THE public are being asked to take part in a survey on what the priorities should be for Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park.
A 12-week consultation opened on Tuesday as Historic Environment Scotland (HES) asks the public to have their say.
As part of the consultation, HES is inviting people to take part in a survey which will run until December 19.
Participants will be asked how they currently use the area, what they believe the priorities should be for the park, and the role it should play in Edinburgh’s future.
Alex Paterson, HES chief executive, said: “Holyrood Park is a park like no other. Not only is it the city’s premier green space, with its dramatic hills and crags shaping the Edinburgh skyline, but its history spans thousands of years, with an ancient now-extinct volcano and over 100 known archaeological sites.
"The Park is situated within a 15-minute walking and cycling catchment of around 89,000 and 317,000 residents respectively, and its landscape offers varied habitats supporting a wide biodiversity.
“These are some of the reasons why Holyrood Park is a hugely complex site, which not only needs to be looked at within the context of our wider estate of more than 300 properties in care, but within the city of Edinburgh as a whole.
“We have been developing these draft proposals over the past year, including engaging with key partners to ensure that we can develop a new future for the city’s iconic park which maximises the benefits and opportunities that it can bring to the people of Edinburgh and Scotland.”
Participants will be asked for their feedback on HES’s Outline Strategic Plan which showcases detailed principles, vision and objectives to deliver a new future for the park to transform it into a positive climate asset.
The plan is being shaped with local communities to ensure future proposals reflect the needs of everybody.
Holyrood Park attracts millions of visitors every year and is designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
In addition to the survey questionnaire, information events will take place in Edinburgh from Thursday October 12 to Saturday October 14 for people to find out more about the Outline Strategic Plan and share their views with HES representatives.
Pop-up events will be taking place at locations around the park and a drop-in exhibition will be taking place at Holyrood Park’s Education Centre from 10am-5pm on Saturday 14 October. The events are free to attend.
For those unable to attend in-person events, a virtual engagement room has been set up for visitors to access further information on the plan and the survey.
Paterson continued: “We hope to hear from as many people as possible to ensure that any future proposals reflect the needs of all park users. Whether it’s through coming along to one of our face-to-face events or taking part in our survey questionnaire, the feedback we receive will directly inform our vision for a bold and sustainable future for Holyrood Park.”
Following the consultation, the feedback received will be analysed and a final Strategic Plan for Holyrood Park will be published in 2024.
The consultation can be viewed HERE and will run until December 19.
