Tag: Parks

Record number of Edinburgh parks win Green Flag awards

Thirty-four of Edinburgh’s parks have achieved Green Flags in the 2020 national competition, which recognises high quality green spaces.

The city received almost half of the 77 flags issued in Scotland. Two city parks, Saughton Park and St Katharine’s Park, received the status for the first time in 2020, joining the other 32 parks already waving their Green Flag.

The Green Flag Award is the UK’s national standard for parks and green spaces and is administered in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful. To make sure the Capital’s parks are kept to a high standard, each year the Council checks all its parks and gardens using Green Flag Award criteria. This inspection is carried out by formal Green Flag judges along with other Council officers, Council partners and members of the public. From this assessment, each park is given a parks quality score.

Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Donald Wilson, said: “The awards are given to those parks that give everyone access to a safe, clean and pleasant green space where they can relax, play and exercise and I’m delighted that so many of our parks have achieved this important and much sought after recognition. 

“The quality of Edinburgh’s parks continues to improve in spite of these challenging times. I am very proud of all our award winning parks and of those who work all year round, and in all weather to keep our parks beautiful.”

Culture and Communities Vice Convener, Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, said: “This is fantastic news, parks have proved to be real havens this year and my thanks to our hardworking parks staff for their continued care for our much-loved parks through challenging times. My thanks also to dedicated Friends of Parks groups for everything they do. I would encourage everyone to explore our parks this Autumn.”

The Council has been taking part in the Green Flag Award scheme since 2007, when two Green Flags were achieved.

Our Green Flag Parks are:

  • Braidburn Valley Park
  • Burdiehouse Burn Valley Park
  • Corstorphine Hill
  • Craigmillar Castle Park
  • Easter Craiglockhart Hill Local Nature Reserve
  • Fairmilehead Park
  • Ferniehill Community Park
  • Ferry Glen & Back Braes
  • Figgate Park
  • Hailes Quarry Park
  • Harrison Park
  • Hermitage and Blackford Hill Local Nature
  • Hopetoun Crescent Garden
  • Inverleith Park
  • King George V & Scotland Yard Park
  • Lauriston Castle
  • Lochend Park
  • London Road Gardens
  • Morningside Park
  • Muir Wood Park
  • Pentland Hills Regional Park
  • Portobello Community Garden
  • Prestonfield Park
  • Princes Street Gardens
  • Ravelston Woods Local Nature Reserve
  • Rosefield Park
  • Seven Acres Park
  • Spylaw Park
  • St Margaret’s Park
  • Starbank Park
  • Station Road Park
  • Victoria Park

PARKS: Respect the guidance

Edinburgh’s Council Leaders have urged the public to follow social distancing guidance when spending time in our parks.

While parks are still open for local people to use for exercise, Adam McVey and Cammy Day have called for residents to follow the national instructions for social distancing, stay local, limit outings to once a day for exercise and adhere to the restrictions in our own parks and greenspaces:

  • One outing for exercise per day – walk, run or cycle, alone or with members of your household
  • Stay local – don’t get in a car to drive to other areas
  • Stay at least 2m away from other people but do call a friendly greeting or wave.
  • Avoid touching surfaces and use gloves or hand gel if you need to open gates
  • Don’t stop to eat or drink
  • Keep dogs on a lead or under close control and don’t let them approach other people
  • Take your litter and dog poo bags home with you

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “We all need to play our part in controlling the spread of coronavirus and we can do that by sticking to the measures put in place by the Government.

“It‘s so important right now for both our physical health and mental wellbeing that we stay active and spend some time outdoors once a day. We’re the greenest city in the UK and we’ve got 144 parks across the Capital that can accommodate lots of people walking, running, cycling or playing without being within two metres of others.

“Our playparks and outdoor gym equipment might be off limits for now, but our grass and woodlands are still open for a walk or run. We just ask that you be sensible and considerate of others, follow the rules and exercise close to your home. Please don’t travel elsewhere to access the outdoors. We know it’s not easy but it’s the right thing to do and the best way for us to control the spread of the virus.

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “We’re all adapting to significant changes in our day-to-day lives, and it will take time to adjust to this new norm. We must all make sure that we get out into nature for some fresh air, even if it’s just to clear our heads for 30 minutes from the stresses of isolation.

“If you live close to a park or woodland, the open space is still available to you, but please do not allow children to play on equipment and please observe social distancing protocols.

“I understand the frustrations you will feel, especially when trying to keep young people entertained in these extraordinary times, but everyone must play by the rules. Of course, it is a minority who are not following the guidance, but right now the damage that can be done by a few is huge.

“Everyone’s help and understanding is essential at this challenging time. It is only by us all working together, following Government and Public Health advice, that we can defeat this, save lives and protect the NHS.”

Several service changes have been implemented by the Council to help limit the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in Edinburgh. These include the suspension of pay and display parking charges, closure of culture venues and establishing Local Critical Resilience Centres.

