As part of our ongoing partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, we are proud to announce a further 19 parks and green spaces will now be protected forever.
Since 1939, we have been working closely with the City of Edinburgh Council, having protected 36 precious parks and green spaces across the city.
By joining forces on our recent programme of work, we’ve taken this number up to an incredible 55 spaces – ensuring over two-thirds of residents are now within a ten-minute walk of a protected space.
This monumental milestone represents an area of over 500 hectares, equivalent to 700 football pitches of protected land which can never be lost - along with the benefits they provide for people, places, and the planet.
This pivotal 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.
The spaces are protected by a legal agreement between Fields in Trust and the landowner. This ensures ownership and ongoing management remains firmly in local hands and can be responsive to local needs. Fields in Trust’s job is to act as a guardian making sure that communities will always have access to a green space.
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.”
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.”
The 19 newly protected parks are listed below: