Natural heritage

The Council is responsible for the protection and enhancement of the City’s landscape and natural environment. A broad range of issues are dealt with, relating to landscape, biodiversity, urban forestry, habitat creation, access, open space, Green Belt and sustainability.

For Supplementary Planning Guidance to Local Plan policies follow this link. Supplementary Planning Guidance on natural heritage issues includes biodiversity, quality of landscaping, trees and development, and urban forestry.  

Biodiversity

The Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan is an initiative to conserve and enhance the Capital's natural heritage. It is part of a global movement to safeguard the biodiversity of our planet.

The term "biodiversity " encapsulates all that we mean by the health of our natural environment and ultimately the quality of our lives. To this end, the Action Plan puts forward an ambitious programme of carefully targeted actions to enrich the living habitats of Edinburgh and address the welfare of key plant and animal species.

However, we are all responsible for the health and wealth of our surroundings. The Edinburgh Biodiversity Action plan challenges us all to contribute to conserving biodiversity in whatever way we can.

Urban Forestry

The urban forest encompasses all trees in and close to urban areas, including trees in streets, gardens, parks, small and larger woodlands, cemeteries and other open spaces.

The Edinburgh Urban Forest Project was set up in 1996 following completion of the Edinburgh Urban Forest Strategy. The strategy had identified areas in Edinburgh that were lacking in significant woodland/tree cover and it was in these areas that the urban forest projects concentrated their efforts in finding sites for potential community woodlands.

To ensure open access and maximum community benefit, the new woodlands are on publicly owned land (golf courses, school grounds, open spaces and public parks). The most appropriate potential sites were selected by the Council; twenty in Craigmillar and over sixty in the rest of Edinburgh. Funding to implement the project proposals was obtained from the Council and the Millennium Forest for Scotland.

The Urban Forest

Edinburgh Urban Forest Project - Millennium Forest Planting

Heritage Trees

The most enduring living objects on earth are trees.

Many trees have important cultural or historical significance whereas others have been the source of countless traditions or folk tales.

The City of Edinburgh Council has recently compiled a list of its heritage trees. This involved a lengthy process of background research and public consultation, which provided a list of nearly 100 potential candidates. From this original list an inventory of 52 trees has been identified as notable and exceptional for a number of reasons, whether this is due to great age, size or historical and cultural significance. These trees are uniquely special or valuable within the context of the City.

The council now wants to celebrate the legacy of these Heritage trees (PDF, 59kb) and to promote them to the people of Edinburgh and visitors.

If you do, please remember that important ecological principal:

"Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photographs"

Edinburgh Tree Warden Network

The Tree Council’s Tree Warden Scheme is a UK wide initiative to enable people to play an active role in conserving and enhancing their local trees and woods. The City of Edinburgh Council set up the Edinburgh Tree Warden Network in April 2003 with the aim of encouraging citizens to become involved in tree and woodland issues within the city.

Tree Wardens get involved with a range of activities; from gathering information, giving advice, undertaking practical projects and providing a support network for people already involved with trees and woods. Tree Wardens are volunteers and there is no obligation as to how much time should be devoted to the scheme. They can spend as little or as much time as they feel appropriate. Training days and activities will be held regularly throughout the year and cover such topics as tree identification, tree planting, trees and the law, conservation issues and biodiversity.

The Edinburgh Network is based around the Community Council areas, 'friends' groups and some other established environmental groups. Although anyone with an interest in helping to protect and care for our trees is welcome to become a Tree Warden. Currently we have about 45 Tree Wardens operating in the city but not all areas have a tree warden.

The Tree Council website and the Edinburgh Tree Warden Network website are a good source for further information.