Month: October 2023

GC Live to back local charity Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas Campaign

25p per every full-price ticket sold for Wondrous Woods and Starry Nights will be donated to Cash for Kids to support local children across Scotland’s central belt this Christmas. 

GC Live, a new major events organiser has announced that they will be donating 25p from every full-price ticket sold for their two largest seasonal events to Cash for Kids Mission Christmas. 

Now the largest gift appeal in the UK, Mission Christmas helps ensure every child wakes up to a visit from Santa as presents are delivered to hundreds of thousands of children who would otherwise go without. 

Geoff Crow, Director of GC Live said, “We are delighted to support Cash for Kids with their Mission Christmas campaign.

“With an expected audience of over 60,000 visitors across both events, we are looking forward to being able to donate a sizable sum to the charity which will help support those kids who need presents the most at Christmas time.” 

Wondrous Woods, at Gosford House near Edinburgh and Starry Nights at Dean Castle near Kilmarnock, will be delivered by technical and event management partners, 21CC Group and will offer magical illuminated experiences for families across Scotland.  

Cash for Kids East Lothian’s Charity Manager, Vic Hendry said: ‘We are so grateful for the support we are receiving through the Wondrous Woods and Starry Nights illuminated trail experiences.

“The money that’s donated through the ticket sales will buy presents that will bring joy to many local children, allowing them to experience the magic of Christmas, as every child should.” 

Cash for Kids Senior Corporate Fundraiser for the West of Scotland, Rebecca Campbell, added: “We are delighted to have been selected as the chosen charity for the Starry Nights event at Dean Castle.

“The funds donated to Cash for Kids will help us make Christmas special for local children who would otherwise miss out on this magical time of year.”  

The spectacular illuminated adventure that is Wondrous Woods runs over Friday, Saturday and Sunday sessions from October 27 to November 19, including a special run during the last week, where sessions are extended to run from Thursday to Sunday. 

Kirsty McGill, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, who are supporting Wondrous Woods this year as an official sponsor, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this event and in turn the Cash for Kids charity. It’s incredibly important to us to support the local community and the work we do is a lot more than just building high-quality homes.   

“Being able to work with local businesses, charities and organisations that surround our developments means a great deal to us and it’s great to be part of the first Wondrous Woods in East Lothian.  We are excited to be involved and we hope the event brings lots of fun and joy to those who visit as well as presents to children who need them most this Christmas.” 

Tickets are available to buy online at https://www.wondrouswoods.com/ticket-information from £12 per child and £19 for an adult. Tickets for Starry Nights at Dean Castle will be available for purchase soon.  

Tickets start from £9 for children 4 to 15 years old plus booking fee and from £14 for adults plus booking fee. Children under 3 go free. Grotto tickets can be added to your basket from just £9 per child. For further information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.christmasatdeancastle.com 

Homeowners in Edinburgh: Get in touch with Home Energy Scotland

Help to make your home warmer for less

The Scottish Government is calling on homeowners to get in touch with Home Energy Scotland to find out if they are eligible for funding to help make their homes warmer for less.

Up to £10,000 worth of home improvements may be available to homeowners who are currently in receipt of income-related financial support.

The Warmer Homes Scotland programme, which is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by Warmworks, has relaunched and is offering funding and support to households struggling to stay warm and keep on top of energy bills.

The funding provided is delivered as energy efficiency home improvements such as wall and loft insulation, draught-proofing and climate friendly heating. For those who are eligible the energy efficient home improvements could help lower energy bills and also make your home warmer and cosier for free.  

During the 2022 / 23 Warmer Homes Scotland programme, which came to an end in March of this year, almost 5,500 homes benefited from the funding across Scotland and specifically in Edinburgh, 394 households benefited.

Homeowners can access the programme by contacting Home Energy Scotland, with the selected improvements dependent on a survey of the home being carried out to ensure the proposed changes are tailored to the home’s needs.

Harry Mayers, the head of Home Energy Scotland, said: “We all know winter can be tough in Scotland, but homeowners have the opportunity to act to help reduce their energy bills and make their homes warmer.

“We’re encouraging homeowners to get in touch with the Home Energy Scotland team for free, impartial advice to check their eligibility for grants and see what energy efficiency changes can be made in their home.

