Nice morning spent with Holyrood Park Ranger Service looking for Maiden Pink at sites in the south side of the park. We didn't see as many plants as we'd hoped for but they are gorgeous little flowers.

Sunny Monday morning session with @wolct.bsky.social pulling up Himalayan Balsam on the Bell's Meadow slope. Lots of plants pulled, broken and left to dry out & die on tree branches.

Beautiful sunny morning for a walk and talk about grains at Lauriston Farm. Looking at the history of wheat bed, I was surprised at how tall some of the varieties grow.

Very much enjoyed our @filmhouseedinburgh.bsky.social Projection Room tour yesterday. David was very knowledgeable and it was fascinating to hear about the work that goes on in the background. Do go if you get the chance.

Enjoyable day yesterday cleaning oysters for DEEP (Dornoch Environmental Enhancement Project) at Heriot Watt university. First time cleaning inside in a cool room which was lovely on such a warm day.

Digging up Giant Hogweed plants and clearing litter on the Murrayburn near Riccarton Garden Centre was the task with @wolct.bsky.social this morning. Hard work but good fun as ever.

No-one else turned up for the men's shed ride yesterday morning so I thought I'd do some litter picking and Balsam bashing on Chancelot path & @wwctrustscot.bsky.social NCN route 75. Nice to get the odd thank you from passing folk.

A couple of Gannets on the Bass Rock taken on my phone whilst on @seabirdcentre.bsky.social 3 Island trip #SuperSeabirdSunday

Blustery conditions for a Northern Brown Argus egg count in Holyrood Park with the Ranger Service. Managed to find 3 wee white eggs on the Rockrose.

A breezy day yesterday for visiting Queensferry(s) but thankfully it wasn't too bad as we walked over the Forth Road Bridge.

Very enjoyable swift walk with Jack from @rspbscotland.bsky.social last night. Great to see swifts entering & exiting nests plus a bonus Peregrine Falcon!

It was a humid muggy morning for counting Adder's Tongue fern plants in Hunter's Bog with Holyrood Park Ranger Service. Lots of Ringlets flying around but I loved seeing this White Plume Moth.

Managed to avoid the rain this morning whilst out surveying Spring Sandwort with the Holyrood Park Ranger Service. It was great to see some plants still flowering, they are gorgeous.

Beautiful sunny morning wading downstream of the Bell's meadow stretch of the Water of Leith. Dug up 6 Giant Hogweed plants & pulled up a few Himalayan Balsam plants. Always fun volunteering with @wolct.bsky.social

Lovely walk with @redropescot.bsky.social in West Lothian yesterday. Lovely riverside walking and spectacular views from Roman Camps bing.

Very enjoyable afternoon with @edcriticalmass.bsky.social riding to St Mark's Park to hear about the Powderhall link. Loved the music & the joyful atmosphere.

Hot sunny afternoon for a Wood Sage Plume Moth survey with Holyrood Park Ranger Service. Saw lots of wood sage plants however none with wilted leaves due to the plume moth caterpillars. Another blank survey for me 🤨

Loved the Italian Icons cycling exhibition at the Italian Cultural Institute organised with @edfoc.bsky.social Loved looking at Gino Bartali's TDF winning bike as well one used by the great Eddie Merckx.

Beautiful morning for a @seabirdcentre.bsky.social Three Island RIB trip visiting the Lamb, Craigleith and the Bass Rock. Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Gannets aplenty.

Proud to say that this is my local!

Yes it’s hot up here today, but spare a thought for those in the South of England. Not because it’s hot, just because they’re in the South of England.

This morning was a wading session on the Ford's Road stretch of the Water of Leith with @wolct.bsky.social Litter picking, Himalayan Balsam pulling and Giant Hogweed spotting all achieved. A great bunch of folk to volunteer with!

A fun session with @wolct.bsky.social today at Balgreen/Murrayfield. I was wading to pull up Himalayan Balsam and dig up any Giant Hogweed plants. Finished the session by pulling this mattress out of the water.

We have a pair of lesser blacked back gulls nesting by the chimney pots opposite. They weren't successful last season but the three chicks this year seem to be doing ok #SuperSeabirdSunday

Lovely morning for a weeding session at Drakkars Drift garden in Victoria Park today.

