Redhall Woodlands

Redhall Woodlands is a council-owned neighbourhood community woodlands for the Redhall and Longstone areas in the south-west of Edinburgh. Situated just to the west of Slateford Viaduct, the Redhall Woodlands area runs alongside a railway line and canal, parallel to Redhall Park. Roughly 2.2 hectares in size. The Millenium Acre Wood runs right along the edge of Redhall Park.

History & Origins

In 1992, the ‘Edinburgh Urban Forest Strategy’ identified a need to protect and extend the city’s ageing stock of trees. The Edinburgh Urban Forest Project was rolled out across the city to address this, establishing new areas of woodland cover with the full participation of local communities.

Between 1995 and 2000, some 250,000 trees were planted under the scheme at more than 70 locations across the city.

As well as improving amenity for future generations, these new woodlands contribute to biodiversity thanks to the Project's strong focus on planting a mix of species native to Scotland. Introducing these woodlands has helped transform featureless grassland parks and open spaces into diverse wildlife habitats. One of these areas, the 'Millenium Acre Wood', runs right along the edge of Redhall Park.

Trees

As soon as you enter Redhall Park from the northern side, you have a large oak tree and several Scots Pines to your left, with brambles underneath. Around the park, there are several large beech and sycamore trees and a few elder and hawthorn trees at edges. We are looking to explore potential woodland projects and plant more new trees - orchard - see projects page.

Promoting Local Biodiversity

We desire people to be able to easily access, learn about and engage with their local biodiversity directly contributing through conservation action to protect and enhance it.

Our aim is to contribute in making Edinburgh a greener city with more opportunities for wildlife, enabling people to engage with nature, and raise awareness of the rich biodiversity in Edinburgh; as well as encouraging others take positive action to protect and enhance our natural environment.

We also aim to identify where positive management, projects or management plans that should be implemented. Engage with local communities about the ecological importance of our woodland and park.

Redhall Walk

Redhall Park was once a quarry, one of three in the city. The other two are nearby - walk a few minutes down the canal to Hailes Quarry Park, or cross over the canal on this bridge (left) and head over to Dovecot Park. The route over to Dovecot Park is the start of a flat walking and cycling route all the way out to Balerno, the alignment of an old railway along the Water of Leith.

Canal Path

The 19th century Union Canal is not a park in the typical sense, but like the Water of Leith it provides a strip of blue and green through Edinburgh from Lochrin Basin in Fountainbridge (just off Lothian Road) to Edinburgh's outskirts and beyond.

Its 32 miles of revitalised waterway, aquaducts, tunnels and bridges offers walkers, joggers, cyclists, and waterborne craft an alternative and at times tranquil route all the way to the Falkirk wheel, a huge engineering marvel that lifts boats into the Forth & Clyde Canal. More information can be found at Scottish Canal.