The Calton Hill Conservation Trust declared an “erosion emergency” after a dry summer, heavy footfall and over-mowing of the grass on top of the hill.
The Trust described erosion as “the biggest problem we face,” and said that some days the earth could be seen to blow away.
The City of Edinburgh council said it would returf the hill and has adjusted its grass-cutting schedules to protect the site.
Margaret Graham, City of Edinburgh Council’s culture and communities convener, said the Council were “also looking to rest areas periodically to reduce any further erosion.”
Calton Hill, home to several neoclassical structures including the National Monument (a replica of the Parthenon), is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and functions as an open-air gallery popular with tourists.
Scotland is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including The Forth Bridge, the St Kilda archipelago, and New Lanark.
Image by Ulia Makoveeva for The Student