Partner Portrait Leadburn Community Woodland, Scottish Borders
Leadburn Community Woodland is a former forestry plantation that lies on the watershed of the Esk and Eddleston rivers to the south of the Pentland Hills in Midlothian. It was bought by a community group in 2007 after the bulk of the commercial timber had been extracted. Today it provides a diverse mix of habitats including ponds, conifer stands, heath, fen, regenerating mixed woodland and two raised bogs.
Rewilding actions have focused on: restoring the raised bogs by removing conifers and rewetting the peat, to encourage the return of a sphagnum-dominated biome; planting broadleaf trees within the existing woodland; creating large ponds; and gradually removing non-native tree species.
A growing number of local volunteers help to maintain a network of paths across the woodland, providing a peaceful and relaxing place for locals and visitors to enjoy.
The first tree was planted in April 2007. Over subsequent years, around 10,000 trees made up of 38 different native species have been planted, supplementing the naturally regenerating birch and Scots pine.
Birch is a pioneer species that quickly colonises new areas when unchecked by grazing and browsing.
The aspen that were planted in the early years are now maturing and hundreds of suckers are shooting up from their roots. This is the main way that aspen propagates in Scotland, and is unusual in tree species.
The woodland lies at an elevation of 300m and is on the watershed of the Lead Burn – which flows north to join the North Esk – and the Craigburn – which flows south to join the Eddleston Water, a tributary of the River Tweed.
Willow warblers are abundant in the emerging woodland with between 50-100 territories across the site. Up to 15 pairs of whitethroats also breed in the scrubby areas, mainly along the old railway lines.
The berries of rowan, hawthorn and guelder rose attract flocks of wintering thrushes in autumn.
The site is bisected by two old railway lines, which form the main paths through the site. The path network has been extended and improved following an increase in visitors and Leadburn is now a popular meeting place for locals.
A dedicated group of around 60 local volunteers contribute more than 1,000 hours each year to help with tasks such as the removal of non-native conifers.
Four ponds were established across the site in 2011, greatly increasing the diversity of insect life as well as benefitting frogs, toads and newts.
The common blue damselfly is one of many species of Odonata (dragonflies and damselfies) that frequents the margins of Leadburn’s ponds.
In 2009, 17 hectares of peatland were restored. Further work in 2024 helped to retain more water on the bog, which is vital for sphagnum mosses.
Brightly coloured sphagnum mosses are an indicator of a healthy bog. As they slowly decompose they lock away carbon in the form of peat.
Working with PeatlandACTION a further four hectares of raised bog have been restored on a site that was once a Forest Research experimental site. The brash in this photograph (from September 2022) has now been buried within the peat where it will slowly decay.
In early summer the bogs are carpeted with the nodding white heads of cotton grass, the food plant of the uncommon large heath butterfly that is found here.
In August, the air is filled with the intoxicating aroma of flowering heather that fringes the raised bog.
Heather is an excellent nectar and pollen source for bumblebees. Its nectar also contains callunene, a chemical that’s been found to protect bumblebees from a common parasite.
The rough grassland of the bog provides ideal habitat for owls and kestrels to hunt for voles, whilst the damp areas are perfect for wintering snipe.
The experimental site where exotic conifers were once grown has been restored as a raised bog, providing habitat for specialist plants such as bog asphodel and sundew.
Each December volunteers cut and sell non-native pines from the woodland as Christmas trees. These sales have funded materials and tools used in the woodland, and a total of £30,000 has been donated to environmental charities over the last three years.
The stumps of the cut Christmas trees are left as standing deadwood. They are colonised by a plethora of lichens and fungi, and provide vital habitat for invertebrates.
