The Hewan Bog has been gifted to the Esk Valley Trust

The Trust is delighted to receive, as a gift, the area of land (around 12 hectares) at the northern end of Roslin Glen known as ‘The Hewan Bog’.

The title belies the natural beauty of this piece of countryside that sits right next to the Hewan Wood by the North Esk River near to Polton in Midlothian.

This most generous gift is from the estate of the late Professor David Baird who, sadly, died in February 2022. David was one of the country’s most eminent figures in the field of obstetrics, gynaecology and reproductive biology. An outstanding researcher and clinician he established Edinburgh as a world centre for the study of reproduction, and was a passionate advocate for the rights and health of women and for women in medicine. He also had a lifelong love of Scottish mountains and the great outdoors and bought the Hewan Bog in 1998, letting it to the University for sheep grazing and also keeping half a dozen pet Herdwick sheep of his own there. Each April he would take them to the family cottage in Strath Tummel and then bring them back to Roslin for the winter.

David’s wife, Professor Anna Glasier, said “David loved spending time at Roslin where he kept some of his own sheep. We often used to take a picnic when we went to check up on the sheep and sit in the sun drinking in the view and counting the variety of birds that inhabited the field. David would be very happy to know that the Esk Valley Trust has taken over the Hewan Bog and his sons and I hope that others will enjoy it as much as he did.”

You can read a fuller account of David’s achievements here.

Both the Hewan Bog and the Hewan Wood form part of the corridor of ancient woodland along Roslin Glen – a place of great natural and historical richness. In line with its broad purpose of stimulating public interest and care for the beauty, history and character of the valleys of the Esk Rivers the Trust will take care to manage this land to sustain and, if possible, to enhance its natural value and keep it for visitors to enjoy.