Much like the flow of the river, working for the Trust is always constant—sometimes marked by fast surges, and other times meandering along. But it’s always moving, and January marks Johnny’s fifth year on the river.


As you can imagine, there have been many memorable moments along the way. On the practical side, Johnny has led over 250 conservation tasks to improve the river and walkway, seeing firsthand the difference our volunteers make in keeping the walkway usable and the banks and greenspaces free of rubbish. He’s also seen his role grow and develop in unexpected ways.
Being with the Trust has allowed Johnny to deepen his love for practical skills. Professionally, he’s earned certifications in pesticide spraying to treat invasive species like Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed, and has learned to wield more dangerous equipment like strimmers and chainsaws to maintain the walkway. But more importantly, Johnny has gained skills he can share with volunteers to enhance their sessions, such as learning to scythe wildflower meadows, coppicing willow for fencing, and even making three different types of baskets.


Sometimes, it’s not just about teaching skills—Johnny also shares the many unique locations he’s come across. Over the years, he’s visited places like Moonwake Brewery, The Port of Leith Whisky Distillery, Lind and Lime Gin Distillery, SS Explorer, and Seafield Waste Treatment Works, to name a few. He’s still hoping to get a tour of Burton Biscuits after years of buying bags of biscuits for the tea breaks!
After five years, the greatest gift for Johnny is his working knowledge of the river. He has a story about every section of it and is never shy to share. Just ask him about how kilts returned to Scotland, who Catherine Sinclair was, why Murrayfield is named as it is, or where the international sundial is, and you’ll see him come to life. He’s well-known among Friends of Groups and landowners along the river, and is always willing to share his knowledge. That said, his alter ego in the office enjoys the peace and quiet of the conservation office, away from everyone else.
When we asked Johnny for three moments that make him smile, the following jumped to mind:
The Dead Swan – Unfortunately, a signet died down at Leith, and after a couple of weeks, during our monthly boat cleanup, the body was recovered and brought back to the Centre. Fair to say it was fairly smelly! Hannah and Johnny spent an hour digging a hole to bury it. They thought they’d done a good job, but when they returned a week later, they discovered the hole hadn’t been deep enough to hide the smell from a wild animal, who promptly dug it up, scattering feathers everywhere.
The Glock Pistol – During a wading session, a Glock pistol was found by the volunteers in the river. After calling the police to report it, Johnny was told that armed response would be a while. He agreed to take the gun to the local station and delivered it to Gayfield Square police station during the tram works. Unfortunately, Johnny had to wait 90 minutes with an officer until armed response arrived to take a statement and collect the gun, made all the more challenging by having an energetic spaniel with him that day. Life lesson: always go to the station where armed response is based.
Wading – This is part of Johnny’s job he enjoys most. Going under the bridges is a unique treat. Each bridge is different—from the grand Dean Bridge to the smaller pedestrian bridges that link the walkway. It’s a side of Edinburgh that very few people get to see, so it’s a badge of honour for Johnny to try and collect them all.
Five years down, and many more to go!
