Meet Sarah: Senior Projects Officer- Landscape

During Scotland’s Climate Week (28 September to 4 October) we caught up with Sarah Cheyne to hear about her hugely important role in designing, enhancing and protecting landscapes of all types, right across East Lothian. 

Sarah has been with our organisation for more than 30 years after studying Landscape Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art. “I joined the council as a Landscape Assistant and have spent my career helping to shape and improve the places where people live, work and spend their time," she explains. 

“Over the years I've worked on a huge variety of projects, from small planting schemes and play areas to larger public realm improvements, including the streetscape in front of the Corn Exchange in Haddington. Today, my role is focused on helping to protect and enhance East Lothian's landscapes, trees and natural environment, while ensuring that new development is sensitively integrated into its surroundings. 

“I feel very fortunate to do a job that I genuinely enjoy, in such a beautiful part of the country. One of the things I like most is the variety. No two days are the same. One day I may be working on the design for a new school landscape while the next I could be considering the landscape and visual effects of a proposed wind farm in the Lammermuirs. 

“I also enjoy knowing that the work we do has a lasting impact, helping to protect East Lothian's distinctive landscapes while creating places that people can enjoy for generations to come. 

“Many people may be surprised to learn that the Landscape Team consists of just three officers, given that we are involved in a wide range of work across the council! 

“We help protect and enhance East Lothian's landscapes, trees and woodlands and advise on planning applications, helping to ensure that new development is designed and located appropriately and that important landscape features and trees are safeguarded. 

“We are also helping with the new Local Development Plan, identifying the most sensitive landscapes in East Lothian and considering how these can be protected and enhanced whilst supporting necessary development. 

“Another part of our role is looking after protected trees in East Lothian. We implement Tree Preservation Orders and approve works to trees in conservation areas and those protected by Tree Preservation Orders or conditions of planning consents. 

“We also help deliver the Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian, encouraging management and planting of the right trees and woodlands in the right places, and recording new planting towards the ambitious goal of two million trees for the East Lothian Climate Forest. 

“Alongside this, we provide a landscape design service. A recent project I'm particularly proud of is the landscape design for the new Whitecraig Primary School. 

“This autumn and winter, I'm looking forward to working with colleagues and partners on a range of tree and hedge planting projects across East Lothian. Many of these are being supported through Scottish Government Climate Forest funding and will make an important contribution to the East Lothian Climate Forest, helping to create greener, more resilient places for both people and nature. 

“We are also partnering with groups across East Lothian. One example is with Natural Connections in Tranent for the delivery of the Tranent Tree Town, a three-year project to grow, plant and maintain 3000 trees across Tranent – significantly improving its canopy coverage which is currently one of the lowest across the settlements in East Lothian. Another example is the Hedgerow Restoration Project being led by the East Lothian Climate Hub which aims to restore and plant 45km of hedgerows across 30 sites in East Lothian by 2030.” 

For more information and to watch a video on the Climate Forest project, go to the Central Scotland Green Network website.