Dynamic Earth invites families on an Arctic Adventure this Christmas

Young explorers can learn about our planet and become Polar Protectors, as they journey to meet Santa at Dynamic Earth

Families are being invited on a unique Arctic Adventure to Santa’s Grotto this December, as Edinburgh’s Dynamic Earth brings the magic of Christmas together with science, discovery and a mission to protect our planet.

Returning for the festive season, Santa’s Grotto: An Arctic Adventure will see children become Polar Protectors and join Dynamic Earth’s resident Elf on an important Christmas mission – to uncover where a mysterious lost penguin has come from and help get him safely home to Antarctica in time for Christmas Eve.

Taking place on selected dates from Saturday 5 to Wednesday 23 December, the immersive experience will take families on a guided adventure with festive storytelling and plenty of opportunities for young explorers to discover more about the Earth’s polar regions. 

Rather than simply heading straight to Santa, families will begin in Santa’s Post Room, where they will be recruited as Polar Protectors before setting off to investigate clues and discover more about polar animals along the way.

The adventure finishes at the icy landscape of Santa’s Grotto, where families will meet Santa, reunite a new lost friend with his family, and have an opportunity to capture a festive family photograph. 

Each child will also receive a special gift token to redeem in the Dynamic Earth gift shop following their adventure, allowing them to choose their own cuddly polar protector.

The experience builds on the success of Dynamic Earth’s previous festive offering, which saw strong visitor engagement and sold-out experiences, while introducing a new adventure-led format for 2026 with a greater focus on exploration and storytelling.

This year’s programme has also been created to ensure it’s accessible to all, with relaxed sessions designed for those who would benefit from a calmer adventure featuring smaller group numbers and fewer transitions between locations. A British Sign Language (BSL) session, with two BSL interpreters present throughout, will also take place on December 6th. 

The festive fun goes beyond the grotto, with Dynamic Earth offering a wider programme of seasonal activities throughout December. Young scientists can take part in special winter-themed sessions of Dino’s, Dynamos and Dynamites Science Clubs, while families can settle in beneath the stars for festive Planetarium screenings including Frozen (sing-along), Home Alone, The Muppet Christmas Carol and Arthur Christmas.

For adults looking for a festive night out with a difference, Planetarium Lates will return for over-18s, combining the immersive surroundings of the Planetarium with screenings of Love Actually, Scrooged, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and Stargazing Late & Live.

Together, the programme offers families, young science enthusiasts and adults the chance to experience Dynamic Earth in a different light this winter – bringing together festive atmosphere, imagination and entertainment with a distinctly scientific sense of curiosity.

Suzie Holligan, Director of Visitor Experience and Events, said: “Christmas is all about imagination, curiosity and a sense of adventure, so we wanted to create an experience that captures that magic while giving children the chance to discover something new.

“Santa’s Grotto: An Arctic Adventure is much more than a traditional grotto. Our young visitors become Polar Protectors and have an important mission to complete, learning about the Arctic and Antarctic and the incredible animals that call these environments home along the way.

“We’re really excited to welcome families back to Dynamic Earth this Christmas and give them a festive experience they’ll remember – with a little bit of science and discovery along the way.”

Santa’s Grotto: An Arctic Adventure runs on selected dates from 5 to 23 December at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh. The experience lasts approximately 35 minutes and costs £25 per child, with up to three accompanying adults able to attend free of charge per booking. Admission to Dynamic Earth’s core galleries is not included.

Relaxed sessions will take place on 5, 6, 12 and 13 December, while BSL sessions will take place on 6 December at selected times.

For full dates, times, and to book tickets, visit the Dynamic Earth website: Christmas at Dynamic Earth | Dynamic Earth. Advance booking is recommended.

Edinburgh Science invites pupils to explore pathways into STEM at Careers Hive

26 – 29 October, National Museum of Scotland 
Open to the public 3 – 5pm daily

www.edinburghscience.co.uk | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | #CareersHive

The careers event with a difference, Edinburgh Science’s annual Careers Hive returns to the National Museum of Scotland from Monday 26 to Thursday 29 October.

Now in its 11th iteration, the 4-day event welcomes P7 – S3 school pupils from across Scotland to discover possible careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) industries by exploring new skills with hands on activities and opportunities to speak directly with STEM professionals working in Scotland today. 

At Careers Hive, pupils will take part in the Experience STEM Exhibition, located within the Museum’s Grand Gallery.

