Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

All’s well after flying Pie’s cross border drama!

'Pie'

Magpie boards London to Edinburgh train!

An injured magpie found by a holidaymaker and smuggled aboard a London to Edinburgh train has been released back into the wild by the Scottish SPCA.

An elderly woman discovered the fledgling being attacked by crows when she was visiting family in the Kilburn area of London and took him in as he was too young to feed himself. The bird lover was still concerned for the magpie when she was due to return to Scotland and decided to take him on the train in her handbag.

She later contacted Scotland’s animal welfare charity and the bird was taken to its National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Clackmannanshire. The Edinburgh woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “The
magpie was very traumatised when I found him. I knew he was too young to feed himself so I took him in and began hand-feeding him. I even nicknamed him ‘Pie’. When I was due to leave he still wasn’t self-feeding, so I cleared out my handbag and popped him inside.

“I don’t think anyone on the train realised I had a baby magpie with me. My family have always looked after birds and I initially thought Pie wouldn’t survive, which was really upsetting. People have always said I’m eccentric and I’m sure they’d think that even more so if they knew about this! I’m so happy to hear he’s been released and I’m very grateful to the Scottish SPCA for helping him, they’ve done a fantastic job.”

SSPCA Centre manager Colin Seddon said: “Usually we advise people to leave fledglings alone, but in this case the magpie was being attacked by other birds and had sustained injuries. We’d recommend anyone who finds a bird in need of help to contact an animal rescue organisation such as ourselves for advice and assistance. While it was certainly unusual to take the magpie on the train, this lady had taken very good care of him and it’s clear she must care a great deal about birds. The magpie made a fantastic recovery and it was wonderful to release him back into the wild fit and healthy after his rather long journey.”

Will Pie choose to stay in Scotland or will he head back down south? Will the referendum issue affect his decision? Sadly, we’ll never know!

Anyone who discovers an injured or distressed animal should call the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.

Magpie being released by Lorraine Gow, Head of Birds

Pictures courtesy of SSPCA

RIOT! Radical roadshow arrives in North Edinburgh

The Radical Independence on Tour roadshow will be stopping off at North Edinburgh Arts Centre tonight at 7pm in the first of a series of ‘community assemblies’.

Speakers include Jean Urquahart MSP, John Finnie MSP, Green councillor Maggie Chapman and community activist Fraser Young.

All welcome.

 

 

College ploughs ahead with support for community farm

Edinburgh College - Whitmuir Farm

Edinburgh College has shown its support for a community-owned farm in the Borders by becoming the first College to become a shareholder. As part of Edinburgh College’s commitment to sustainability, the College has invested in Whitmuir Farm’s new share scheme, which allows local people and organisations to get actively involved in the running of a modern day farm in Scotland. 

Whitmuir Farm, one of Scotland’s most innovative organic farms, will use the support from the College and other shareholders to help to establish the farm as a national resource on sustainable food and farming, which will include a “green classroom” for students to learn about local and ethical food.

The farm also hopes to establish discovery trails, exhibitions, educational opportunities and citizen science projects, whilst also looking out for the next generation of farmers to train and nurture.

Harriet Cross, Sustainability Projects Co-ordinator at Edinburgh College, said: “We are delighted to be supporting such a fantastic farming initiative. The College really supports the values of Whitmuir Farm and believe in its vision for local, ethical and sustainable food. We have a strong relationship with Whitmuir Farm through our veggie bag scheme. Each week, a group of our Bridging Course students visit the farm to sort, weigh and bag organic vegetables which they then deliver to staff and student customers at the College. The students not only gain practical work experience at the farm and improve their enterprise and numeracy skills but they also gain an understanding of where their food comes from.”

Harriet added:“We are constantly looking for innovative ways to engage students and staff with sustainability across the College, and we arereally pleased to continue to strengthen our relationship with Whitmuir Farm through the farm share initiative.”

Heather Anderson, member of the Steering Group for the Community Farm said: “We are so delighted to receive this kind of support.  It’s good to know we are selling the farm to people who really care about the land and what we do here.  This ensures we continue to enjoy a real, long term relationship with the College and the young people who go there into the future.”

