This consultation invites residents, community groups and visitors to shape the future of one of the area’s most-valued green spaces, ensuring its heritage, woodlands and parkland continue to serve local needs.

The previous plan 2015-2025 guided by the Kinneil Estate Advisory Group delivered a number of improvements which include:

• Woodland management: initial thinning and path upgrades have improved forest health and accessibility
• Signage and wayfinding: new entrance and way finding signage as well as interpretation panels
• Community activity: regular volunteer days and events have encouraged local participation and generated modest revenue for reinvestment.

Now following surveys and stakeholder engagement carried out between August 2024 and May 2025, the draft masterplan groups proposed actions under four themes:

• Growth: increase visitor numbers through targeted promotion and improved access and explore opportunities for enhanced visitor facilities and activities
• Sustainable Management: develop an updated Urban Woodland Management Plan, enhance the sites biodiversity and exploring options for alternative uses of vacant buildings 
• Community Engagement: strengthen partnerships with existing groups such as Friends of Kinneil and local schools and expand volunteer programmes and establish new links with community organisations
• Heritage Protection and Interpretation: safeguard the Estates heritage and enhance on-site interpretation through signage and digital media.

These themes support six specific aims of: attracting a broader visitor base; conserving heritage assets; increasing community involvement; identifying revenue-generating opportunities; managing natural resources and providing educational activities.

As part of this work, the Council is also consulting on a draft Urban Woodland Management Plan for Kinneil Estate which is being developed by Green Action Trust. The survey invites feedback on how local woodlands are used, valued and maintained, and will inform future management priorities.

The consultation survey is available online until 31 July 2025. Paper copies of the survey will also be available at Kinneil Museum and Bo’ness library along with copies of the draft masterplan.