There was sunshine over Leith, welcoming members of the Edinburgh Groundswell team on a recent fieldwork trip to engage with research partners and the local community through gardening. Organised by The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society (https://thecaley.org.uk/), this gardening activity took place in Dalmeny Street Park, after it had recently undergone renovations as part of the wider Linking Leith’s Parks (LLP) project (https://www.thrivinggreenspaces.scot/project/linking-leith%E2%80%99s-parks). LLPs aims to make local parks more beneficial for both people and nature through the introduction of native trees and plants, the provision of new amenities, and the redesign of existing paths. Visiting the Dalmeny Street Park and participating in the activity offered a great opportunity to interact with local communities and better understand Groundswell’s impacts.
The planting activity in this park has been ongoing since October 2025, with the help of local community volunteers. Since then, around 5,000 species (decorative and medicinal) have been planted. Currently, members of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, who lead this initiative, are consolidating the planting and attempting to establish a local task force to manage the local parks. Therefore, as we approach warmer, sunnier, and longer days, more community engagement days are expected, providing the research team with more opportunities to engage with research partners and local residents to share our findings and hear their stories.
