Former gasworks site becomes home to six deer
A former gasworks would not be most people's idea of a perfect wildlife sanctuary. For one family of deer, however, the regenerated site is providing the perfect home.
Six deer have become regular visitors at the former Granton gasworks, now renamed The Forthquarter, despite the urban nature of the surroundings.
The wild animals have become firm favourites with security guards working at The Forthquarter who regularly watch them grazing via a CCTV camera system.
However, the deer are proving elusive to other would-be spotters, with sightings remaining rare despite word spreading through the local community.
The deer thought to be roes are believed to have originated from an estate in South Queensferry and made a new home in mature woodland along the Cramond to Granton waterfront.
Staff at The Forthquarter believe there is one stag, two doe and four young deer that regularly visit the undeveloped areas of this 110 acre site to graze on the lush vegetation where their reddish-brown colouring provides perfect camouflage.
It is thought the deer have taken advantage of a dip in the land that is sheltered from the wind by trees and bushes as a refuge from the elements in recent months, yet when the weather is milder workers have seen them come up to the perimeter fence around The Forthquarter Park.
The animals are solitary creatures who do not welcome human contact and animal experts advise passers-by not to approach them as they are easily scared.
Tom Gatherer, SSPCA deputy chief superintendent, said: "It is not uncommon for wild deer to choose to live on sites within urban areas, Generally if they have a plentiful supply of food and are left alone they will thrive"
National Grid is redeveloping the site at Granton, and has landscaped 20 acres for public use, providing a natural park area with woodland and water features which is beginning to attract a wide variety of local wildlife.
A spokesperson for National Grid Property said: "For the past year or so we have been aware that this group of deer regularly visit the as yet undeveloped areas of The Forthquarter site. We monitor the deer via the CCTV system to ensure they are safe and well and our staff do all they can to ensure their activities do not disturb them."
Six deer have become regular visitors at the former Granton gasworks, now renamed The Forthquarter, despite the urban nature of the surroundings.
The wild animals have become firm favourites with security guards working at The Forthquarter who regularly watch them grazing via a CCTV camera system.
However, the deer are proving elusive to other would-be spotters, with sightings remaining rare despite word spreading through the local community.
The deer thought to be roes are believed to have originated from an estate in South Queensferry and made a new home in mature woodland along the Cramond to Granton waterfront.
Staff at The Forthquarter believe there is one stag, two doe and four young deer that regularly visit the undeveloped areas of this 110 acre site to graze on the lush vegetation where their reddish-brown colouring provides perfect camouflage.
It is thought the deer have taken advantage of a dip in the land that is sheltered from the wind by trees and bushes as a refuge from the elements in recent months, yet when the weather is milder workers have seen them come up to the perimeter fence around The Forthquarter Park.
The animals are solitary creatures who do not welcome human contact and animal experts advise passers-by not to approach them as they are easily scared.
Tom Gatherer, SSPCA deputy chief superintendent, said: "It is not uncommon for wild deer to choose to live on sites within urban areas, Generally if they have a plentiful supply of food and are left alone they will thrive"
National Grid is redeveloping the site at Granton, and has landscaped 20 acres for public use, providing a natural park area with woodland and water features which is beginning to attract a wide variety of local wildlife.
A spokesperson for National Grid Property said: "For the past year or so we have been aware that this group of deer regularly visit the as yet undeveloped areas of The Forthquarter site. We monitor the deer via the CCTV system to ensure they are safe and well and our staff do all they can to ensure their activities do not disturb them."