“The improvements really can make a difference, completely changing the energy efficiency of a home. The results and benefits so many households have experienced shows that getting in touch with Home Energy Scotland is a positive move.”

Getting in touch with Home Energy Scotland can leave lasting benefits that not only positively impact the household but help to tackle climate change too. In Scotland, heating is one of the two biggest contributors to individual emissions. Making changes to the way we heat our homes could make a huge difference to climate change and in helping Scotland to reach Net Zero by 2045.

For more information, contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or use the self-assessment tool on the website and one of the advisors will be in touch: 

www.homeenergyscotland.org/warmer-home

Pumpkin-ify your home this Halloween with Dobbies

Garden Centre to host Pumpkin Patch experience

Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is launching its first of a kind Pumpkin Patch experience for families in the run up to Halloween (24-31 October). This is a pumpkin-tastic opportunity to pop along to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and pick the perfect pumpkin to carve at home this Halloween.

Rustic bales of hay and vibrant autumnal pumpkins make for a memorable visit to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store, where families can get the pick of the patch. Here children can take a pumpkin home, carve it up using Dobbies’ guide and create their own personalised pumpkin for welcoming trick-or-treaters.

Sarah Murray, who created this year’s experience, loves Halloween and can’t wait to welcome customers along to the Pumpkin Patch. She said: “We’re really excited about this year’s Halloween offering in Edinburgh as this is the first time we’ve created a Pumpkin Patch. We warmly welcome everyone to come along and enjoy the experience.”

Pumpkins at the patch have all been grown in the UK and are priced at £2.50. No booking is required for this experience, and pumpkin availability is subject to a first come, first serve basis. There will also be an opportunity for families to use Dobbies’ Instagram frame to take a selfie of themselves at the patch and share on socials, for a chance to win a £50 gift card.

If you do come along to Dobbies and pick up a pumpkin this Halloween, Dobbies’ Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles, shares his top recycling tips to help the environment.

He said: “Pumpkin flesh will make a welcome snack for wildlife and we recommend cutting the pumpkin into pieces before placing it in the garden.

“The seeds are another fantastic source of food for birds and small animals. Collect the seeds, leave them to dry out and place them on a flat surface in your garden to be enjoyed.

“If you’re feeling adventurous and would like to grow your own pumpkin next year, save seeds from this year’s pumpkin and try to grow it next April. 

“If composting is your thing, pumpkins work a treat as they break down easily and quickly. Just be sure to remove any seeds first to prevent unexpected pumpkin plants growing in your compost.”

Support from Scottish public figures for Parks4Life campaign

greenspace scotland fund engages notable figures from the worlds of sport, music and politics to help raise vital funds for Scotland’s parks

 A group of Scottish public figures are sharing their own ‘Park Portraits’ in a show of support for the first ever fundraising project that aims to bring new life to Scotland’s parks. 

greenspace scotland recently launched Parks4Life: Scotland’s first ever fund for parks and greenspaces, with a goal to raise one million pounds by the end of 2023 to help support Scotland’s parks with a sustainable fund for the future. 

The launch was marked with the release of Park Portraits, a digital photo gallery bringing to life the stories of people across Scotland and the ways that parks have enriched their lives.  

Among the Scottish celebrities to get involved in the campaign to encourage donations are middle-distance runner Liz McColgan, singer-songwriter Karine Polwart, BBC Presenter and Apprentice contestant Reece Donnelly, filmmaker Libby Penman, Chief Executive of NatureScot Francesca Osowska and a suite of MSPs including Alasdair Allan, David Torrance, Foysol Choudhury, and Ariane Burgess among others.  

Public figures have shared within the platform the memories that illustrate their love for their local parks, and why they find importance in them.  

Karine Polwart said: “Our Scottish parks are sanctuaries in all the noise and speed of modern living – places to walk and play, stop and sit, lie down and listen.

“They’re also places to really notice that we’re not alone in this world, as humans, that we share all of our green spaces with so many other living things.” 

Foysol Choudhury, MSP, said about The Meadows in Edinburgh: “As a school kid growing up in Edinburgh, the highlight of my day was dropping my school bag at home and run to the local park to play football with friends.

