Why Edinburgh should the lead way on environmentally friendly festivals – Helen Martin

EDINBURGH’S festival ferris wheel is under threat in Princes Street Gardens, largely because of its impact on trees.

There is more to it than that. Generator fumes and output can make flowers and any plants undetectable to bees and pollinators.

A huge ferris wheel – or any other power-driven fairground ride or an open-air ice rink – shouldn’t be located in gardens, or anywhere near floral, fruit or veg growth, including flower beds.

Depending on how the power is produced, usually by diesel generators, the atmosphere is polluted for humans as well as insects.

One of the reasons the rainfall is gathering in vast ponds in Princes Street Gardens is thanks to the Edinburgh Market construction flattening and ruining the soil and roots so it cannot absorb water.

If the council’s aims for carbon neutrality involves banning cars from the city centre, their vision for festival entertainment, be it food, concerts, construction or amusement gear, has to be reconsidered too… as well as (which I always protest against) explosive firework displays.

To be special and different from how hundreds of other cities celebrate summer and Christmas, green and environmentally-positive festivals would make Edinburgh a star when it comes to climate change action.