PLEASE DO NOT AT ANY POINT WALK ON THE SURFACE OF THE BOG. IT IS A FRAGILE HABITAT AND MAY BE DANGEROUS IN PLACES. There is no need to leave the boardwalk until you are on top of the cache. Only then should you leave the boardwalk, and it should entail taking no more than 1-2 steps maximum off the boardwalk and onto a spot that is solid ground rather than bog/heather, right next to a tree with many branches.
Balerno Common covers two adjacent sites, Red Moss (The Common) and Bavelaw Marsh, each with different habitats. Red Moss is an area of raised bog displaying the characteristic dome shaped profile. The bog is relatively undisturbed and shows a hummock and hollow pattern. Heather and Cotton-grass dominate the hummocks, while 5 species of Sphagnum moss are present in the wetter hollows. Raised bog, open water with emergent vegetation and marsh are all rare habitats in the Lothians. Red Moss is the largest and least disturbed area of raised bog in Edinburgh, while Bavelaw Marsh is the only area of fen of any size. In combination, these two areas form a site that is unique within Edinburgh in terms of size and diversity of both species and habitat.
Until the mid 18th century the land around Balerno, including Red Moss, was farmed and pastured in joint ownership by several land proprietors. In 1868 this Balerno Commonty was divided and enclosed but Red Moss remained as common land (Balerno Common) for the use and benefit of the 8 dominant proprietors. Old maps show the moss was originally more extensive, covering an area approximately three to four times larger than today. Although much of the bog has been cut away for peat and drained for agriculture, the survival of the remaining areas appear to relate to its status as common land.
There have been a number of activities on the moss in the past including sheep grazing, peat cutting, shooting, and the digging of lint holes for retting flax. Associated with these activities, burning and grazing have been used to control the spread of trees, heather burning has taken place, and ditches have been cleared and opened. In the past, The Royal Botanic Gardens have collected peat and some Sphagnum moss for horticulture.
The aqueduct was constructed in the early 19th century to convey water from the springs of the north-west Pentlands to Edinburgh’s water supply, but is no longer in use. These activities caused disruption to the bog’s hydrology and also claimed the southern edge of the moss. The line of the aqueduct (underground water pipe) has been used as an access path but a boardwalk has now been constructed south of the aqueduct, through the birch woodland/heath where it is drier. Results of water table monitoring have confirmed that the moss is drying out (at a slow rate).
In recent years trees and scrub have spread onto the southern areas of the moss from the birch woodland as well as along the east edge, enhancing desiccation of the moss. Heather has become established on the moss which is also enhancing desiccation as well as destroying Sphagnum and other mire species through competition and shading. The main management activities have been to conserve the bog by maintaining the water level by damming of drains and the removal of trees and saplings. They have also opened up the woodland/heathland by controlling tree establishment.
Dragonflies and damselflies inhabit the small pools on the Moss, which are also the breeding grounds for common frogs and toads. Bog asphodel and round-leaved sundew are found in the damper areas, while ragged-Robin, marsh ragwort, cuckoo-flower and heath-spotted orchid provide splashes of colour in the summer months. On the drier humps common lizards may be seen, basking in the summer sun. The birch and willow thickets around the edge of the Moss attract breeding redpoll, tree pipit and willow warbler.
Please note that the surface of the bog is fragile, so please approach the cache by taking the southerly boardwalk until you you should be right on top of the cache. There is no need to leave the boardwalk until you reach the cache. Only then should you leave the boardwalk, and it should entail taking no more than 1-2 steps maximum off the boardwalk, and onto a spot that is not classed as bog and indeed is the solid ground leading to where the original cache was situated. PLEASE DO NOT AT ANY POINT WALK ON THE SURFACE OF THE BOG. IT IS A FRAGILE HABITAT AND MAY BE DANGEROUS IN PLACES.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust - who are responsible for the management of Red Moss - have given permission for the placing of this cache.