Edinburgh landmark Calton Hill facing 'erosion emergency' after grass cut too short by council

A conservation charity has said that council workers have caused an “erosion emergency” at Edinburgh’s Calton Hill by cutting the grass too short.

Calton Hill Conservation Trust claims that the erosion of the hill’s top soil has “been the worst for many years.”

A statement from the charity, accompanied by photographs showing large patches of bare, exposed earth, claims that the grass has been cut short on the “assumption that it will regularly rain”.

They say that the erosion has also been caused by a combination of a dry summer and high footfall.

The ground pictured earlier this month Calton Hill Conservation Trust via Supplied

Without rain, the only water brought to the hill is from bowser trucks.

The report read: “Erosion is always in areas where the grass has been repeatedly cut short on the assumption that it will regularly rain.

“There is no erosion in areas where the grass has not been cut by the local authority. All the erosion is on the top of the hill, not the surrounding slopes.

“Yesterday, you could actually see the earth blowing away in the wind.”

Edinburgh Council has made plans to re-turf, re-seed and improve the walking route. Calton Hill Conservation Trust via Supplied

Edinburgh Council said it is now making plans to re-turf, re-seed and improve the popular path.

Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “We’re aware of the erosion on Calton Hill and are making plans to re-turf, re-seed and improve the formal path network to control footfall.

“We’re also looking to rest areas periodically to reduce any further erosion.”