Protecting trees and woodlands
Trees in the City
Trees in the City is a set of tree management policies, which we use to guide the management of our Council-owned trees and woodlands.
Download Trees in the City tree management policies (PDF)
If trees need work
When the Forestry Service inspects a tree and finds it needs work, it raises a work order in one of the priority categories
- Urgent, make safe within 24 hours.
- High, make safe within 5 days of notification to service.
- Medium, within 6 months of notification to service.
- Low, a follow up inspection within 12 months.
Trees to be
- removed are marked with a white cross.
- pruned are marked with a white spot.
Service Standards
Service Standards are a set of statements that set out what the Forestry Service will provide by way of service. As part of measuring and accounting for performance of the service against the standards, key performance indicators will be used.
Download the Service Standards and Performance Indicators (PDF)
Dutch elm disease
There are several thousand elm trees in Edinburgh. They are slowly being attacked and killed by Dutch elm disease. To monitor the spread of this disease, we survey the city's elms each summer. Trees marked with a yellow or orange cross have Dutch elm disease. Any trees showing signs of the disease are removed.
Chalara ash dieback
Chalara ash dieback has spread very rapidly through the UK over the last few years and is now firmly established in Edinburgh.
Unfortunately there is no cure for the disease and although mature ash trees can live for a long time with Chalara, young trees are particularly vulnerable and can succumb to infection much more quickly. Where infected trees on our land are considered to pose a risk to persons or property corrective works and felling will be carried out.
We are developing our ash dieback action plan.
Please note that some of our downloads might not be accessible. If you need help please contact us on forestry.service@edinburgh.gov.uk
City of 麻豆映画 ash dieback action plan (PDF)
Storm advice
Storms and high winds pose a risk to public safety, if there are issues of concern regarding trees report them immediately by calling 0131 200 200 or email forestry.service@edinburgh.gov.uk (during standard office hours only).
Biodiversity action plan
on our conservation page.