewhere but not often spotted in Edinburgh- will be here due to the recent weather. I was fair delighted to see it @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Mixed energy levels from @wolct.bsky.social Water of Leith gang tonight with a zen heron, nibbly rat, hide'n'seek foxes and soprano pipistrelle bats in a batsh*t frenzy ❤️
Balerno was the location today for our wading, pathwork and Riverfly survey session. The waders pulled out rubbish and a few Himalayan Balsam plants, the land team cut back vegetation and swept the walkway, and the survey team delivered the final Balerno survey of the year. Fab!
Our missions today inculded wading the stretch of river from West Bowling Green Street up to Newhaven Road checking for invasives and pulling out rubbish, while the dry-land team trimmed back the encroaching vegetation to help brighten up the walkway and make it safer. Great work folks!
While the survey team were out surveying the Juniper Green meadow, we waded from the bypass bridge to Baberton Loan looking for rubbish and invasives, and had a team doing path work on the same stretch, trimming back edges and removing graffiti. Thanks to everyone who came along!
The battle of the grasses. The round or rough ligule holds us back from certainty when it comes to identifying hairy broom Bromopsis ramosa. But the debate is great.
We welcomed families from The Welcoming to the Centre today to make art in the woods and to explore the Dells, a green space owned by Edinburgh Council for everyone to enjoy.
A productive morning at West Mill Road. The dry land team cut back invasive Laurel, litter picked and tidied up the walkway. Our waders cleaned up the river and destroyed invasive Himalayan and Small Balsam.
Lovely iron Gormley fella in the water at Port of Leith [SIX TIMES] 🏴😎
The Big Butterfly Count 2026 is here and butterflies need our help! 🦋 From now until 9 August, spend just 15 minutes outside counting the butterflies you see and help us take nature's pulse. The best part? Anyone, anywhere can take part. Count yourself in 👉 https://butrfli.es/3SVFepj
Busy Coalie Coalition session covering lots of tasks in the park. We started repainting the Keddie steps mural with playground paint, cleaned loads of graffiti, weeded and watered the raised beds, cut back encroaching vegetation, and assembled our new storage cupboard. Fun times!
A stunning morning on the Murrayburn by Saughton Prison. Teams in the burn and on dry land litter picking, hunting invasives and cutting back encroaching vegetation. We also gave the trees we planted earlier in the year, funded by the CMS Law social impact fund, some love.
Team Two covered from Newhaven Bridge up to the Gormley statue at St Marks Park, pulling balsam, and treating Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed. A co-ordinated effort with Team One to sweep a huge stretch of river in one session.
Team One on the hunt for Himalayan balsam this morning was staff from Veolia UK. They helped by wading from Canonmills to St Marks Park taking out some huge specimens before they had chance to seed.
A hive of activity around Bell's Mills today with groups pulling balsam, refreshing the sink drain and dead hedges, scything and raking the meadow, trimming back vegetation from paths, cleaning graffiti, and enjoying the sunshine. Fab help from Blackrock too! Thanks everyone! 🌞
Our monthly volunteers were out this morning making a difference at Roseburn/Murrayfield. Walkway trimmed. Area cleared of rubbish Himalayan balsam destroyed on the river banks. Tea break in the 🌞 ☀️
Precarious birds nest is precarious 😶 Water of Leith, Edinburgh 🏴 #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Scotland #Birds #Moorhen
Preseason kicked off this morning for the BroughtonRugby ladies team as they used the walkway for their annual prosecco run. Starting at our visitor centre they did refreshment stops along the way to stay hydrated and reached Leith in time for the internationals.
They'll ask me how I got her, I'll say; I saved my money 🌞🚣🏼
Saw a pile of Goosander puppies with their mum at lunchtime on Water of Leith, Edinburgh 🏴 #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Scotland #Birds
A warm but productive session at Colinton Tunnel today with a dry-land team trimming back to expose the mill stones at Spylaw and to improve access on the stairs down to Redhall weir, clearing drains and sweeping the tunnel. In the river the waders blitzed a hard-to-access balsam patch. Thanks again
