Nicolson Square renovation begins soon

A number of people have asked recently about the intention to remove cherry trees in Nicolson Square as part of the renovation works due to start later in the spring.

Workmen should begin on site within the next month or so. Rumours that the cherry trees in the nearby Meadows are to be removed appear to be without any foundation.

In summary, the flowering cherry trees are to be replaced mainly with rowans. The cherries (which were introduced to the square in the mid twentieth century) are not part of the original scheme and appear to be susceptible to a bacterial canker which is likely to require piecemeal replacement over the next 20 years. For this reason it is considered appropriate to replace them all at once. The current proposal is to replace them with a form of rowan - sorbus commixta - which is the right size and scale, and has a particularly notable autumn colour along with the other attributes of rowans. It is also intended to include 3 multi-stemmed cherry trees and the species chosen is prunus serrula which has an attractive burnished bronze bark.

Nicolson Square is within the central Edinburgh World Heritage Site. Detailed plans were passed at the Planning Committee in late 2006. The works also include

• additional upgrading of the footway on the south side of the square to introduce further Caithness paving and an extended footway outside the Methodist Church.
• replacement seating and improved access for the public are also proposed. In conjunction with the Police Architectural Liaison Officer the seating is to be well spaced apart to discourage larger congregation, with the option of removing them after a period of monitoring and review.

The links in the text will provide further detailed information.