Farm News
Read the latest news and stories from the farm, plus information on nature-friendly farming and food growing…
(our upcoming events and volunteering sessions are now on the events calendar)
Catch up with what’s going on, and see what you can get involved with in June…
The growers take a look back at May in the Market Garden and food fields…
As Scotland faces increased risks from wildfires, we wanted to share some key things with you to help keep yourselves and the farm safe…
A sad event, plus some big questions that we haven’t written about much, but we think about all the time…
Catch up with what’s going on, and see what you can get involved with in May…
The growers take a look back at the 2026 propagation season in the Market Garden and food fields…
Granton Rouge D’Ecosse wheat on the gallery walls, in ceramic artist Eleanor White’s piece ‘Quern’…
Community-owned energy for regeneration and resilience…
Here is a look back at 2025, with a downloadable annual report with outline plans for 2026…
We look back at all the work on seeds in 2025 at the farm, and forward to all the plans for 2026…
Lisa Houston takes a look at why we save seed, and some of the struggles between those who look after seeds for the benefit of their communities, and those who control them for power and the profits of their shareholders…
Are you part of an organisation or community group in North Edinburgh? Would your group like to participate in this year’s Community Tattie, Beans and Peas project? Read on…
It’s time to shift to longer hours in the community garden – from Tuesday 3 March, the drop-in times will be Tuesdays 1-4pm, and Thursdays 2-5pm…
Why we are now untying the trees from the stakes in the woodland area…
A land partner update – volunteering opportunity in the willow beds with Anna Leibmann…
The growers take a look back at November in the Market Garden…
Artist Natalie Taylor’s Foodbank for Pollinators is coming to Lauriston Agroecology Farm – find out more about the project…
Volunteer Huw Pennell shares the 2025 bee survey results, and an update on some of the bee-friendly additions to the farm this year…
Butterfly Conservation volunteer Huw Pennell shares the 2025 survey results…
A look back at a successful first community tattie patch – and call to join us for anyone who wants to do it again…
The growers take a look back at October in the Market Garden…
Drop-in Gardening times: open Tuesdays and Thursdays 1pm-3pm from 28 October…
The growers take a look back at September in the Market Garden…
Lovely news, and it’s a public vote – please vote for the farm to win the Community Initiative Award at the RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards…
Seed saving at Lauriston Farm – find out how you can get involved this autumn and winter…
The growers take a look back at August in the Market Garden…
Early results are in! Find out how the first community tattie patch is working out at the farm so far…
The growers take a look back at July in the Market Garden…
Thank you to everyone who took part in the 2025 bird survey. In this article, Professor John Frank gives an update on the bird census work so far and shares this year’s count…
Thursdays drop in times are changing to 2pm-5pm for the summer (Tuesdays stay the same)…
The Market Garden growers share their update from June…
The Market Garden growers share their update from May…
A powerful new report from the Food Ethics Council on the state of the UK food system and the organisations trying to change it…
We’re going deeper into vermicomposting – a sustainable and efficient method of composting with worms…
The growers take a look back at April in the Market Garden…
The growers give a round up of news from the Market Garden in March…
We’re about to start work preparing the Middle Field to go into food production, along with more within the deer fenced area. Find out about the plans…
The farmyard (between the South gate from Toby Carvery car park and the wildflowers viewpoint/ gazebo) is now an ‘on-leash’ area for all dogs. We know this may be frustrating for some dog walkers, and we ask for your understanding and support when we explain why we need this…
Days are getting longer and there’s more to do! Drop-in gardening hours now extended to 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays…
We could reintroduce Great crested newts at Lauriston Farm, but we need more support from dog guardians…
Drop-ins resume from the midwinter break, still on winter hours for light…
Local entomologist David Notton provides an update on his moth survey at the farm…
We joined the other finalists in Glasgow on Monday 2nd December for the award ceremony…
We’re on the telly! Programmes featuring the farm for the BBC Food & Farming Awards…
Volunteer Huw Pennell gives the results on the 2024 bumblebee survey at Lauriston Farm…
Huw Pennell, volunteer with Butterfly Conservation, gives an update on the 2024 Butterfly Survey…
Thank you to all the customers for the support this year, and to our north Edinburgh stall partners for adding their beautiful offerings to the mix…
An exciting new post in the food growing team, to expand our Market Garden production and help develop our field-scale production…
New mural in the farmyard, designed and painted by north Edinburgh young people…
In case you need any more persuasion to lend a hand to our growers Daisy , Dav and Jossie…
There’s still time to get involved – find out more and sign up…
Our weekly Market Stall has a range of produce from north Edinburgh – either grown right here at the farm, or made locally. Here, we explain more about the wildflowers…
Thank you to everyone who took part in the 2024 bird survey. In this article, Professor John Frank gives an update on the bird census work so far and shares this year’s count…
(and better than ever). The farm Market Stall will be open again from Thursday 27th June 4:30pm-6pm, with fresh veg and much more…
