Edinburgh’s green forever (and that’s nothing to do with Sunday’s Cup result either!)

Edinburgh has been recognised for protecting most parks and green spaces in the UK at a prestigious award ceremony. The City of Edinburgh Council was awarded Landowner of the Year at the inaugural Fields in Trust Awards 2012 ceremony that celebrated the achievements of the charity’s Queen Elizabeth Fields Challenge programme, and the city was also given £10,000 from Fields in Trust to spend on further improving the city’s parks.

The city received the award for dedicating more sites as part of The Queen Elizabeth Fields Challenge than any other UK landowner – a total of 25 sites across Edinburgh. This commits the Council to dedicating the named sites for the purposes of public recreation, in perpetuity, for the use of the residents of Edinburgh.

Councillor Jim Orr, the city’s Environment Vice-Convener, said: “Here in Edinburgh we have no shortage of beautiful outdoor spaces and this Council recognises the important role they play in boosting the well-being of communities. I’m delighted that Fields in Trust have recognised our efforts in dedicating many of our green spaces as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. This will have a lasting legacy for Edinburgh and reaffirms this city’s commitment to protecting our parks and green spaces for future generations.”

The dedicated sites are (local parks highlighted):

• Easter Drylaw Park
• Ravelston Park
• Ravelston Woods
• Starbank Park
• Victoria Park
• Figgate Park
• Lochend Park
• Rosefield Park
• Portobello Golf Course
• Braidburn Valley Park
• Hermitage of Braid
• Blackford Hill
• Morgan Playing Fields
• Morningside Park
• Seven Acre Park
• Colinton Mains Park
• Easter Craiglockhart Hill
• Hailes Quarry Park
• Harrison Park
• Saughton Park & Gardens
• Ferry Glen
• St Margaret’s Park
• Union Park
• Montgomery Street Park
• Pilrig Park

Fields in Trust was founded in 1925 and is the only national charity working to safeguard and improve outdoor recreational spaces. The Queen Elizabeth Fields Challenge aims to protect outdoor recreational spaces as a legacy from HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.