Boghall Farm, Edinburgh (SRUC)
A south easterly facing sloped site of mineral sandy loam, exposed to a westerly wind. Vegetation is historically OSR and S barley. Planting of Miscanthus, willow, poplar and Eucalyptus was undertaken during spring 2023, futhert planting was carried out in 2024. The plans below show the layout of the trial plots at this hub site and the updates will keep you informed of their progress and performance throughout the trials.
| Address | Boghall, Biggar Road, Edinburgh, EH10 7DX. |
| Latitude, longitude | 55°52’44.5″N 3°12’11.4″W (55.87903486587691, -3.2031666746901992) |
| Grid ref | NT 24951 65863 |
| What 3 words ref for entrance | ///lifts.keen.confronts |
Site Plans
Characteristics
| Mean Annual Precipitation (mm) | 690 mm |
| Mean Annual Temperature (°C) | 12.1 ◦C |
| Altitude | 197 m |
| Exposure | Westerly wind. |
| Topography | Slope. |
| Aspect | S.E facing. |
| Soil type | Mineral sandy loam. |
| Previous vegetation coverage | OSR, S.Barley. |
| Other relevant site info |
Project plans/actions
| Which biomass crops |
Planted (as of November 2024)
Variety trials planted (as of November 2024):
|
| Planting goals/aim | Spring 2023 (& 2024). |
| Agronomic dates (planting, harvesting schedule) |
Planting: Spring 2023 (except 2024 trials) Harvest: Jan/Feb 2024. |
| Management methodology (spray off, nutrient additions, ploughing, site prep, others) |
– Ploughing/site prep Oct 2022 (Winter wheat cover – except on Miscanthus plots) + Glyphosate (early spring 2023). – Pendimethalin pre-ems (spring 2023). – Graminicide 3-6 weeks post planting. – Dow Shield 3-6 weeks post planting (if required). – Interrow weeding/spot spraying when required (spring/summer). |
| Machinery to be used | TBC. |
General Info
| Field management history | 2022 OSR.
2017-2022 Spring barley. |
| Other site detail of note |
Updates
Demonstrator Hub Updates – February 2025
12/03/2025
As winter transitions into spring, activity across the Biomass Connect demonstrator hubs has been steadily progressing. Despite challenging weather conditions—marked by cold temperatures, frosts, and heavy rainfall—our teams have been actively managing crop health, conducting harvests, and preparing for the upcoming growing season.
Demonstrator Hub Updates – January 2025
12/02/2025
The past few months have presented a mix of challenges and progress across the Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hubs. Harsh winter conditions, including prolonged periods of frost, heavy rainfall, and multiple storms—most notably Storm Éowyn—have tested the resilience of crops.
Demonstrator Hub Updates – November 2024
05/12/2024
The Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hubs across the UK have shown varying progress as winter approaches, reflecting both the resilience of certain crops and regional differences in weather conditions. Across the sites, senescence is a dominant theme, with many perennial crops entering dormancy while some continue to show growth in favourable conditions.
Presentation: Jeanette Whitaker, Harnessing Innovation – the Future of Biomass.
03/12/2024
In this presentation given at the Biomass Connect Showcase on 7th November 2024, Jeanette Whitaker (UKCEH) provides an overview of Biomass Connect and the various Biomass Feedstock Innovation projects, showing how their innovations are helping to shape the future of the biomass sector in the UK.
Boghall Demonstrator Hub Update – October 2024
21/11/2024
At the Boghall Demonstration Hub, crops are progressing into senescence, reflecting seasonal changes. Some varieties exhibit striking orange hues as they senesce. Overall, the site reflects a mix of senescence stages and biodiversity, with hare activity being a minor issue.
Boghall Demonstrator Hub Update – September 2024
13/11/2024
Progress at the Boghall Biomass Connect site in September showcased healthy growth across all varieties, with regular interrow mowing conducted to support field maintenance. The SRF alder and poplar are growing well, despite some rust and insect presence, while Eucalyptus and black Locust generally show good health with minimal damage from pests. Miscanthus varieties are thriving with little disease or vertebrate impact, and although willow showed signs of aphid and beetle activity, it continues to grow robustly.
Recent demonstration events highlight biomass crop opportunities across the UK
29/10/2024
Over the past few weeks, a series of successful demonstration events held across northern UK highlighted the promising opportunities that biomass crops like willow and Miscanthus offer for sustainable agriculture, carbon capture, and renewable energy
Boghall Demonstrator Hub Update – July 2024
28/08/2024
At the Edinburgh Demonstrator Hub site, the biomass crops are progressing well overall, with many species like SRF Alder, Eucalyptus, and SRC Willow showing healthy growth and good canopy development. However, some issues such as rust on SRF Alder and SRC Willow, as well as weed pressures in Miscanthus and Sida plots, indicate a need for continued management efforts.
Demonstrator Hub Update – SRUC Boghall – June 2024
18/07/2024
Most crops are growing well at the Boghall Demonstrator Hub. Some plots have a weed burden. Inter-row mowing and spraying is planned for July.
