Today we revisited Heriot-Watt campus, to finish off digging the abundant giant hogweed saplings on that strech of the Murrayburn, before we move to other hotspots in the coming weeks. We destroyed over 1000 saplings and covered the whole stretch down to the tunnel under the road. Very satisfying!

A gathering with a view for our rangers yesterday, as we joined up with ranger colleagues from across the Lothians for a skill share. Thanks to the Pentland Ranger service, who showed off their tree planting work and shared the ups and downs of their work in the hills.

Continuing our spring clean of the river and annual giant hogweed sweep this morning. We descended on Waulkmill Loan and spread out in all directions. We collected several bags of rubbish despite the area initially looking pretty clean and happily found no giant hogweed. Thanks folks!

1st small white of the year in Figgate park and a flashy comma on the banks of the Water of Leith at Powderhall. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @wolct.bsky.social #butterflies #Edinburgh #wildlife

Female goosander on it's lonesome on the Water of Leith near canonmills. @wolct.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social #Birds #Edinburgh #wildlife

The walkway is open again at Balgreen as Scottish Water have finished upgrading the CSO. We will be looking to repair our wee garden space in the coming weeks, with the Drystone Wallers coming over the weekend, to fix the vandalised wall. There is also plenty in bloom to enjoy

It was the Redbraes extravaganza today with volunteers spreading out on dry land and in the river to give the area a good clean, while others cut back brambles to widen access paths, dug out giant hogweed and conducted the first Redbraes Riverfly survey of the season. Fun times!

Invasive species season has begun! Huge thank you to our team today who suited up and dug up over 200 Giant Hogweed seedlings on the Heriot Watt campus.

Productive morning at Barberton Loan litter picking the local area, trimming back vegetation and clearing an access path to the walkway.

First proper bat snoop of 2026 on the Water of Leith @wolct.bsky.social and pure joy seeing Soprano Pipistrelles and Daubenton's getting their spring equinox party on in central #Edinburgh 🥰

Delighted to see Water of Leith path between Saughton Park and Murrayfield open again following Scottish Water works. Saves an annoying detour over the bridge! #EdTravCyc

Beautiful morning in the woodlands with P2s from Sighthill Primary School, finding bugs, smelling garlic and walking along the ‘coca cola’ river.

A cormorant feeding on the Water of Leith through Currie this afternoon. Don't think I've seen one on this part of the river before. @wolct.bsky.social #birdinglothian

⚪ Snowdrops 🔵 Squills 🟣 Crocus 🟡 Winter Aconite The four horsemen of impending spring 😍 📍very muddy Water of Leith, Edinburgh

A sunny morning down at Coalie Park. We planted bulbs, litter picked and painted over tagging on local businesses. We also saw the opening of the newly pedestrianised Sandport Bridge.

A Monday morning session for our volunteers at St Marks park today. Old wire fence removal Snowberry cut back Litter picking Path work Time with others.

We are very pleased to welcome our Moray House placement student Leo from Chile to the education team. Today is his first day in waders and first river study in the Pentlands.

Thanks to the fabulous group of geocachers that came out to Ford's Road today, joined by some of our regular volunteers. Despite not being able to wade due to the water level, and the area looking quite clean, we still gathered a massive haul, including a troublesome washing machine!

Although it all turned grey for the tea break. We continued our spring clean of the river wading the Murrayfield stretch. Plenty of rubbish big and small found locally.

A busy morning for the Tuesday Team! They rebuilt the fence around our meadow in the Dells which had been vandalised, as well as creating a barrier to prevent children wandering down a steep slope🔨🌳

The amazing @threadinburgh.scot gave an absolutely fascinating talk to @wolct.bsky.social tonight on the history of polluting the Water of Leith over the last 2 centuries & the hidden sewers that helped turn the tide. Andy says he’ll update this piece from 2022 now threadinburgh.scot/2022/12/06/t...

We’re pleased to welcome back Stirling Uni environmental scientists today for their annual field studies looking at water quality on the river and its tributaries. The data they produce gives us a great insight into what’s going on under the surface of the water.

A first wade of the year from Gorgie Road to Longstone Island, whilst volunteers also swept the local area for rubbish. End result almost three ton bags worth of rubbish removed to keep the enivornmemt healthy.

'Hoary Harbour' Stone and sky symmetry in liquid mirror. Wishing my #Bluesky friends a calm start to the weekend! Sparty 🙏🏼🖤🤍 #EastCoastKin #Photography #ColorADay #BWFri #Scape #ClassicMono #Travel #AltText #PhotographersofBluesky #BlueSkyPhotography #ArtYear #Art #AlphabetChallenge #WeekHForHs

Some morning zen, brought to you by Leith Connections.