Further information on services, support and how to report any concerns can be found on the Council website. If you’re experiencing an emergency or critical situation, please call 0131 200 2000

Bright Future for Edinburgh’s parks and green spaces following £900,000 grant

Edinburgh is one of eight urban areas to share in funding worth £11 million to secure the future of the UK’s parks and greenspaces. The capital was one of 81 councils and communities from across the UK to apply for Future Parks funding – and is the only Scottish city to be successful, receiving an award of £899,500.

West Princes Street Gardens

Continue reading Bright Future for Edinburgh’s parks and green spaces following £900,000 grant

The People’s Choice: Cast your vote in the Green Flag Awards

Cast your vote in the Green Flag Award People’s Choice 2017

Following the huge success of Love Parks Week, you now have another chance to show your love for your park.

Help find our country’s top 10 favourite parks by casting your vote for one of the 1,797 Green Flag Award winning parks – voting is open until 30th September and the top 10 People’s Choice parks will be announced on the 11th October.

To vote simply visit the Green Flag Award website, use the map to find your favourite park and click the ‘vote’ button.

Your favourite park is worth shouting about, so make your voice heard!

 

Edinburgh & Lothian Greenspace Trust activities at West Pilton Park

elgt

We have been working with the West Pilton Parklife Friends of the Park group to develop a number of activities this summer. These include family fitness activities starting Thursday27th July which involve hula hopping, fun bootcamp and family yoga sessions.

There will also be a Herbal Garden tidy up and a Herbal Medicine workshop which will involve local families working around the footprint area on Sunday 30th July. A regular bootcamp will be starting on Thursday 17th August and will continue until the October holidays and then run for a further 6 sessions. For more information contact info@elgt.org.uk

Previous planting workshops at the footprint

For more information about West Pilton Park click here

City parks celebrate soaring success

A record- breaking 73 parks from across Scotland have been presented with a Green Flag Award this year in recognition of their high standards and provision of quality outdoor space – an increase of three over last year. Edinburgh is the greenest city of all with no less than 30 green flags!

Continue reading City parks celebrate soaring success

Let’s look after our parks and green spaces

colinton dell

Visitors to Edinburgh’s parks, woodlands and nature reserves are being urged to take care over the summer months to avoid the risk of fire.
Parks and Greenspace Officers from the City of Edinburgh Council have reminded the public of the speed at which sparks or small flames can escalate, causing severe damage to local greenery and wildlife.

People are encouraged to ‘leave no trace’ after spending time in any of the sites by clearing away rubbish, properly extinguishing barbecues and disposing of cigarettes safely.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, said: “In Edinburgh we are lucky to have such a wealth of parks and greenspaces, many of which offer areas of particular natural beauty and biodiversity.

“Of course it’s fantastic that residents and visitors to the Capital can enjoy these beautiful spaces, but I would encourage the public to treat them with care, ensuring they remain as welcoming to wildlife and people as they have always been.”

Natural Heritage Officer, David Kyles, added: “Fires can be devastating in parks and other more rural and upland areas. The breeding season for birds, between March and July and sometimes seasonally later, is a particularly vulnerable time for nesting birds, especially those that nest on or close to the ground.

“Fires that devastate areas can pose knock-on problems whereby small mammal populations can be significantly harmed, posing localised food shortage, loss of shelter and other sources of food and the general loss of habitat. Please act responsibly when out in Edinburgh’s countryside sites.”

Potentially vulnerable parks include Corstorphine Hill Local Nature Reserve, Easter Craiglockhart Hill Local Nature Reserve and Colinton Dell – areas popular for picnics, barbecues and building campfires over the warmer months.

However, at this time of year many of the sites are home to ground-nesting birds such as skylarks, willow warblers, curlews, lapwings, grouse and more common birds such as wrens, dunnocks and blackbirds, which settle in heather, gorse and low-lying dry shrubbery susceptible to catching fire.

Kenneth Rogers, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Local Senior Officer for Edinburgh, said: “Grass and wildfires are a common risk at this time of year when warmer weather dries out vegetation and grassland – which offers an ample fuel source. Just one heat source like a campfire ember can cause it to ignite and the if the wind changes direction even the smallest fire can spread uncontrollably and devastate entire hillsides.

“In the unfortunate instance that a fire is set deliberately, SFRS resources can be diverted from real emergencies. Through robust strategic planning we will always be able to respond to an emergency, however the fact remains that these fires can present a very real danger to our communities.”

Amongst precautions, the public are being urged to place disposable barbecues on bricks or sand to avoid overheating and consequently burning grass. Campfires are not permitted in woodland or shrubby areas and anyone building a fire is advised to choose a clear space away from trees and bushes, not to leave their fire unattended and to build a fire ring with stones. They must also ensure the fire is extinguished before leaving the site.

We all need Friends – even Parks and Houses!

VictoriaParkDaffs

The sun is shining, summer is on its way and life in the northern hemisphere re-emerges (writes Bill Rodger).  Among the green shoots to know about are: Continue reading We all need Friends – even Parks and Houses!