As part of the Council’s ongoing partnership with charity Fields in Trust, residents can now enjoy improved access to 19 newly protected parks across the city.
Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker visited one of these at Cavalry Park this week, alongside John and Gail from the Friends of Cavalry Park. The pioneering agreement takes the total of protected parks in the city to 55. This represents an area of over 500 hectares, equivalent to some 700 football pitches.
Crucially, this means that over two-thirds of our residents are now within a ten-minute walk of a protected space.
This initiative comes as pressure on existing green space is set to rise, with the population of Edinburgh predicted to increase by 10% over the next 20 years.
Protection is a legal agreement between Fields in Trust and a space’s landowner that they will retain it for use as a green space in perpetuity. Ownership and management of the space remains locally with the existing landowner, ensuring the local community remain fully involved with the space.
Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker said: “Edinburgh is already a wonderfully green city, and we want to ensure it remains so for generations to come. We already have more trees per resident than any other city in the UK and the most Green Flag Awards in Scotland but we’re always committed to doing more.
“It was fantastic to meet John and Gail today at Cavalry Park and hear what their local protected space means to them.
“Through our partnership with Fields in Trust we’re ensuring that a high proportion of our residents are within a ten-minute walk of a protected greenspace.
“These spaces are essential for mental health, wellbeing, leisure, and community building and remain a key priority for us as part of our response to the climate and nature emergencies. As part of our Edinburgh’s Thriving Green Spaces 2050 strategy, we are committed to doing everything we can to safeguard, preserve and improve these spaces.
“I hope other towns and cities will follow Edinburgh’s example and work with Fields in Trust to create better greenspaces for all.”
Chief Executive of Fields in Trust, Helen Griffiths said: “Edinburgh boasts some really beautiful parks and green spaces and Fields in Trust has been incredibly proud to partner with the City of Edinburgh Council to make sure that even more of them are protected forever.
“Parks are the heart of Edinburgh, providing focal points for people from all communities to gather, relax or enjoy nature. Protecting them means they will help to fight the climate crisis and always be there to support residents’ health and wellbeing.
“The Council has done a truly remarkable thing for the people of Edinburgh, and generations will benefit from the actions they have taken today.”
The 19 newly protected parks are listed below:
- Baronscourt Park
- Buckstone Park and Woods
- Cavalry Park
- Clermiston Park
- Cramond Walled Garden
- East Pilton Park
- Fairmilehead Park
- Gyle Park
- Inch Park
- Jewel Park
- Joppa Quarry Park
- Muirhouse Park
- Parkside Park
- Pikes Pool
- Ratho Station Park
- Roseburn Park
- Seafield Recreation Ground
- Sighthill Park
- Spylaw Park
About Fields in Trust:
Fields in Trust champions and supports our parks and green spaces by protecting them for people to enjoy in perpetuity. Because once lost, they are lost forever. Fields in Trust is an independent charity with almost 100 years’ experience of protecting parks and green spaces.
Working with landowners, community groups and policymakers, they champion the value of parks and green spaces to achieve better protection for their future at both the local and national level.
More information on how to get involved can be found on their website.
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