Natural Connections

06/08/2026

Delighted to be at the opening of the amazing new Crookston Willow Play Area with Council staff, Councillors and Community groups and to also launch the new Tranent Tree Town Project.

Councillor Colin McGinn, Cabinet Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing and Sport, Countryside and Leisure, said: “The council is delighted to be working in partnership with Natural Connections on Tranent Tree Town and I’m so pleased this wonderful scheme has now been launched.
“Tranent currently has one of the lowest levels of tree cover in East Lothian and I’m sure this community-led scheme will bring about much-needed improvement, especially in residential areas. Trees can provide many health benefits, including better air quality and reduced stress levels.
“I believe Tranent Tree Town will create a model which can be rolled out across other communities in the county which are also in need of greater urban tree canopy cover.”

Why?
Tranent has some of the lowest tree cover in East Lothian. We want to try and change that working in partnership with other local projects, groups and individuals
• Trees are great for the environment
• Trees provide homes and food for wildlife
• Trees capture carbon, provide shade and clean our air

What’s happening?
Over the next three years we plan to encourage and support the local community in planting and caring for trees in and around Tranent.

Who’s involved
Thanks to funding from The Urban Forestry Challenge Fund from Future Woodlands Scotland. Local charity Natural Connections and East Lothian Council Amenity Services will be working together in partnership with local schools, community groups and residents.

Why get involved?
• Meet other people and make a real difference to your local area, wildlife and environment.
• Learn how to gather seed, sow, plant and care for trees.
• Opportunity to find out about the Tree Warden Scheme
• Plant a tree to celebrate a birth, special occasion or commemorate the loss of a loved one.
• Ask questions, share ideas and discover next steps.

04/08/2026

We were absolutely delighted to welcome Lord-Lieutenant Roderick Urquhart and Deputy Lieutenant Mike Falconer for a tour of the garden.

02/08/2026

29/07/2026

We’ll be joining in the fun! Pop along and say Hi 👋

Let’s all start praying for a sunny day ☀️🙏

27/07/2026

We’re delighted to invite you to the official launch of our Tree Town Project and Crookston Playpark as part of The Fraser Centre Wee Green Festival.

It’s sure to be a great day with lots going on for all ages.

Wednesday, 5th August

11.45 - Gathering outside The Fraser Centre

11.55 - Drums leading procession

12.05 - Tim Porteous launches Tranent Tree Town project with a story

12.15 - Councillor McGinn official opening of the Playpark

1pm - Wee Green Festival at The Fraser Centre.

06/07/2026

Will you have extra veg & fruit or allotment? Bring along your surplus produce and share with the community!

Wednesday 5th August 2026 at the Wee Green Festival in The Fraser Centre, Tranent - 1pm till 3.30pm.

There will be a donation tin for taking away anything and the money raised will be donated to East Lothian Foodbank.

02/07/2026

We’re giving away hundreds of thousands of trees

24/06/2026

We can’t wait to be involved in this years Wee Green Festival 🌳🐞🐛

Today I met with Lorraine from the Heugh Community Garden in Tranent to chat about our Wee Green Festival on the 5th August. The Community Garden is a real wee treasure in Tranent. Why not pop along to the festival to find out more and how to get involved. Maybe the tatties will be ready then too 🤣

🌍The Wee Green Festival
📅Wednesday 5th August 1-3.30pm
🎟️Free event with music, storytelling, activities, stalls, play and more!

11/05/2026

📢 Community Engagement Summit – Tackling Litter & Fly Tipping

Residents, community groups, representative groups, residents associations, and local/national agencies are invited to attend a Community Engagement Summit on Tuesday 2nd June at Ross High Rugby Club.

The summit will focus on working together to prevent and address issues relating to litter and fly tipping across our communities.

Two identical sessions will be available to help as many people as possible attend:
🕑 Afternoon Session: 2pm – 4pm
🌙 Evening Session: 6pm – 8pm

There is no need to attend both sessions, as the same content will be covered in each.

If you are interested in attending, please confirm by emailing:
📧 [email protected]

Please share this information with anyone who may wish to get involved in helping keep our communities clean and welcoming. 🌍♻️

11/05/2026

We are delighted to announce that The Tranent Tree Town project being led by the charity Natu-ral Connections in partnership with East Lothian Council has been awarded three years funding from the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund from Future Woodlands Scotland (FWS).

Tranent currently has one of the lowest levels of tree cover in East Lothian and Natural Connec-tions, which has developed The Heugh Community Garden in Tranent over the past nine years, will now lead local community groups and volunteers in the bid to plant at least 3000 trees/shrubs a year over the next three years.
The charity has 1000 trees ready to go at the Heugh Garden and plans to source more from the Woodland Trust. For the project’s future sustainability, it intends to establish a tree nursery to grow their own trees.

It is hoped Tranent Tree Town will create a model which can be rolled out across other commu-nities in the county in need of greater urban tree canopy cover.

Following guidance from the council’s Tree and Woodland Strategy for the project will work to-wards the 3-30-300 rule by fostering a network of smaller and underused open space sites for planting. This includes planting street trees, creating ‘pocket parks’ and civic frontages near lo-cations such as libraries, care homes and medical practices, and identifying areas of green-space within housing estates with potential for tree canopy expansion, in partnership with the council.
The planting will involve volunteers, including from Heugh Garden as well as local schools, groups and organisations. Residents will be encouraged to take part, and a project aim is to set up an ongoing ‘Tree Warden’ scheme.

Russell McLarty, chair of Natural Connections, said: “The Tranent Tree Town project is a part-nership project between Natural Connections charity and East Lothian Council. Tranent has some of the lowest tree cover in East Lothian and this funding will support us in planting more trees in residential areas, schools, and community spaces.
“We aim to create nature corridors across town and increase biodiversity for the benefit of peo-ple and wildlife. We are delighted to be supported by the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund from Future Woodlands Scotland.”

Eamon John, the council’s Head of Communities & Partnerships, said: “East Lothian Council is proud to work in partnership with Natural Connections on this community-led, nature-based en-hancement project in Tranent, to deliver climate, nature and health and wellbeing benefits locally.
“We are very grateful to Future Woodlands Scotland for the award of this funding, and we are looking forward to taking this project forward.”