Bruntsfield Links – Watercolour/Inktense on an A4 Watercolour Moleskine
There are two great open spaces towards the south side of Edinburgh. These are The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links. They are separated by Melville Drive which joins the Tollcross area to the extension of the “Bridges” heading south thus making this one of the busiest places in the city. Despite this, the two green spaces are oasis’ of peace. Every city needs these “lungs” and this area compares well with St Stephens Green in Dublin or some of the great London Parks. Bruntsfield was, in the time of David 1st, part of the Boroughmuir, a large wooded area. It was gifted to the city by this king. These days nothing remains of this early forest but some of today’s trees are quite spectacular. It is unfortunate that, like many other areas in the Northern hemisphere, many of the fine elms are dying and are gradually being cut down in an effort to minimise the spread of Dutch Elm Disease.
This scene shows Barclay Church, built with a legacy of £10,000 in 1864 from Miss Mary Barclay. In front of the church the green area is used by a “Short Golf Course” – locally known as a “Pitch and Putt” course. It’s free to use and is kept in immaculate condition by the City Parks’ Department. One of the Capital’s private courses, situated to the north of Edinburgh is also called “Bruntsfield” which causes some confusion with visitors. Don’t turn up at this one expecting a free game of golf.
Rudat 3:54 pm on May 16, 2009 | #
The colors and composition are really beautiful. Too bad about the beautiful trees. Seems like trees everywhere are stricken with one disease or another. Is there putt-putt golf in Scotland (an embarrassing American question)?
trebor61 3:59 am on May 17, 2009 | #
Hi Susan. Thanks for this. Yes, it is awful that trees worldwide are on the decline. I don’t know if he is to your taste but Bill Bryson’s “Walk in the Woods – Hicking the Appalachian Trail” describes, in horrific detail, how trees in the USA are being effected by man, disease and, possibly, global warming. Makes you wonder where it might all end! I had to look up “putt-putt”. Its what we call “crazy golf” over here. Its frowned upon by golf’s purists (Snobs) but, in my wee opinion, anything which encourages participation in this most wonderful of games is to be encouraged – even if you folks are better at it than us. Most large towns and cities also have the traditional “Putting Greens” which vary in severity. Some towns, famous for their golf facilities, have putting greens which can put other golf courses to shame eg North Berwick in East Lothian which has TWO eighteen hole efforts. Its a good way to hone one’s skills. Margaret often says that the last time I took her out was for a game of putting in Inverness (on our honeymoon in 1971).