Month: November 2018

Bonfire Season: Advice to local parents

Dear Parents/Guardians

In the run up to bonfire season, Police Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Fire & Rescue are keen to keep everyone safe during the festivities. In previous years we have seen firework-related anti-social behaviour (ASB) and disorder in this area, and we are asking for your help to prevent this occurring again. Continue reading Bonfire Season: Advice to local parents

Communities Secretary to address EVOC annual general meeting

Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council (EVOC) is delighted to announce that Aileen Campbell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, will deliver a speech at this year’s conference and AGM. Continue reading Communities Secretary to address EVOC annual general meeting

November garden plant of the month: Skimmia

Skimmia,  four seasons wonder…  This shrub (officially called Skimmia japonica) constantly manifests itself in new ways throughout the year. In November the plant displays the buds of its sturdy, attractive flower spikes. The colour and the buds continue to look beautiful all winter long. In April/May the buds open and Skimmia flowers with white/pink flowers with a strong scent: bees love them. The first new buds appear at the end of August. And one constant is the leathery leaves that remain beautifully green throughout the year. 
Range
The Skimmia range has expanded in recent years with many new cultivars. They vary in terms of the colour of the bud, the leaf colour (green or variegated) and the compactness of the plant. There are both compact dwarf Skimmias and specimens that have a much larger, looser shape. The most common cultivar of Skimmia japonica is ‘Rubella’, with its red buds. There are also other red varieties such as ‘Rubesta’, ‘Rubinetta’ and ‘Red Dwarf’. Plants with green/white buds are: ‘Finchy’, ‘White Globe’, ‘White Dwarf’, ‘Godries Dwarf Green’, and ‘Fragrant Cloud’ (scented). Some red berry-bearing Skimmias are: ‘Pabella’, ‘Obsession’, ‘Veitchii’ and ‘Temptation’.
Skimmia trivia 
• The first Skimmia came to Europe in 1838 and ended up in the greenhouses of Kew Gardens.
• The Latin name was created in 1784 from ‘Miyama shikimi’, the Japanese name for Skimmia.
• Skimmia japonica ‘Pabella’ is a cousin of Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’, which is known for its beautiful sprays of flowers.
• For the plant to thrive in your garden, you need to place a male Skimmia alongside a couple of females to ensure pollination. The male plant can be identified by its shape, it flowers slightly more vigorously, and the flowers have pistils.
Origin
Skimmia is a member of the rue family (Rutaceae), which also includes citrus trees. The family resemblance is clear from the leaves: if you crush them, it releases a citrus fragrance. In the wild Skimmia grows in the forests of China and other parts of Asia such as the Himalayas. However, the version in your garden was most probably grown in a greenhouse.
What to look for when buying 
• Check the balance between pot size, the number of stems per pot, the shape of the plant and the number of buds on the plant.
• Skimmia is only offered with coloured buds in November. These buds will have formed in August, and will retain their marvellous colour until they flower in April. There’s therefore no need to check the ripeness in November.
Care tips
• Skimmia prefers to be in the shade where the berries will develop best.
• The plant prefers a lightly acidic soil such as rhododendron soil.
• If the leaves turn yellow the soil is not acidic enough.
• Skimmia does not like having wet roots, and therefore likes to be planted near trees that draw a lot of moisture out of the soil. In pots the water must be able to drain away.
• It’s better not to cut branches off the plant since that will harm the next flowering.
• Skimmia is moderately hardy, and only needs to be wrapped in fleece or bubble wrap during hard frosts.

Local democracy report embarrasses Scotland, says Wightman

Scottish ministers must respond to an embarrassing report that claims that Scotland is the ‘least locally democratic country in Europe’ by devolving new powers to councils, says a Green MSP.

Andy Wightman, the Scottish Greens’ local government spokesperson, says his party supports the Common Weal report’s recommendation for a new tier of councils in Scotland, insisting that two, and in many cases three tiers, are typical in other European countries.

Mr Wightman, a Green MSP for Lothian, said: “This report (see below) adds to the wealth of evidence highlighting the poor state of local democracy in Scotland. Its findings are welcome and while many will perceive its recommendation to create another tier of local democracy in Scotland to be radical, having just a single tier of councils goes against the norm across much of Europe.

“Scotland’s status as the ‘least locally democratic country in Europe’ is not one to be proud of, in fact it’s embarrassing. Ministers at Holyrood can however revive local democracy by devolving more powers to councils and require them to include local communities in decision making.

“Local government needs substantial and far-reaching reform to make it more local and more democratic and we’ll continue to honour our manifesto commitment to challenge ministers on their slow progress.”

Development Councils

Edinburgh slips to sixth in UK city rankings

  • Oxford and Reading top growth league for third year running, but Preston most improved.
  • Cities in the Midlands & North of England amongst fastest improving for second year running
  • Falling unemployment helped some cities improve ranking in latest year, overtaking most improved cities from previous years
  • The price of success in terms of reduced housing affordability and increased average commuting times is becoming increasingly evident for cities at the top of the index rankings

Edinburgh has dropped from fourth to six place in the rankings of the UK’s top cities in analysis published today.  Oxford and Reading top the index. Continue reading Edinburgh slips to sixth in UK city rankings

Local MSP sets up shop in supermarkets

Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson is holding a series of advice surgeries in supermarkets around the constituency. These pop-up surgeries aim to give more constituents the opportunity to talk to Ben about any issues, concerns or ideas they may have. Continue reading Local MSP sets up shop in supermarkets