Month: April 2026

Hidden Door 2026 Festival Line-Up announced

Hidden Door returns to The Paper Factory in June for another ambitious and unique multi artform experience marking “The Last Shift” for the iconic building.

From Wednesday 3rd – Sunday 7th June, the festival brings together the talents of over 100 creatives to offer live music, immersive art installations, dance performances, poetry and spoken word, unique collaborations and much more.

The festival will explore how spaces and objects hold memory, and how fragments of everyday activity become preserved, misremembered or reimagined over time.

Audiences will navigate deep into the site as the programme unfolds around them. Unique experiences will be shaped through individual routes, encounters and personal perspectives. No single path will reveal the whole truth as the building and performances shift around you.

Tickets are on sale now – read on for more about what to expect ….

Music

Each night of the festival offers a diverse roster of musical acts, kicking off on Wednesday with enigmatic electro-pop sensation BIG WETT and experimental artist ICHI taking the concept of a one-man band to new limits with his quirky handmade instrument inventions.

Thursday brings punk duo Cowboy Hunters along with a mystery headliner to be revealed soon, whilst Friday presents local dream pop duo Sarah/Shaun, electronic genre hopper Makeness and Norwegian singer-songwriter, producer and novelist Jenny Hval before feminist DJ collective EPiKA get the party started in the club space.

On Saturday Skye natives Valtos present their acclaimed High Water Mark show, fusing traditional Gaelic folk with club-ready electronic music. Later that night in the club space, Fred Deakin, the legend behind Lemon Jelly, will take to the decks to play us out. Then on Sunday, the last shift welcomes the endless energy of Tinderbox Orchestra, harpist Dara Dubh and the hypnotic orchestral pop of Lauren Auder.

We’ve got more musical surprises to be revealed in the coming weeks, including the ten bands selected from over 300 applications to our open call, in partnership with Creative Edinburgh and the National Centre for Music.

Visual Art

Once again, the festival’s visual art programme will make the most of its unique setting, inviting audiences to explore and discover every corner of The Paper Factory. Discover a range of work including large sculptural installations, wall-based work, projection and textiles, all curated amongst the defunct machinery and industrial spaces.

The visual artists confirmed so far include Chema Rodriguez Alcantara, Ellie Harrison, Emma Macleod, Tiphereth, Fraser MacBeath, Iris Ollier, Jamie McNeill, Jo Fleming Smith, Lilian Ptacek, Michele Marcoux, Nathan Smith, Oana Stanciu, Pandora Vaughan, Ray Downie, Rosie Aspinall Priest, Silas Thomas Parry, Stuart Stafford, Tess Glen and Holly Booth.

Poetry and Spoken Word

Thought provoking, personal, funny and moving – this year’s programme brings the power of spoken word back into a building that has fallen silent; the factory’s atmospheric chambers echoing with the voices of raw human expression.

Over the five nights, our spoken word programme will feature Iona Lee, Josh Cake, Emily Grace Briggs, RJ Hunter and Sean Wai Keung.

Dance

Once again, the Paper Factory will play host to cutting-edge dance performances, popping up around the cavernous industrial spaces.

Look out for experimental multidisciplinary artist and choreographer Ellen Crofton seeking rhythms in chaos and repetition, plus award-winning duo PCK Dance, celebrated for pushing the boundaries of contemporary dance. Elsewhere, Lothian Youth Dance Company present Flies, reimagining the classic Lord of the Flies through a raw and physical dance language, with choreography by Tough Boys Dance Collective.

Creative Collaborations

Threading throughout the 2026 programme are four newly commissioned interdisciplinary collaborations, waiting to be encountered by visitors as they explore The Paper Factory.

Artists, musicians, dancers and performers have joined forces to create something unique for this year’s former factory space. Between them they tell the Paper Factory’s story – both real and imagined – through its past, present and future.

Ghosts in the Machines is a physical theatre and roaming performance art piece featuring animal-like ghost figures emerges from the fragments and residues of the site itself. Awoken by last year’s festival, the Ghosts will return but not all is the same. They now move across the site, searching for clues, performing rituals and searching the factory for their missing pigeon companion.

Everyone Left is a live, site-responsive performance; immersive encounter between dance, architecture and moving image. Dancers navigate the industrial environment and the traces left behind when bodies disappear. The work also draws on the after-hours life of such spaces, shaped by decades of unofficial gatherings and temporary use, where activity continues beyond their original function.

The Last Worker at the Paper Factory: A Musical Tour of 7 Visual Artworks. Poet and performer Josh Cake had conversations with seven Hidden Door visual artists about the processes behind their work to be featured at the festival. Cake turned these conversations into a musical story about the work and their creators, told through song.

