Here is an update on progress made over the past month.

We are now a constituted group

Corstorphine in Bloom is now formally constituted, an important step that allows us to apply for funding and take the project forward.

We are keeping the same light-touch operating model — no regular meetings and minimal administration — but now have six committee members drawn from across Corstorphine, including Carrick Knowe, Broomhall and Clermiston.

We have received £1,000 in funding

The Edinburgh Climate Change Network has awarded us £1,000 towards soil, plants and other materials.

Feedback during the application process showed that our climate and nature work was not always easy to find, so we have brought it together on a new Climate and Nature Action page.

The Friends of St Margaret’s Park, one of the five participating park groups, are kindly holding and administering the funding on our behalf.

Our next funding application

Now that we are constituted, we can apply to the Chestnut Fund from The Conservation Volunteers.

We intend to seek funding for additional hi-vis vests, tools and practical information materials to support volunteers working across the area.

Business planters – two launched, with more to come

At present, we can most easily install planters where businesses have suitable land of their own.

Our first two business projects are now in place at Neilsons and Barclays, with volunteer teams helping to look after them.

Molly’s at the Dower House has also installed planters and is now looking for local volunteers to help care for them.

Four more businesses are at the development stage, with two awaiting initial contact.

Stone planters on St John’s Road

We have approval to proceed with hanging baskets around the existing stone planters on St John’s Road.

Unfortunately, the stone planters themselves are heavily affected by ground elder and are not currently suitable for new planting, so the hanging baskets give us a practical way of adding colour to the area.

Progress on street planter permissions

One of the biggest challenges has been establishing how new planters on public streets can be approved.

We now have a route through the Council’s Roads Network team and have submitted applications for one business location and one bus stop in Drumbrae to test the process.

If successful, this could provide a much clearer route for future street-based projects across Corstorphine.

Corstorphine Animal Trail

We have received a further update from Edinburgh Zoo on the proposed animal trail across Corstorphine.

Their team is now working on specifications for the planters that could form part of the trail. This remains an exciting opportunity to link the parks, shopping areas and the Zoo through a distinctive community project.

Nurseries, schools and after-school clubs

Two planters are due to be delivered to a local nursery and school within the next two weeks, and we are also working with an after-school club.

Our aim is to develop a simple model that works well before extending the opportunity to more schools and children’s groups across the area.

Autumn activity

Over the autumn we will be:

• planting bulbs across Corstorphine;
• refreshing and developing autumn planting in existing planters;
• supporting activities organised by the five park groups; and
• continuing to work with businesses, schools, volunteers and other community partners.

Looking ahead to 2027

Several new Council funding streams and green-space initiatives are expected to develop during 2027.

Now that Corstorphine in Bloom is constituted, has demonstrated that projects can be delivered successfully and has established partnerships across the community, we are in a much stronger position to attract funding and support.

Our aim remains simple: to bring together residents, businesses, schools, community groups and public bodies to make Corstorphine greener, more attractive and better for nature.