Month: April 2024

Tips to brighten your summer garden with Dobbies

Garden Centre announces winners of community competition at monthly gardening workshop

Showing support for National Gardening Week (29 April – 5 May) Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, is encouraging gardeners to brighten up their garden with summer bedding plants at its free Grow How session in its Edinburgh store, taking place on Saturday 4 May. 

Plus, all stores across the UK will simultaneously announce their winners for Dobbies Community Gardens.

Gardeners of all skill levels are invited to attend the session that starts at 10.30am and lasts around 10-15 minutes. They will be introduced to summer bedding plants, and get helpful hints and tips on how to introduce colour to garden beds this summer.

From Begonias, with their large flamboyant blooms, to Sweet Peas with their delightful fragrance and wide range of colours, there’s something for every garden, no matter the size.

Dobbies’ garden experts in Edinburgh will guide attendees through specific bedding plants that are in season in May, as well as how to create colour themes in pots or baskets by pairing large flowers like Dahlias as the focal point and enhancing space around them with summer bedding plants like Begonias, Petunias and Impatiens (Busy Lizzies).

This year’s winner of Dobbies Community Gardens from Edinburgh will also be announced at May’s Grow How session, with all entrants invited to attend to hear the result.

Dobbies Community Gardens launched in March to offer support for community and charity groups in Edinburgh to help transform, restore or start their indoor or outdoor green spaces.

Dobbies Edinburgh store will announce the local group that they have selected to receive support through products, tools, plants and volunteer hours to make their indoor or outdoor green space flourish.

Ahead of the session, Dobbies’ Plant Buyer Nigel Lawton shares some expert advice on creating colour themes from bedding plants. He said: “Summer bedding plants can bring that special seasonal vibrancy to all shapes and sizes of garden space.

“The key is to combine plants with their needs; most summer bedding plants perform best in full sun, but some, such as Begonias and tobacco plants, can tolerate little shade.

“We would encourage people in Edinburgh to come along to this month’s Grow How session for help and advice on how bedding plants can breathe new life into gardens, patios and baskets.

“We’re also looking forward to announcing the winners of Dobbies Community Gardens and learning about all of the green spaces we will help to transform in the year ahead.”

For more information about Dobbies’ Grow How session and to make a booking, visit dobbies.com/events.

Missing Man: Have you seen Keith?

Police Scotland are appealing for assistance in tracing Keith Brodie who has been reported missing from the Leith area.

Keith is 30 years old. He is a white male, with short fair coloured hair, 5ft 6, broad build, last seen wearing a red baseball cap, red tartan jacket and grey jogging bottoms.

He was last seen in Chambers Street, Edinburgh, at about 1.45pm today (30/4/24).

If anyone has any information as to his whereabouts or has seen him, please can they contact police on 101 quoting incident number 3719 of 30/4/24.

Scottish Opera Young Company present world premiere of Red this summer

This July, Scottish Opera Young Company is presenting the world premiere of RED, a darkly comedic piece drawn from fairy tales by The Brothers Grimm, at the Company’s Production Studios in Glasgow.

An interwoven story of the four stages of women’s lives that often feature in folk tales, RED is by award-winning composer Karen MacIver, with a libretto by Scottish Opera’s Director of Outreach and Education, Jane Davidson MBE.

The conductor is Young Company’s Artistic Director Chris Gray, with Flora Emily Thomson (Maud & Down in the Valley 2023 and As The Seasons Turn 2022) returning to direct the 14 young performers aged between 17 to 21. Set and costume designs are by Finlay McLay.

RED is inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Snow White and Hansel & Gretel, and features aspects of the ages of unnamed female figures — girl, maiden, mother, crone — that often appear in these famous stories. The 70-minute opera examines the circular, metamorphic nature of these tales as well as experiences shared by generations of women across time through magical realism.

Karen MacIver (above) and Jane Davidson said: ‘RED is an exploration of the some of the key defining characteristics of the female protagonist in stories – bringing the tradition from its beginnings in folk tales and right up to contemporary interpretations.

‘Women are judged by a different set of values, and many still face the unenviable choices of relationships (family) versus personal aspiration. In more recent times, the medium of stage and film – and of music composed for these– has gained dominance in terms of how we experience storytelling.