Designed to align Skill Development Scotland’s Meta-skills framework, the exhibition is divided into four themed activity zones, and led by volunteer STEM professionals. Pupils can take part in a wide range of hands-on activities, exploring and developing tangible skills that are utilised within current STEM roles including Data Scientist, AI Scientist, Clothes Designer, and Mechanic.

The Think Tank, also located within the Grand Gallery, offers a dedicated space for pupils to chat informally with professionals one-to-one and ask questions. 

Careers Hive also includes the Life After Leaving School panel series, bringing together several guest speakers from diverse roles, educational backgrounds, and stages of their career, to share their stories and insights. 

Panellists include Skills Development Scotland’s Modern Apprentice of the Year 2026 Sam Anderson, who during her apprenticeship at Muiravonside Country Park in Falkirk has increased the capacity for ranger-led education and activities.

Also featuring as a panellist is Holly Robertson, a Medical Writer for Alchemy Medical Writing who specialises in virology, immunology and genetics; and Zac Mooney Project Manager Apprentice for Scottish Water who secured two Awards at the Pipeline Industries Guild Professional Development Network Competition in 2024. 
 
During the day, Careers Hive is open to pre-booked school groups only. From 3pm to 5pm each day, families and visitors to the Museum are invited to explore the Experience STEM Exhibition located within the Grand Gallery.

Hassun El-Zafar, Director and CEO at Edinburgh Science said: “Scotland’s future will be shaped by science and technology, and every young person deserves to feel part of it.

“With demand for STEM skills rising across renewable energy, manufacturing and digital industries, closing the skills gap has never mattered more. Careers Hive gives students a real-world view of the jobs and opportunities STEM opens up, right at the moment they are choosing their subjects.

“It inspires those who will build careers in these fields and gives everyone a better understanding of a world that science is transforming. A STEM-literate society is a stronger, fairer one, and that is the future we want to help build.”

Careers Hive is supported by a range of funders, see www.edinburghscience.co.uk for a full list. 

Welcome to Drylaw’s Garden Kitchen

Introducing The Garden Kitchen, a new Gardening & Wellbeing Group at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.

The Garden Kitchen is a weekly group where adults from Drylaw and Telford can come together, spend time outdoors, grow food, learn new skills and enjoy good food and company.

Every Thursday, 10am–2pm, sessions will include:

• Gardening and food growing
• Cooking and sharing a communal meal
• Learning practical skills
• Peer support and conversation
• Opportunities to gain new qualifications and experience

The group is a welcoming space for anyone experiencing loneliness, poor mental wellbeing or social isolation, and is all about building confidence, making connections and feeling part of the community.

There will also be opportunities to work towards a Food Hygiene Level 2 qualification and develop skills that could lead to volunteering or employment.

If you’d like to find out more, please email Jane at wellbeing@drylawnc.org.uk

Better menopause awareness must be backed by timely treatment

COLLEGE of SEXUAL and REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE

More than 4 in 5 women feel comfortable discussing menopause with their GP or healthcare professional, according to new findings welcomed by the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH). 

However, while 83% of women surveyed as part of Menopause Mandate’s Big Menopause Survey 2026 were offered hormone replacement therapy (HRT), CoSRH warns that progress in menopause care is being hampered by issues around timely access to the full range of treatment and support. 

Hormonal coils (or intrauterine devices, IUDs) can be accessed through local sexual health services or GP surgeries when they are needed for contraception and usually take minutes to fit. But due to funding restrictions, women seeking a coil to manage perimenopausal symptoms are often passed between services before being referred to NHS gynaecology, where waits can be lengthy. More than three out of five (62%) of CoSRH members report that this is the case in their service. 

Dr Zara Haider, President of CoSRH, said: “Hormonal coils are not only a fantastic form of contraception, they can be life-changing for women experiencing perimenopausal symptoms by providing the progestogen part of combined HRT. Yet access too often depends on where a woman lives, rather than the care she clinically needs.

“Local funding restrictions can limit which women clinicians are able to provide hormonal coils to, meaning those over 55 years old can be pushed into an already overstretched NHS gynaecology system.

“For a procedure that takes minutes, it makes absolutely no sense for women to face months or even years of waiting along with repeated appointments and hospital visits.”

CoSRH’s Why must women wait? campaign is calling for fairer, more consistent access to hormonal IUDs for women who need them for gynaecological and menopause-related care, as well as contraception.

The campaign highlights how access barriers can leave women waiting months on a gynaecology waiting list alongside 750,000 women for a procedure that can take minutes. 