Exhibition in Glasgow extended to 30th June, and Iona Lee and Sophie Gerrard on Scotland Outdoors…
Catch up with what’s going on, and see what you can get involved with in June…
We are seeking a Financial Expert (individual or organisation) to work with us on a short-term project to improve our co-op’s financial systems…
Read for more on the new structures appearing on the site this year…
Thank you to the Out of Doors team for visiting the farm to give an update on the flax project…
We have an exciting new role to join the farm team and work with North Edinburgh communities…
Catch up with what’s going on, and see what you can get involved with in May…
In anticipation of Agroforestry Open Weekend, here’s the latest on our tree planting at the farm…
Entomologist David Notton on the new honey bee colony found at the farm, and the work to support pollinators…
Our series of creative and practical workshops to explore the reciprocal relationships between people and the life in the soil…
Catch up with what’s going on, and see what you can get involved with in April…
We collected some seed stories from the farm for 2024 Seed Week…
Join us this March and April for workshops leading up to a big Worm Appreciation Day – because Worms Obviously Require Motivation Seasonally …
Style the community kitchen clay oven to make it unique to the farm…
We’re looking for two new locations in Cramond and Davidson’s Mains for our veg bag pickups – do you know any suitable spots? Please get in touch…
Poet Iona Lee has written ‘The Seed Kist’ inspired by the farm, as part of an amazing new arts projects We Feed The UK…
Could the farm be part of an active travel route for you…
We gathered to celebrate the young trees, and wish good things for them, and for all, for the coming year…
Our February newsletter is out today – we’ve got volunteering sessions for Trees, Wildflower & Willow Planting, Market Garden Volunteering is back, plus we need your help…
Some nice captures from the camera at the pond – teal & mallards flying in, and a fox having a drink…
Drop-ins are back tomorrow (Thursday 18th) after the winter break – wrap up warm and come along…
Take a look back at a productive and fun 2023 growing season in the Community Allotments and Garden…
Among other incredible progress and noteworthy moments in the Market Garden, 2023 saw the team on a major quest to find the perfect pumpkin varieties to grow on the farm…
You can get involved in the Community Orchard at the start of 2024…
Jamie Somerville gives an update on plans for biodiversity monitoring in 2024, and dives into detail on earthworms and soil microbiology…
Final drop-in session for the year Thursday 14th December…
Rhyze Mushrooms will be setting up on the farm in 2024. Find out more and fill in their community consultation as they plan their move…
Please do not allow dogs to go into any of the ponds at the farm. We don’t mean to be killjoys, but dogs swimming in the ponds are killing all chance of bringing the ponds to life. We need your help to make the farm a biodiversity hotspot for all to enjoy…
Please tell us how accessible you (or friends or family members) find the farm at the moment – your responses will help us improve farm accessibility for all…
Grass Roots Remedies are settling in to their plot on the farm. Here they introduce themselves and explain more about their plans…
Huw Pennell, volunteer with The Butterfly Conservation Trust, gives an update on the 2023 Butterfly Survey…
Thank you to everyone who came along on Thursday evenings…
Calling all organised and finance-minded people (previous landwork experience not essential)…
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Harvest Celebration – it was a great day…
TUESDAY sessions now finished for the year, THURSDAY drop-ins continue 1-3pm…
Professor John Frank provides an update after two years of running the bird census…
Part-time (3 day-a-week) role in the co-op for a new Farm Co-ordinator with project management experience…
Join us for an afternoon of celebration, music, storytelling, poetry and food…
Brilliant work from Edinburgh Tool Library and community volunteers…
Lisa – our own natural building expert – shares some information on our earthen building project, and the history of earth buildings in Scotland…
The Field Lab project to grow flax for textiles featured today on BBC News and Farming Today…
Dr Hannah Rudman from SRUC presents a film on her study of biodiversity monitoring at the farm…
If you volunteer, have an allotment, buy veg, come to workshops, walk in the fields, or interact with the farm in any other way, please fill in the survey…
New groups have started and we are now full for 2023 – more allotment spaces next year…
Find out about our regular drop-in sessions…
We’ve sent the August newsletter out to email subscribers – more info and a link…
The team from the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘On Your Farm’ visited to find out about our project…
We’ve got a new website – which means a change to email updates…
This is not our project but we wanted to share news of this opportunity for women in Scotland…
2023 spaces now full (thank you!) – but you can still register your interest for the future…
No Tuesdays drop-ins (temporarily) – to make space for an extra Grow Your Own course…
Good news from the early birds who made it to the March bird survey walk…
We have new plot space available, read on for details…
We created seven ponds as habitat for frogs, toads and newts, plus specialist wetland plants. We were hoping we would get frog spawn this spring, but sadly…
Edinburgh Community Climate Fund voting is now open and we have a proposal from the community allotments…
Seed stories from the Lauriston Farm community, and news of Scotland’s Seed Kist…
We now have webcams installed as part of our biodiversity monitoring efforts.
