Last updated: June 2024
Little France Park is the city’s newest park reclaiming unmanaged grassland for the local community and carving out a green corridor from the city centre to Midlothian. It will establish a new corridor for wildlife whilst offering a network of paths, cycleways spread across 45 hectares. ELGT have submitted a Pre Application Notice to create new public parkland. It will establish a new corridor for wildlife whilst offering a network of paths, cycleways spread across 45 hectares. It is expected to provide a valuable green asset to new and existing communities. The parkland will be an important part of the green network with enhanced biodiversity. The existing landscape features will be enhanced, including wetland habitats, woodland planting, meadow grassland and space for events or informal sports. It is an opportunity to create active travel routes integrated with green infrastructure. The fully realized Little France Park will include 3 parkland areas, which together create habitat and species-rich areas. The project is due in late 2020. (ref 1, 2, 5, 6)
The City of Edinburgh Council
Available at: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory-record/1208294/little-france-park. Accessed on 29th August, 2020.
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
- Green areas for water management
- Sustainable urban drainage systems
- Parks and urban forests
- Green corridors and green belts
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Improving physical health
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
Project objectives
1. The park will have a clearly defined landscape structure that is designed with future use and low maintenance.
2. Enhance existing landscape characteristics: The existing floodwater storage area will have habitat enhancements made by overseeding with wildflowers, plug planting of marginal aquatics and a meadow strip running along the main access route.
3. It aims to maximize biodiversity throughout the design.
4. Promote the interpretation and conservation of the area’s important archaeological and historic sites.
5. Protect the function of the public transport link, the safeguarded tram route, and complete strategic footpath and cycleway networks by extending and connecting existing cycle routes. (ref 4)
Implementation activities
Three parkland areas are planned, each with a different distinct focus: northern parkland area will focus on natural play, activities and naturalistic grassland and wildflower meadows. central area will have a floodwater storage area and habitat enhancements. The southern area will be a formal parkland incorporating avenues of trees. (ref 2)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
On behalf of City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, ELGT submitted the Pre Application Notice for Little France Park. It has a number of parties interested and to assist the design and delivery of the project, a 'Little France Park Steering Group' is formed which consists of the following organisations:
a) City of Edinburgh Council (Parks, Greenspace and Cemeteries), b) Bioquarter (NHS, Scottish Enterprise, University of Edinburgh),c) Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, d)Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, e)
Forestry Commission Scotland, f) Scottish Natural Heritage. The progression of the project has been managed by Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust. Others are key stakeholders. (ref 3, 4)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
- Private Foundation/Trust
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Increased property prices
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1 Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust. (no date). Little France: proposals for a new Edinburgh park. Available at Source link. Accessed on 29th August, 2020.
2. Central Scotland Green Network. (2016). Little France Park Edinburgh. Available at Source link. Accessed on 29th August, 2020.
3. Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust. (no date). Little France Park: creating connections.
4. Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust. (2015) Project Report 2015-16.
5. Ediburgh living landscape. Little France park. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 29th August, 2020.
6. The City of Edinburgh Council. Little France Park. Availabke at: Source link. Accessed on 29th August, 2020.
2. Central Scotland Green Network. (2016). Little France Park Edinburgh. Available at Source link. Accessed on 29th August, 2020.
3. Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust. (no date). Little France Park: creating connections.
4. Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust. (2015) Project Report 2015-16.
5. Ediburgh living landscape. Little France park. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 29th August, 2020.
6. The City of Edinburgh Council. Little France Park. Availabke at: Source link. Accessed on 29th August, 2020.