The Roseburn Path in Edinburgh, a disused railway line now being considered as a new tram path, is a vibrant wildlife corridor. If the plan goes ahead, it will be Edinburgh Council’s responsibility to make sure what’s delivered preserves the route’s wild character and is safe for all users, writes Herald columnist Rebecca McQuillan

I love the Roseburn Path, which I’ll always remember as a lockdown haven. We lived near it then, in a flat without a garden, so for two adults and a five-year-old it was a place to get fresh air and run off energy. With time to fill, we explored it minutely. We climbed up onto the embankments. We found an old badger sett (or a fox den, we were never sure which) with multiple entrances. We collected leaves, pinecones, stones and endless sticks. We idly picked wild raspberries, which grow in abundance along its route. We spotted cats and dogs by the dozen but also foxes, squirrels and birds. I agree with local people when they talk of its mental health benefits. I can’t quantify in numbers the sense of peace we felt walking through this cathedral of trees, but it eased our way through a challenging period. I don’t think we were the only ones.

Running through multiple neighbourhoods, from Newhaven, Pilton and Drylaw to Murrayfield and the West End, the Roseburn Path is well used along its entire length by runners, cyclists, commuters, dog walkers, wheelchair users, parents with young children, retired people on........

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