ACHIEVEMENTS
A staggering 10,000 citizens have been involved in the creation of the Millennium Forest in Edinburgh. Coming from all sectors of the community - schools, community groups, voluntary organisations, disabled groups, Resident Associations and social work centres - they have helped in the design and planting of 71 community woodlands across the city.

The woodlands have transformed school grounds, golf courses, playing fields and public parks from green deserts into diverse wildlife habitats, and by planting trees and shrubs along cycleways, walkways and watercourses, green wildlife corridors have been created to link mature woods with the new community woodlands. The project has also made a valuable contribution in meeting objectives set out in Edinburgh's Biodiversity Action Plan on woodland habitats, by extending woodland cover across the city and involving people in its management.

The woodlands have enhanced and improved the landscape and visual interest of many local neighbourhoods and therefore the city as a whole. They also added valuable shelter and screening, while enhancing educational and amenity resources and improving air quality.


By the end of 2000 the people of Edinburgh had planted the fantastic number of 250,000 native Scottish trees and 200,000 spring bulbs. The creation of these woodlands has helped to regenerate areas of the city and provide a sustainable resource for the future
In 2001 the project was highly commended in the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning and in 2000 the Millennium Forest for Scotland won the Supreme Award in the Environmental Regeneration Awards. The Edinburgh Urban Forest as a significant partner of the Millennium Forest played an important role in this success and the plaque was erected in the capital.


Conclusion
The Edinburgh and Craigmillar Urban Forest Projects have been an outstanding success, with full community participation in the creation of 100 hectares of new woodland, and meeting the key objectives of the Urban Forest Strategy. However, with the completion of the project, there must be continued effort to ensure that the trees planted mature and develop into the sustainable woodland resource intended. Consideration needs to be given to the funding of further planting and to maintain the interest and enthusiasm fostered in the community to date.