Drumbrae
Drumbrae is the first of several sites where we will create woodland and improve open habitats. We are doing this to mitigate our carbon emissions from unavoidable travel while benefitting nature. View maps, check the timeline and find out more.
The University of Edinburgh has purchased 430 hectares of land at Drumbrae. The land is in the Ochils, near the city of Stirling, north of Bridge of Allan. It sits in the Stirling Local Authority Area.
We'd like to increase biodiversity on the site by creating woodland and improving open habitats.
A new woodland creation proposal has been produced to map out and guide what we will do at Drumbrae. It covers:
- woodland creation
- increasing biodiversity
- engaging with local communities, local to the site and internally at the University of Edinburgh.
Volunteering opportunities
During June and July we ran a number of volunteer days working on the main Dumyat hill path.
This popular path is enjoyed by over 50,000 of people each year, and was in need to some maintenance. Armed with our spades and mattocks, local residents, members of the public, and university staff and former students joined in.
Over the four sessions we rebuilt a collapsed section of a dry stone wall, cleared drainage ditches and culvert pipes, reinstated water bars, all in an effort to keep water off the path to prevent further erosion. We have made a great start, but there is still more to do and there will be more path maintenance days in the future. Keep an eye on our volunteering page for future opportunities: Volunteering opportunities.
Work happening on site
Work will begin on site in summer 2024
After consultation with the public and working closely with communities surrounding the area, we have listened to feedback and developed a woodland creation plan that has been approved by Scottish Forestry.
Over the next few months, you'll notice changes as we install deer fencing and prepare the ground to plant new trees. After this work is completed, we will plant a variety of tree species to meet the project aims of carbon sequestration, habitat improvement, and increasing local biodiversity.
What you need to know:
- You may be asked to avoid a route or area for limited periods to help keep everyone safe while work is taking place.
- Please follow alternative routes or diversions. We aim to minimise disruption to the Dumyat path and other core paths.
- Look out for signage and keep an eye on our website for notifications.
- There will be access points in our deer fences, with self-closing gates for everyone to use.
- Larger management gates will be locked and used for operational access.
Contact us at SRS.Department@ed.ac.uk or email our Community Ranger at Community.Ranger@ed.ac.uk for more information.
Woodland design
Maps
- Location in Google
- Woodland Design Map (August 2024)
- Constraints and Opportunities Map
- Access and Protection Map (August 2024)
- Recreation and Designation Map
- Ecological Features Map
- Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Map
- Viewpoint Analysis Map
Reports and visualisations
- Drumbrae Community Presentation
- Landscape visualisations
- Please see visual interpretations of key points of the site on this webpage
- Ecology Assessment
- Archaeology Report
Winter 2022 to spring 2023
-
Survey and analyse the site
Spring 2023
-
Begin to plan and survey the site including social, silvicultural and conservation aims
- Early community engagement
Summer 2023
- Early community engagement survey closed in June and a word cloud highlighting key themes can be found here. 79 responses were received in total.
Autumn 2023
- Formal consultation with the local community and other statutory stakeholders on a draft woodland creation proposal took place throughout the month of September. Results can be found here.
- Analyse feedback provided through the public consultation
- Update the woodland creation proposal following the consultation with communities
Winter 2023
- Seek approval from Scottish Forestry
- Following approval, the final Plan and next steps will be shared with communities on this webpage
Spring 2024
- Planning for the work onsite begins
Summer 2024
- Woodland creation proposal is formally approved by Scottish Forestry
- As part of the approval process, the Plan will also be placed on Scottish Forestry’s public register for 28 days where the public will have the opportunity to comment again
- Planning stages for the entrance using input from local residents and users of the site
Autumn 2024
- Operations start on site, including ground preparation and fencing
From 28 August – 29 September 2023 we held a public consultation to gather input and comments from residents and users of the Drumbrae site. We’re now analysing this information and will be incorporating it into the plans where possible.
We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to submit their comments. You can see the main themes from the consultation here.
Get in touch
To contact us, please email us using our contact details below. Please state that you wish to speak with the Forest and Peatland team in your message.
General enquiries
- Social Responsibility and Sustainability
Contact details
- Work: +44 (0)131 651 3000
- Email: SRS.Department@ed.ac.uk
- @edsust
Address
- Street
Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability
The Boilerhouse
High School Yards- City
- Edinburgh
- Post Code
- EH1 1LT
Cover image: Photo taken by Tom Wade, Airborne Research and Innovation Facility, University of Edinburgh