Future management and ownership of Easter Craiglockhart Hill Local Nature Reserve

City of Edinburgh Council is seeking views from local people about the future management and ownership of Easter Craiglockhart Hill Local Nature Reserve and the adjacent lands of Easter Craiglockhart Hill.

The Local Nature Reserve (LNR) is in joint ownership between the City of Edinburgh Council and Craighouse Partnership, which has taken over ownership and management from Edinburgh Napier University. Current management of the LNR is through a management plan and management agreement. Responsibility for the management of Council land lies with its Parks & Greenspace Service.

Due in part to the proposed development of the Craighouse Campus by the Craighouse Partnership, an opportunity has arisen to potentially transfer ownership and management of their woodland and open space to the Council or appropriate community body. This would create a single woodland and open space, increasing the size of the area of public land to approximately 16.7 hectares.

You can give your views by completing an online survey at http://ow.ly/htxyy or by e-mailing naturalheritageservice@edinburgh.gov.uk marking Easter Craiglockhart Hill Consultation in the subject heading. Any comments should be submitted no later than Sunday 31st March 2013.

A further consultation event has been arranged for the evening of Thursday, 21st March at 7.00 pm.  The event will take place in Morningside United Church Hall, 15 Chamberlain Road, EH10 6JF and all are welcome.

Frequently asked questions can be downloaded from either the South Central Neighbourhood Partnership website or the City of Edinburgh Council website. 

Draft Natural Heritage Strategy for Planning in Edinburgh

A draft Natural Heritage Strategy for Planning in Edinburgh has been prepared and was approved by the Planning Committee of the City of Edinburgh Council on 8 December 2011 as a draft for consultation. 


They're now seeking your comments to further develop and finalise it. Edinburgh’s distinctive natural environment forms part of the fabric of the city and its successive phases of urban development. Including coastal habitat of international significance, designed landscapes of national importance, to locally valued trees and woodlands; the natural environment forms a unique asset to be protected and enhanced. 


The document re-affirms the Council’s commitment to the conservation and enhancement of Edinburgh’s natural environment by explaining how it addresses national planning policy and environmental legislation. It outlines how the Council aims to protect and enhance the natural environment, through the preparation of development plans, when considering planning applications and as part of the local biodiversity action plan. 


This document complements the Council’s Built Heritage Strategy, together representing an environment of exceptional quality. Please send any comments by the end of January 2012.