‘Stephen Sondheim and Bernard Herrmann are masters in the art of musically driven plots. Their works have greatly influenced the score, not only in the musical choices made, but also as a guiding light for compelling storytelling in terms of the landscape of sound.

‘Literary influences include Margaret Atwood, whose beautifully concise, darkly humorous style, with twists and turns at the most unexpected of moments, we have tried to capture in the libretto.

‘Working within the parameters of four short acts drove the need for a musical score that describes the plot every bit as much as the words. Interspersed throughout are strands of magical realism, lending an everyday quality to the more outrageous aspects of the story arc that we are confident most of the audience will recognise.

‘So, throw in some chatty crockery, firefighters with a nice line in barbershop singing, some 1980s shoulder padded glamour, a wolf that needs therapy and you might just get a sense of what to expect.’

Director Flora Emily Thomson said: ‘I’m so excited to be working with the Young Company again to bring to life RED. 

“Karen MacIver and Jane Davidson’s intricate and charged piece is brimming with possibilities, compelling us to consider the relationship between women, power and patriarchy across a lifetime, and the shifts and sacrifices needed to navigate these.

“As we follow our protagonist through her ages, our ensemble uses dynamic and sensory movement to build her worlds and destroy them, constantly moving the goal posts and manipulating the parameters of her world.

“Taking place on a striking and stark, angular set, prepare to experience some of society’s oldest tales in a thoroughly modern way.’

Scottish Opera Young Company offers young singers a unique and practical introduction to the world of opera and the chance to develop their talent through a year-long programme, working with a range of music professionals.

For many of the singers, it is the first step towards building a career in the arts, and gives them the opportunity to perform music written especially for young voices.

Tickets for RED, which is supported by Scottish Opera’s Education Angels and The Rose Fund, are available to buy now from www.scottishopera.org.uk/shows/red

Johnnie Walker Princes Street seeks new talent to join award-winning team

Top visitor attraction is calling for passionate storytellers to become Experience Ambassadors

Johnnie Walker Princes Street, the award-winning global visitor experience in the heart of Edinburgh, has announced exciting opportunities for passionate individuals to join its renowned team.

With both part-time and full-time Experience Ambassador positions available, aspiring actors and storytellers are invited to become a part of an exceptional team dedicated to delivering unparalleled experiences to visitors from around the globe.

Ambassadors will guide guests through the venue across the many different experiences available, taking them on a journey through the story of Johnnie Walker, the single malt and single grain whiskies from which it is crafted, and through the multitude of ways whisky can be enjoyed.

Dedicated to challenging stereotypes and busting myths around Scotch, no background in whisky is required for the roles available at Johnnie Walker Princes Street. Instead, applicants should be natural presenters and storytellers and have a passion for hospitality.

Successful candidates will have the chance to work in the multi-award-winning destination starting from June 3, with the opportunity to be a part of a key venue during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, work with experts in the experience and whisky field and receive extensive training and development from industry leading professionals.

Additionally, Johnnie Walker Princes Street offers staff a strong reward and benefits package with many pathways to great career opportunities across Johnnie Walker and parent company Diageo. Recognising the need for flexibility, employees can also expect a range of shift and working patterns to cater for people at all ages and stages of life.

Rob Maxwell, Head of Johnnie Walker Princes Street, said: “We are proud of the exceptional team we have built at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, and we are excited to offer opportunities for new talent to be part of our award-winning visitor experience.

“If you are energetic, enthusiastic and, passionate about a career in hospitality and tourism then we want to hear from you.”

To apply for the role of Experience Ambassador at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, please visit our website here.

Nearly half of British adults expect fall in standard of living

  • Energy prices and cost-of-living crisis top list of financial concerns
  • Women are more concerned about external factors, such as a recession, impacting their finances
  • People plan to increase time spent reviewing their finances due to rising costs

Nearly half (46%) of UK adults are worried that their standard of living will fall over the next 12 months, reveals research conducted on behalf of Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management. 

Concern was highest among those in their 30s (55%), dropping to 38% of over 50’s – likely due to accumulated savings.