Cracking trip to Dundee using the Ember bus service to catch up with my only cousin in Alba. Loved the yarn bombing at one of the stops. #NoScotlandNoParty

Wading on the Waulkmill section of the Water of Leith today litter picking and pulling Himalayan Balsam with @wolct.bsky.social Just a small bag of rubbish collected by yours truly.

Spent the morning with @wolct.bsky.social litter picking wooded areas beside the Murrayburn, city bypass and the Union Canal. My contribution to a huge pile of rubbish collected was a scaffolding pole, tyre, traffic barrier and 3 bags.

The weather this morning was much better than I expected as I helped with a Stick Catchfly survey in Holyrood Park. Such beautiful little plants.

Fascinating lecture last night from Professor Colin Barr about Cardinal Paul Cullen. I've missed going to Irish History seminars this year. @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social #IrishHistory

Went along to the Stand Up for Nature demo organised by @scotlink.bsky.social yesterday outside the Scottish Parliament. Good turnout despite the mixed weather and great to bump into some friends.

A wet morning in Holyrood Park examining 50 one metre square quadrats to count Adder's Tongue fern plants. Also had to note any common spotted orchids. Enjoyed my morning despite the rain.

And frustratingly our trip out today has been cancelled 😞

Another Monday morning session with @wolct.bsky.social Spotting Giant Hogweed, pulling Himalayan Balsam and collecting litter were the tasks as we waded the stretch between Rocheid path and Stockbridge.

Really enjoyed my walk today with @redropescot.bsky.social from Balerno to Swanston. Thankfully the predicted rain amounted to very little and we were treated to some fabulous views.

Went to @filmhouseedinburgh.bsky.social last night to see Soundtrack to a Coup d’État. Fascinating documentary with brilliant music. Do catch it if you can.

Hot session this morning of Giant Hogweed digging and Himalayan Balsam pulling along the Murrayburn between the bypass and Heriot Watt campus. Enjoyed sightings of buzzards, skylarks and a roe deer with a foal.

I volunteer with the Holyrood Park Ranger Service and we're so fortunate to have this wonderful open space in Edinburgh. It breaks my heart to see fires there in May, it doesn't bode well for the rest of the summer.

Didn't manage to get a picture as my phone was tucked away and because I was digging up Giant Hogweed I had to be careful. Stunning morning but rather warm for such work.

Spent an enjoyable couple of hours at Drakkars Drift garden doing some weeding. It'll be great to see the garden open later this year.

Thoroughly enjoyed my lunch today at The Kitchin having finally gotten round to using my birthday gift token from my children. Absolutely delicious.

Enjoyed my first outdoor pint at the Dreadnought yesterday and loved the swifts screeching overhead, are we getting into summer?

Enjoyable morning of pulling up lots of Himalayan Balsam and digging up some Giant Hogweed. Didn't manage to get any photos of my own and missed the coffee break 😔

This morning I was out in the grounds of Heriot Watt university with @wolct.bsky.social digging up Giant Hogweed and pulling up Himalayan Balsam. Seemed strange to be there and not cleaning oysters although I did catch up with a couple of folk.

Spent the morning at Holyrood Park with the Ranger Service on a ground nesting bird survey. Saw Skylarks & Meadow Pipits. As a bonus also saw peregrine falcon, fulmar and wheatear.

A trip to Meadowbank stadium to see if Edinburgh City can retain their league status. Up by two at halftime, so far, so good.

iPod sounds on the bus to Glasgow; Bowie, Blondie, The Clash, Microdisney, Macy Gray, Prefab Sprout, Marc Almond & Jools Holland, David Byrne & Brian Eno, New Order, Frankie, The Stranglers, Cocteau Twins, Barry White, Talking Heads.

Another morning of wading and Giant Hogweed hunting with @wolct.bsky.social on the Bonnington stretch of the river. We managed to dig up some 25 plants so saving on spraying later in the season.

Out with Holyrood Park Ranger Service yesterday looking for Bordered Brown Lacewing. We didn't get to see any which was expected as it's very early in the season for them.

A Monday morning out with @wolct.bsky.social wading along the Murrayburn looking out for Giant Hogweed to dig up. We found just over 20 plants whilst other volunteers collected a huge pile of rubbish.