The Machine Stops is a celebration of factory life told as a mini symphony of words, pictures and noise across five short acts, featuring DIY film footage, archive photographs, recordings of former factory workers and bespoke live and recorded sound.

These four works form key routes through the building, shaping distinct ways for audiences to encounter the festival. Alongside these works will be a wider set of collaborative projects creating additional pathways, connections and ways of navigating the space. Expect everything from visual art pieces, community-led projects, layered sonic installations and live drumming – we’ll be sharing more on these projects very soon.

This year’s festival also welcomes back Tinderbox’s Room to Play bringing interactive experiences through sound, art and performance with their customary playful spirit.

Buy Tickets for Hidden Door 2026

Hazel Johnson, Director of Hidden Door, said: “We are excited to invite audiences to the Paper Factory’s “Final Shift” to witness the last, most vibrant chapter of this incredible site’s history.

“By bringing together sound, movement, performance and visual art, we are transforming these now silent warehouses into a living, breathing, shifting entity.

“It is a celebration of collaboration and the incredible artistic talent we have here in Scotland; this year’s programme has created the environment for our team to explore the story of a truly unique space. The result is going to be something entirely unrepeatable and spectacular.”

Hidden Door 2026 is possible thanks to vital support from Creative Scotland’s Multi-Year Fund, a major funding commitment that secures the future of the festival through to 2027 and enables our volunteer-run charity to embark on ambitious planning for 2026.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the Paper Factory this June!

SP Energy Networks and Buglife get Scotland’s Central Belt buzzing with a wildlife highway

WORLD EARTH DAY – WEDNESDAY 22 APRIL

SP Energy Networks has joined forces with conservation charity Buglife to transform Scotland’s Central Belt into a thriving, connected network of wildflower-rich habitats and nesting sites, providing a vital lifeline for bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects.

Through the Pollinator B-Lines project, SP Energy Networks and Buglife will repurpose unused land at several electrical substations including Busby, Leven, Livingston East and Drumcross, turning them from barren grass patches into wildlife havens.

Using a mix of wildflower seed sowing, plug planting and the installation of bee posts for nesting, the sites will be transformed into nectar-rich grasslands and sheltered breeding areas. Together, these spaces will act as “stepping-stone” habitats, helping insects move across the landscape and creating connected green corridors for species to move, feed and thrive.

SP Energy Networks,Buglife and Tom Angel Studio – an environmental subcontractor completing landscaping works as part of the project – were buzzing with excitement as they installed bee posts in Busby, providing essential nesting habitats to protect and nurture solitary bees and wasps, which are among the world’s most important insects. 

As part of the wider habitat works at the site, 150 metres of mixed native hedgerow have been planted, alongside plans to sow wildflowers into the existing grassland to encourage more insects into the area. The bespoke bee posts were designed by Tom Angel of Tom Angel Studio and made by a local Glasgow carpenter from untreated Scottish Larch.

Kelly Murray, Conservation Officer – Pollinators B-Lines at Buglife Scotland said: “Many of Scotland’s bees, butterflies and hoverflies are struggling in today’s modern landscapes. Creating safe, connected spaces for them to feed and nest is essential.

“By working with SP Energy Networks, we’re transforming unused land into a network of wildflower-rich habitats that reconnects the Central Belt. It’s a simple idea, but one that can make a meaningful difference, support wildlife recovery and help nature thrive again.”

To ensure the project delivers benefits well beyond the initial planting, the partners are developing long-term management plans for each site. These plans will support the successful establishment of the habitats and ensure they continue to benefit wildlife and local communities for years to come.

Tayler Henderson, Sustainability Specialist at SP Energy Networks said: “Partnering with Buglife has allowed us to breathe new life into the land around our substations, creating new wildflower habitats across the Central Belt.

“By investing in habitat creation and a long-term commitment to managing these sites, we’re helping to build a more resilient environment for wildlife across the region while we build the network needed for a cleaner and greener future.

“At SP Energy Networks, we’re committed to minimising our impact on nature and improving our understanding of how our network interacts with the surrounding environment to deliver ‘nature-positive’ outcomes. Our partnership with Buglife is a brilliant example of that in action – in fact, you could say it’s the bees’ knees!”

Around 240 of the UK’s 270 bee species are solitary, living independently rather than in colonies and producing no honey. These insects nest individually, often in dead plant stems, small holes in wood or the ground, and play a vital role in pollination. By installing specially designed bee posts and creating nectar-rich habitats, the project provides the food and shelter these essential pollinators need to thrive.

The initiative forms part of Buglife’s wider B-Lines programme, a UK-wide network of insect pathways linking towns and countryside through wildflower corridors. By reconnecting habitats, the programme aims to restore at least 150,000 hectares of flower-rich land across the UK, helping wildlife access food and shelter while being able to move more freely.

