Tag: Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust

Planning permission granted for £4m West Pilton Park redevelopment

GREEN LIGHT FOR WEST PILTON PARK REDEVELOPMENT

West Pilton Park will benefit from over £4M of investment for improvements to access, play, wildlife, planting and recreation.

The park will become a destination and attraction for all within the local area and beyond to access good quality greenspace. Funding has been secured to enable the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) to procure the services of SLR landscape architects to carry out a redesign in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council.

Following consultation with the local community, planning permission has been granted to enable the project to move to the next step of sourcing a contractor to carry out the work which is due to start in 2025.

The project is being managed by ELGT which aims to reinvigorate the public space, encouraging more people to use the park, which in turn will help improve their health and wellbeing. The development of amenities including new play, skate, and bouldering areas has been welcomed by the local community and will offer local residents the opportunity to use the park more for recreation.

A new community growing space will also allow local people and organisations to participate in community growing activities.

Well-designed, well-maintained, and accessible green space can have a positive impact on public health. Encouraging those who do not currently use the park regularly to do so could make a big difference to everyday lives.

The redevelopment will also help to mitigate against climate change, local flooding, and wildlife loss. This will include the creation of a seasonal wetland area, woodland restoration, meadow creation, and the planting of hundreds more trees across the park. This will provide a boost for wildlife and build climate resilience, as well as providing a visually attractive landscape for people to live their daily lives.

Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker, said: “Following consultation with the local community, I’m very excited that the West Pilton Park development will be taking the next steps towards creating a welcoming green space for the community, in partnership with Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT).

“We are fortunate to have 144 parks and green spaces across the city and 38 Green Flag Awards – so it’s easy to see why we’re considered the UK’s greenest city.

“Our parks have a positive impact on people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing by providing space for exercise, relaxation, social contact with friends and family, and opportunities for children and young people to play.

“I look forward to seeing the space at West Pilton Park take shape for our community and the development of new play areas and growing opportunities for locals and organisations.”

Chief Executive of Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, Charlie Cumming, said: “I am delighted with the plans to make improvements to West Pilton Park, with thanks to our funders and the City of Edinburgh Council.

“The new amenities will provide an opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents as well as helping them to reclaim the park as a welcoming community space.

“The new play facilities will help meet the needs of the local children now and for future generations and will encourage greater use of the park for local families. The local community were at the centre of the consultation process, and it was their responses that ultimately guided the designs.

“Everyone deserves access to modern amenities and it’s important to have high quality greenspaces that people of all ages can enjoy. It also provides an opportunity to reconnect with nature and help to mitigate against climate change and biodiversity loss.

“It has been great for ELGT to lead on this project so far and we look forward to breaking ground soon and delivering this park for the local community.”

Green Projects Manager, North Edinburgh Arts, Valla Moodie said: “We are looking forward to enjoying the rejuvenated park in West Pilton.

“The plans will create an improved space which will be a welcome addition to the quality greenspace across the community, bringing multiple benefits to local people and to local nature.”

Free Trees at Granton Castle Walled Garden

Free tree giveaway at the garden this coming Friday, 15th!🌳🌳

Tree Time Edinburgh are giving away young trees (10-50 cm tall).

They have a mix of seven native species available including Alder, Silver Birch, Downy Birch, Hazel, Wild Cherry and Rowan. The trees come in small paper bags with information about the species and guidance for planting.

Visit the garden between 10 am and 2 pm to secure your free tree. Staff from Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust will be at hand to answer your questions. 😊

More info here: https://www.tree-time.com/free-trees/

#grantoncastlewalledgarden#grantoncastle#grantoncommunity#Granton#gardening#freetrees#freegardentrees#nativetrees#edinburghandlothiansgreenspacestrust#treetime

Community Tree Care Day in Granton Crescent Park

🌳 Community Tree Care Day 🌳

➡️ Granton Crescent Park

📆 Wednesday 28th February 2024

⏰ Drop in from 10.00am to 12 noon

Come and join us for some tree care and learn more about the ‘Wee Forest’. Tree saplings have a greater chance of survival with some weeding and care.

We recommend sturdy footwear. No special equipment or experience necessary. We will provide you with gloves and any tools you need.

For more info email: Kate@elgt.org.uk or phone: 0131 4454025

West Pilton Park plans: What do you think?