Would you like to be part of creating a new community orchard? Read on…
Toni was a founding member of EAC and co-ordinator of agroforestry programme + farm development and community engagement….
Fencing protection in place for curlews and other coastal birds, plus news on wildlife cameras and a request for dog walkers…
Drop-ins are finished for a winter break – more to come in the new year…
Thank you to all the folk who came along to the latest Open Day, and to the volunteers who welcomed our visitors and looked after the veg stall and the apple pressing.
Your help needed, if you’ve been involved with the Market Garden as a volunteer or veg stall customer…
Join us as we start our second season of new tree planting…
Join in with a fantastic community collaboration to sow wildflowers…
Thank you to everyone who came along to the September Introduction to Seed Saving workshop.
Join us to help take care of the young trees planted last winter…
Learn about earthworms and help us monitor the populations on the farm…
The Thursday veg stall has now finished – look out for announcements coming next year on how to buy veg from the farm…
Come and learn about the wheat growing in Granton, and help sow more at the farm…
Veg stall is on this evening, and there’s still time to signup for Market Garden volunteering…
Come and learn about the journey of the Great Granton Gourd (aka Fig Leaf Gourd)…
Help us record biodiversity on the farm with iNaturalist…
We look back at the first growing season in the community allotments…
Drop in drawing, parade percussion crewe, fermentation workshop, cantasoria and Cranky theatre writing…
Allotment & Market Garden volunteering sessions, plus veg stall…
Free workshops for Dandelion festival this week…
Thank you to all the volunteers so far, and here’s how to get involved if you haven’t already…
Coming to the farm, Alice Mary Cooper’s theatre show about the Australian women who saved their local wild space from luxury housing development…
Places available on our second free Grow Your Own course…
We will be running a 6 week Introduction to Growing Your Own Food course starting on Thursday 12th May….
We are now accepting applications from local groups or organisations for the first 10-15 allotment plots…
As the project picks up pace and more starts to happen down on the land we have started putting together a monthly update to keep our friends and neighbours informed about what we’re up to…
A big thank you to everyone who has helped us with planting trees so far. We’ve had a few questions from people interested in helping out, so we’ve got a bit more info about what’s happening and how you can get involved.
We are part of the new Scottish Seed Hub initiative…
The first 270 trees have been planted on the farm! We celebrated the Winter Solstice by beginning our grand tree planting programme …
Public access areas (35 acres) at the farm explained…
Fencing going up for food growing areas and wildlife protection
We joined the Farmers and Landworkers bloc at COP26 – marching for agroecological solutions…
Thank you to Edible Edinburgh for featuring us on their website…
Do you know anything about the history of farming practices at Lauriston Farm? We would love your help…
Creating a better food and land-use system for everyone – we share the Landworkers’ Alliance manifesto…
We have set pitfall traps around the farm in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, to get baseline information about invertebrate life on the farm…
Lauriston Farm features in the City of Edinburgh Council’s first food growing strategy – find out more about the plans and our role…
Resident ecologist Leonie Alexander explains more about birdlife at Lauriston Farm, and how our plans will enhance the habitat for them
The results are in! 1030 people responded to our community consultation – here we share the results and our response.
Early consultation shows great community concern for local wildlife – we explain more about how we will be supporting wildlife and nature-recovery at the farm.
Upcoming Events
One of the key opportunities in having an urban farm is the chance to connect and work with people; to include the local community in the workings of the farm, to provide education and training opportunities for people and to enhance the experience of being outdoors within nature in the city.