With 98.5% of women reporting that perimenopause symptoms affected their quality of life and 61% reporting a considerable or extreme impact, CoSRH is calling for action to ensure women can access the care they need.

This includes removing restrictions on access to hormonal IUDs, enabling seamless referral between services, investing in training and workforce capacity, making full use of trained professionals’ skills, and tackling inequalities in access and waiting times.  

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A wee reminder that Menopause Goals programme returns to Spartans Community Foundation this Thursday at 6pm.

Email jenniferpullen@spartanscf.com for more information.

National Literacy Trust: Loving Comics and graphic novels

Five reasons why children and young people told us they love comics and graphic novels 📚✨

Our latest research, published for National Magazine Day, found that the number of children and young people reading comics and graphic novels is at its highest level since 2017.

And that’s something to celebrate. Comics can be a brilliant way to enjoy stories, make reading feel accessible, and explore interests.

Take a look at what children and young people told us they love most about comics and graphic novels below:

Teach children and young people?

Get your pupils excited about reading through comics with our free Go All In 2026 online event for pupils aged 8-14 on 22 October with the National Year of Reading and Beano: https://loom.ly/HSzHXlw

Date set for Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre’s Festive Fayre

🎄✨ Drylaw Festive Fayre – Save the Date ✨🎄

Our Festive Fayre is back! Join us at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre for a lovely festive afternoon filled with seasonal treats, handmade gifts and plenty of community spirit.

📅 Saturday 28th November

⏰ 11am–2pm

📍 Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre

🎁 Browse stalls selling crafts, gifts and festive goodies

🍰 Enjoy homemade cakes and refreshments

🎅 Meet Santa, for the young and young-at-heart!

🎟 Try your luck at our tombola and look out for more surprises!

🛍️ Stallholder spaces are now open!

Are you a local maker or small business selling gifts, crafts or festive treats? We’d love to hear from you! Come along and be part of our Festive Fayre.

Stalls are £10 each, with limited spaces available.

📧 To enquire about a stall, email rebecca@drylawnc.org.uk

Whether you’re coming along to do some festive shopping, meet Santa or catch up with neighbours, everyone is welcome. It’s a free, family-friendly event and a lovely way to kick off the festive season!

We hope to see you there! 🎄❤️

Free Youth Sewing Classes

Want to learn practical skills, get creative, and make your clothes truly yours — for free?

Join our Youth Sewing Workshop — no experience needed!

Sign up using the link below/ on our website:

https://remode-collective.live.baluu.co.uk/…/youth…

We can’t wait to welcome you again!

Military Intervention on Trial: Veteran Diplomats and Frontline Journalists to debate at the Edinburgh Union

TONIGHT (Monday 19 October), the Edinburgh Union will host a debate on international affairs and tackle one of the most consequential foreign policy issues with the motion: This House Believes Military Intervention Has Done More Harm Than Good.

From the fallout of the Iraq War to ongoing crises across the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the efficacy and cost of foreign military intervention remain contested. The proposition that armed involvement stabilises regions is challenged by arguments that it generates further instability and humanitarian disaster.

The debate brings together experts in war, diplomacy, and investigative reporting. Arguing for the proposition will be Frances Guy, Chief Executive Officer of Scotland’s International Development Alliance and former British Ambassador to Yemen and Lebanon, and Dr Iain Overton, award-winning investigative journalist and Associate Professor at SOAS.

On the opposition, they will face Sir Hew Strachan, a leading Scottish military historian, Pritzker Literature Award laureate, and Professor of International Relations at the University of St Andrews, as well as Tim Ripley, a British defence journalist who has reported from active conflict zones in the Balkans and the Middle East.

This event will take place in Rainy Hall at New College, with doors opening at 6:30 pm and the debate commencing at 7 pm. Continuing with Edinburgh Union tradition, audience members will have the opportunity to challenge guest speakers and deliver speeches during the debate.

Euan Morgan, President of the Edinburgh Union, said: “The question of whether military intervention creates peace or perpetuates suffering is at the forefront of most contemporary clashes. As these conflicts dominate headlines, we must scrutinise the true impact of foreign military strategies.

“A panel of this calibre, featuring a former British Ambassador, a Pritzker-winning historian, and journalists who have exposed the realities of modern warfare from the frontlines, truly elevates this discussion.

“We are proud to give students the chance to step into the room with those who have shaped and reported on these interventions, and to challenge their perspectives.”

From Nuclear Bunker to Mythical Wonderland: International Volunteers Bring Scottish Folklore to Life

An international team of volunteers transforms Edinburgh’s historic Barnton Bunker into a handcrafted world of Scottish folklore, theatrical storytelling and unexpected encounters — all to help restore the historic site.

