The Vegetation Survey is now published here on our website:
Calton Hill Vegetation Survey (PDF).
It’s an impressive piece of work. The hill is divided into 125 polygons (areas). We’ve identified 13 National Vegetation Classification (NVC) communities (with 12 sub-communities, as well as a number of variants with 12 additional non-NVC vegetation/habitat types. We have 151 vascular plant species (98 native and 53 non-native) — so 35% vascular plant species are alien — and 26 mosses and 3 liverworts (all native).
The following nine special, rare and occasional species are present: Harebell, Heath Bedstraw, Lady’s Bedstraw, Bluebell, Soft Shield-fern, Wall Pennywort, Blaeberry, Glittering Wood-moss (Hylocomium splendens), Wild Thyme.
The survey was done by Ben Averis, a leading botanist and plant surveyor based in East Lothian, and supported by a grant from Inspiring Scotland’s Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund.
This may well be the most detailed botanical survey ever made in an Edinburgh park and we are grateful to Ben Averis and Inspiring Scotland for making it possible.