The project is part of SP Energy Networks’ Action Plan for Nature, a commitment to halt and reverse biodiversity loss through targeted habitat creation and restoration.

By delivering projects like Pollinator B-Lines, SP Energy Networks ensures that investment in its network not only keeps homes and businesses powered but also protects Scotland’s natural environment and benefits local communities.

‘Decisive action’ to break influence of gas on electricity prices

Families across the country will be better protected from energy crises, as government moves to break link between gas and electricity prices

  • Families across the country will be better protected from energy crises, as government moves to break link between gas and electricity prices
  • New plans include long‑term fixed‑price contracts for renewables, protecting families when gas prices spike
  • Immediate action to tax excess profits through the Electricity Generator Levy by raising the rate from 45% to 55%, ensuring an increased proportion of the extraordinary revenue generated when the gas price spikes is available to government to support businesses and households with the cost-of-living
  • Comes as government doubles down on drive for clean, homegrown power with raft of measures to unlock public land, speed up planning and cut bills for families

Plans to better protect families and businesses by ending the unfair way international gas prices push up electricity prices across Great Britain take a major step forward today.

Instability in the Middle East has shown that Britain’s reliance on international fossil fuel markets leaves families and businesses exposed to volatile gas prices, driving the cost-of-living crisis even though much of the country’s electricity comes from cheaper renewables and nuclear. 

When wars, geopolitical tensions or supply shocks abroad push up global gas prices, electricity bills rise with them, exposing families to crises they have no control over. 

Over time, this problem is easing as new clean energy projects are built on fixed price contracts that protect consumers from gas price volatility. But a significant share of renewable generation – about 30% of Britain’s power supply – is still exposed to wholesale prices set by gas, leaving families vulnerable when international prices rise.

Therefore, to shield families from future crises, today the government is setting out new measures to ‘break the link’, reducing the impact that volatile gas prices have on the price of electricity. This will be done by:

  • Voluntary long term fixed contracts: offered to existing low-carbon generators not on fixed‑price contracts – covering around a third of Britain’s power supply. This will help protect families and businesses from higher bills when gas prices spike, with contracts offered only where they deliver clear value for money for consumers
  • An updated Electricity Generators Levy: immediate action to tax excess profits through the Electricity Generator Levy by raising the rate from 45% to 55%, ensuring an increased proportion of the extraordinary revenues generated when the gas price spikes is available to government to support businesses and households with the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East on the cost of living

Measures announced today will further reduce the share of electricity exposed to gas price shocks and provide generators the economic incentive to move on to fixed contracts not linked to volatile gas. The government is monitoring the impact of the current crisis on energy bills and will be ready to step in to provide targeted support where necessary.

Britain has already moved from gas setting the price of electricity around 90% of the time in the early 2020s, to around 60% today. Through the government’s clean energy mission, it is estimated gas will set the wholesale price around half of the time by 2030.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We need to get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster – this will make energy bills more stable and take the pressure off family budgets.

“When global gas prices spike, people here shouldn’t be picking up the tab.

“Our focus is simple: easing pressure on household budgets now, while building a homegrown energy system that protects families from global instability in the years ahead.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “As we face the second fossil fuel shock in less than 5 years, the lesson for our country is clear: The era of fossil fuel security is over, and the era of clean energy security must come of age.

“That’s why we’re doubling down on clean power, to give our country energy security and bring down bills for good.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Hardworking British families and businesses should not bear the brunt of global gas price shocks while electricity generators are making exceptional profits.

“Alongside moving generators onto the competitive pricing assured through wholesale Contracts for Difference, increasing the EGL to 55% will help to break the link between high gas prices and high electricity prices – offering households and businesses stronger protection against future energy shocks.”

Further measures

Speaking today at the Good Growth Foundation, the Energy Secretary set out further measures to help cut bills for families and deliver more clean, homegrown power:

Bigger grants for households on heating oil and LPG

The crisis in the Middle East has impacted those on heating oil and LPG the hardest. The government is today announcing an increase to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant for properties heated by oil and LPG, taking the total grant to £9,000. This will help those households and small businesses in England and Wales most impacted by rising energy prices, particularly in rural areas, to electrify their heating and provide greater certainty over energy bills.

Further details on Transitional Energy Certificates 

Today in advance of legislation, we are publishing further details on Transitional Energy Certificates to provide greater certainty and clarity for industry looking to invest in already-explored areas near existing licensed fields, supporting a fair and managed transition.

Faster upgrades for social housing 

The government is already investing £1.2 billion to upgrade 100,000 social homes over the next 2 years. To accelerate further, the government is today providing an additional £100 million of funding for the Social Housing Fund, subject to final approvals, to support the delivery of up to a total of 57,000 solar installations for households this financial year. Through the Social Housing Fund and social housing regulations in the ‘Warm Homes Plan’, this will help households cut bills by hundreds of pounds and support up to a million homes reach EPC C.