“Our children need open spaces to run, play and connect with nature. Our local communities need their greenspaces to gather with family and friends; enhance mental health and wellbeing; improve air quality and local biodiversity.” 

Libby Penman, Wildlife Filmmaker, Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow, said: “Parks in Scotland mean everything to me. Growing up I spent all my time at my local park, The Beveridge Park (The Bevi) in Kirkcaldy, playing football, developing my skills in the skatepark, walking the dog.

“As a wildlife filmmaker, during lockdown I turned to filming in my closest green space, Kelvingrove Park. The footage I’ve been able to capture of Otters, Kingfishers, Cormorants, Foxes and Frogs are some of my favourite shots. In fact, one of my best career achievements was being featured on BBC Two’s Winterwatch, showcasing all the urban wildlife I’ve filmed in the park.” 

Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive of Nature Scot, Figgate Park, Portobello, said: “Figgate Park in Portobello is a lovely oasis of calm. When people think of Portobello, they immediately think of the sea and don’t realise there is some lovely green space. Figgate Park is one of my favourite places to run, with beautiful trees, great birdlife and an otter, which I have sadly not seen. 

“The Figgate Friends have done an excellent job in improving the park in recent year, adding interpretation and signs for the main trees. This makes the park feel cared for, although not overly manicured.

“There are some great wilder areas, vital for increasing biodiversity. It’s a well-used park with people walking, lots of dog activity and runners. I often do my interval training there, running several laps, sometimes to the bemusement of other park users. The lovely surroundings make the pain of the session pass more quickly.” 

Angela Constance, MSP, said about Howden Park in Livingston: “Parks and green spaces play an important part in our towns and villages. They promote much needed environmental and recreational opportunities whilst also promoting public health, mental wellbeing and a safe, fun, educational area for our children.

“Along with many parents in West Lothian I have enjoyed visiting Howden Park with my own son as he was growing up for picnics, walks, and play, and would encourage others to utilise the parks and open green spaces they have in their own areas.” 

These celebrity testimonies add to the soulful portraits of Scottish people who exemplify the value that parks provide captured by talented Scottish photographer David Anderson, providing well-known voices speaking out for the future of green spaces.  

Visit the Public Figures Gallery within the Park Portraits campaign on the greenspace scotland website to see more stories from notable Scottish figures about their parks.  

Donations to Parks4Life can be made online or by texting PARK to 70450 to make a one-off donation of £5. The funds raised through Parks4Life will be invested to provide an endowment to provide an ongoing source of funds for parks.

The endowment will be used by communities across Scotland to support local park improvements, activities, and events; making sure local parks from large cities to small towns are nurtured and cherished for the future. 

People across Scotland who would like to share their own Park Portrait and park story are invited to post on social media using the hashtag #Parks4LifePortraits and submit to the greenspace scotland page here. 

Five stars for Harbour Homes’ Sheltered Housing Team

Harbour Homes’ Sheltered Housing Team has received a five-star certificate of nomination from Age Scotland’s Services for Older People Awards.

The awards recognise the hard work and dedication of individuals, groups and organisations who make a positive difference to the lives of older people in communities across the country.

Age Scotland’s Chairperson, Stuart Purdy, said it was hugely inspiring to learn about the dedication of Harbour Homes’ Sheltered Housing Team and all the work they do on behalf of older people.

Maureen Combe, Sheltered Housing Services Manager at Harbour Homes, said: “It’s our absolute pleasure to support our tenants and to do all we can to help create a real sense of community among them.

“I’m thrilled that our team’s dedication has been recognised by Age Scotland.”

Halloween Party at Montgomery Street Park

Montgomery Street Park’s Halloween Party – Sunday 29 October – 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm – free event, includes: kids’ costume parade, kids’ costume awards, pumpkin and neep carving competition awards.

Games and activities, lots of fun, buy food and hot chocolate.

Many local kids and adults enjoyed this in 2022, 2021 and before! Come along again in 2023!

Hallowe’en 2021 , Montgomery Street Park, Edinburgh

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh to host Drag Spooktacular this Halloween

  • Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is hosting not one, but two unmissable Halloween events on 28th October   
  • From 12pm, guests can enjoy a drag villain brunch with appearances from iconic fairytale villains before being entranced by a spooky but fabulous Rocky Horror drag show, 9pm til late 

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is set to get Edinburgh trembling through two Halloween events on Saturday, 28th October. 

