Burgh Beautiful Linlithgow
Other Tree and Hedging Projects
Introduction
In addition to the more peripheral tree planting, Burgh Beautiful has also become involved in projects in and near the town centre, most notably the ‘Street Trees Project’ (planting in or near the High Street as shown on left) and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Tree (by the lochside). We have been involved, directly and indirectly, with several small orchards, some of which were ‘inherited’ from Transition Linlithgow. Finally, we have been directly involved in the planting of at least two hedges (in addition to the beech hedges which feature in some of our floral displays).
Street Trees Project
Burgh Beautiful was directly involved with a project to add some trees and greenery in the High Street, funded by a ‘Town Centre’ grant from the Scottish Government and managed via West Lothian Council. We dealt with DWA Landscape Architects through the processes of public consultation and procurement. It is significant that only 12% of respondents were opposed to more trees in the High Street, the vast majority being in favour and a few in favour with reservations. In the event, the money available didn’t go very far because of the high cost of street tree planting (compared to the price of the trees themselves), so the only trees provided in 2022 were the two hornbeams in front of the Partnership Centre (former County Buildings) and two rowans extending the line in front of the Vennel flats, plus a few in the raised grass area in front of the Health Centre.
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Tree
This was a project designed and directly managed by Burgh Beautiful, the site selected being in the park beside Linlithgow Loch. The species of tree chosen was a Magnolia Kobus, to be planted within a circular paved area featuring a sturdy steel semi-circular bench (made by Ogilvie Engineering of Kilmarnock), an inscribed granite plaque (supplied by Quality Masonry Services Ltd) and two small groups of Hebe ‘Sutherlandii’ shrubs with their attractive grey/green foliage. The tree itself and the shrubs were sold to us by R&B Nursery Ltd of Roslin in Midlothian.
The cost was met from legacy funding held by Burgh Beautiful and partly (mainly) from the Linlithgow &c Town Management Group, the One Linlithgow BID and customers of Platform Three. The completion of the project took a little longer than expected with the result that the Queen sadly died before the seating could be installed. Given the circumstances, the opportunity was taken to have a small plaque inscribed in memory of the Queen attached to the bench whilst still at the factory, so it must have been one of the first memorial benches to be provided anywhere in the UK, in late 2022 when the project was finally completed, as shown on right.
Orchards
Burgh Beautiful has been involved with several small orchards in the town. Those between The Vennel and Linlithgow Loch, near the Xcite Leisure Centre and Beechwood were projects inherited from Transition Linlithgow. The wallside orchard of espalier or fan-trained trees at Learmonth Gardens, financed using money received from Linlithgow Primary School, and planted with lots of help from the school’s pupils, was a Burgh Beautiful initiative in 2018.
The Broomyhill Community Orchard was created by the residents of Broomyhill Place, with the planting of bare root trees in December 2020. They transformed an unloved patch of uninspiring grass alongside the Mains Burn into a more desirable area where people are more inclined to linger. Other similar initiatives have included the orchard created by the First Step project at West Port.
Since installation, the various orchards have been maintained by a combination of Burgh Beautiful volunteers and local residents, depending on the area. Most recently, in October 2024, Burgh Beautiful enhanced the Vennel/Lochside orchard with the planting of 500 wild daffodil bulbs, Narcissus lobularis, received from West Lothian Council.
Hedges
Burgh Beautiful is becoming increasingly involved in the planting of hedges to soften the appearance of areas and provide a better environment for biodiversity and for the encouragement of wildlife. Examples of such initiatives are as follows.
Fiddlers Croft
Burgh Beautiful has been working with Historic Environment Scotland on the planting and subsequent maintenance of a hedge at the eastern edge of Fiddlers Croft at the east end of the Peel by the road to Bonnytoun Farm. The 52-metre hedge was planted by Burgh Beautiful volunteers towards the end of November 2022 and is protected by deer-proof fencing provided by Historic Environment Scotland. The hedging is of mixed species, designed to provide winter food and shelter for birds and blossom for insects. It is composed of hawthorn, blackthorn, elder, crab apple, rowan and wild rose.
Deanburn Hedge
Led by local volunteer Simon Whitworth, Burgh Beautiful has been leading the project to reinstate a wildlife hedge along the northern edge of the main open space in the CALA development, located at Deanburn Road/Katie Shaw’s Loan. In December 2023, 250 mixed native tree whips, mainly beech, were planted by Simon and other Burgh Beautiful volunteers and friends. The weather conditions were wet, but this does not seem to have dispirited the participants judging from the photograph on right!
Learmonth Gardens
In 2021, Burgh Beautiful volunteers enhanced the lower area of Learmonth Gardens by planting a new hedge in front of the railway fence. The hedge includes hawthorn, blackthorn, dog rose, hazel, field maple & bird cherry – all native species which provide food, nectar and shelter for a wide range of wildlife.