Solar panels for schools and colleges 

Building on the success of Great British Energy’s solar scheme, the government is backing the company to extend support for more rooftop solar installations on a further 100 schools and colleges this year.  Up to £40 million of government investment, subject to final approvals, Great British Energy will deliver new rooftop solar and renewable schemes – helping the public sector cut energy costs and reinvest savings. 

Public land 

Driving forward plans to massively expand renewables across the Public Estate – including using brownfield land, industrial sites and railway sites to host solar panels and wind turbines. This could unlock up to 10 GW of capacity, even using only a fraction of government land, powering the equivalent of around 5 million homes.

Planning and land rules

Streamlining outdated rules to unblock the grid and speed up clean, homegrown power, through the biggest overhaul of planning, land access and grid connection processes since the start of the government’s clean energy mission — cutting delays for essential grid upgrades and renewables, and exploring new routes for developers to build and connect their projects faster. 

EVs, heat pumps and solar 

Plans to make it easier for people to switch to cheaper electric transport and heating, by making EV chargers, solar panels and heat pumps easier to install for renters, flat-dwellers and households without a driveway.  

The government is exploring ways to ensure that low-income households can benefit from plug-in solar through our ‘Warm Homes Plan’ this year, and have earmarked up to £25 million with a view to piloting support for plug-in panels in partnership with local authorities and mayors: our vision is a street by street approach where tens of thousands of low-cost solar panels are delivered to those most in need.

Reformed National Pricing

Households and businesses will benefit from a cheaper, more efficient energy system through a new Reformed National Pricing Delivery Plan. The delivery plan shows how smarter planning and faster delivery of electricity infrastructure could unlock up to £20 billion in benefits between 2030 and 2050.

Folk Film Gathering: Amussu film screening at North Edurgh Arts

Join us next Wednesday (29th April) for a special evening of film, discussion and live performance at NEA, as part of the 2026 Folk Film Gathering!

For more info and to book your FREE ticket, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/amussu-film-screening…

Final Recommendations for the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II announced

Announcement coincides with the centenary of her birth

  • Permanent memorial in central London to include statues of Queen Elizabeth in Garter robes and Prince Philip, The late Duke of Edinburgh, in Naval uniform.
  • A new charity, The Queen Elizabeth Trust, and a Digital Memorial are also launched today.
  • Prime Minister says that Elizabeth II devoted her life to public service during her extraordinary reign. 

The recommendations made by the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee have been announced today [21 April], including the masterplan for a permanent memorial in St James’s Park, London, a new charitable trust for regenerating community assets across the United Kingdom, and an online Digital Memorial to allow people to submit their own memories of the late Queen.

Today [21 April] Their Majesties The King and Queen, other Members of the Royal Family and the Prime Minister will view the designs and other elements of the memorial at an event at the British Museum in London, to coincide with the hundredth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “As our longest‑serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II devoted her life to public service. The nation will commemorate her extraordinary reign with a memorial that offers a place of reflection for generations to come.“

The permanent memorial park, designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, commemorates Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her lifelong commitment to public service.

It features a new standing statue of Queen Elizabeth overlooking The Mall at Marlborough Gate, close to Buckingham Palace. The statue, to be sculpted in bronze by acclaimed sculptor Martin Jennings, will show Her Majesty in an early stage of her reign dressed in the robes of the Order of the Garter, using the famous painting by Pietro Annigoni as an inspiration.

Mr Jennings will also sculpt a nearby statue of Prince Philip, the longest-serving consort, at a similar age wearing a uniform of Admiral-of-the-Fleet. His statue will be located close to Queen Elizabeth’s, in recognition of the support he gave her during her 70-year reign. The appearance of both statues will be further refined during the sculpting process.

The permanent memorial will also feature: a new cast-glass bridge inspired by Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara, which was worn by Queen Elizabeth on her wedding day; a bust of Her Majesty in her later years by sculptor Karen Newman; and The Commonwealth Wind Sculpture, a new abstract work by Yinka Shonibare.

The design also includes gardens dedicated to the Commonwealth and to the nations of the United Kingdom, creating spaces for relaxation and reflection. The memorial has been developed in consultation with the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee following a design competition held last year.

A new UK-wide independent charity, The Queen Elizabeth Trust, has also been established on the occasion of the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth to honour her lifelong commitment to public service. His Majesty The King has accepted the Royal Patronage of the Trust, which will bring the late Queen’s values to life for present and future generations.