First Demonstrator Hub Soil Data Published
27/06/2024
The first soil dataset from across the eight Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hub sites has now been published. This dataset contains the baseline measurements of key soil properties, including carbon, bulk density and pH, which are critical to assess the impacts of biomass crops on soils through future repeat sampling.
Demonstrator Hub Update – SRUC Boghall – May 2024
26/06/2024
Inter-row spraying and gapping up have been the main activities at the SRUC Boghall Demonstrator Hub in Edinburgh this May. The plots are looking good.
Demonstrator Hub Update – SRUC Boghall – April 2024
06/06/2024
Gapping up and replanting have been the main activities at the SRUC Boghall Demonstrator Hub in Scotland this April. The plots are beginning to show some good signs of growth, but the weeds are growing in some too.
Demonstrator Hub Update – SRUC Boghall – March 2024
08/04/2024
The Boghall Demonstrator Hub has been very windy throughout March. The ground is still soft but is just about OK for machinery to access the land once again. Buds are appearing on many of the crops and most things are under control and ready for a flurry of activity once the weather improves and planting materials are received.
Demonstrator Hub Update – SRUC Boghall – February 2024
20/03/2024
Scotland experienced some well-documented extreme weather at the beginning of the year with both of our SRUC demonstrator hubs suffering from Storm Henk and Isha. Despite the damage there are now signs of hope in most plots and work has commenced with spraying and planning for 2024.
Biomass Connect Hub Site Updates – November 2023
07/12/2023
With Winter on its way, growth has all but stopped at the hub sites. So, rather than have an individual update for each Hub Site we have a quick round-up below along with some photos. Starting in the North and working our way south.
Tree Planting Technique
04/12/2023
Added: 4th Dec. 2023
Tree planting techniques by Bryan Elliot, filmed at the Biomass Connect SRUC demo event.
Hub Site Update – SRUC Edinburgh – October 2023
14/11/2023
October 2023 – Hub Site Update The SRUC Edinburgh site was very wet, windy, and cold in October. There was a mild start to the month but it turned cold […]
Boghall Farm, Edinburgh Demo Event
08/11/2023
Added: 8th Nov. 2023
The weather may not have been great but our demo event at Boghall Farm near Edinburgh was enjoyed by all.
Biomass Connect Demo Event – SRUC, Scotland
07/11/2023
Biomass Connect together with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) successfully hosted two demonstration events at SRUC hub sites in Ayrshire and Edinburgh, Scotland. The events were attended by a diverse group of land managers, consultants, biomass processors, policy makers, and researchers.
Hub Site Update – SRUC Edinburgh – September 2023
20/10/2023
September 2023 – Hub Site Update The SRUC Edinburgh site experienced something of a heatwave at the beginning of September but it turned colder later in the month. The electric […]
Willow Growth at Boghall, Edinburgh
19/10/2023
Added: 19th Oct. 2023
Another quick assessment of willow growth by Kevin Lindegaard, this time from our Boghall Hub Site in Edinburgh.
Once again establishment and growth have been very good indeed. The crops are doing well seeing as they were only planted 5-6 months previously.
Hub Site Update – SRUC Edinburgh – August 2023
28/09/2023
August 2023 – Hub Site Update It has been quite a wet August, warm and very very windy. Observations from the different plant plots The SRF Alder is growing well. […]
Hub Site Update – SRUC Edinburgh – July 2023
26/08/2023
July 2023 – Hub Site Update 10th July 2023: Sida rhizomes were sent from RRes Harpenden to SRUC at the Boghall site. Received the following day. 14th July 2023: Electric […]
Hub Site Update – SRUC Edinburgh – June 2023
16/08/2023
June 2023 – Hub Site Update The Willow variety trial was planted on 13th & 14th June by the Rothamsted Research team and team members from SRUC. Conditions were hot […]
Hub Site Update – SRUC Edinburgh – May 2023
13/07/2023
April and May 2023 – Hub Site Update Glyphosate spraying of the plots for planting was undertaken and weed die-off is evident. This was followed by spot spraying some of […]
Hub Site Update – SRUC Edinburgh – March 2023
04/05/2023
March 2023 – Overview of progress to date Remedial ground-work The arable site was in good condition. Baseline sampling took place after the spring OSR harvest and no specific remedial […]
Hub Site Update – SRUC Edinburgh – February 2023
26/04/2023
February 2023 The weather has been quite wet, but the site isn’t too boggy. We expect to be able to get on to spray in the next couple of weeks. […]
Hub Site Update – SRUC Edinburgh – January 2023
02/03/2023
January 2023 Risk Assessments for grazing, browsing and crop damage threats were undertaken. Snow and very low temperatures recently. However, this is normal for January. Expect field to be workable […]
Hub Site Update – SRUC Edinburgh
09/01/2023
December 2022 Summer weed control, cultivation and drilling complete. A winter wheat cover crop has been drilled on all wood crops plots but not on those due to have miscanthus […]
Base line soil samples have been taken, ploughing is in progress, Hopefully planting wheat cover crop week beginning 24 Oct 2022.
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Boghall Farm, Edinburgh, UK