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These eight candidates are starting points for a site visit and local discussion. The numbered lines on the map show an approximate area to investigate. Their lengths follow the drawn axes: they are not measurements of habitat gaps, recommended planter spacing or evidence that wildlife already uses a route.
All eight are inferred opportunities. Select a heading below for the supporting mapped features, practical ideas and checks still needed.
01 — Village park to library (pollinators)
Explore a flower-rich connection from the north edge of St Margaret’s Park towards Corstorphine Library, using suitable existing planting spaces and consenting frontages.
Why investigate? The park is a mapped green anchor. Corstorphine in Bloom reports a library barrel planter, offering a useful local partner and a starting point for a planting audit. Flower quality and continuity are unmeasured.
Important check: Street axis only: the line does not mark planter positions. Preserve pavement width, junction visibility and safe crossings.
Practical options
- Audit existing park, frontage and library planting before adding anything.
- Fill seasonal flowering gaps with pollinator-friendly, single-flowered plants.
- Agree watering and care with volunteers and the relevant landowners.
Before going ahead
- Check road crossings and available pavement space along the High Street.
- Locate the actual barrel and record its planting, flowering periods and condition.
- Check land ownership, permissions and a named maintenance partner.
- Record existing flowers across spring, summer and autumn before choosing plants.
Potential partners: Friends of St Margaret’s Park; Library team; Corstorphine in Bloom.
Source anchors: St Margaret's Park · Library planter: Corstorphine in Bloom report · Library location: OSM node
02 — St John’s Road stepping stones (pollinators)
Investigate a chain of flower-rich planters, beds or consenting business frontages along St John’s Road. Each small planting area would need to earn its place through nectar, pollen and reliable care.
Why investigate? The mapped street links business areas near the village and the southern hill edge. Local community reports describe business planters, but no complete geolocated planter inventory was available for this map.
Important check: Busy main road. The line follows the street axis, not a safe wildlife crossing or a planting layout. Ground wildlife connectivity is not assumed.
Practical options
- Create a dated inventory of existing business planters and their exact positions.
- Improve flowering continuity and plant diversity before increasing planter numbers.
- Seek approval for any new public pavement planters and secure watering partners.
Before going ahead
- Measure the clear accessible footway and check bus stops, loading and junction sightlines.
- Check plant suitability in traffic, salt, shade and drought.
- Check land ownership, permissions and a named maintenance partner.
- Record existing flowers across spring, summer and autumn before choosing plants.
Potential partners: Local businesses; Corstorphine in Bloom; Council Roads team.
Source anchors: St John’s Road: OSM way · Local business planters: project report
03 — St Margaret’s garden fringe (garden wildlife)
Start conversations with households west of St Margaret’s Park about whether connected garden habitat could extend the park’s sheltered edge.
Why investigate? OpenStreetMap records garden plots next to the park. Adjacent plots indicate a possible engagement area; they do not demonstrate that wildlife can pass between them.
Important check: Illustrative neighbourhood axis across private plots. Fence gaps, owner consent and hedgehog presence have not been established.
Practical options
- Ask interested neighbours to map existing safe gaps without entering other properties.
- Where suitable and agreed, consider 13 × 13 cm openings between gardens.
- Retain leaf litter, shelter and some uncut vegetation, and keep pond escape routes.
Before going ahead
- Check every boundary for permeability and confirm the proposed route avoids busy roads.
- Look for wildlife signs or use a survey with appropriate local advice.
- Obtain each owner’s agreement; assess effects on pets and garden security.
Potential partners: Neighbouring residents; Friends of St Margaret’s Park; Hedgehog champions.
Source anchors: St Margaret's Park
04 — Union Park to community woodland (pollinators)
Explore flowering margins and suitable school or community edges between Union Park and Carrick Knowe Community Woodland.
Why investigate? Union Park, community woodland and Carrick Knowe Primary School grounds are mapped nearby. Their proximity offers a focused place to discuss edge management and partnership planting.
Important check: Nearby green polygons do not establish an unbroken corridor. Access, fences, street crossings and existing use need checking.
Practical options
- Survey where mowing changes could increase flowers without affecting sport or access.
- Consider flowering hedge or shrub additions where they suit the site and avoid shading valuable grassland.
- Explore a school partnership for habitat recording and seasonal planting.
Before going ahead
- Locate the actual gaps between park, school and woodland boundaries.
- Check sports, play and school safeguarding requirements.
- Check land ownership, permissions and a named maintenance partner.
- Record existing flowers across spring, summer and autumn before choosing plants.
Potential partners: Union Park group; Carrick Knowe Primary School; Council Parks team.
