Geological
Society
Corstorphine Hill RIGS
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Corstorphine Hill was designated as a RIGS on 14 July 2000. The RIGS Volunteer Group have produced a free leaflet (see the publications page for more details). The following wee piece gives some of the background to why Corstorphine Hill is a RIGS, and what this means ...
Let’s Talk About Corstorphine - Corstorphine Hill designated a RIGS
John, Did you hear that Corstorphine Hill has been made a RIGS.
No, Ian, what is a RIGS? Is it something to do with this terrible Foot and Mouth?
No, nothing like that. I’ve heard it’s geological.
You mean like in oil-rigs?
No, there’s no oil on Corstorphine Hill. Though I do admit these two ever-growing masts on top of the hill do look a bit like oil-rigs.
These are to help the planes land in safety at Turnhouse – to do with the Civil Aviation Authority. They need two, one for incoming flights, one for out going.
I tell you what, John. There’s one of the elders at church, David McAdam, he is a geologist. Maybe he can tell us about a RIGS.
David, can you tell us about Corstorphine Hill being a RIGS?
Well, you have come to the right man. It was me that was responsible. As Dr Jack Cormack said in the last Lets Talk About Corstorphine, "There is life after retirement". One takes on new commitments, and I became Secretary of the Lothian RIGS Group. RIGS actually stands for REGIONALLY IMPORTANT GEOLOGICAL SITE, not a great acronym. You’ll have heard of SSSI?
Yes, I know that one: SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST.
Yes, that’s for nationally or internationally important places like the Arthur’s Seat Volcano or the Giant’s Causeway. RIGS are for locally great sites.
Corstorphine Hill’s not that important, is it? I know the boards say it’s a LOCAL NATURE RESERVE, but that’s because of the badgers; and the Rangers have just put up new boards saying, NATURE CONSERVATION AREA – CYCLING PROHIBITED, so that no-one runs over the badgers! But what geology?
Geology can only really be seen outdoors. Corstorphine Hill has lots of interesting outcrops and quarries where you can see or learn about geology. It’s important to save these from being lost by development or even just through ignorance. Then we would have nowhere to teach geology.
I never knew this. How can I find out more? Is there any information? Can I go to the Library?
Well, the RIGS Group have an obligation to provide information. For Corstorphine Hill we produced a poster, and we have just had a nice coloured leaflet printed.
I’ve never seen anything like that.
Here are some leaflets, have a look.
These are very smart, David, I like the colours. Corstorphine Hill – Geology and Panoramas, Archaeology and Walks. I recognise the Tower on the front. It says inside it was to Sir Walter Scott: I never knew that. Oh, and a good map of the hill. But is all this geology not a bit technical for me?
I hope not. There are cartoons explaining the Making of Corstorphine Hill, and photos and descriptions of the quarries and outcrops which are easy to follow, and there is a wee bit at the bottom 'Mainly for the Geologist’.
These views are nice, with all the places named, but surely you can’t see them for the trees, unless you go up the tower?
Not all the places, Ian, just some; there are too many to show on a wee leaflet. There are four good viewpoints on the ground, provided you get a clear day, you can see from Ben Lomond to Berwick Law. It’s even better up the Tower.
How much do these cost, David, fifty pence or a pound?
No, we obtained enough money in grants to give them away free, so we’ve printed ten thousand.
Who gave you the grants?
Half came from the Hanson Environment Fund, one of the largest set up under the Landfill Tax credit scheme. That’s a bit like Gift Aid for charities such as the Church– tax from rubbish coups that can be used for environmental projects instead of going into the Treasury coffers.
And the other half?
That was a bit of a community effort. It was really rather nice. We canvassed interested organisations for help and we got super support. The Corstorphine Trust were first, and the Community Councils – Corstorphine and Drum Brae, and the Green Belt Trust…..
Wait, David, the Green Belt is out in the country at Gogar and Riccarton and the like.
No, Ian, Corstorphine Hill is part of Edinburgh’s Green belt, albeit a bit separated.
You said lots. Were there others?
Yes, they are all listed on the back. Both the Friends of Corstorphine Hill and the Rangers helped because they are responsible for the hill, and the National Museum, and geological societies here in Edinburgh and even in London. All helped a little, a great co-operative effort.
Where do I get the leaflets, if I want more?
Well, if you’re in organisations like the Friends you should get one with your Newsletter. We hope schools, libraries, tourist offices, and other local centres will take them, and display the poster. The Royal High School has already. Any problems, or if you want a lot, see me: David McAdam, 39 Clermiston Road. Well, I must away.
Where are you off to, David, to look for other RIGS sites?
Just that, Ian, we’ve got our eyes on Binny Craig in West Lothian, and even the Union Canal with its Millennium Wheel.
A David McAdam, 15 March 2001
