01 Identity
Scottish charity record
- OSCR charity number
- SC000015
- Status
- Active
- Regulatory type
- Standard
- Designated religious body
- No
- Geographical spread
- Wider, but within one local authority area
- Volunteers
- over 250 volunteers
- Staff
- 10
- Postcode
- EH14 1TQ
02 Purpose and work
What the charity exists to do
The Water of Leith Conservation Trust works to protect and enhance Edinburgh’s river as a haven for wildlife and a valuable green corridor for people. We are the only organisation caring for the whole 24-mile Water of Leith, delivering over 250 clean-ups and 170 learning sessions each year. Our volunteers maintain the walkway, restore habitats, tackle pollution and invasive species, and monitor biodiversity—ensuring the river remains healthy, accessible, and resilient to climate change. Through education, outdoor learning, and community involvement, we connect people of all ages with nature and inspire stewardship of this vital urban ecosystem. Operating since 1988, we also run the Water of Leith Visitor Centre 7 days a week with free exhibition and community cafe. 'A healthy river cared for by it community'
Charitable purposes
- the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science
- the advancement of environmental protection or improvement
Beneficiaries
- No specific group, or for the benefit of the community
Activities
- It carries out activities or services itself
Constitutional objectives
To conserve the Water of Leith and its environs, promote the natural and built heritage of the river, advance education and benefit the community, by: a) Raising awareness of the river.b)Providing teaching and learning services for all age groups.c)Operating the Water of Leith Visitor Centre as an educational visitor attraction and community resource.d)Encouraging the protection and enhancement of biodiversity along the river and its environs.e)Enabling volunteers and the public to take practical action to conserve and enhance the natural and built environment.f)Encouraging responsible access to, and recreational use of, the river and its walkway.g)Promoting the sustainable use and management of the river.h)Working in partnership with others.
03 Annual returns
Income and expenditure history
| Year end | Income | Expenditure | Staff | Return received |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2025 | £1,347,147 | £607,784 | 10 | 5 November 2025 |
| 31 March 2024 | £445,072 | £445,969 | 10 | 14 October 2024 |
| 31 March 2023 | £267,471 | £254,011 | 10 | 3 November 2023 |
| 31 March 2022 | £187,993 | £214,659 | 10 | 7 October 2022 |
| 31 March 2021 | £152,023 | £188,686 | 10 | 2 December 2021 |
Figures are those reported by the charity and supplied in the OSCR bulk download. Blank facts remain distinct from zero.
04 Contact record
Principal office or trustees address
- Address supplied to OSCR
- 24 Lanark Road, Edinburgh
- Website supplied to OSCR
- www.waterofleith.org.uk
- Parent charity
- Not supplied
No direct external links on this profile. The official OSCR record and source documentation are available through BritDB’s dedicated source page.
05 Provenance
Source for this profile
© Crown Copyright and database right 2026. Contains information from the Scottish Charity Register supplied by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. BritDB is an independent service and does not claim to be the Scottish Charity Register.