At Drumbrae we have planted over half a million trees to create a rich woodland to mitigate our carbon emissions from unavoidable travel while benefitting nature. Creating woodland at Drumbrae The University of Edinburgh purchased 430 hectares of land at Drumbrae, which includes part of Dumyat and Sheriffmuir. Drumbrae is on the western edge of the Ochil hills, near Bridge of Allan in Stirling. At Drumbrae we'd like to increase biodiversity by creating woodland and improving open habitats. We are doing this to mitigate our carbon emissions from unavoidable travel while benefitting nature.View maps, check the timeline, read our FAQs and find out more on this page. Over half a million trees Over half a million trees have been planted at Drumbrae. A variety of species have been planted including oak, birch, rowan, elm and Scots pine. Explore our storymap Learn more about Drumbrae, including fascinating archaeological sites, local bird and plant species, woodland design and recent volunteer activities. Get involved Volunteer Connect with nature, improve habitats and learn new skills. You can plant trees and wildflowers, maintain paths, help with field surveys and more. iNaturalist (external website) Contribute to citizen science for biodiversity. Identify and record species you see at Drumbrae with the iNaturalist app. Photo posts See, snap, share. We have installed four photo posts around Drumbrae to gather photos of the landscape as it changes day to day, through the seasons and over the years. Education We love outdoor learning. Get in touch if you would like to arrange a school trip, site visit or community event.Community.Ranger@ed.ac.uk Feedback survey Community Check In It was great to see so many people at our annual community meeting on 21 November 2025. We are keen to hear from the local community and those that visit Drumbrae. We would like your views on how Drumbrae is changing and being managed by the University of Edinburgh. We also wish to understand how to improve community involvement and the best ways of informing the community about events, activities, and management on the site. If you would like to share your views, please complete the Community Check In Survey below. The survey will take 5-10 minutes to complete and will be open until Monday 12 January 2026.Thank you for taking time to share your views. If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact the Community Ranger via email: Community.Ranger@ed.ac.uk Nature based learning Cocksburn Woods Development We are working with consultants to imagine what the community activity area at Cocksburn Woods might look like in the future. Using the feedback gathered during our public consultation, community meetings, and from conversations with local schools, we have a vision for the area. We want to create an outdoor learning facility with a shelter, classroom and composting toilet. This can be used by local schools, community groups, and for field trips for university staff and students. We also want to improve access to explore Cocksburn Woods with new paths, enhance sensory and nature experiences, provide volunteering opportunities and increase biodiversity. At the moment, we are working through the planning process with Stirling Council. We have funds in place for the building but we need to raise additional funds for the paths and habitat improvements. You can find out more in our Outdoor Learning Facility Design.Outdoor Learning Facility DesignIf you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact the Community Ranger via email: Community.Ranger@ed.ac.uk Woodland design Find out about the trees we're planting and how the site might change to support this new woodland. Maps, reports, visualisations and FAQs MapsLocation in GoogleWoodland Design MapConstraints and Opportunities MapAccess and Protection MapRecreation and Designation MapEcological Features MapCultural Heritage and Archaeology MapViewpoint Analysis MapReports and visualisationsMetal Detecting ReportDrumbrae Community PresentationLandscape visualisationsPlease see visual interpretations of key points of the site the Drumbrae public consultation webpage.Baseline Ecology AssessmentBaseline Archaeology ReportArchaeology Appraisal for the Battle of SheriffmuirArchaeology Setting Appraisal for Larger Clearing on SheriffmuirFAQsSite Operations Frequently Asked Questions Timeline Winter 2025Planning application submitted to Stirling Council for the Outdoor Learning Facility at Cocksburn Wood. November 2025Annual Community Meeting held in Bridge of Allan.View the presentation from the meetingSummer 2025Working with consultants on the design for Cocksburn Woods. February to May 2025Over half a million trees planted at Drumbrae.November 2024Annual Community Meeting held in Bridge of Allan.View the presentation from the meetingAutumn 2024Operations started on site, including ground preparation and deer fencing.Spring to Summer 2024Submitted application to Scottish Forestry and application put on the public register for 28 days. Woodland creation proposal formally approved by Scottish Forestry.Autumn 2023Formal consultation with the local community and other stakeholders.View the resultsAnalysed the feedback provided through the public consultation and updated the woodland creation proposal.Summer 2023Early community engagement survey in June.View the word cloud highlighting key themesWinter 2022 to Spring 2023Surveyed and analysed the site. Drafted the woodland plan, taking into account social, silvicultural and conservation aims.November 2022Drumbrae purchased by the University of Edinburgh.Thank you to all who participated in community meetings, surveys and consultations. Public consultation results From 28 August to 29 September 2023, we held a public consultation to gather input and comments from residents and users of the Drumbrae site.We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to submit their comments. You can see the main themes from the consultation here. Get in touch To contact us, please email us using our contact details below. Please state that you wish to speak with the Forest and Peatland team in your message. Social Responsibility and Sustainability Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 651 3000 Email: SRS.Department@ed.ac.uk Social: Community.Ranger@ed.ac.uk Social: UoE_sustainability (Instagram) Social: University of Edinburgh Social Responsibility & Sustainability (LinkedIn) This article was published on 2024-10-01