Despite recent declines, energy prices still top people’s biggest concerns on the factors threatening their living standard, along with the cost-of-living crisis and high prices caused by inflation.

External risks worry women more

Women are more concerned than men about most external risks to their finances, including inflation (79% versus 72%), rising interest rates (59% versus 52%) and a recession (83% versus 73%). However, men worry more about geopolitical instability (57% versus 50% women) and stock market volatility (42% versus 37% women), with the latter perhaps due to being more inclined to invest, the research also revealed.

Divided on death and divorce

Men are more concerned about losing wealth through divorce (24% versus 19%), whereas women are more likely to fear the financial impact of their partner or spouse dying (47% versus 42%).

Proportion of people concerned about various factors impacting their personal finances

FactorOverall proportion of individualsWomenMen
Energy prices78%80%74%
The cost-of-living crisis / recession78%83%73%
Inflation76%79%72%
A global economic downturn63%63%63%
Rising interest rates55%59%52%
Income tax increases54%56%53%
Geopolitical instability53%50%57%
Scams and frauds51%56%46%
Death of a partner / spouse45%47%43%
Stock market volatility40%42%37%

Time invested

The study showed that these concerns are changing how much time we spend reviewing our finances each month.

On average, consumers spend over six hours a month on their finances, with groceries and other household costs taking up the most time (52 minutes) followed by bank account management (48 minutes), and paying for holidays (42 minutes). Wealthier people with assets over £100k spend longer keeping their financial house in order, averaging eight hours a month. Men, meanwhile, typically spend around 20% longer than women.

A tougher financial climate means we expect to spend more time managing our finances overall, largely in response to dealing with rising costs and stubborn inflation (48%) and the need to save more money (41%).

When it comes to those looking to decrease their time investment, nearly a third (29%) said they plan to reduce the time spent looking at their financial affairs as it makes them feel too anxious.

This may go some way towards explaining the fact that a significant proportion of people don’t currently spend any time at all reviewing commitments such as their pensions (33%), insurance (31%) or investments (23%).

Alasdair Wild, Area Manager at Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management, said: “Dealing with the ongoing cost-of-living and keeping your finances in check can be a time-consuming process and a real challenge for most people given there only are so many hours in the day. 

“However, doing the bare minimum is unlikely to offer much protection in such a tough financial climate, and investing time to plan and manage your finances and, when required, bringing in external professional support, can make a real difference to protecting your standard of living.

“While avoiding the issue may provide temporary relief, it will only exacerbate problems down the line, so seeking support is key.”

Click here to view the full research report Gender and generation: unravelling the wealth gap.

wealth-survey-2024Download

May Bank Holiday activity day at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

MONDAY 6th MAY from 10am – 3pm

THE Palace of Holyroodhouse will be holding a special activity day for families on the May Bank Holiday Monday.

This special activity day will celebrate the unicorn, the national animal of Scotland, which can be spotted in objects and in artworks all over the Palace.

All these activities are included with a Palace ticket and take place from 10:00–15:00 on Monday, 6 May.

Activities:

  • Unicorn hats craft activity where children can discover the tale of the unicorn and craft their own unicorn inspired hat to wear as they explore the Palace.
  • A fun mini challenge using unicorn hobby horses and jousting.
  • A special Unicorn family trail which will challenge families visiting to spot all the unicorns on walls and ceilings in the Palace and around the grounds.

Edinburgh Tradfest kicks off on Friday

FESTIVAL DATES: Friday 3 May – Monday 13 May 2024

A packed programme of music, film and storytelling kicks off Edinburgh Tradfest this weekend (3 May to 13 May) thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation.

The eleven day Festival opens with electro-trad supergroup VALTOS one of Scotland’s best live bands, who are performing with folk trio Assynt and award-winning singer Josie Duncan at the Queen’s Hall.

Over the weekend the music programme continues with folk legend Martin Simpson whose latest solo album Skydancers has just been released; Americana, rock, folk and blues icon Alice Howe and legendary bassist Freebo; and late night sessions in the Traverse Bar. Plus, folk musicians playing at any level, can take part in #WorldPlayAStrathspeyDay on Saturday by uploading a strathspey tune online using the hashtag, or by joining fiddlers Eryn Rae, Matt Tighe, accordionist Megan Macdonald and pianist extraordinaire Rory Matheson for a live afternoon concert to celebrate the humble Strathspey.

