East Lothian Council has been awarded almost £24,000 to support the delivery of a restoration programme to improve Nature Networks across communities.

Welcoming the funding Cabinet member for Community Wellbeing, Cllr Colin McGinn, said: "Greenspace Scotland invited local authorities across Scotland to submit applications for short-lived projects that would fulfil some of the aims of the action plan programme for nature restoration in parks. East Lothian's successful bid is to identify opportunities to expand our nature networks into our urban areas of the county and so closer to where people live.

"The funding will enable council officers to undertake detailed surveys and assessments of our suitable parks/greenspaces, including assessing nature restoration, wildflower planting and re-wilding already undertaken. We will also work closely with local communities to seek views on what people would like to see in their local parks and open spaces to enhance their environment.

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"On conclusion of the surveys and community discussions we will have an Action Plan of proposed nature restoration projects across the county which will bring a wide range of benefits to people, wildlife and the wider environment. We see this as an important stage in a longer-term aspiration to further develop connected Nature Networks across East Lothian, which will help us to tackle the climate and nature emergencies."

The £23,865 is from the Scottish allocation of the Levelling Up Parks Fund provided to the Scottish Government by the UK Government. greenspace scotland is managing the funds on behalf of the Scottish Government.

In 2021 East Lothian Council received £109,000 from the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) which is provided to local authorities to support new, or to enhance existing, approaches to restoring biodiversity.

This funding was used to support a grassland habitat restoration project to restore and manage grassland and support pollinators at various sites across the county including Levenhall Links, Longniddry Bents, Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve, Gullane Bents, Yellowcraig turf nursery and Whitesands / Barns Ness, which are all owned or managed by the council.

Experience gained from these coastal projects will help guide how best to support nature restoration within urban settings in the county's parks and amenity open spaces. Further information will shortly be available to share with a range of local community groups including Area Partnerships, Community Councils, In Bloom Groups and schools.