A nice morning at Redbraes cutting back snowberry so native plants have more space. Redefining the walkway edges and removing ten bags of rubbish locally.

A sunny Sunday session ahead doing a clean up and path work session at Redbraes.

Water of Leith at Colinton Dell #Edinburgh #Photography #BlueSkyArtsShow #Flowing

More Water of Leith walkway. #Scotland #photography

St. Bernard’s Well on the Water of Leith in Edinburgh. The temple, based on Tivoli, designed in 1788 by Alexander Nasmyth for Lord Gardenstone and built by John Wilson. A statue of Hygeia, cast by Coade in London, was added on 22 September 1791. #Photography #Edinburgh

A lean green litter picking team from the renewable energy section of Virgin Money were out with us this morning at Stockbridge. A successful wade from the Deanhaugh path to St Bernard's well removing nine bags of rubbish from the river.

Thursday 5th of March and we kick off our spring clean in the river. We have a small team from Virgin money lending a hand to wade the Stockbridge section.

Water rail (thanks to ssasamwild.bsky.social for finding and posting whereabouts), Goosander and Blackcap along the Water of Leith between Rocheid Path and Warriston Cemetery. #birdinglothian #birdingscotland

Our monthly clean up down in Leith removing rubbish big and small from land and water. Path work along the walkway and cups of tea in the sun

Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) in Saughton Park along the Water of Leith in Edinburgh. #Spring #Flowers #Bloomscrolling

Morning patrol

A wee collection from todays walk along the Water Of Leith, unfortunately no Kingfisher but good seeing Dipper pair collecting nest material. #Birding #Birduk #Birdphotography #BirdsSeenIn2026 @wolct.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social

The sun was shining in Stockbridge this morning as we gave some attention to the recently reopened back garden of St Bernards well. We also weeded and swept Saunders Street and the Deanhaugh Path, and cleared out a litter hotspot around Glocester Street. Thanks again everyone!

Here's a selection of video clips from today of the Dippers on the Water of Leith. #Birding #Birduk #Birdphotography #BirdsSeenIn2026 #wildlifephotography @wolct.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social

A dipper about contemplating a dip in Edinburgh's Water of Leith #BirdsOfTheDay

Crocus are now in full bloom at Saughton Park along the Water of Leith in Edinburgh. #Spring #Flowers #Bloomscrolling #Nature #Photography #Nikon @wolct.bsky.social

We're pleased to announce that the walkway maintenance works around Spylaw Park are now complete, and the lovely new section is now open! Lovely day for a walk or cycle too, enjoy!🚶‍♀️🚴‍♂️🌞

@cescotland.bsky.social Goodbye gas hello clean heat - Our Visitor Centre is now heated by renewable air source heat pumps, replacing gas thanks to CARES support. A big step towards our Zero Impact Centre Come in, enjoy the café, and feel the difference!

One of the most popular moments of a geography river study is measuring velocity using an orange. We were pleased to work with @KnoxAcademyS6 Advanced Higher Geographers today, from a drizzly start in the Pentlands to actual sun in Stockbridge.

Thanks so much to the intrepid volunteers who came out to Slateford today to help clean-up the huge amount of waste coming from local retail and entertainment establishments. We collected huge amounts but really just scratched the surface! Good thing we're consistent!

Look out for some upcycled bird feeders around the Centre, made by our volunteer Andrew. Amazing what you can make out of a discarded plastic ball and a found drinks bottle.

Moss is a great subject for winter Advanced Higher Biology field studies. Such amazing plants—no vascular system to keep them up so they live in the boundary layer and are such an important part of the ecosystem. Clifton Hall pupils yesterday designed their own moss studies.

A very destructive and enjoyable session at Ford's Rd today, we removed loads of Laurel and made a dead hedge to deter fly tippers, removed Snowberry and widened the path, and collected plenty of litter - the tricky stuff we don't usually have time to get. Amazing work everyone, thanks again!

Our regular weekend volunteers were joined by some Edinburgh Young Walkers this morning to form a conservation dream team and give some attention to paths and road bridges around Murrayfield, we also removed loads of graffiti, buddleia, and over 20 bags of rubbish! Thanks all your help folks!😎👌

Thanks to everyone that voted in person and online in the Leith Chooses process. Happy to report we got the full grant that we applied for. Meaning more tools and plants for the regular Coalie Park Coalition group so that we can keep the area looking lush for years to come.