PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

The protection and enhancement of the environment is a priority for us locally as it is for Rotary internationally.

We have organized several projects over the years demonstrating our commitment, most notably in 2002 by initiating the redevelopment of the site in Currie, where we now maintain our display of flowers each year (featured separately) and in 2005, when we worked with the Pentland Hills Rangers to develop the Harlaw Wildlife Garden.

In 2022 we joined with Pentlands Eco Network, the Village Green and other volunteers, including Susan Webber (MSP), clearing litter in Roley’s Wood in Currie. We made some interesting discoveries – a traffic cone, a road sign, a plastic cricket bat and a shoe – just the one shoe. Did someone hop home?

Then in 2023 we worked again with Pentlands Eco Network and Village Green to establish an orchard of 25 fruit trees in George V Park in Currie, serving to enhance the local environment for the benefit of local residents. This brought together a host of volunteers and we were helped by Craig Dunlop from Edinburgh City Council, who brought advice – and much-needed wood-chip – and by the local Pentlands Men’s Shed, who provided the signs. As a last contribution in November 2023, we participated in raising awareness of Rotary’s work to bring an end to polio across the world by planting 5000 purple crocus corms, purchased by one of our members, to provide a spring display in the Park.

But that’s not all. We now have cherry trees planted in George V Park – a Rotary initiative but carried out by Edinburgh District Council, who offered not only to provide the 12 cherry trees we had planned but also to plant them. Later we helped Pentlands Eco Network to plant camassia and crocus bulbs, provided by the Council, across the orchard area (see photos below). 

Also in 2024 we have joined other City Rotarians in helping to clean up the Water of Leith walkway at various parts along its route from Balerno to Leith. These sessions were organised by the Water of Leith Conservation Trust with other community groups of volunteers (see main photo above). 

Our final project of 2024 has been to replace the old broken half-barrel planters at Currie with new ones, supported by funding from Edinburgh City Council. These contain some of the transferred daffodil bulbs that are already sprouting well, and new plants will be added in Spring 2025.

All of these have been great collaborative community projects and we have welcomed the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment both to supporting the local community and to protecting the environment.