East Lothian Climate Action Network

Nature in action

The biodiversity crisis is upon us and we have seen a huge reduction in our wildlife across East Lothian. Wildlife is essential for all life. How do we support wildlife across the region for nature to recover, whilst being mindful of nature needs in our urban spaces to our coasts, and being aware of the current agricultural reality of East Lothian?

East Lothian Biodiversity Collective

The East Lothian Biodiversity Collective aims to support biodiversity enhancement across East Lothian by connecting people, groups and projects together, building our knowledge and supporting and uplifting local projects. This is an open space of learning and mutual support, to help us increase, grow and upscale biodiversity in East Lothian.

The Biodiversity Collective will meet regularly at on site visits, have knowledge exchanges between projects, be a place of mutual support such as advice and resources, and create space for thinking about more ambitious action across East Lothian. We are aware of the crossover between biodiversity and food growing and will share opportunities between these themes and have the occasional joint site visit.

Sign up to join the East Lothian Biodiversity Collective

East Lothian Nature Projects

  • East Lothian's Hedgerows need your help. Photo / Scottish Government, Crown Copyright

East Lothian Nature Case Studies

Biodiversity projects funded by the ELCAN Seed Fund

Biodiversity Circle

Status: Establishing  |  Created: 03/07/2026  |  Next review: 05/07/2026

Aim

The Biodiversity Circle provides the means by which the ELCAN community might influence and shape ELCAN’s decision making on Biodiversity so that it is aligned with the East Lothian Local Biodiversity Action Plan and feeds into and helps ensure delivery of the ELCAN 5 year strategy.

Domain

The Biodiversity Circle will:

  • Review and assess progress on delivery of the East Lothian Local Biodiversity Action Plan – working collaboratively with the Policy Circle.
  • Against the Local Biodiversity Action Plan:
  • Represent ELCAN on the East Lothian Biodiversity Partnership
  • Feed into ELCAN’s 5 year strategy (Biodiversity work)
  • Provide a steer to the East Lothian Climate Hub’s work on Biodiversity (which projects are developed/ taken up)
  • Be a key link between the Council’s Biodiversity team and ELCAN
  • Support fundraising efforts for ELCAN projects for biodiversity
  • Help steer the Biodiversity Collective to enable it to flourish and help meet the objectives of the Biodiversity Collective. As part of this to help feed into the yearly programme of events for the East Lothian Biodiversity Collective
  • Report into the ELCAN general circle to ensure cohesive work

Circle Members

RoleName
Lead Jo Gibb