Last updated: October 2021
The Morningside Park is classified within the Edinburgh Public Parks and Gardens Strategy as a “Community Park”. This is a small, pleasant, elongated park area with tennis court, multi-sport area, grass areas and tarred pathways that make the Park an attractive facility for children, young people, adults and senior citizens. The park provides an essential green space in the heart of Morningside with a design which lends itself to a range of activities. The layout of the park provides healthy and safe routes between linked road networks along tree-lined paths. (ref. 1)
Overview of Morningside Park
City of Edinburgh Council. Available at: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/22593/morningside-park-management-plan-2017. Accessed on 23rd August, 2020.
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Social interaction
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Maintenance and management of urban nature, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
Project objectives
A list of aims has been developed in line with the Green Flag criteria, which form the basis of the assessment and analysis of the Morningside Park:
a) Conservation: To increase the biodiversity value of the site;
b) Landscape: To enhance the existing levels of landscape value and amenity value;
c) Recreation: To use the park as a recreational resource and to enhance the health and wellbeing of local residents;
d) Community Involvement: To engage with the local community and users groups and encourage their active participation in decision making;
e) Cultural: To investigate and action ways of protecting and conserving all features of cultural significance and heritage value;
f) Sustainability: To ensure policies, management practices and operations accord with sustainable principles.
Implementation activities
All green waste produced on-site is composted on-site or is used to produce habitat. Usage of natural woodchip mulch, using this on flower beds and around trees. Measures are being taken to control weed growth. A tree management programme has been implemented. Wild-flowers have been planted to improve biodiversity. Also, a beehive and habitats for bugs and other insects have been created. Finally, a volunteer programme has been called for to increase community involvement. (ref 1, 4)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Taskforce groups
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The local community, Community Councils (Morningside and Merchiston ), groups like Friends of the Morningside Park and Cemetery Schools (South Morningside Primary School, St Peter’s Primary School) and Head Start Childrens' Nursery make use of the park. (ref 1, 3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Edinburgh Public Parks and Gardens Strategy (2006))
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
No
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved waste management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased number of protection areas
- Increased green space area
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Safety
- Increased perception of safety
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
References
1. The City of Edinburgh Council. (2017). Morningside Park Management Plan 2017 - 2022. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 24th August, 2020.
2. The City of Edinburgh Council. (no date) Parks and gardens - Morningside Park. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 24th August, 2020.
3. The City of Edinburgh Council. (no date) Friends of Parks. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 24th August, 2020.
4. The City of Edinburgh Council. (2019). Common Good Fund Annual Performance 2019/20. Finance and Resources committee. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 24th August, 2020.
2. The City of Edinburgh Council. (no date) Parks and gardens - Morningside Park. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 24th August, 2020.
3. The City of Edinburgh Council. (no date) Friends of Parks. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 24th August, 2020.
4. The City of Edinburgh Council. (2019). Common Good Fund Annual Performance 2019/20. Finance and Resources committee. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 24th August, 2020.