Inspired by the words “everyone is our neighbour”, shared by Queen Elizabeth in a speech to mark her twenty-first birthday, the Trust will work hand in hand with communities, providing funding and targeted support to restore and sustain spaces that will thrive long into the future. The Trust’s Chair is Sir Damon Buffini, who currently serves as Chair of the Royal National Theatre and Deputy Chair of the BBC Board.

The Trust will support places at the heart of local life such as community centres and green spaces. To ensure the Trust can have the widest positive impact, the Government is providing a one-off £40 million endowment. This provides the initial funding needed to support local projects of public value and will act as a catalyst for future fundraising. 

Today also marks the launch of The Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial, which will digitise Court Circular records and bring them to life online alongside materials from museums, archives and the media to create a record of Elizabeth II’s public life.

It will map the key events from her reign and allow people from across the world to contribute their own memories and images of Her late Majesty to this historic record.

The Memorial Committee is keen for everyone to submit their memories of Elizabeth II and tag them to events and locations on the site. Notable public figures have already provided memories, including Tom Daley, Dame Tracey Emin, Baroness Valerie Amos, and others.

Models of the permanent memorial and details of the Queen Elizabeth Trust and the Digital Memorial will also be displayed at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, the Millennium Centre in Cardiff and Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland on 24 April to allow people from across the UK to view the details. 

Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee Lord Janvrin said: “Queen Elizabeth was admired around the world for her quiet leadership through times of great change – driven by her common sense, optimism and strong sense of duty.  Our task has been to recommend a memorial capturing her role, her personality and what she meant to so many of us – whilst being of public benefit which was so important to her.

“We hope the physical Memorial will enhance a most beautiful space in the heart of our capital for people to meet, relax and reflect, whilst the new Queen Elizabeth Trust aims to benefit local communities in every part of the United Kingdom.

“The Digital Memorial will allow people across the country, the Commonwealth and beyond to share their memories of the late Queen to build a living archive of her reign for future generations.”

Founder and Executive Chairman of Foster + Partners Lord Foster said: “The Queen’s reign encompassed periods of significant change – socially and technologically – which she negotiated with incredible composure and stability.

“The memorial reaches across all ages and interests – and communicates the common values that Her Majesty promoted. With a serene and contemplative atmosphere, there will be opportunities to rediscover – or perhaps for some to discover – the legacy of Her Majesty.”

Interim Chief Executive of the Queen Elizabeth Trust Claire Whitaker CBE said: “I am delighted to be part of the Queen Elizabeth Trust, a charity which aims to make a lasting difference in communities across the UK.

“Its focus on working hand in hand with people to renew and sustain shared spaces reflects what we’ve heard from local groups across the four nations: that these places work best when they are shaped by and for the communities they serve.

” I am looking forward to seeing this work come to life over the coming months, and to supporting inclusive, revitalised spaces which bring people  together for years to come.”

In addition to this Memorial for the whole United Kingdom, the UK Government has allocated funding for memorial projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee was established in 2023 to develop plans for the memorial. It has consulted experts in arts, history and heritage and other stakeholders from across the United Kingdom. His Majesty The King has been sighted throughout the process and the Committee’s proposals were approved by the Prime Minister in April 2026.

Scotland’s towns and cities are getting greener with £740,000 awarded to 13 community-led projects

From football pitches to future forests: 13 projects backed by Urban Forestry Challenge Fund

  • In just two years, the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund has awarded £1,360,000 across 25 projects, bringing the benefits of trees to communities from Aberdeen to Dumfries

The latest round of funding will see £740,000 invested in 13 projects through the Urban Forestry Programme’s Challenge Fund. The programme is a partnership initiative between Future Woodlands Scotland and JERA Nex bp.

Recipients include Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT), for their Urban Street Trees Canopy Custodians proramme, and Edible Estates, for their South West Edinburgh Urban Woodlands project.

The fund supports projects that create, enhance and expand urban woodlands, helping to make Scotland’s towns and cities greener, healthier and more resilient places to live. The 2026 awards span communities across the country, backing initiatives that aim to improve biodiversity, strengthen climate change resilience and bring more people into contact with nature in the places they live, work and play.

Since the first projects were funded in 2025, £1,360,000 has been invested, over 6,500 trees have been planted, engaging more than 320 volunteers, and four new urban forestry jobs have been created. 

Among the projects awarded funding this year is FEL Scotland’s ‘Trees for Goals’, which will receive £94,500 to support community sports clubs to plant and care for trees in and around their grounds.

The simple but powerful scheme began as a pilot with grassroots football team Alloa Saints where a tree was planted for every goal scored throughout the season. Enough goals were scored to plant around 2,000 trees, helping connect sport with practical environmental action. The programme has grown to include 16 clubs across Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling.

