Scottish Wildlife Trust's most urban reserve

As part of #30DaysWildReekie, we visited the tiny Johnston Terrace nature reserve,  Scottish Wildlife Trust's most urban reserve right under Edinburgh Castle.

We listed over 40 species, mostly wildflowers: Stinging nettle, White dead nettle, Mayweed, Red campion, Hogweed, Creeping buttercup, Meadow buttercup, Bramble, Herb robert, Meadow cranesbill, Round-leaved cranesbill, White clover, Red clover, Dandelion, Flag iris, Rosebay willowherb, Cleavers, Green alkanet, Wood avens, Ivy, Bittersweet, Dog rose, Bluebell (just!), Teasel, Cocksfoot grass, Elm, Hazel, Elder, Ash, Hawthorn, Silver birch, Rowan, Bluetit, Swallow, Greater black back gull, Magpie, Common carder bee, Woodlouse, Diamondback moth (part of the current invasion), and Human (also part of the current invasion!) We didn't have any ecologists in the group and there were plenty of other species we couldn't identify including ferns, moss, grasses, plantains, snails, bumblebees and other invertebrates.

Bittersweet

Snail enjoying the damp weather

Not a bad list for a tiny area in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town.

Many thanks to Scottish Wildlife Trust for permission to visit the reserve. I hope it won't be Wild Reekie's last.

You can see future Wild Reekie events and sign up to receive notifications on our Meetup Page. You can also follow me on twitter at @eleanormharris.