Corstorphine in Bloom is registered as an informal group with the City of Edinburgh Council. This means we are covered by their insurance for the simple weeding, watering and planting tasks on council property. You must follow the following health and safety advice and only carry out the activities below.

See the Health and Safety Guidance for Volunteers

This document shows we have considered risks and mitigated against them – Risk Assement and Method Statement –

The full council insurance cover is detailed on this page https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/parks-open-spaces/friends-greenspace-groups/4

Corstorphine in Bloom’s registration with the council and insurance cover was confirmed at a meeting with the Head of Neighbourhood Environment Services on 15th May 2026.

The Council’s Public Liability Insurance Policy

The Council’s own public liability insurance policy will cover volunteers (either as an individual or as part of a group) as we are authorised by the Council to carry out the following activities

• Planting
• Weeding
• Watering
• Planting and sowing of wildflowers
• Cutting back of shrubs
• Cleaning weeds around benches
• Preparing wildflower sites
• Cutting back and clearing vegetation
• Litter picking
• Edging along pathways
• Seats and benches – painting, graffiti removal, repairing
• Sweeping of sites for litter
• Recording biodiversity.

These activities are also subject to the risk assessment above to ensure that standards are being met, tasks are matched to the capabilities of those involved, and the public is not put at an increased risk.