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Sustainable Edinburgh Hub: Projects, Paths & People

Introduction

Welcome!

You have probably been brought here by the QR code on the container mural on Leith Community Croft. This page forms part of the ArtRoots project supported by Sustrans and Transport Scotland.

Below you will find green projects, growing initiatives and sustainable transport resources mainly relating to the Edinburgh region. There's information on the many wonderful 'green' projects here (including our very own urban crofts), and on eco-friendly ways to get around. Some links appear under more than one heading.

Enjoy your travels!

Main Menu

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Community Growing Initiatives

Support networks, projects and a strategy for edible growing across the city (and some examples from further afield)

Edinburgh Community Food – Community Projects

You'll find at least one food-growing project here (Growing to Love) as well as other great food-related initiatives.

Sustainable Food City in Edinburgh: Plan, Purpose, and Global Context

The Sustainable Food City plan in Edinburgh describes a new direction for how the city grows, buys, and shares food. The plan focuses on local produce, better access, and fair distribution. It tries to reduce waste and support small producers. The idea is simple: if a city manages food more locally, people eat healthier and nature suffers less. This plan is not only for farmers. It touches schools, shops, public meals, community gardens, and private kitchens. Food becomes part of city planning instead of something separate.

City of Edinburgh Council – Food-Growing Strategy

Our vision is for 'Edinburgh to be a city with a vibrant, thriving and sustainable local food economy, where residents, community groups and local business can access healthy, sustainable food locally, and are able to grow more food across a diverse range of sites within the city.'

The Right to Grow on the City of Edinburgh Council's Thriving Greenspaces Website

As demand for urban community growing increases, the City of Edinburgh Council is considering adopting a Right to Grow policy. Right to Grow aligns with the Council’s broader objectives of enhancing community resilience, promoting sustainability, and supporting the city’s response to the climate and nature emergencies declared by the Council.

The Right to Grow on Incredible Edible's Website

Up and down the country public land is being left unloved,
costing our local authorities money to care for, and giving nothing back to the community in return. Incredible Edible growers have shown that with a little TLC these parcels of land can be turned into oases for food and wildlife.

Lauriston Agroecology Farm

An urban farm growing food for people and nature.

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Community Food and Health (Scotland): community food networks

Community Food Growing in the Scottish Borders

Follow initiatives across the Scottish Borders in supporting communities to champion food growing in their area.

Our Own Community Crofts - the first of a national network of urban crofts?

Thanks to Edinburgh Council's Thriving Green Spaces initiative and Foundation Scotland for supporting our new urban crofts!

Leith Community Croft

Corstorphine Community Croft

Trinity Community Croft

Located on the site former bowling greens in Victoria Park, Trinity Community Croft is one of two new urban crofting sites in Edinburgh that are being developed by local people with the support of Earth in Common.
You can find it here.

Community Growing

Urban Crofts

Nature Restoration

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Nature Restoration & Greenspaces

Projects restoring habitats, boosting biodiversity and linking wild spaces

ELGT Greenspace Improvements – Nature Restoration

The Nature Restoration projects aim to enhance the city’s low-quality biodiversity through a range of greenspace improvement projects. It includes the creation of wild-flower meadows and wetland areas which will help make space for nature in an urban area to address biodiversity loss.

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Thriving Greenspaces – Project Overview

Info about the Strategy and Vision for Edinburgh's greenspaces and details on the diverse projects and initiatives underway, each contributing to our shared vision for a greener, healthier Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Nature Network – Edinburgh Living Landscape

You'll find a map here, consisting of the major components of the Edinburgh Nature Network. You can click on the symbols for more information...

Edinburgh Nature Network on the Thriving Greenspaces site

Edinburgh Nature Network on the Net Zero Edinburgh site

Edinburgh Living Landscape

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Edinburgh Living Landscape on the Scottish Wildlife Trust site

Lauriston Agroecology Farm

An urban farm growing food for people and nature.

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General Resources

Sustainable-living resources and event listings

Earth in Common's Eventbrite Page

You'll find many of our upcoming events here, but also see our Facebook page, linked below.

Earth in Common's Facebook Page

Keep up to date with our events and workshops here.

ECCAN – Other Resources Page

You'll find information here on how to talk about climate change, how to design projects that change things for the better, how to access local authority support and much more...

The Scottish Eatwell Guide

We hope to inspire individuals to adopt a healthy, balanced diet, while also celebrating Scotland’s natural larder. By showcasing the wide range of delicious and nutritious foods available in Scotland, we aim to promote better health outcomes, promote environmental discussions and bolster the economy through the consumption of locally sourced produce.

Scottish Food Coalition's Resources

Reports, briefings, and action plans that drive systemic change for a fairer, greener food system.

Sustrax Carbon Calculators

Whether you are an individual, a small business, or a large corporation, the path to a sustainable future begins with a clear understanding of where you are today. Select the right calculator for you to get started.

Sustainable Travel International

When we travel without care or concern, we can cause irreparable damage to the environments and communities we visit. But if we harness our explorations as a force for good and embrace sustainable practices, we can combat some of the world’s most pressing issues and protect the destinations and communities that are the heart of travel.