This Halloween season, a dedicated team of local and international volunteers is bringing Scottish mythology, history and imagination to life in one of Edinburgh’s most unusual settings.

Running from 20–30 October 2026, Greyfriar’s Bobby & William Wallace vs THE HAGGIS is a volunteer-created immersive storytelling adventure that invites visitors to journey through a series of handcrafted environments inspired by Scotland’s rich folklore and cultural heritage.

Set within the atmospheric surroundings of Barnton Bunker, a former military complex, the experience combines live characters, imaginative handmade scenery, creative lighting and sound, humour, suspense and moments of fright.

While the event embraces the spirit of Halloween, it offers something beyond the conventional haunted house. Rather than focusing solely on scares, the production places storytelling, character, artistic creativity and audience discovery at its heart.

Every environment has been imagined and brought to life by volunteers, transforming the bunker into a fantastical world where visitors encounter legendary creatures, unexpected heroes and an unfolding story.

A World Built by Volunteers

What makes this production particularly special is the people behind it.

Led by returning volunteer, artist and storyteller Jean Paul Archambeault, the experience has been imagined, designed and constructed from the ground up by a passionate team of volunteers from Scotland and around the world.

Working with salvaged and repurposed materials, and with limited resources, volunteers have spent countless hours crafting scenery, creating props, developing characters and transforming the former military complex into a series of fantastical environments.

The project celebrates what can be achieved through imagination, collaboration and community participation, demonstrating that memorable artistic experiences do not necessarily require large budgets or commercial production teams.

Each room represents another chapter in the unfolding story, inviting visitors to encounter characters and creatures drawn from Scotland’s rich mythological traditions.

The result is a production that reflects not only Scotland’s cultural heritage, but also the creativity, dedication and diverse perspectives of the international volunteers who have helped bring it to life.

Scottish Heroes, Mythical Creatures and a Very Mysterious Haggis

At the heart of the adventure is an unusual alliance between two of Scotland’s most recognisable figures: national hero William Wallace and Edinburgh’s beloved Greyfriar’s Bobby.

An ancient ritual known as The Feast has awakened a mysterious force. Under the influence of the enigmatic Haggis, creatures from Scottish folklore have emerged from their realms, threatening to disrupt the balance between humanity and the natural world.

Visitors journey through imaginative settings inspired by these legends, including:

  • An atmospheric ocean cave inhabited by a mysterious selkie.
  • A castle realm associated with the sinister redcap.
  • An enchanted woodland inhabited by the Ghillie Dhu and the faeries.
  • A war-torn Highland landscape haunted by a wolfman and the spirits of fallen Scottish warriors.

Through live characters, handcrafted scenery, atmospheric effects and storytelling, the bunker becomes a theatrical landscape where folklore, history, fantasy and humour intertwine.

Although the experience includes spooky encounters and moments of suspense, the emphasis is on immersive storytelling and the creativity of the volunteers, rather than scares alone.

The production deliberately combines darker themes with moments of playfulness and humour, creating an experience that is imaginative, entertaining and occasionally thought-provoking.

Bringing New Life to a Historic Bunker

The event takes place within the former Second World War RAF Fighter Command Operations complex at Barnton, a site with a fascinating military history and an ongoing programme of restoration.

Proceeds from the event will support the restoration of damaged sections of the bunker and contribute towards the ambition of developing the site as a distinctive space for arts, cultural activities, community gatherings and creative events.

The project is about more than preserving a historic building. It is also about creating opportunities for people from different backgrounds to collaborate, share skills, make art and bring new life to an extraordinary Edinburgh landmark.

Through this volunteer-led initiative, the bunker becomes both a place of historical significance and a living space for contemporary creativity.

The event demonstrates how heritage conservation, community volunteering and the arts can work together, creating something meaningful for both the people involved and the wider public.

An Invitation to Experience Something Different

Greyfriar’s Bobby & William Wallace vs THE HAGGIS offers an unusual opportunity to experience Scottish storytelling in a setting unlike any other!

Contact barntonbunky@gmail.com

TODAY: Last Day of the Dinosaurs at Blackhall Library

Last Dinosaur’s activities for October break at Blackhall library today:

2pm Dinosaur Paper Puppets – kids 4-10 years old

3.30pm Lego Club – Build your very own dinosaurs and their habitats – kids 5+ years old

Booking not needed, free event.

Children under the age 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult.