The University consulted the general public on our plans to create woodland and restore peatland at Drumbrae between Monday 28 August - Friday 29 September 2023. Image Public perception of plans for Drumbrae (2023) Below you can find the results from the public consultation. Who took part The consultation was open to members of the public. We were particularly interested to hear from: residents local to Drumbrae and the surrounding areas users of the site were invited to respond to the consultation local interest groups local representatives e.g. MSPs and councillors We had 31 responses to the public consultation in total. Common themes We’ve highlighted some of the main themes that were mentioned via the public consultation and responded below. We are currently in the process of adjusting the woodland creation proposal, where possible, in line with the the responses and suggestions. Our updated woodland creation proposal will then be submitted to Scottish Forestry for approval. When it’s been approved, the full woodland creation proposal for Drumbrae will be made publicly available. We hope to begin site work in the summer of 2024. We continue to welcome feedback on the project which can be directed to SRS.Department@ed.ac.uk. Alternatively, once our plans are visible on the Public Land Register (in the coming months), further comments can be made. We'll provide the link on this webpage when it becomes available. We have recently recruited a new Community Ranger, Julie Wilson, who will be coordinating and facilitating local opportunities and events at the site in the coming months. Community Ranger’s role in carbon sequestration – Social Responsibility and Sustainability (ed.ac.uk) Image Some recurring themes in relation to woodland creation at Drumbrae, that were made evident in the survey include: recreational access, biodiversity, tree species selection, and retaining views. Recreational access There were 22 references to recreational access in the responses to the public consultation. Maintaining safe and sustainable public access in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) is a key objective of this project, and we have exciting plans to improve the main entrance and access point for users of the site. When work is taking place, it will be clearly visible, and no fences will be used without the provision of gates and access points. Gate positions were recommended by members of the local community at public engagement events, and they are self-closing, without stiles. The positioning of the gates are available to view here. We will continue to review site access as the project progresses through site use surveys coordinated by the Community Ranger. We continue to welcome any feedback on improving accessibility at Drumbrae. At certain points in the project, for limited periods, there will be machinery or work taking place on site and we will need to temporarily close public access, although it is highly unlikely that all public access will be restricted at any one time. At some points, some public access to the site will be reduced and alternative routes will be suggested where possible. We will provide lots of notice to users of the site through signage and by keeping our website up to date with notifications. Please note that management gates, separate from public access gates, will remain locked, as these will only be used by site management staff to ensure public safety. Our plan encourages access to less visited northern areas of the land, in which 33 newly discovered archaeological sites were found during our archaeological assessment. In the assessment we highlight all known sites as well as the newly discovered ones. Read the highlights of the archaeological assessment I love to hike in Europe, the density and vastness of the forests is breath taking. The typical scarred Scottish landscape is poor of trees due to deer, sheep and land being managed for reasons other than creating biodiverse environments we can all enjoy. I would love to see Scotland’s habitats restored, forests to their former glory, bogs and peatlands preserved and to see hills covered in trees. Public consultation respondent, September 2023 Biodiversity and open spaces 19 comments were provided about biodiversity. Following an independent ecology review, the project has been deemed 'biodiversity positive': this means the positive impact that the project will have on nature outweighs any negative impacts. 45% of the site will remain unplanted to retain open ground habitats, around four times more open ground than the minimum UK Forestry Standard’s recommendation (UKFS). By developing a mosaic of open ground, scrub, and woodland, the project aims to benefit both the current species at the site and encourage a wider range of species at Drumbrae. Additional woodland will provide opportunities for a range of species, including red squirrel; please see the response below on tree species to find out more. Deep peat and priority open habitats and archaeological sites are excluded from planting and will remain as open ground. Leaving open spaces provides benefits beyond biodiversity; an appropriate balance of woodland and open spaces is widely seen to provide the optimum mental health benefits. Adequate space will be left between fencing and paths to allow for a range of recreational activities. We're dedicated to minimising ecological impact during restoration. Sustainable practices, wildlife conservation, and maintaining