Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian
Feedback updated 15 Apr 2025
We asked
For your comments on the Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian.
You said
You made a variety of comments on the document. Most of these were positive and supported the aims of the Strategy. Your comments are summarised in a report which can be downloaded as Item 58/24 page 405 from the Members Library Service. This Report was available to Councillors before they made the decision on whether or not to approve the Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian.
We did
We considered your comments and made several changes to the Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian in response. The changes are shown in Item 58/24 page 405 from the Members Library Service.
The Council approved the amended Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian at a meeting on 14 May 2024. This guidance will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and in the implementation of the East Lothian Climate Forest. The guidance can be downloaded here: Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian.
Overview
We have been working on a draft of our Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian, and are really keen to hear what you think. The Strategy will help the council address the climate and biodiversity crises, and guide the delivery of the East Lothian Climate Forest.This Strategy will be our statutory Forestry and Woodland Strategy as required by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019.
The draft Tree and Woodland Strategy is available as a Storymap. This format can be used on desktop PCs, mobile devices and tablets. In the Storymap, you can find and easily move between the sections of the strategy in which you are interested. You can also zoom in to the maps to see the detail. For most people, this will be the best way to view the draft Strategy. To access this, click the link above. However, if you would rather download the draft Strategy to view offline or to print out, it is available in the 'Documents' section below.
We encourage you to give us your views in this survey. We are looking for opinions from anyone with an interest in trees or woodland in East Lothian. You do not have to have read the Strategy to fill it in.
We also invite your comments on the related assesments available in the 'Documents' section below. There is space to comment on these in the survey, or you can email or write to us (contact details on the right).
Draft Environment Report: By law, this Strategy must be accompanied by an Environment Report. A draft of this for comment is available in the 'Documents' section below. Its purpose is to find out ane report on the main environmental impacts of the Strategy. This should help improve policy and improve decision making.
We have already made some changes to the Strategy as a result of this process. The final version of the Environment Report will be available to Councillors before they make the final decision to adopt the Strategy.
The Non-Technical Summary presents the main points of this information in plain language. This can be viewed as a Storymap.
We especially encourage you to comment on this assessment if you think there are any significant impacts on the environement that we have missed.
Habitat Regulation Appraisal: Strategies that are likely to have a significant effect on a European Site must go through Appropriate Assessment under the Habitats Regulations. We considered that this strategy did have that potential, so Appropriate Assessment is being carried out.
Integrated Impact Assessment: The Council aims to treat all residents, visitors and people who work here fairly and without discrimination. We respect human rights including the rights of children. We are aware that sometimes policies disadvantage certain groups of people even though that was not the intention. The Council hopes to identify any such issues and make changes before policies are adopted. We do this by carrying out Integrated Impact Assesment. This is a process of thinking through how the the Strategy might affect different groups and human rights. We have done our best to identify potential issues. However, we are clear that people themselves are the best experts on their own lives and welcome comments.
Privacy Information about how we will use the data you give us through the linked survey is shown in our 'Privacy Notice' in the downloads below.
Accessibility Not all of the documents are fully accessible to assistive technology. The pictures are described not all of them are in line with the tex. Some cells in tables have been merged or split. The 'Accessibility' page of our website has more information. Please contact us if there is anything you cannot fully access.
Why your views matter
We hope that we have got the main ideas right:
- more trees and woodland in our area;
- more native woodland;
- woodland that will survive our changing climate and help us humans meet the challenges of extreme weather too;
- trees that make our places more attractive; and
- trees that reflect our history.
However, trees, woodland and forestry are important to many people for a wide range of reason. So, there may be areas where some of you will think we should do more, do things differently or have downright got it wrong. We are open to suggestions. We want to get this right.
What happens next
Thank you for responding to our consultation. We will read and think about everything that has been said. If we agree changes should be made to either the Strategy or any of the related assessments as a result, we will make them. We hope to complete this and adopt the Strategy before the end of 2023.
Events
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Dunbar Drop-in Event - Bleachingfield Centre (Dunbar Library), Dunbar
From 22 Jun 2023 at 16:30 to 22 Jun 2023 at 20:30Come and ask any questions you have about the draft Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian in person.
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Prestonpans Drop-in Event - Pennypit Centre, Prestonpans
From 26 Jun 2023 at 16:00 to 26 Jun 2023 at 20:00Come and ask any questions you have about the draft Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian in person.
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Musselburgh East Drop-in Event - Musselburgh East Community Learning Centre (Games Hall), Musselburgh
From 27 Jun 2023 at 12:00 to 27 Jun 2023 at 18:00Come and ask any questions you have about the draft Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian in person.
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Tranent Drop-in Event - Room 2, Fraser Centre, Tranent
From 28 Jun 2023 at 16:00 to 28 Jun 2023 at 20:00Come and ask any questions you have about the draft Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian in person.
Areas
- All Areas
Audiences
- Anyone from any background
Interests
- Residents' views and priorities
- Young people's views and priorities
- Getting involved
- Physical Activity
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- Children & young people
- Older people
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- Voluntary / Third Sector
- Health & Social Care
- Disability
- Mental Health
- Volunteering
- Flood Management
- Poverty
- Social Inclusion
- Equalities
- Town Centres
- Climate Change
- Active Travel
- Parks & open spaces
- Learning
- Environment & sustainability
- Planning & development
- Traffic & transport
- Waste & Recycling
- Biodiversity
- Energy
- Accessibility
- Tourism
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