Source anchors: Union Park · Carrick Knowe Community Woodland · Carrick Knowe Primary School
05 — Drum Brae to Clermiston (pollinators)
Investigate a flower-rich chain from Drum Brae Park and its nearby community allotments towards Clermiston Park, using appropriate edges rather than assuming a new continuous strip.
Why investigate? Two mapped parks and a mapped community allotment site provide nearby anchors. Existing growing activity may support maintenance partnerships and planting surveys.
Important check: Drum Brae Drive is a mapped transport barrier. The drawn line is a search area for planting opportunities, not a crossing recommendation.
Practical options
- Audit flowering resources on park and allotment boundaries.
- Discuss less frequent mowing or small flower-rich beds in suitable locations.
- Invite local growers to help plan flowering through the season.
Before going ahead
- Check the Drum Brae Drive crossing, junctions, paths and available planting spaces.
- Confirm allotment access, ownership and management arrangements.
- Check land ownership, permissions and a named maintenance partner.
- Record existing flowers across spring, summer and autumn before choosing plants.
Potential partners: Drum Brae park volunteers; Community allotment growers; Clermiston Park group.
Source anchors: Drum Brae Park · Drumbrae Community Allotments · Clermiston Park
06 — Clermiston to the hill (garden wildlife)
Examine the relationship between Clermiston Park, intervening gardens and Corstorphine Hill. Start with improving habitat on each side of Clermiston Road.
Why investigate? A park, residential gardens and the hill reserve sit near each other on the map. Road traffic and boundary permeability may interrupt ground-level movement; those effects have not been surveyed.
Important check: Crosses the Clermiston Road corridor. Do not create garden openings that funnel animals towards traffic. Any crossing proposal needs specialist assessment.
Practical options
- Map existing hedges, cover and boundary gaps on each side of the road.
- Explore consenting garden links that stay on the same side of the road.
- Ask the Council and an ecologist whether any safe crossing improvement is feasible.
Before going ahead
- Measure traffic and collision risk using suitable evidence, not proximity alone.
- Check walls, fences, slope, lighting and existing wildlife routes.
- Confirm wildlife presence before suggesting a species-specific intervention.
Potential partners: Clermiston residents; Council Roads team; Council Natural Heritage Service.
Source anchors: Clermiston Park · Corstorphine Hill Local Nature Reserve · Clermiston Road: OSM way
07 — Cemetery & western green pockets (garden wildlife)
Investigate whether boundaries and garden edges between Corstorphine Hill Cemetery, Buttercup Farm Park and Torrance Park could support a more permeable network.
Why investigate? Three mapped green areas are close together, with residential land between them. This identifies a useful survey area, not a verified hedgehog highway.
Important check: Cemetery boundaries and private gardens may be enclosed. Respect cemetery use and check every proposed boundary change with its owner or manager.
Practical options
- Walk public routes and record hedges, walls, cover and possible pinch points.
- Ask residents about existing wildlife use and interest in garden connections.
- Discuss sensitive hedge and grass management with the cemetery and park managers.
Before going ahead
- Confirm routes avoid drawing wildlife onto busy roads.
- Check cemetery management requirements, ownership and boundary structures.
- Survey wildlife and shelter before choosing intervention points.
Potential partners: Local residents; Cemetery manager; Council Parks team.
Source anchors: Corstorphine Hill Cemetery · Buttercup Farm Park · Torrance Park
08 — The hill’s flowering edges (pollinators)
Explore sunlit edges between the hill’s walled garden and the southern woodland area. This is a habitat-quality opportunity within an existing green setting, not evidence of a missing woodland corridor.
Why investigate? The reserve, walled garden and Whitson Wood are mapped anchors. Their flowering resources and shaded areas could be surveyed to identify where a small management change would help pollinators.
Important check: The axis is illustrative and not a walking route. Avoid damaging woodland, established grassland or protected features through inappropriate planting.
Practical options
- Survey sunlit edges and the timing of flowers before selecting sites.
- Discuss rotational edge management with the reserve’s land manager.
- Prioritise existing habitat quality and locally appropriate plants.
Before going ahead
- Check reserve objectives, habitat sensitivity and any permissions required.
- Record shade, slope, existing flowers and other wildlife interests.
- Check land ownership, permissions and a named maintenance partner.
- Record existing flowers across spring, summer and autumn before choosing plants.
Potential partners: Friends of Corstorphine Hill; Walled garden volunteers; Council Natural Heritage Service.
Source anchors: Corstorphine Hill Walled Garden · Corstorphine Hill Local Nature Reserve · The Whitson Wood
What would make a useful first visit?
Choose a small area and record what is there before deciding on a solution. Note flowers across the seasons, shelter, boundary gaps, road crossings, mowing and maintenance. Discuss the findings with the relevant residents, businesses, park group and land managers. Do not enter private gardens or alter boundaries without permission.