This year the festival boasts an incredible line-up of master musicians including Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis who closes this year’s festival in concert with special guests Laura Wilkie and Ian Carr whose debut album Vent launches later this year. 

Other masters of traditional music playing this festival include singer, harpist and composer Rachel Newton; stalwart of the 1990s Edinburgh session scene Simon Bradley trio-ing with Anna-Wendy Stevenson and Michael Bryan; the newly formed Triptic featuring three musicians of peerless pedigree – Phil Alexander, Greg Lawson and Mario Caribe; dazzling instrumentalists Simon Thoumire and Dave Milligan; legend Archie Fisher; and West Highland high energy supergroup Dàimh.

Also playing this festival are a host of hugely talented Nordic musicians including Nordic Fiddlers Bloc, and raucous fiddler Lena Jonsson from Northern Sweden who duos with the legendary Brittany Haas from Northern California.

Other highlights include the incredible Malin Lewis who launches their new album Halocine at this year’s festival; soulful electro-trad tunes from Frankie Archer whose music is shaking up genres and traditions and championing women, challenging perspectives and calling for a fairer future;  BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalist 2024 Evie Waddell; and sixth generational fiddle player Clare Sands.

For film goers there is this year’s Folk Film Gatherin’ which includes on-screen highlights – Journey to the Isles: Marjory Kennedy Fraser an archive film with live accompaniment from storyteller Marion Kenny and multi-instrumentalist Mairi Campbell; and two films from Ukraine – the silent masterpiece Earth (1930) directed by Alexander Dovzhenko and accompanied by Scottish musicians Luke Sutherland and Semay Lu; and Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors – a tale of crossed lovers introduced with a short concert from Edinburgh’s Ukrainian Choir.

This year’s May Day Parade also takes place during the festival on Sunday 5 May setting off down the Royal Mile at mid-day and finishing with a rally, music and speeches.

Plus fans of traditional storytelling can enjoy events at the Scottish Storytelling Centre including old tales from Lithuania and around the world brought to life by Daiva Ivanauskaite and musician Gaynor Barradell in Fire from the Woods (Her Father Has Nothing to Say) a new production exploring the silence between generations and life growing up without hearing stories from your ancestors; and Welsh storyteller Milly Jackdaw presenting Mochyn Mryddin / Merlin’s Pig a fusion of traditional storytelling, physical theatre, music and ceremony based on the life of Myrddin, the inspiration for Merlin in Arthurian legend.

Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “We are beyond excited to present our biggest and best Edinburgh Tradfest ever.

“Every single show has been curated with care by our team, so you can book with absolute confidence. As usual we’ll be at every gig enjoying the music. See you soon!”

Edinburgh Tradfest runs fromFriday 3 May to Monday 13 May.

For tickets and more information visit edinburghtradfest.com   

Wex Photo Video expands its investment in Edinburgh with new store opening

The UK’s largest specialist photographic retailer, Wex Photo Video, has announced the opening of its new store on Haddington Place, in the heart of the Scottish capital.

Replacing its Bonnington outlet, the new store will officially open its doors on Friday (3rd May) with a grand opening event hosted by award-winning photographer, David Gillanders. 

The opening will see a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony and guests can expect exclusive in-store discounts on the latest gear and hands-on support from brand representatives. 

The relocation comes as the retailer continues to expand its investment in the city and looks to serve even more customers with extensive equipment and technical support. As Edinburgh is home to almost 50,000 students, those studying will get up to 10% off selected brands in-store as well as free online courses and general tips and tricks will be available through the Wex Student Hub. 

Customers can find a broad range of equipment accompanied by comprehensive services. Like all other stores, it will be staffed by a team of industry experts who will offer impartial buying advice and provide invaluable technical assistance.  

Displayed across a hi-tech play table, the store stocks a wide range of gear from leading brands such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic Lumix, Manfrotto and DJI showcasing mirrorless cameras and lenses, camera accessories, video and audio equipment, studio accessories and harder-to-find categories such as astronomy and optics.  

