A message from Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor
“At the University, we're dedicated to addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis through our Regenerative Sustainability strategy, which aims to repair and regenerate our world. The Forest and Peatland Community Access Fund is a key part of this work, and helps local schools and communities access nature to learn about environmental issues. We've committed significant resources to this effort and now invite you to take action with us. Your financial support is crucial in helping us expand these initiatives. Together, we can prioritise action over words and create lasting change. Join us in making a real difference.”
About the Forest and Peatland programme
In October 2021, we started a long-term, multi-million-pound programme to restore peatland and expand forests in Scotland. This programme will remove carbon from the atmosphere, increase biodiversity, connect woodlands, improve recreation for local communities, and preserve cultural heritage sites.
These sites present exciting and important opportunities for education and research. We are actively engaging with nearby communities to co-develop educational opportunities and access to nature.
We want the sites to be used by as many community members and educational groups as possible to allow them to experience the development of forests and the restoration of peatland. Our sites are well-placed for outdoor learning and development and we aim to offer the experience to local community groups, such as schools, scout troops, and charities whose end recipients could benefit from time spent in nature.
We have developed nature-based engagement and learning opportunities, such as:
- Citizen science initiatives with local schools and community groups
- Community tree plantings and habitat improvement
- Guided site visits and walks
- Opportunities to volunteer on site
Your donation could support:
- Travel grants for local schools to shuttle children and teachers to the site for a day of nature learning
- Learning aids to assist teachers and local groups in their educational activities
- Materials to support community volunteer days, such as bio blitzes and citizen science initiatives
- Tree saplings and wildflowers for community planting events
How your support makes a difference
Site visits
In partnership with Branching Upwards and Big Wild Life, the Forest and Peatland Programme hosted a group of 10 P6 and P7 pupils at the Rullion Green Wood site in the Pentland Hills for an eight-week course with the aim of supporting environmental awareness, increasing school attendance, boosting self-esteem and confidence, supporting mental health and providing a safe space to build support and social connections. Students earned their Forest and Outdoor Learning Award Level 2 for participating in the course.
100% of the pupils said that they benefited from the sessions:
“The sessions made me feel calm, relaxed and happy. I really enjoyed the outdoor space.”
“I liked being about to explore nature. Having space and outdoor freedom was great.”
“I really enjoyed planting the different trees and wild flower seeds.”
100% of parents felt their children benefited from the sessions.
“This has been great for my son. Before starting this, he wasn’t wanting to go to school but this has made him look forward to going in. He has made new friends and has bonded with the teachers which in turn, allowed him to speak comfortably about home life and his emotions.”
100% of the class teachers felt their students benefited from attending.
“Both the children in my class who attended have continually verbalised their enjoyment for this group and are so excited every Monday morning when it comes around. For one child, it has made the transition from the weekend back into school an excitable one and this child's attendance has improved. Both children have really opened up about personal events in their own life. One child in particular was very closed off and had not shared anything with me but after the second or third FOLA morning out, he completely opened up and now regularly wants to share what is going on in his life.”
Volunteering
By supporting the fund, you are helping to provide opportunities for local community members to learn about the landscape and participate in hands-on volunteering.
Volunteering is open to everyone and so far, people have helped with biodiversity surveys, tree planting, wildflower meadow creation, path maintenance and installing signage.
In April 2025, 190 crab apple trees were planted at Drumbrae as part of the Scottish Plant Recovery project with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. A student society, the Dirty Weekenders, helped out, and the following day local community volunteers joined in. It was a great effort with 28 people helping to plant these special trees.
One volunteer commented:
“It was great hearing about the University's tree planting plans underway in the area. I loved learning how to plant trees (new skill for me!) and spending time outdoors with other like-minded people. I attended with my daughter and she is very excited to be able to return to the area and visit 'her' trees for years to come.”
All of our current volunteer opportunities can be viewed on our Volunteer and Community pages.
You can see photos of past volunteer events in our Story Maps:
More information
For more information on how your gift can make a difference, please contact Veronica Royce, Philanthropy Manager, at Veronica.Royce@ed.ac.uk or +44 (0)7584 595452.
If you are thinking about leaving a gift in your will, get in touch for an informal conversation with Morag Murison, Head of Legacies and Planned Gifts at morag.murison@ed.ac.uk, +44 (0) 7428 704 208 or +44 (0)131 650 9637.
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