Scotland’s extraordinary built heritage is among its most precious treasures, something that enriches the life of our country and its people in many different ways. It’s also, of course, something we can share with the rest of the world, as the tens of thousands of tourists who visit every year can attest.

Nowhere is the importance of heritage more apparent than in Edinburgh, which has rightly garnered a reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, not to mention World Heritage status.

With this in mind, it is entirely fitting that experts from the city are to travel to Turkey to work with specialists there on the restoration of two historic sites that have suffered due to political and social upheaval in the country. Edinburgh World Heritage, a charity, has been awarded £1.2m to fund a three-year programme in the historic cities of Mardin and Diyarbakir aimed at documenting buildings at risk, conserving structures, developing heritage conservation skills in the local population and helping implement a long-term sustainability plan.

Scotland’s expertise in this area is clear and the fact it can be shared on the global stage is to be warmly welcomed. Built heritage is vital in helping nations and communities understand their past, present and future, and we wish the Edinburgh experts well in their work in Turkey.