The farm has also launched a ground breaking bio-char project, which Edinburgh College students will be undertaking as an offshoot project at the Milton Road Community Garden. By carrying out a growing trial, the students will be able to monitor the effects of burnt woody waste on plant life in the garden, which may have a significant bearing on how the organic food is grown.

edioncoll

Say YEA! to Roshni

RoshniLogo

Roshni is running two exciting new projects for the minority ethnic community in Scotland

The Young Ethnic Awards (YEA!) are the perfect celebration of Scotland’s minority ethnic youth and will recognise their achievements in 6 different categories recognising work from volunteering to exceptional sporting and educational achievements, we want to acknowledge the young ethnic minority people who are doing something special. Individuals have the opportunity to nominate ME young people aged 14 and 25 between now and 31 August, with winners announced at the Young Ethnic Awards (YEA!) on 24 October. For more info go to http://www.roshni.org.uk/yea/

Alongside YEA! we are running the Scottish Ethnic Communities 100k fund, which aims to inspire more of the excellent grassroots work in ME communities. The fund offers up to £10,000 for a community based project, allowing people to take their ideas for their community and bring them to life. The application process is simple; and our multi-lingual Community Outreach team ensure that groups can apply in any language. This will allow us to help those often considered hard to reach, who are generally those most in need of help. The shortlisted community groups will then be invited to attend the award ceremony on the 24th October where we will reveal who has been successful in their application and watch their dream become a reality. For more info go to

http://www.roshni.org.uk/the-scottish-ethnic-communities-100k-fund/

Nasim Azad

 

Warm welcome awaits at Community Circle

My name is Gillian and I help to facilitate a Community Circle in North Edinburgh, which meets in North Edinburgh Arts on the second Tuesday of every month from 5.30 – 8pm.

The aim of the circle is to meet, get to know each other and share our resources in an environment which values everyone’s gifts. Basically we eat together (food is provided), we chat and have a forum for sharing our thoughts, gifts and skills (although there is absolutely no pressure to do this if you don’t want to).

We come form all kinds of backgrounds and are a very welcoming group!

I have attached our poster which has a bit more information on it. If you’re interested or would like to find out more, please email circle@edg-sco.org or telephone 476 0522.

Gillian

North Edinburgh Community Circle

 

 

 

Thanks to YOU, NEN’s set for June print run

The NEN will appear in newspaper form again later this month thanks to the generosity of local organisations and individuals who have shown their support by advertising in the forthcoming edition.

NEN would like to thank the following for their commitment to North Edinburgh’s community newspaper:

MALCOLM CHISHOLM MSP

CRAIGROYSTON COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

FORTH & INVERLEITH LABOUR COUNCILLORS

GRANTON INFORMATION CENTRE

LIFECARE

NORTH EDINBURGH ALCOHOL INITIATIVE COLLABORATIVE

NORTH EDINBURGH ARTS

NORTH EDINBURGH CHILDCARE

NORTH EDINBURGH CREDIT UNION

NORTH EDINBURGH REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

THE PRENTICE CENTRE

ROYSTON WARDIEBURN COMMUNITY CENTRE

THE SPARTANS COMMUNITY FOOTBALL ACADEMY

THE STAND COMEDY CLUB

STEPPING STONES NORTH EDINBURGH

TOTAL CRAIGROYSTON

WEST PILTON NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE

We’d also like to thank the organisations who got back in touch to say that, while they are not in a position to advertise at this time, they will consider doing so in future editions.

So thank you all for your support. 

Without it, NEN just couldn’t continue.

PS:

If your name’s not down, you’re not gettin’ in! Is your name missing from the above list? Should it be there? Do you want it to be there? If so, get in touch at northedinnews@gmail.com  but you’ll have to be quick!

Fire at Craigroyston High School

CCHSfire

Craigroyston High School will open as normal this morning despite a fire at the school last night.

The fire was reported at 9pm last night and 35 firefighters, with six pumping appliances and various special appliances, tackled the blaze.

No casualties were reported but there is some external damage to the building, which first opened in May 2010.

The old Craigroyston High School building was demolished following a major fire in July 2010 (pictured below).

Emergency services personnel are still at the scene and the cause of the fire is being investigated.

cchs2010

TV students set for big screen debut

Edinburgh College Granton Campus TV students will be showcasing their talents at a screening at Edinburgh Filmhouse on Wednesday at 6pm. Telford’s Film and TV course has produced some fine creative talent over the years – take the opportunity to view the next generation!

For further information contact Television Lecturer Fergus Robb at Edinburgh College by email at fergus.robb@edinburghcollege.ac.uk

Invitation