Clara Walker, Executive Director at FEL Scotland, said: “This funding enables us to plant trees where they’ll make the biggest difference, strengthening communities, improving local environments and inspiring climate action through the power of sport. By working with a range of local partners, we can grow greener neighbourhoods and ensure the impact makes a difference now and lasts well into the future.”

Trees for Goals focuses on communities with low tree cover and poor tree equity, helping to bring the benefits of urban woodland to areas where it is needed most. As well as increasing tree cover, the project is designed to leave a legacy by embedding tree care into regular club activity, ensuring that young people and volunteers continue to nurture the spaces they have helped create.

Trees for Goals is one of a wide range of projects supported through the 2026 Urban Forestry Fund, reflecting the diversity of community-led urban greening taking place across Scotland.

Other successful projects in this year’s funding round include Dumfries LIFT’s NANA’s Garden, which was awarded £18,000 to plant native and fruit trees in Lochside while helping local children and families learn more about biodiversity and climate change resilience.

In Dundee, Maxwell Community Centre and Garden’s Dundee Food Forests: The Big Grow is to receive £67,600 to work with community groups and schools to create 25 biodiverse food forests in areas with the greatest tree inequity.

Meanwhile in Aberdeen, Social Juice CIC’s Silver City Trees will receive £20,000 to plant 200 fruit and native trees in priority neighbourhoods, combining greener spaces with practical community skills development.

Des Hackett, Urban Forestry Programme Manager at Future Woodlands Scotland said: “The second year of projects to receive Urban Forestry Challenge Funding demonstrates the growing ambition and creativity of organisations across Scotland to make our urban areas greener and healthier.

“From community sports grounds to neighbourhood woodlands, the 13 projects show how local action can deliver long-term benefits for climate resilience, biodiversity and wellbeing.”

A total of 29 applications were submitted this year, across two competitive grant categories: projects ranging from £2,000 to £20,000, and those ranging from £20,000 to £100,000. 

Projects were chosen based on the contribution they could make to the Urban Forestry goal of helping towns and cities across Scotland achieve the 3:30:300 rule: everyone should see three trees from their home; every neighbourhood should have 30% tree canopy and quality green space within 300 metres.

JERA Nex bp’s Thomas Hudson, Morven Project Director, added: “These projects demonstrate the power of community-led action to create lasting environmental change.

“Through the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund, we are supporting initiatives that not only increase tree cover, but also bring people together, build skills and create greener, more resilient neighbourhoods across Scotland.”

Applications for both categories of Urban Forestry Challenge Fund grants will reopen in Autumn. More information on the Urban Forestry programme is available at www.futurewoodlands.org.uk

2026 Urban Forestry Challenge Fund awards

SMALL GRANTS – up to £20,000

  • LIFT Dumfries
    NANA’s Garden: Growing Trees, Skills and Community in Lochside
    A community-led greening project in Lochside that will plant native and fruit trees while engaging local children and families in biodiversity, climate resilience and long-term tree care.
  • CLEAR, Buckhaven and Methil, Fife 

Trees, Bees and Fruit
This project will plant fruit trees in gardens, create community orchards and establish new native woodland, alongside resident-led learning in pruning, grafting and tree care.

  • Kirkton Community Centre, Dundee

Keswick Terrace Greenspace Development
New trees and shrubs will transform local greenspace into a more welcoming, wildlife-friendly area while helping absorb rainfall and reduce local flood risk.

  • Social Juice CIC, Aberdeen
    Silver City Trees
    Working in priority neighbourhoods, this project will plant 200 fruit and native trees while helping communities build skills and greener local spaces.

LARGE GRANTS – £20,000-£100,000

  • Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust, Edinburgh
    Urban Street Trees Canopy Custodians
    A community-led street tree programme that will replace trees in vacant pits and grass verges in low tree equity areas, creating a model that can be replicated city-wide.
  • West Lothian Council, West Lothian
    Trees and Woodlands in the West
    Focused on former mining communities, this project will identify new planting opportunities and work with residents and schools to increase canopy cover in tree-depleted neighbourhoods.
  • FEL Scotland, Forth Climate Forest Area
    Trees for Goals
    A practical project supporting community sports clubs to plant and care for trees around their grounds, using football as an accessible route into climate action and biodiversity.
  • Natural Connections, Tranent, East Lothian
    Tranent Tree Town
    A three-year community planting project that will help local people grow, plant and care for trees in one of East Lothian’s lowest tree equity areas.
  • Maxwell Community Centre and Garden, Dundee
    Dundee Food Forests: The Big Grow!
    Working with community groups, schools and gardens, this project will create 25 biodiverse food forests across Dundee in areas of greatest tree inequity.
  • The Orchard Project – Glasgow and Inverclyde
    Orchard Commons: Planting and Stewardship for Resilient Edible Treescapes
    A community-led orchard planting programme that will increase canopy cover in low-canopy neighbourhoods while building long-term local stewardship and skills.
  • South Lanarkshire Council – South Lanarkshire
    Improving Tree Equity in South Lanarkshire’s Lowest-Scoring Urban Areas
    Using Community Payback teams, the council will plant 450 standard trees in low-scoring urban areas to deliver lasting environmental and social benefits.
  • Edible Estates, South West Edinburgh
    South West Edinburgh Urban Woodlands
    A community-led woodland project across four council estates that combines tree planting, training and local partnerships to create healthier, climate-resilient neighbourhoods.
  • Details of one further project will be confirmed once contractual arrangements are complete.