Louis Wahl, Chief Executive Officer at Wex Photo Video, commented: “The relocation of our Edinburgh store provides greater opportunity to help our customers, old and new, with support and equipment to bring their visions to life.

“Enthusiasts and professionals in the city are already familiar with our offering and their interest and passion in photography has led us to increase our investment here.

“We’re looking forward to officially opening the doors and welcoming Sophie Gerrard to help us celebrate this moment.” 

Open seven days a week, 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday (opening at 10am on Wednesday), and 11am to 5pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays, the new store will be located within walking distance of various routes to and from the city centre. 

Pedestrian injured in Trinity Crescent collision has died in hospital

A 58-year-old American man has died in hospital three weeks after a being hit by a van in Trinity.

The victim has been named by police as Doctor William Noel from Philadelphia. His family has asked for privacy.

Mr Noel was a pedestrian at the time of the collision, which happened on Trinity Crescent around 5.50pm on Wednesday 10 April, and also involved a white Citroen Relay van.

He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he died as a result of his injuries last night.

The driver of the van, a 40-year-old man, was arrested and released pending further enquiries.

Officers have previously appealed for a female nurse who came to Dr Noel’s aid but left prior to police arrival to come forward. She has since been identified and has assisted with enquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 2772 of 10 April.

Edinburgh Leisure receives new funding for dementia programme

SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT FOR MEMORIES PROGRAMME

Edinburgh Leisure, the city’s leading sports and leisure provider, has received a significant grant from the Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activity Fund to support their dementia programme.

Funded by Age Scotland’s About Dementia project in partnership with the Scottish Government, Edinburgh Leisure has received £19,800 to support their Movement for Memories programme.

Sam Scott, Development Officer at Edinburgh Leisure, welcomed the support saying: “We’re delighted and thankful to receive the grant.

“The funding will enable us to continue offering people with dementia in Edinburgh a range of opportunities to keep active, from 1:1 support from buddy volunteers to enjoy activities of their choice, to dementia friendly activities within our sports and leisure facilities, to our physical activity outreach service with community groups across the city.

“Edinburgh Leisure is always looking for volunteers to support people living with dementia. Our volunteers make a real difference by accompanying and supporting individuals with dementia to take part in a physical activity of their choice, like gym, golf, fitness classes, tennis, or swimming.

“Whatever the participant enjoys, your support will play a vital role in helping them enjoy their activity and improve their wellbeing. So, if you have an interest in health and physical activity, we’d love to hear from you.”

The funding will support people like 79-year-old David, who plays badminton with his buddy volunteer at Craiglockhart Leisure and Tennis Centre.

His sister and carer Julie said: “David used to play football professionally, so physical activity has always been a big part of his life. He wanted to keep active, but his dementia meant that he could no longer do it without extra support. 

“The change in him since he started playing badminton has been enormous. His short-term memory is poor, but he remembers how to play, and he hasn’t lost his competitive spirit. He comes out of the session like a new man – his spirits are lifted, he’s chattier, and often his memory seems to improve for a while. He’s almost like ‘enhanced David’ when I pick him up.”

Movement for Memories offers people at all stages of their dementia journey with a range of options to be active, from personalised one-to-one support to enjoy activities they previously enjoyed independently but need a helping hand with now, to a physical activity outreach service for local support groups to enable people to get active in familiar community settings like church halls or community centres. 

All participants referred to Movement for Memories receive an Edinburgh Leisure card providing 12-weeks free access to gym, swim, golf, tennis, and fitness classes followed by 9 months of subsidised access.

Not only does getting active help participants to maintain or improve their physical health, but it also helps them to improve their mental wellbeing, build social connections, remain integrated in their community and maintain independence for longer.

Dementia affects an estimated 8,000 people in Edinburgh and 90,000 people in Scotland, an estimated 3,000 of whom are under 65.

Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing. It is an umbrella term that can be caused by a number of diseases which, over time, damage the brain, typically leading to deterioration in both brain and bodily health.

The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, mixed dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia.

To find out more about Movement for Memories, visit: http://rb.gy/xeua2l

To find out more about being a Movement for Memories Buddy Volunteer, visit: http://rb.gy/nzsnp7