Starting from 12pm, Virgin Hotel’s all-day dining destination, Eve, will set the stage for a Halloween brunch like no other.

Hosted by DJ Zac from Bolton and Mystica Glamoor, guests can sink their fangs into brunch favourites including mouthwatering crispy chicken burgers and fluffy pancakes all whilst enjoying a spellbinding drag performance from Mystica, who will be channelling looks of some of the most iconic fairytale villains. 

The spooktacular drag villain brunch is free to attend, with guests only required to book a table to enjoy the experience in the fabulous surroundings of Eve. 

And that’s just the beginning! Those who dare to stay out after the sun goes down can enjoy a spine-chilling drag rendition of the iconic Rocky Horror show from 9pm til late. Hosted by Klarity Productions, theatre diva, Krystal Klear and DJ Jasper Noir will be welcoming star-studded guests onto the stage, including resident performer at Kabaret KweerDaddy Delight, who are ready to infuse this Halloween classic with an extra dose of glitz and glamour.  

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s expert team of mixologists will also be serving specially curated Halloween-themed cocktails all day for guests to enjoy. Those looking for some nibbles before The Rocky Horror drag show can tuck into some delicious small plates off the new Autumn menu in Eve, including Scottish farm buffalo mozzarella with pumpkin seeds as well as mouthwatering chicken thighs. 

Mafalda Albuquerque, General Manager of Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, said: “We are bringing a Halloween extravaganza to Eve this year with two fabulous drag events.  Starting with the drag villain brunch through to an iconic Rocky Horror drag show, guests will be in for an experience like no other on offer in the city this Hallo-weekend.  

“With our expertly curated Halloween-themed cocktails through to our delicious bites, there won’t be a need to step foot outside Virgin Hotels Edinburgh all day. So, join us on Saturday 28th October for a Halloween party you won’t forget!” 

For more information and to reserve a table for the drag villain brunch please visit: https://virginhotels.com/edinburgh/eat-drink/eve/ 

To join Edinburgh’s very own Rocky Horror drag show from 9pm til late, tickets can be booked here. 

This Halloween spooktacular is just one of many events hosted at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh. To stay up to date with the latest news and events, follow along on social media here:  

  • Instagram @eveedinburgh @virginhotelsedi 
  • Twitter @virginhotelsedi 

Cairngorm Brewery’s Black Gold is crowned Champion Beer of Scotland

Cairngorm Brewery’s Black Gold (4.4% ABV) has been crowned the best beer in Scotland after winning the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) prestigious Champion Beer of Scotland competition. 

The session stout was described by judges as having a roast malt which dominates throughout, with a slight smoky aroma which led into liquorice and blackcurrant flavours for a subtle sweetness. The sweet background flavour is complemented by a very long, dry bitter finish. No less than four colours of malt are used to make the grist.

Cairngorm Brewery are no stranger to awards, as Black Gold also won a gold award in the Cask Session Dark Beers category of SIBA’s (Society of Independent Brewers) recent Scottish competition, and a silver in SIBA’s Overall Champion Scottish Cask Beer final. The beer was awarded gold in CAMRA’s Winter Beer of Britain 2012 competition in the Stouts category. 

The Champion Beer of Scotland competition was held at the Ayrshire Real Ale Festival on 6th October. 

CAMRA’s Scotland Director Stuart McMahon said “Cairngorm Brewery, which is based in Aviemore, is making some great beers at present. Black Gold was a very worthy winner, despite the strong competition from the other category winners. It is a very good example of a rich stout, with the strong roast and burnt malts to the fore, but with a lovely smooth, bitter but sweet aftertaste.” 

Runners up in the Scottish competition were silver prize winner Loch Lomond Brewery’s Bravehop IPA and bronze winner Swannay Brewery’s Dark Munro.

A formal presentation to Cairngorm Brewery will be arranged in due course.

Pictured is Ayrshire & Wigtownshire CAMRA member and festival volunteer Fiona McIsaac with a pint of the winning beer.