Edinburgh Million Tree City

The City of Edinburgh Council are aiming to increase the number of trees in urban Edinburgh from 750 thousand to 1 million trees working towards the ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Since October 2021, Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust have undertaken a series of projects across the city to plant trees.

Existing trees and planting new trees are beneficial for a few reasons.

Climate change mitigation

Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and lock it up in their tissues for hundreds of years. The extensive root networks of trees hold water in the ground which helps reduce water running off into watercourses. This reduces the likelihood of rivers bursting their banks and flooding from heavy rainfall and extreme weather events. Trees also produce a cooling effect in our warming urban areas by providing shade from the sun and through evaporation of water from their leaves. Try standing in direct sunlight on a bright, sunny day near a tree or woodland, and feel the difference as you step beneath its canopy!

A home for nature

Living oak trees can be home to up to 2300 wildlife species, including up to 500 insect species. With 53% of woodland wildlife in decline it is vital for many of these animals, insects, and plants to have the trees, hedges, and wee forests to feed, reproduce and flourish.

Health and wellbeing

Urban communities are disproportionately affected by pollution-related sickness and deaths. Planting trees in urban areas reduces air pollution and provides an oxygen rich environment in the surrounding area. The shade and thermal comfort offered by established trees helps regulate air temperature in parks and greenspaces, which is important for children and older people who suffer most during the increasingly frequent periods of hot weather we are experiencing in the UK and Europe.

Being around trees has also been shown to help reduce depression and anxiety; most people will agree that they have felt the benefit of sitting or walking in a greenspace or woodland.

East Pilton Park
In March 2023, ELGT planted around 600 trees at East Pilton with help of volunteers from Amazon.

Wardie Recreation Ground
ELGT planted 650 trees at Wardie Recreation Ground with pupils from Wardie Primary School, the Friends of Wardie Playing Fields, and members of the local community in March 2023.

Gypsy Brae
The new woodland planting at Gypsy Brae was designed and developed by ELGT and made possible by Forestry Grant Scheme Scottish Forestry. The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) planted over 3400 trees in March 2023.

Silverknowes Golf Course
Designed and developed by ELGT, this project will plant around 6500 trees. Phase 1 of planting was completed by TCV volunteers in March 2023 and the remaining trees will be planted in Winter 2023/ 24.

Silverknowes Park
In March 2022, TCV volunteers planted over 1700 tree saplings to create three new woodland areas.

Redbraes Park

ELGT planted 40 half-standard trees alongside existing planting in February 2023.

Dumbiedykes Orchard Planting

ELGT in partnership with Edible Estates planted 10 half-standard trees in the Dumbiedykes estate in November 2023 with the help of volunteers. The trees included orchard trees, such as apple and pear, as well as ornamental species, such as sweet chestnut and hawthorn.

Silverknowes Golf Course

With the help of volunteers from Earnst & Young, Soprosteria, and Broadridge, over 400 half-standard trees have been planted at Silverknowes Golf Course over December 2023 and January 2024.

We were delighted to include nine trees,  3 each of Abies alba, Larix occidentalis, and Saxegothaea conspicua as part of The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s International Conifer Conservation Programme. These trees are part of an international ex-situ conservation programme that creates safe havens for threatened species of conifer, providing opportunities for further scientific study.

Get Involved

If you are interested in contributing to the Million Tree City target of boosting the tree population by over 250 000 there are different ways to get involved:

• Plant your own garden tree with our free tree giveaway from November 2023 to March 2024: https://www.tree-time.com/free-trees/
• Plant a tree in memoriam or on behalf of yourself and loved ones with Tree Time: https://www.tree-time.com/
• Organise a workplace volunteer day with us: http://www.elgt.org.uk/support-us/corporate-volunteering/