A group wildlife recording excursion with Sue Jury, Vice County plant recorder

Site details: Rosewell to Auchendinny Disused Railway is situated by Rosewell, Midlothian within the vice-county of Midlothian vc83 (site centred on NT271623). The site comprises a 2.95 km stretch of disused railway walkway, comprising a variety of habitats and several locally rare plants and insects.

Leader: Sue Jury (Midlothian vc83 Plant Recorder) and Carmen Thomson (TWIC).

Aim: To record the different wildlife species present, including updating the vascular plant list for the site. The site was designated as a Local Biodiversity Site (LBS) by Midlothian Council in 2012. Data generated from the outing will inform the re-assessment of the LBS to confirm whether the site still meets the criteria for an LBS.

Previous notable or protected species recorded on site include the following flowering plants: Soft Shield-fern (Polystichum setiferum), Remote Sedge (Carex remota), Burnet Rose (Rosa spinosissima) and Hairy St John's-wort (Hypericum hirsutum).

Meeting details: Meet at 10 am at the car park entrance to the walkway at Rosewell, just off the B7003 - Rosewell, Lasswade EH25 9QA (OS grid reference NT28466289 what3words: ///offerings.blindfold.searching). Additional parking is available in Rosewell. Please note that the grid reference/ what3words reference is most accurate - the postcode will not take you to the exact meeting place.

Check Lothian Buses (https://www.lothianbuses.com/) for public transport options (Lothian bus 31 serves Rosewell from central Edinburgh).

Requirements: Lunch and drink, outdoor footwear, waterproofs/ sunscreen and sunhat (as weather dictates). Optional – antibacterial hand gel (TWIC will have antibacterial hand gel available).

Suitable for: Recorders and local naturalists. Over 18s only.

Booking essential as places will be limited to 15 people.

Photo credit: Recording on disused railway by Mike Beard.

Description supplied by the event organiser.