Replacement shuttle bus service between Davidson’s Mains and Cramond to run from today

A shuttle bus service will run daily from Tuesday 21 April to connect Davidson’s Mains and Cramond while the 47 bus is out of service on that section of the route.

– Shuttle buses will run every 15 minutes starting from the Tesco in Davidson’s Mains.

– They will run daily from 7am – 7pm.

– They will travel on a loop between Tesco at Davidson’s Mains, along Cramond Road South, Gamekeeper’s Road, and Cramond Road North. We expect the full loop to take around 15 minutes subject to traffic.

– The buses will stop at all bus stops that are usually serviced by the 47 bus along that section of the route.

– Each bus can hold up to 16 people.

There is also a replacement bus service between Cammo and Cramond.

More information is available on our website: ww.edinburgh.gov.uk/davidsonsmains

Loyal donors power Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home as daily costs surpass £7,000

As charities across the UK face increasing financial pressure and a decline in overall donations, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home is thanking its community of regular donors whose ongoing support is helping transform the lives of pets and their owners.

Today, 3,044 regular donors collectively fund approximately one sixth of the charity’s work and aid in ensuring animals receive the care they need all year round.

With rising energy and operational costs placing growing pressure on animal welfare charities, the Home is highlighting the vital role that consistent, monthly donations play in keeping its doors open. It costs around £7,000 per day to run the Home, which receives no government funding and relies almost entirely on the generosity of the public.

Amelia Morgan, CEO at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, said: “Regular giving allows us to plan for the future and ensure these wonderful animals receive the highest quality of care all year round, no matter what.

“We are endlessly grateful for the continuing support of our regular donors who help us be there for dogs and cats who need us.”

Even small monthly donations have a direct impact, from helping provide food for growing kittens and puppies, to covering essential treatments, specialist diets, and dedicated behavioural training to help dogs thrive.

That ongoing support is what enables the charity to make rehoming stories like Hamish’s possible.

Hamish, an anxious collie, spent almost a year in the Home’s care after struggling to trust new people. The team worked patiently to build his confidence, knowing it would take time for him to truly come out of his shell and find the right person for Hamish.

That moment came when he met his new owner Paul. Visit by visit, trust began to grow, until Hamish was ready to take the next step. Today, he is thriving, full of life, loyal and enjoying the loving home he deserves.

Hamish’s journey is just one example of the impact regular donations make every day. In 2025 alone, the Home accepted 343 animals, rehomed or reunited 318 pets, and provided more than 636,000 meals through community food banks, support that met only half of the demand seen across the region.

As demand continues to grow, the charity says regular giving will play an increasingly important role in ensuring it can continue to support pets and their owners through challenging times.

Amelia added: “Every single regular donation helps us be there for animals like Hamish and the thousands more who need us each year.

“To everyone who already supports us, thank you. You are making a real and lasting difference every single day.”

To donate to the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, please visit:

https://edch.org.uk/donate/

  • £5 Could help pay for nourishing food to help a kitten or puppy to grow
  • £10 Could help pay for flea, worming, and parasite treatment for a new dog or cat on arrival.
  • £20 Could help pay for special dietary food for pets who need specialised care.

Scottish Street Food Awards 2026 Shortlist Announced

We’re excited to reveal the shortlisted finalists for the Scottish Street Food Awards 2026, returning to The Pitt this year. All eleven will be serving up at The Pitt from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd May.

The Champions award will be judged by a team of foodie experts, with the People’s Choice chosen by the public over the course of the weekend. The winners will be announced at 3pm on Sunday, 3 May, and will go on to compete in the British Street Food Awards later in the year.

This year’s line-up is a celebration of creativity, culture and craft – a group of traders bringing personal stories, bold ideas and serious flavour to Scotland’s street food scene. 

Meet the finalists:

Brocail is a food trailer focused on reimagined, seasonal dishes using local Scottish and UK produce. Born from a community allotment project and seasonal supper clubs, their menu continues to celebrate fresh, nutritious food with a low-impact ethos. For the awards, they’ll showcase homemade paneer using Jersey cow milk from The Wee Dairy in Perthshire, with dishes like Paneer Kofta highlighting both the quality of the produce and creative use of its whey by-product. Follow on instagram.

