Day: July 22, 2013

Blooming good news for Drylaw florist

Jackie Parry (2)Drylaw-based Curcuma Flowers has been accepted for the Good Florist Guide (GFG), a web based directory of the finest florists in the UK.

The prestigious accolade is only awarded to florists who really make the grade and allows customers to have an extra level of confidence that they are buying from the best, and local florist Fiona Smit said she was ‘delighted’ to be included in the Good Florist Guide.

Each florist shop or freelance florist invited to be in the guide has to pass a rigorous evaluation process before being approved. This meant Curcuma Flowers had to submit a detailed description of their floristry business, including range available and services offered as well as images of the business premises, their design work, their team and even the delivery vehicle!

But GFG businesses aren’t just some of the best looking, they also offer the very best value when it comes to buying bespoke floristry and flowers because not only are they true craftsmen but have the very best product knowledge to make sure the flowers and plants you buy from them will last for ages.

Commenting on their success Fiona Smit of Curcuma Flowers said; ‘We are delighted to be accepted into the Good Florist Guide. We are passionate about flowers, design, quality and the service we give to each of our customers so it is wonderful to have this recognised.’  

Caroline Marshall-Foster, the UK’s leading expert on independent bespoke florists, is responsible for setting up the Good Florist Guide. Editor of Florist magazine, the florist industry’s bible, and owner of Purple Spotted Media, a multi-faceted company providing services to all sectors of the flower industry, the Good Florist Guide is Caroline’s way of sharing the knowledge she has gained through years in the industry.

She said: “You can buy flowers virtually anywhere these days. But nothing really beats the experience of receiving fabulous flowers from a truly bespoke florist and without it costing an arm or a leg. The Good Florist Guide is my way of sharing all that is good about floristry. It allows consumers to know that the florist they use is able and willing to go the extra mile and make all their purchases, big or small, truly special.”

C.Julie 12.05 (1)

Innertube map goes green

Edinburgh’s unique Innertube map is now celebrating the launch of its third version – the Greenspaces edition. 

This green map highlights the many parks and green spaces that are easily accessible by bike or on foot using Edinburgh’s amazing network of off-street paths, made up of old railway lines, canal towpath, the Water of Leith walkway, coastal promenades, routes through parks or on dedicated segregated paths. As well as linking to parks and open spaces, most of the paths themselves go through woodland, parkland or by the sea at Silverknowes and Portobello.

The map has been created on behalf of the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) in partnership with The Bike Station, by Mark Sydenham, the originator of the Innertube map concept.  The map is part of the wider Innertube map project, a campaign to improve and promote Edinburgh’s 75km of traffic-free off-road paths, characterised by a London Underground style map.  This latest Greenspaces edition of the map highlights 54 of the city’s 145 parks, which have easy or close access to the path network, and is designed to encourage Edinburgh residents and visitors to use the routes to walk and cycle  to green destinations throughout the City, rather than taking the car.

The Innertubemap project was established thanks to funding from the People’s Postcode Trust, a grant giving body funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who funded this edition, and continues with a wide range of environmental improvement work along the routes, community volunteering sessions and guided activities, which are publicised on the project’s blog at http://innertubemap.com.

“We’re excited to be launching a green edition of the Innertube map and hope that it will inspire people throughout the city to take to the paths and explore the wealth of green networks, paths and open spaces that Edinburgh has to offer,” said Liz Stewart, Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust.

The map has been designed as an attractive, pocket-sized A7 format, which folds out to show the A3 map on one side, with useful information about environmental organisations on the reverse.  The map will be distributed to libraries, community centres, businesses and other organisations over the summer and anyone wishing supplies should contact info@elgt.org.uk.

The Innertube map project continues throughout this year, thanks to further funding from the Central Scotland Green Network Development Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage, supporting environmental improvement and community activity work delivered by the ELGT, with a programme of free community events and activities, all of which celebrate the Year of Natural Scotland 2013.

The Greenspaces edition of the Edinburgh Innertube map, is the third edition of the map since its launch in 2011. This edition follows the publication by The Bike Station of the student edition, funded by SESTRANS and Edinburgh’s universities and colleges, and the first edition, funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The map, designed by the Hillside Agency, has already made a big impact, with over 80,000 copies distributed to date.

greenmapphoto

 

Have your say on Leith Walk proposals

Local people, businesses and other groups are being invited to a drop-in event to view proposed designs and street layout for the Leith Walk programme tomorrow (Tuesday).  

The event follows a June meeting where local people and organisations strongly supported an enhanced design for Leith Walk as part of the Leith Programme to make the thoroughfare more pedestrian and cycle friendly.

Tomorrow’s event, at Nelson Hall in McDonald Road Library, from 2-8pm, will give local people and organisations the opportunity to view the proposed designs and discuss with officers the street layout for the Foot of the Walk to Pilrig Street and the Pilrig Street to Picardy Place sections of Leith Walk.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “The session follows a very productive meeting in June when the local community pledged their support for the project. I am delighted that these plans are close to being finalised and to complete our detailed consultation and design process we are now keen to talk to local people and businesses about the proposals.”

“As the construction work is being phased, with the Foot of the Walk to Pilrig Street section commencing first, we are aiming to have a finalised draft design for this section ready by the beginning of August. This will allow us to proceed with the required Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process prior to the work starting. We will also be displaying the Pilrig Street to Picardy Place section at the same time to allow local stakeholders the opportunity to comment on the emerging design for this section.”

“I am hoping a wide range of people attend and provide their views on all aspects of the project, in particular, parking provision and domestic waste bins, so please let other local people and businesses know about the event.”

Twenty walk for NEN

walkers1Around twenty hardy walkers – and two dugs! – took part in the NEN Walkathon on Saturday. The small but enthusiastic band braved sweltering temperatures to raise funds for the community newspaper.

The walk took off from Edinburgh College’s Granton Campus and visited a number of community projects – some of whom opened especially to support the walk – including Pilton Community Health Project, West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, Muirhouse Library and North Edinburgh Arts.

Zumba warmup at Granton Campus
Zumba warmup at Granton Campus

It’s not yet known how much was raised by the charity walkers, but although it’s unlikely to be enough to produce an August edition your support – and the support of those who assisted on the day – is greatly appreciated.

Welcome refreshments at PCHP
Welcome refreshments at PCHP

Thanking the walkers before they set off, NEN Chairman Martin Hinds said that the board will be seeking commitment from the council to ensure the community newspaper’s survival (report to follow).

walkers2