Barratt Developments East Scotland has announced a new partnership with Edinburgh Zoo, which will see felled trees from the site of a new Livingston development recycled and donated to the zoo.

To date, Barratt Developments East Scotland – which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes – has donated 21 felled trees from its recently acquired Houston Road site, Woodland Gait, which will launch later this year.

The trees were removed due to them being in a poor condition, creating public safety concerns, or because they were low quality with low biodiversity benefits.

Following the tree removals, Barratt Developments will plant approximately 152 new trees across the site to support local wildlife. In line with its approved landscape strategy, the new tree species include Rowan and Hazel, as well as other native species. A robust landscape strategy has been approved for the Houston Road development, including native planting and various biodiverse elements such as the installation of hedgehog highways, along with bird and bat boxes.

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Following the donation, Edinburgh Zoo, which is operated by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), will repurpose the trees, with a significant portion being distributed to the Zoo's resident giraffes, which consume an average of 75kg of plant matter every day.

Larger branches and trunks will also be used as climbing structures and apparatus within the ape and giant panda enclosures, enriching the animals' habitat experiences. Meanwhile, designated portions of the trees, such as trunk bases and off-cuts, will undergo natural decomposition processes, attracting insects which are ideal for the dietary needs of Giant Anteaters.

The distribution of the repurposed trees across the diverse animal habitats within the zoo will help to ensure that there will be minimal waste, building on both Barratt Developments' and Edinburgh Zoo's shared commitment to sustainable practices and lowering carbon footprints.

Jason Watt, Technical Director at Barratt Developments East Scotland, said: "We're proud to be supporting Edinburgh Zoo with the donation of trees from our new Livingston development on Houston Road. Not only does this partnership support our sustainability commitments, it will also be beneficial to the animals and their enclosures.

"Looking forward, we hope to continue to support Edinburgh Zoo's mission of fostering an appreciation for wildlife and habitat conservation."

Robert Harden, Head Gardener at Edinburgh Zoo, said: "We were delighted to accept the offer of trees and branches from Barratt's new site in Livingston. We have since used the material as a source of food, branching and perching for the animals, and what was left after chipping has been used as a mulch for feeding the willows and growing on site for the giraffes.

"We pride ourselves with not only trying to educate and preserve endangered species of animals but also to try and work in tandem with the landscape environment itself. That's why every bit of material that we received from Barratt has and will be used to benefit the animals and the growing environment."