West Pilton Park is undergoing an exciting, new development after receiving a commitment of significant charitable funding.

You can view full plans at http://www.elgt.org.uk/…/greenspace…/wppdevelopment/

Join us at one of our public drop-in sessions at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre to see more detailed plans and ask questions:

Monday 5th February 2024 10:30 – 2pm

Tuesday 6th February 2024 2:30 – 6pm.

Edinburgh Outdoors: Action Planning Workshops

THRIVING GREENSPACES STRATEGY

Our Thriving Greenspaces team are running a series of action planning workshops to develop the Thriving Greenspaces Strategy.

If you have ideas and would like to contribute to the development and vision for our greenspaces we’d love to hear from you!

Book your place at one of the workshops here: https://bit.ly/tgs_action_plan🌿

The City of Edinburgh Council

Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust

Drylaw Greenspace Consultation

FRIDAY 8th SEPTEMBER from 12 – 2pm at EASTER DRYLAW PARK

https://facebook.com/events/s/drylaw-greenspaces-consultatio/319072190598050/

Pop by Easter Drylaw Park on Friday between 12 and 2 and speak to Esperanza from Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust who will be there to hear what you think could be done to improve the greenspaces in our area.

Please respond to our event link above as this really helps us keep track on how many people we are reaching.

Thanks!

Tree Time! Free trees at Inverleith Park this weekend

Pick up your free garden tree this week at Inverleith Park!

We will be there from 12pm-3pm on Friday and 10am-2pm on Saturday giving away free trees for Edinburgh residents.

Just drop-in and get your free tree while stocks last!

@Edinburgh_CC

@WoodlandTrust

@EdinOutdoors

Big ambitions for Wee Forests … and West Pilton leads the way

Communities and schools are set to benefit from a new network of “Wee Forests” in towns and cities across Scotland, backed by £500,000 Scottish Government funding.

Led by NatureScot, the programme aims to give people the opportunity to help tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss by creating and caring for their own forest in their own neighbourhood.

To create each forest, around 600 native trees will be planted by “Wee Foresters” in an area the size of a tennis court. Volunteer keeper teams will look after the forests over the long term and schools will use the forests for outdoor learning.

Supported by Earthwatch Europe, people will also take part in citizen science activities to raise awareness of climate change and the value of urban trees. This will include monitoring the butterflies that use the forests and measuring how much carbon is captured by the trees as they grow.

Planting has already begun – the first demonstration Wee Forest was planted at West Pilton Park last October, and further wee forests followed in the capital’s East Pilton Park and Mount Vernon.

NatureScot is working with local authorities and a number of Scottish environmental organisations to help roll-out the programme this year.

Wee Forests will be planted in Glasgow, East Ayrshire, Edinburgh (above), Aberdeen, Dundee and West Lothian. 

Environment Minister Mairi McAllan said: “The horrors of the Covid pandemic have changed how many of us view and value nature, and we know people want to spend more time outdoors for the benefits it brings to their mental and physical health.

“We want to improve access to green spaces and provide equal opportunities for everyone to connect with nature. Wee Forests are an ideal way of achieving this, whether as a place for children to play or a quiet spot to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

“This new network of Wee Forests is a great example of partnership working between the public, private and voluntary sector and is an important legacy of COP26 when the eyes of world were on Glasgow and the future of our planet.

“As we now look forward to COP15 on biodiversity, innovative projects like this will showcase to the rest of the world how Scotland is leading the way in our action to tackle the twin crises of climate change and nature loss.”

Earthwatch Europe CEO Steve Andrews said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with NatureScot to expand the Wee Forest movement across Scotland.

“Getting communities involved in planting and ongoing citizen science at their local Wee Forest is an exciting opportunity to connect people with nature, whilst providing vital data on forest growth and environmental benefits.”

NatureScot Chief Executive Francesca Osowska said: “Wee Forests are a fantastic way for people to connect with nature close to home.

“We’re delighted to see our demonstration project being extended to create many more pockets of nature-positive green space across our towns and cities, as a living legacy of COP26.

“And as we look towards COP15 and the huge challenge of halting and reversing nature loss, it’s projects like this that are giving communities the chance to help restore nature and tackle climate change by contributing to Scotland’s tree planting targets.”