Re-Imagining Victoria Park Bowling Greens

In 2023, Edinburgh Leisure returned several unused bowling green sites—including two in Victoria Park—to the Council. Since then, the Parks & Greenspace team has been exploring ways to repurpose these areas for community use. Feedback from extensive public engagement highlighted key priorities: a community growing space, sensory garden, and a community café.

The Consultation & Engagement Hub (survey period closed 8 June 2024) received 271 responses, showing strong support for making the park more welcoming, accessible, and beneficial for both people and wildlife. On the Consultation Hub you can find detailed information about the consultation.

Working closely with stakeholders—Friends of Victoria Park, Trinity Community Council, Trinity Academy, and local residents—we developed a series of improvement concepts. Atkins Realis landscape architects refined these ideas in the online report: Re-Imagining Victoria Park Bowling Greens Report – Thriving Greenspaces.

Since then, we have been exploring the next steps to take this work further. This includes a comprehensive review covering cost estimates for reopening facilities like the toilets and pavilion, as well as exploring options to activate these spaces in a way that benefits the community. We have been working with the community throughout this to ensure that we are aligning with their needs, and to agree priorities together.

In January 2025 we advertised expressions of interest for two key projects:

Community Growing Space: To be managed by a local partner.

Community Café: To repurpose the pavilion.

We received wonderful ideas and applications for running these spaces, and extend our thanks again to everyone who applied. The review panel, including liaisons from the community council and Friends of Victoria Park, has selected Earth in Common as the preferred partner.

About Earth in Common

Earth in Common, an environmental charity based in Leith, addresses food system issues, climate change, and social inequality. Formerly known as Leith Community Crops in Pots, they promote urban crofting to reclaim urban green spaces for community food growing and education. Their experience with Leith Community Croft on Leith Links Park will help engage local people in shaping multifunctional greenspaces, including:

Food-growing opportunities

Biodiverse nature zones

Recreational areas

Find out more about Earth in Common on their website at Earth in Common | Environmental Charity | Scotland

Funding

A total of £50,000 from the food-growing budget has been allocated to create the community growing area. We are also applying for additional funding to bring the full vision to life.

Pavilion Repurposing

For the pavilion, the Council’s Estates Department will carry out an additional consultation to change its use to a community café. At that stage, the community will be asked for their views on the proposed use of the building. Meanwhile, setting up a new community growing space is quite a big task on its own, so this will be the priority for Earth in Common in the first instance, with the pavilion to be used to support the growing activities.

Drakkars Drift

garden design

We have a rare opportunity to bring an award-winning garden—Drakkar’s Drift—to a permanent home in Edinburgh’s Victoria Park. Designed by RHS Young Designer Luke Coleman, a resident of Leith, the garden was originally created for the RHS Wentworth Woodhouse Flower Show: Drakkars Drift designed by Luke Coleman at RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse, South Yorkshire 2025 / RHS.

Originally created for the RHS Wentworth Woodhouse Flower Show by RHS Young Designer Luke Coleman, Drakkar’s Drift is a stunning, immersive garden inspired by Scotland’s historic ties with Scandinavia, the healing power of nature, and sustainable design. The garden was on display at the Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show in Wentworth Woodhouse, where it was awarded the Gold Medal, Royal Horticultural Society Young Designer of the Year, People’s Choice, and Best Construction.

Now, we have the chance to relocate this garden to a disused bowling green in Edinburgh, transforming it into a beautiful, accessible public space for the whole community to enjoy.

Thanks to generous sponsorships, trade discounts, and in-kind contributions secured for the RHS show, the garden currently includes:

4 mature trees
1,500 herbaceous perennials
13.5 tonnes of mossy field boulders, including a rare Saltire boulder
12 bespoke perforated mild steel hexagonal habitat columns (1.25–2.5m tall) – living sculptures that support biodiversity

While the show garden was ~100 m², Luke will be adapting and expanding it to ~200 m² for public accessibility, integrating paths, seating, sensory planting, and wildlife-enhancing features to reflect community priorities.

How to get involved

Relocating and installing this remarkable garden setup costs £50,000—covering transport, site preparation, and build. Without support, the garden could be sold elsewhere.

We’re calling on individuals, businesses, and organisations who care about community, culture, and green spaces to support this project.

Donate whatever you can—every contribution makes a difference

Share this campaign with friends, neighbours, and local networks

Sponsor a feature of the garden or contribute in-kind services

Volunteer to help with planting and community events

Together, we can turn an unused space into a living, breathing celebration of nature, heritage, and community.

Support our campaign on Crowdfunder

Stay Connected

Connect with Friends of Parks group: Follow the Friends of Victoria Park on social media for the latest updates and events and join in by emailing friends@victoriapark.org.uk.

Stay Updated: Check back here for news, planting opportunities, and events. For further details, please contact thrivinggreenspaces@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Victoria Park is a Green Flag–awarded, highly valued community asset. Your support will help us transform this space into something truly special.