Common Cause Foundation's Resources

In the time that Common Cause has existed, we have worked with some of the world’s leading social psychologists and conducted and collaborated on several research projects. As a result, we’ve created a growing library of useful resources, toolkits and guides for organisations and individuals wanting to know more about values and how and why to embed this knowledge in their lives and work.

Wellbeing Economy Alliance

WEAll works to shift the narrative beyond criticisms of the current system, towards one that establishes a Wellbeing Economy as a desirable and viable goal, thus inspiring action towards achieving this vision. At present, the current economy is seen as the only kind of economy that we can have. We need imagination to think outside of the current models. We need new stories about what is possible. By changing the narrative, we can make a Wellbeing Economy common sense, the way the neoliberal economy is now.

General Resources

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Cycling Routes & Guides

Maps, apps and route planners for two-wheeled adventures

Walk Wheel Cycle Trust – National Cycle Network routes in Edinburgh, the Lothians and Scottish Borders

Connecting Scotland's capital and the surrounding areas of Midlothian, West Lothian, East Lothian and Scottish Borders, National Cycle Network routes in Edinburgh, the Lothians and Scottish Borders are perfect for everyday journeys and exploring the area's beautiful landscapes and rich history.

Edinburgh Quiet Routes

View the routes on an interactive map or download print-friendly QuietRoutes maps (PDF).

Cycling Edinburgh – Edinburgh Bike Paths: A Cyclist's Guide

Edinburgh has a terrific network of cycle paths and off-road routes. But finding your way round them can be tricky. Here's a guide to getting from A to B on two wheels.

Cycling Edinburgh – Organised bike rides in and around Edinburgh

Details of all organised bike rides in or near the Scottish capital. These rides are run by local cycling clubs, groups and individuals, and are mostly free and open to all. If you like the idea of cycling in congenial company with a knowledgeable leader, you're sure to find a run here that's right for your experience and level of fitness.

Edinburgh.org Cycling City Guide

Explore seven popular city cycle trails:

Epic Road Rides - Cycling Edinburgh (and Surrounds): Your Ultimate Guide

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and is well known for being beautiful and steeped in history. But get on two wheels and start cycling Edinburgh and the surrounding Lothians, and you’ll quickly find another side to this fantastic city and the greener, quieter areas.

travelness - 13 Best Cycling Routes in Edinburgh for Scenic Escapes

Looking for long rides? Short rides? Beautiful scenery? More hypothetical questions? Whatever you’re on the hunt for, I’ve covered all that and more.

komoot - The Best Cycling Routes Around Edinburgh

Dangling its toes in the Firth of Forth and occupying an absolutely beautiful patch of Lothian, cycling in Edinburgh never fails to impress. Scotland’s capital is a wonderfully bike-friendly city and riding gives you the perfect opportunity to discover everything that’s magical about this ancient area. From pedaling around Arthur’s Seat and Edinburgh Castle to heading up into the majestic Pentland Hills or speeding along the shoreline, exploring on two-wheels is endless fun.

Ordnance Survey

Maps with National Cycle Network Overlay

bikemap - Cycling in Edinburgh

Find the right bike route for you through Edinburgh, where we've got 2,841 cycle routes to explore.

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Spokes, the Lothian Cycle Campaign

Cycling

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Public Transport & Route Planners

Easy ways to plan journeys across bus, tram and rail

City of Edinburgh Council information on buses and coaches

Lothian Buses & Edinburgh Trams

Download the app, access a journey planner, maps and timetables, etc.

Stagecoach Buses

Journey planner, maps, timetables, etc.

Journey planner etc.

Hop-on Hop-off Edinburgh Bus Tours

Journey planner, tours, things to do in Edinburgh

Ember: electric bus travel across Scotland

Travel with Ember and you'll be on the UK's first all-electric, intercity bus service. Zero exhaust emissions means it's good for the environment and you'll also enjoy a smoother, more peaceful journey – no engine rumble or smelly fumes here.

buy tickets, plan your journey, etc.

VisitScotland - getting around Scotland by train FAQs

Travelling around Scotland by train is often a rewarding way to see the very best of the country. Once aboard a train, you can sit back and enjoy your journey to some incredible destinations.

Prices from hundreds of train and coach companies.

Live departures and arrivals, and much, much more.

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Travelling from London to Edinburgh just got quicker and more convenient with 29 direct LNER trains every weekday. LNER's faster and more frequent hourly trains now take around four hours and seven minutes from city centre to city centre.

Railway news from Scotland and around the world.

Public Transport

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Maps

Visual tools to explore green spaces, routes and nature highlights. You'll find more map resources linked in the cycling section above!

Maps showing locations of our urban crofts

Edinburgh Nature Network – Edinburgh Living Landscape

You'll find a map here showing the major components of the Edinburgh Nature Network. You can click on the symbols for more information...

Forth Valley Food Futures Sustainable Food Map

In this map we cover the following categories relating to sustainable food;

The Scottish Pantry Network map

Ordnance Survey

Maps with National Cycle Network Overlay

Lothian Buses Network Maps

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Stagecoach Bus Maps

Edinburgh Trams Map

Maps

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