The good and the bad on Corstorphine HIll today

I joined Crafty Green Boyfriend to walk round Corstorphine Hill this lunchtime. We were appalled to see how brutally Edinburgh City Council have cut back the pathside verges of this local nature reserve

At this time of year the plants that normally grow in these verges offer home and food for loads of insects and now they'll be forced to find shelter and nutrients elsewhere!

Thankfully most of the hill still looks its beautiful best

and the rosebay willow herb is in full bloom

We were delighted to see these fresh solitary bee holes (that almost look like they could have been made by miniature bunnies!)

As we came down off the hill we got stung by nettles and scratched by brambles, but it was well worth it as the first raspberries are ripe and they're delicious! (Two weeks later than normal!).

No butterflies on the hill today, so we had nothing to contribute to the Big Butterfly Count. But there's still a couple of weeks to go!