Across Edinburgh, from Harrison Park to Powderhall and Leith Links, disused council bowling greens pose the question: how can these fantastic assets be repurposed for public benefit?

Successful Repurposing and Magnificent Views

The city is fortunate to have many successful community-led projects breathing life into underused spots, such as the Lochend Secret Garden and the Sunshine on Leith Community Garden (a flourishing little gem of a place, hidden behind tenements off Dickson Street). These initiatives enrich community life and green the city. Disused bowling greens are also being transformed; for instance, those in Victoria Park are gradually becoming community allotments through the council’s Thriving Green Spaces initiative.

There’s hope that the abandoned Regent Road Bowling Green in Abbeyhill can follow suit. While the site’s buildings are in considerable disrepair and may have to be replaced, the main asset is the sheltered bowling green itself. Surrounded by thick vegetation and home to a thriving rabbit population (any plan must be “rabbit friendly”), the green offers magnificent views over Holyrood Palace towards Arthur’s Seat. It’s arguably one of Europe’s finest urban panoramas.

Guardians for the Community

The Regent Community Bowling Club closed primarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation reflects a broader trend affecting bowling clubs in Edinburgh and beyond, as factors like declining membership and increasing maintenance costs have also contributed to the closure or underuse of various greens.

The green’s stewardship reverted to the council after the Covid-19 pandemic, prompting discussions about revitalisation. Now, two locals, Kat Chisholm (of Abbeyhill Colony of Artists) and Tom Adams, have taken on the lease as “guardians for the community” on a rolling month-to-month basis.

After two years of negotiations, Kat and Tom are finally taking concrete steps to secure the green’s future. To obtain a longer-term lease and unlock vital funding, they must now demonstrate to the Council strong community backing and a capable management team. As Kat put it, it’s time to “get the business side done too.”

While it’s “lovely to talk about flowers,” they must show they “mean business” by presenting clear evidence of genuine community engagement and a properly constituted organising committee. Essentially, the group must “get independent” and “take ownership.” Following a well-attended open day in June and an online meeting in September, an initial four-person Regent Road Community Green committee has emerged. This interim committee is currently consulting with the Development Trusts Association Scotland to formalize their structure and determine the next stages..

Denuding the Public Domain vs. Community Use

Kat and Tom are aware the council would consider a commercial venture, such as the Herringbone Restaurant model that occupies the former public toilets in Royal Terrace Gardens. Many view such projects as denuding the public domain. The most controversial example, the (failed) attempt to turn the former Royal High School into a hotel, illustrated the pressure on the council to seek large financial injections by offloading public assets.

The interim committee’s challenge is to prove that the emerging project is financially viable alongside community use. If this is established, the council would be content to “bow out and leave us to it.” A successful model is the Leith Community Croft, which transformed abandoned tennis courts and restored an old sports pavilion into a superb community space and café. This café generates essential income that supports the croft’s operations, demonstrating a sustainable social enterprise model that the Regent Road project could emulate. Securing a long-term future means creating a plan that is not only beneficial to the public but also robust and self-sustaining.

An Amazing Opportunity

Tom sees the site as an “amazing opportunity”; a “place where the community can gather and be creative,” a “place of healing,” and a contribution to “greening the neighbourhood.” His vision includes a central sculpture, with the green divided into four quarters for different uses (e.g., veg plots, a play area).

One idea to “keep the bowling vibe going” is to dedicate a quarter to pétanque, a growing sport that is easier to maintain than a manicured bowling green, using hard dirt or gravel. Keeping the bowling vibe going. Examples in the city include Ferranti Bowling Club in Inverleith Park. This would be an evolution of use, rather than a radical departure.

Those interested in getting involved with Regent Road Community Green can contact the project at: regentroadcommunitygreen@gmail.com.