the site's beauty are integral to our vision. We welcome visitors to witness the positive changes taking place and enjoy the site as they always have. Image We have generated some visualisations to give you a sense of how this space will look with trees. This is the view north west to Pendreich woodland and Cocksburn Reservoir from the core path leading up to the Dumyat Summit. Image generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI), using Adobe Firefly, which was taught using its own stock library. Find out more from Adobe: www.adobe.com/about-adobe/aiethics.html Tree species 17 references to tree species were provided. Primarily native tree species will be used alongside Scots Pine to create suitable habitats for wildlife. A range of pollinating trees will be added to increase pollinator food sources and work to increase the pollinator habitat. Hazel, common alder, willow, wild and bird cherry, apple, blackthorn and hawthorn will provide food for wildlife from February to April. Hazel and willow are particularly useful sources of pollen before other flowering plants. The planting of rowan, sycamore, guelder rose and holly will be excellent for pollinator food sources annually from April to June. We'll use a diverse conifer mix (6% of the planting area) using Norway spruce and Douglas fir in the more fertile lower slopes. This is to make sure there is a constant supply of food for wildlife during the years that the Scots pine doesn't produce pinecones. This will benefit woodland species such as the red squirrel and crossbills. Utilising a range of tree species will create a variety of ecological niches for invertebrates, which in turn will support species further up the food chain. Planting diverse tree species also acts as a tool to increase the resilience of the woodland and to mitigate against future pests and diseases. Image We have generated some visualisations to give you a sense of how this space will look with trees. This is the view north west to Pendreich woodland and Cocksburn Reservoir from the core path leading up to the Dumyat Summit. Image generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI), using Adobe Firefly, which was taught using its own stock library. Find out more from Adobe: www.adobe.com/about-adobe/aiethics.html Fencing The topics of landscape impacts and forestry operations were common themes. This was often in relation to the installation of deer fencing, particularly near the public walking path. The decision to use fencing arises from our commitment to the responsible restoration of this land. Deer fencing is a temporary measure, crucial to protect young saplings during their vulnerable initial stages of growth. Without this protection, deer browsing poses a significant threat to the survival of the newly planted trees, which are essential for the long-term health of the woodland. We are working with our neighbours and professionals to actively manage the deer population to help protect wildlife and mitigate the impacts of climate change through woodland creation. We appreciate your understanding and support as we work together to ensure the success of this restoration project. Retaining views We understand the importance of preserving the visual appeal that has made this area special to the community. Through careful planning and integrated planting into the landscape, we aim to ensure that key vistas remain accessible and uninterrupted for everyone to enjoy. The vast majority of key views from the core path looking south will be retained. Please see above visualisations to see how views north will be retained, with lots of open spaces alongside the woodland. Our goal is to enhance the site's natural beauty while safeguarding its iconic views. Community use of the woodland Three areas of the Drumbrae site are designated community woodland spaces. We will be working with local groups to deliver a range of educational and outdoor activities. These will be coordinated and facilitated by our Community Ranger who will work with local groups to maximise the benefits for residents and users of the site. Image Potential opportunities at the community woodland include: Community Orchard and Harvests Tree planting activities Outdoor Classrooms Wildlife monitoring Forest Schools Recreation Activity meeting spot If you have ideas for this space, please email SRS.Department@ed.ac.uk. What happens next? 1. We are currently in the process of adjusting the woodland creation proposal, where possible, in line with the responses and suggestions from the public consultation. 2. Then, we'll submit an 'Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Opinion Request Form' to Scottish Forestry. The Request will cover the woodland creation proposals and how we will address any issues. 3. Once Scottish Forestry give their decision, we will submit a Forestry Grant Scheme application. When Scottish Forestry are content with the application, they will place the application on the Public Resister. 4. At this point, there will be a formal consultation that will be open to the public and interested organisations on the Public Register for 28 days – we will be in contact with respondents to the the public consultation when this period begins. 5. The application will then be approved, and we hope to begin site work in the summer of 2024. For further information on planned progress in 2024, please refer to the timeline on the Drumbrae webpage. This article was published on 2024-10-01
