SIX rare trees are to be planted in parks in the Scottish capital as part of a major conservation project.

Edinburgh City Council and the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh got together to plant the first - a Siberian Spruce - in West Princes Street Gardens.

It marks the beginning of a scheme to conserve threatened tree species around the city, as part of the RBGE's International Conifer Conservation Programme.

Launched in 1991, the programme combines horticultural research with conifer conservation, and will now benefit from the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the council and RBGE.

The council has now established a new tree nursery at its Inch Nursery, where conifers and other internationally collected tree samples supplied by RBGE will be grown, before being planted in public parks and gardens across the city.

Environment Convenor Lesley Hinds said: "This is a really important partnership for Edinburgh.

"Not only will this enhance our beautiful and world-famous parks, but it will benefit the conservation of endangered trees for generations to come.

"We have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with RBGE over the decades - long may this continue."

Nigel Bagshaw, Green councillor for Inverleith, said: "Anything that adds to the tree cover in Edinburgh is to be welcomed."

Researchers from RBGE will also collect cuttings from the city's rare elm collection, as well as heritage and veteran trees throughout sites across the city, which will be cultivated to preserve the city's nationally important elm and genetic tree resource.

David Jamieson, the council's Parks and Greenspace Manager, said: "We have worked with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for many years and are delighted to help secure the conservation of the some of the world's most endangered trees.

"Edinburgh's 142 parks already provide a rich local biodiversity for people to enjoy, a biodiversity that will be enhanced even further through this project."

Martin Gardner, co-ordinator of the International Conifer Conservation Programme at RBGE, said: "What an extraordinary opportunity to work with the Parks and Greenspaces of the city of Edinburgh in order to extend the conservation work of the RBGE. Our collaboration will help to secure the long term future of some highly threatened tree species."

The five-year agreement between the Council and RBGE, not only aims to conserve endangered trees, but intends to increase biodiversity in the city's parks.