D & N Sushi: A family-run business based in Moray, D&N Sushi is reimagining what sushi can be in a street food setting. Their signature Sushi-Dog swaps out the traditional bun for crispy panko-coated sushi rice, filled with bold ingredients like salmon, prawn, crab or chicken and finished with their own sauces. It’s creative, unexpected and designed to surprise – a fresh take on Japanese-inspired street food that’s as eye-catching as it is delicious. Follow on instagram.

Eat Ko:te is built on a simple philosophy: fire, smoke, salt and time create the richest flavours. Inspired by traditional charcoal cooking, the business operates with a rare combination of a Josper oven and Kasai grill – a setup almost unheard of in a street food trailer. From smoky grilled meats to scallops cooked over intense heat with garlic butter and crispy panko, every dish reflects both technical skill and a deep personal connection to the ingredients. Follow on instagram.

Ember: Based in Fife, Ember is a premium live-fire food concept built around a custom 20ft container kitchen designed specifically for wood and charcoal cooking. Their approach bridges the gap between restaurant-quality dining and street food accessibility, with a menu centred on panuozzo, premium burgers and grilled meats and vegetables. Every dish is driven by fire – creating bold, smoky flavours that showcase both technique and high-quality produce. Follow on instagram.

Far Out Bao: is a deeply personal concept rooted in Filipino heritage and inspired by the bold, balanced flavours of Hawaii. Created from a love of comforting, expressive food, the menu centres around soft, pillowy bao buns filled with sweet, salty, tangy and smoky elements. It’s a concept that blends cultural influence with storytelling – bringing a taste of the Pacific to Scotland’s street food scene in a way that feels both joyful and unexpected. Follow on instagram.

Hungarian Chimney Cake (Tekerch): Bringing a taste of Hungarian tradition to Edinburgh, Tekerch Chimney Cake combines food and theatre in equal measure. Each chimney cake is rolled, baked and caramelised fresh in front of customers, creating a sensory experience that’s as memorable as the taste itself. Crisp on the outside, soft within and finished with a range of sweet toppings, their offering blends nostalgia, craftsmanship and visual appeal – a true street food experience. Follow on instagram.

Jamie’s Backyard Slice: Rooted in Scottish food culture and personal memory, Jamie’s Backyard Slice takes the classic pizza crunch and elevates it with quality ingredients and attention to detail. Using a quarter pizza, dipped in Tennent’s lager batter and deep fried, each portion is finished with parmesan, oregano and hot honey. It’s a dish that taps into nostalgia – from school lunches to late-night chippy runs – while delivering something bigger, bolder and more refined. Follow on instagram.

Naughty Boi Smashburgers: Born from years spent working in food trucks across Scotland, Naughty Boi is the result of a shared obsession with doing smash burgers properly. After countless test runs (with friends as willing guinea pigs), the team launched their own concept – focused on quality Scottish beef, locally sourced buns and flavours that don’t get lost. Still relatively new, but backed by serious experience, Naughty Boi delivers crispy-edged, flavour-packed burgers that reflect both craft and personality. Follow on instagram.

The Peruvian brings bold, authentic flavours straight from Peru, serving the dishes the founder grew up eating – big, vibrant and unapologetically full of flavour. From classics like Lomo Saltado to tequeños, wings and salchipapas, it’s proper hands-on street food. Now evolving beyond the classics, the menu is expanding to include rotisserie chicken, smoked meats, arroz chaufa and a range of traditional sauces – from aji amarillo to rocoto – putting real Peruvian food front and centre. Follow on instagram.

Pinko’s Korean Street Food: Travelling across Scotland from market to market, Pinko’s Korean Street Food has built its reputation on bold, authentic flavours and a clear passion for sharing Korean food culture. Cooking everything fresh on-site, their menu spans crispy Korean fried chicken, corndogs, tteokbokki and award-winning kimchi. At the heart of it all is their signature Seoul Combo Cupbap – a flavour-packed rice bowl combining double-fried chicken, Aberdeen Angus beef bulgogi and punchy pickles. It’s street food rooted in tradition, delivered with energy and precision. Follow on instagram.

Spoon Me: Spoon Me is Scotland’s first banana pudding parlour – and a business built on both nostalgia and innovation. Inspired by classic American recipes but reimagined to be entirely gluten- and dairy-free, everything is made from scratch, right down to the wafers.

From the original vanilla pudding to their standout caramelised banana tiramisu, Spoon Me has developed a cult following, with customers (including visiting Americans) claiming it rivals – or even beats – the original. It’s comfort food with a modern, inclusive twist. Follow on instagram.

Get the dates in your diary and head down to The Pitt and sample the best Scotland has to offer!