Green the Grey, a quirky two minute animation featuring life in Scotland’s capital and how it could be enhanced, is set to brighten our summer and inspire greater participation in Edinburgh’s natural environment.

Instigated by Edinburgh Living Landscape (ELL) partnership of organisations working to enhance the city’s nature, the fun and colourful animation is the latest in a series of projects aimed at increasing public engagement in green issues. Posting on Youtube today (Monday, June 18), it will also be viewed by nearly 3,000 people during the Luna Cinema festival at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) in September. As audiences settle down with their snacks and drinks to enjoy open air showings of The Goonies, The Greatest Showman and The Shape of Water, Green the Grey will have its big screen premiere as a film trailer under the stars from August 31 to September 2.

Dr Chris Ellis, Head of Scottish Biodiversity Research at RBGE explained the idea behind the initiative: “Edinburgh Living Landscape wants to encourage all of us to make some small changes for nature to improve the city in which we live, making it greener and healthier. The animation by recently graduated filmmaker Abby Edwards is a fun way to raise awareness of the project, encouraging people to consider how simple choices we make affect our quality of life now and for future generations.”

ENDS

For interviews or images, please contact: Shauna Hay on +44 (0)131 248 2900/07824529028

EDITOR’S NOTES

Green the Grey YouTube link https://youtu.be/sCoGfKsn1Ag

Luna Cinema at RBGE: https://www.thelunacinema.com/edinburgh-royal-botanic-garden/

NB: The Greatest Showman has now sold out

• Edinburgh Living Landscape is a long-term vision to increase the quality of the city’s urban environment. This will not only benefit wildlife but will also increase the quality of ‘natural services’  upon which city dwellers rely such as improved air quality, flood prevention, and increased encounters with nature. The project will reinforce and expand existing green networks and connect the people of Edinburgh to their natural environment. The Edinburgh Living Landscape will work to benefit local people and wildlife with an aim to make the city one of the most sustainable in Europe by 2050.
• Edinburgh Living Landscape is about working with and connecting green infrastructure at multiple scales, from window boxes, green roofs, street trees through to large parks and urban woodlands within the cityscape, and about making the links between a healthy environment, a healthy economy, people’s wellbeing and ultimately the prosperity of Edinburgh.
• Edinburgh Living Landscape is a partnership project between Butterfly Conservation Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scottish Wildlife Trust and University of Edinburgh

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a leading international research organisation delivering knowledge, education and plant conservation action around the world. In Scotland its four Gardens at Edinburgh, Benmore, Dawyck and Logan attract a million visitors each year. It operates as a Non Departmental Public Body established under the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, principally funded by the Scottish Government. It is also a registered charity, managed by a Board of Trustees appointed by Ministers. Its mission is “To explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future”.

Learn more: www.rbge.org.uk