The Firth of Forth is a designated SPA and internationally important for resident and migratory birds some of which are at risk of decline. However Edinburgh’s 27 of coast is 70% hard sea defences and the intertidal areas left are shrinking due to climate change.
Western Harbour Ponds is a very special place next to the sea, consisting of several ponds and woodland areas that have self-colonised over many years. There is an exceptional population of native birds, amphibians mammals and plants. Long loved by local residents it provided an essential sanctuary and uplift during Covid.
Western Harbour was created from landfill between two new breakwaters nearly 100 years ago. Part of it now has housing but a large area mistakenly classified as ‘brownfield’ was believed to have been abandoned by developers over 15 years ago due to subsidence and other problems such as the 2008 financial crash but was discovered to have been passing from one developer to another. In 2022, the threat became apparent with the appearance of a For Sale notice and the arrival of a couple of bulldozers.
This shock galvanised a group of local people to come together. Incredibly active and committed, they launched Save Western Harbour Ponds.
It was fully constituted as an organisation in November 2022 and now has 886 members. The petition that was launched to stop the development almost immediately gained over 2300 signatures. Money has been raised via GoFundMe, the sale of a Western Harbour Ponds calendar (produced free for the group as a contribution) and donations.
All funds are being used for leaflet drops…and all members of the group contribute their time freely.
In a short time, they have gained support of local politicians, had several articles in local papers and on STV as well as a huge support in social media. They have talked to the local Victoria Primary School about the ponds who subsequently developed their own management plan with Minecraft.
They have gone on a steep learning curve with regard to the intricacies of local planning, and knowledge about recording and helping conserve the burgeoning biodiversity. In June 2023 they managed with some difficulty to have Tree Preservation Order placed on the parts of the site where native woodland is rapidly developing.
They are backed by Edinburgh Nature Network, have been getting support from the Water of Leith Trust and Edinburgh Natural History society, have had a bat survey undertaken and are encouraging knowledgeable visitors to record what they see there using, in particular, the iNaturalist phone app.
Species seen on the site including breeding swans, ducks, heron, reed bunting , goldfinch , orchids, breeding swans and moorhens, goldeneye, herons, kingfisher Frogs, coltsfoot, Cream-streaked ladybirds, Leafcutter bees, dragonflies, Sickle Medick
There is an online shared document for logging species (I won’t include the link? ) which has about 60 species of birds using the ponds but so far fewer for plants and insects. This is partly due to the fact that much of the site is fenced off.
The wealth of wildlife and special species that has colonised the area and the changing and growing biodiversity that changes and develops almost daily is the driving force for the passion of this groups and all its members. They fully understand the importance to the biodiversity of the Forth and the wellbeing of local residents.
They represent the ‘new blood’ that is so sorely missed by the dwindling fishing industry – understanding the critical issues round the Forth and tackling them with imagination, expertise and determination. They are however still facing a significant challenge against the ‘mad rush’ of developers attempting to ensure their plans are approved before the 2030 City Plan is finalised.
