The Hermitage of Braid Project, Edinburgh
The site
The Hermitage of Braid and the adjoining Blackford Hill were the first sites in Edinburgh to achieve Local Nature Reserve Designation in 1993. The area can be split into two main areas both historically and geographically: The semi-natural mature woodland of the Hermitage and the semi-natural grassland of Blackford Hill. As a consequence of their city location, these sites are heavily used by members of the public, while also being of importance from an environmental point of view, being home to many birds and animals, including foxes, buzzards, tawny owls, herons, yellow hammers and linnets. The park also contains a wildlflower meadow, a Wetland patch adopted by the local Friends group and Blackford pond which remains an important habitat for waterfowls and Daubenton bats.
The two areas are managed by the City of Edinburgh Ranger Service, whose role it is to ensure that they can be used and enjoyed as outdoor public spaces by the whole community, without threatening their role as a habitat for wildlife.
The project
There are two projects available at this site:
There are currently two stiles which give access to Midmar field, which is part of the Hermitage site. These stiles are old and becoming dangerous and so need to be replaced. The project would involve removing the old stiles, building two new ones and installing these.
A series of steps which lead to the dovecot within the nature reserve have become crooked and damaged and are in need of repair. The work would involve removing the series of old steps and replacing them with wooden steps which would be back-filled with aggregate.
This would improve access to Midmar field, especially for the elderly. No experience of this kind of work is required, as full instruction can be given to the team on the day.
