North Merchiston is an old cemetery, which is rarely used for burials now. It has become a haven for wildlife and the aim is to manage the area with nature in mind.  Most of the cemetery is wooded. There are a number of burial mounds, which are open areas of grassland, rich in plants.

The importance of cemeteries as urban green spaces is often overlooked.  Relatively untouched by surrounding urban development, cemeteries often act as green oases, providing a range of important natural habitats for many different – and often rare – plant life and animals.