Day: November 1, 2017

Edinburgh gears up for winter

As the clocks are wound back and Guy Fawkes Night approaches, winter is well on its way, and Edinburgh is fully prepared for the colder months ahead. Plans, which draw on decades of winter weather experience, are already in place, with a fleet of gritting lorries, snow ploughs and mini tractors serviced and ready to go, as well as more than 14,000 tonnes of grit stockpiled in anticipation of icy conditions.

Continue reading Edinburgh gears up for winter

November’s House Plant of the Month: Cyclamen

Thanks to its white and brightly coloured flowers, Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) is the ideal plant to combat the dark day blues. It may look delicate, but it’s a strong bloomer that emerges from a sturdy corm. It offers all sorts of excitements. The green leaves grow in a rosette, are heart-shaped and often have attractive silver-grey or pale green markings. Slender stems unroll between the leaves on which incredible flowers emerge which stand out like flags. They can be smooth, have fringes or stick out wide like a rara skirt, and come in colours that nature has made special effort with.
Origin 
Cyclamen has long been known as a decorative plant, and is a member of the primrose family. The species that occurs in the wild in the forests and on stony mountain slopes around the Mediterranean from Spain to Iran is the ancestor of today’s houseplants. The philosopher Plato described the plant as far back as the 4th century BC. Cyclamen arrived in Europe in the 16th century, where it was grown in the English Queen Elizabeth’s botanic gardens, amongst other places. The plant faded from view for a while after that, but came back into fashion in the 19th century thanks to the Romantics, and has never dropped out of sight again.
What to look for when buying Cyclamen
  • Alongside colour and flower shape, it’s a good idea to check whether the plants on offer are specifically houseplants or patio cyclamens.
  • Cyclamens are offered in various pot sizes, from mini to giant. In all cases look for an attractive round full structure, the number of flowers per plant, the ripeness and the number of buds that have developed under the leaves and can ensure long continued flowering.
  • The plant should be free of disease and pests when purchased. Botrytis manifests itself in black patches on the flowers (spot) or mouldy patches between the leaves (grey mould). Check that the plants have not been placed close together for too long, and ensure that the flowers and leaves never get damp or wet from watering, condensation or excessive humidity. Working clean and dry, not placing the plants too close together and removing them from the sleeve is important in order to prevent botrytis.
  • If the flowers or the foliage are damaged or flawed, this is often the result of shipping or storage. There may also be wilted flowers on the plant, or the plant may be drooping due to lack of water. Yellow leaves indicate conditions which are too wet or too dry. Cyclamen can cope well with cool temperatures, provided it’s above freezing

Choice of range
The choice of cyclamens is largest during the period when there is an R in the month. The best-known are the F1 cyclamens: uniform, strong plants with good flowering characteristics. The range includes large-flowered, medium-flowered (midi) and small-flowered (mini) cyclamens. There are also micro-cyclamens, supplied in a 6 cm pot or a vase. The range of colours is endless, but red, white, pink, lilac and bicoloured plants predominate. The flower can be smooth or have fringes, and the foliage can be green or silver. New shapes and scented flowers are making the range ever more diverse.
Care tips for consumers 
  • Cyclamen like a cool and light spot, and does not like full sun or sources of heat nearby.
  • The plant drinks a lot. Keep the soil slightly damp. Ideally, cyclamens like to take up their own water at room temperature from a saucer which can then be removed. The plant will indicate when it needs water again by drooping a bit.
  • Regularly remove wilted flowers and plant in order to encourage new buds to open.
  • It’s a good idea to give some plant food once every 3 weeks to ensure lengthy and lavish flowering.
Sales and display tips for Cyclamen
The red and white flowers are perfect for a ‘festive season with a twist’ feel, whilst the pastel colours do well in the run-up to spring. Cyclamen is a good match with a classic container, whereby black lacquered wood or a black shiny pot in particular shows off the colours beautifully. The houseplant acquires a very energetic, modern look in colourful pots which echo all the spectacle within the pot. Display cyclamens together, preferably on a staging to optimally show off the fantastic shapes of the leaves and flowers.

Families in crisis: 265,000 Scottish households cry out for help

More than 265,000 households have received £140 million since the creation of the Scottish Welfare Fund in April 2013. Figures published yesterday show that between April and June of this year councils received 42,005 applications for Crisis Grants, an increase of 11% on the same quarter the previous year. Continue reading Families in crisis: 265,000 Scottish households cry out for help

Easyjet founder announces disability awards shortlist

  • Five finalists handpicked by Sir Stelios each win £10,000
  • Companies on the shortlist are Mobiloo, MentalSnapp, Evenbreak, Review My Wheelchair and Katherine Fortnum Ceramics.
  • Winner will win a further £20,000 at an award ceremony on 14 November 2017

EasyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and leading international charity Leonard Cheshire Disability announced today the five finalists for the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs 2017. Each has won £10,000 and now has a chance to win a further £20,000.

More than 70 candidates – a record entry – applied for the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs this year. The applications came from diverse business arenas, including fashion, retail, sport and leisure and tourism.

The five finalists are:

Jane Hatton of London, founder of Evenbreak (www.evenbreak.co.uk), an accessible specialist online job board where inclusive employers can attract more talented disabled talent and disabled jobseekers can find work with employers who will value their skills. 

Hannah Chamberlain of London, co-founder of Mental Snapp (www.mentalsnapp.com), a video diary app to help anyone actively managing their mental health.

James Brown of Wiltshire, founder of Mobiloo (www.mobiloo.org.uk) , the world’s first attended mobile toilet and changing facility for disabled people who need a hoist and changing table to use the toilet or be changed.

Dominic Lund-Conlon of Essex, founder of Review My Wheelchair (www.reviewmywheelchair.co.uk), which provides unbiased and clear reviews for wheelchair users to support their decision when purchasing a wheelchair.

Katherine Fortnum of Leicestershire, founder of Katherine Fortnum Ceramics (www.katherinefortnumceramics.com) , a producer of hand built ceramic homewares and decorative sculptures.

The overall winner will win £30,000 and an additional 4 shortlisted applicants will each get £10,000.

The award is jointly run by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation (www.stelios.com) and the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, (www.LeonardCheshire.org). Started 11 years ago, it recognises the achievements of disabled entrepreneurs in the UK.

Past winners have been drawn from the travel agency, building and IT sectors as well as businesses specialising in disability/mobility aids and services. The winner will be announced on Thursday 14 November 2017

Government must focus on preventative health measures, say Greens

The Scottish Government must give a greater focus to preventative public health measures in order to improve the National Health Service, the Scottish Greens will say during a Holyrood debate later today.  Speaking in an opposition debate on the NHS in Scotland 2017 report, Green MSP Alison Johnstone will say the report’s findings prove there’s a greater need for early intervention and for general practice funding to be reformed to help support GP retention. Continue reading Government must focus on preventative health measures, say Greens