Helping protect Edinburgh's greenspace

Save Our Meadows - The Campaign continues - Join - Write


Issues that concern us:

New Rules for Parks

New rules are being drawn up for the parks in Edinburgh. You can comment on them up to the end of January 2012. You can find the rules here, and enter your comment via this link.

Tree planting and management

We have been told that there is no money available for replacing any trees on the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links this year. However you will have noticed how many we have lost recently through disease and storm damage. We have inherited a legacy of beautiful trees in the park, and unless we continue to replace lost trees in future years the park will be a bleak place with big gaps in the tree lines.

Blossom tree replacement

The avenues of blossom trees are of particular concern. There are big gaps in several of the rows, and more were lost recently to storm damage. People love to see these avenues of trees in full bloom each year. They are an important aspect of the park. It seems that blossom trees are out of fashion - just look at what was done to Nicolson square - but we will conitnue to press CEC for replacement with new flowering trees to fill the gaps.

Barbeque damage

Barbecues used to be forbidden on the Meadows and the Links, the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 changed all that. Anyone is allowed access to the parks for recreational purposes, which includes having a barbecue. However the law says that the right of access must be exercised responsibly, and no damage must be done. So anyone burning the grass with a barbecue is breaking the law, but no-one ever enforces the law. Now the Council have put down slabs for putting bbqs on and put up notices encouraging responsible barbecue use. What do you think? One of our members thinks barbecues are a bad idea. See what she says. The Council has the powers to introduce a byelaw banning barbecues - do you think they should?
Another of our members was out and about on Monday 4/7/11, and took some photos. Here they are.

The state of the grass

The grass gets very heavy use in the winter months from people playing all sorts of sports. That's great - just what the park is for. However, the CEC should have suitable management in place to make sure that the grass can recover fully during the growing season, and worn areas are properly replenished.

Events policy

Too many big comercial events can leave part of the park unusable for several months. We think the CEC should limit events using the park to short stays, and also impose strict conditions to protect the grass, for instance posing restrictions on the use of vehicles on the grass.

'Taste' setting up 29/6/2011

See also the effect of the Ladyboys show here.

The need for better toilet facilities

How about some decent toilets at the Cricket Pavilion?

Recyling and litter removal

Are there any recycling bins in the park?

Restoration of the Jawbones

Very expensive, but urgently required. A fund has been opened and donations are welcomed.

Park Ranger cover

We need rangers in the park to make sure all is well. In particular, enforcing the responsible use of barbecues - particularly at weekends!

Join

By joining the Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links you can help form our policies, and make us more representative of the community. The City of Edinburgh Council might then take more notice of what we say. Email the membership secretary at membership@fombl.org.uk.

Write

Keep up the pressure. Please write and tell the authorities how you feel about the Meadows. If you are concerned as we are about the issues above, tell your local councillors. Other people you can write to are:

Please copy us into any emails you send

It helps us to know how the campaign is going if, when you send an email, you copy it to our convener at convener@fombl.org.uk

Find your councillor


Archived Pages

Save Our Meadows August '09






© 2011 FoMBL