Families at Edinburgh Zoo learn about online safety through NSPCC and LEGO Group partnership

Children and families at Edinburgh Zoo learned about online safety while playing with LEGO® bricks, thanks to a new partnership between the NSPCC and the LEGO Group. 

The event was the first of a series in Scotland as part of the Build & Talk campaign, which encourages important conversations with children on topics such as gaming, managing screentime and being kind online – all while being creative with LEGO bricks. 

Other upcoming Build & Talk events were scheduled for Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick and Play Day East Ayrshire in Kilmarnock today (August 6).  

NSPCC Scotland’s Local Campaigns team set up a stall at Edinburgh Zoo last week. Dozens of children and families visited the stall to have a go at some of the LEGO Group’s activities and talk about gaming safe online. 

At the stall, children were encouraged to take part in challenges such as building their favourite character from the game they were currently playing.  

Lou Chauvin, NSPCC Scotland Local Campaigns Officer, said: “It was wonderful to see so many families engage with online safety in a fun, natural way.

“By combining play and conversation, we’re helping parents and carers feel more confident talking to their children about life online—and children walk away with practical advice in a way they understand. 

“Edinburgh Zoo made for the perfect place to start our sessions in Scotland. We are incredibly grateful for their support in helping to spread this important message.” 

To find out more about the LEGO Group’s online safety activities and advice, click here, or to discover tips and guidance from the NSPCC regarding speaking to children about online safety, click here

Friends of Corstorphine Hill: Volunteers Needed!

🍀Corstorphine Hill Tower – Volunteers needed! 🍀

We are looking to increase our pool of volunteers who kindly give a few hours as often as it suits them, to help us open the Corstorphine Hill Tower every Sunday, 2pm – 4pm, for visitors.

Unfortunately our volunteer numbers are running low, which means we may not be able to continue with this popular event on a weekly basis, unless we are able to recruit some additional volunteers.

This fun and interesting role would be to:

🌿 Meet at the tower on agreed dates (could be once a month, could be twice a season. Up to you!)

🌿 Meet the regular volunteers who will give you an overview of what happens and what you can do (it’s very relaxed, no prior knowledge of the tower or hill required!)

🌿 Chat to visitors to the tower! (If they ask any questions, our website has a lot of info and is an easy reference for answers!)

🌿 Enjoy yourself, and learn something about the hill!

If you might be interested in supporting FoCH, learning more about our wonderful Hill and the tower on it, and supporting the work we do in conservation of the Hill, then we would love to hear from you!

Please email fochcontact@gmail.com

Thanks,

Friends of Corstorphine Hill Committee

Corstorphine Community Centre: Tea Dance tickets selling fast

SATURDAY 26th JULY 2 – 4pm

Tickets are selling fast for our Tea Dance on Saturday 26th July so get your dancing shoes on and come along for a fun afternoon!!

Our DJ, Colin, will play your favourite songs on request..

Tickets are available from our Charity Shop, 5 Kirk Loan

See Speak Their Name Quilt at Corstorphine Community Centre

We are honoured to be hosting the Lothians Speak Their Name Quilt in the Centre. The only Speak Their Name suicide memorial quilt in Scotland.

This remarkable quilt was made by individuals who all found comfort and solace in making their squares as well as finding a community of similarly bereaved people.

The quilt will be exhibited here until Friday 25 July so please do come along to see it.

Spiders, plagues, curses and POO! Summer Fun at Corstorphine Library

We are very lucky to have a spectacular storytelling session lined up for you in three weeks’ time!

Join Nicola Wright for a gruesome journey through Scotland’s past!

Perfect for young children and their families! You’ll love it if you are a regular attendee of our Zoo Tails sessions.

Please book a place in advance:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/scottish-history…

Corstorphine Community Centre Summer Fair: Some stalls available

SATURDAY 21st JUNE from 10am – 3pm

The weeks are whizzing by …

Here at CCC we are dusting off the ducks, refining our recipes for home baking and rehearsing our recitals.

We have a few stalls available for hire on the day. With a footfall of over 300 don’t miss out on this chance to flog your fancies.

Email bookings@ccchub.online to secure your spot!

The Organ’s Voice at Corstorphine’s Astoria Centre

SATURDAY 7th JUNE 7 – 9pm

The Return of Gordon to The Corstorphine Astoria Centre.

This time, Gordon will be joined on stage by his wife, professional singer Cherly Forbes, for a truly special evening!

For the very first time, the last remaining 2/4 Ingram in the world will be paired with a voice.

Enjoy an entertaining evening of music, Broadway hits, light hearted character songs and favourite melodies on instruments both conventional and less so…, as well as tales and reminiscences from two fascinating careers.

https://gordoncree.co.uk

https://linktr.ee/cherylforbes

Tickets: www.corstorphinetrust.co.uk

Enhancing the environment in Murrayfield

MAJOR £3 MILLION PROJECT TO START NEXT MONTH

Work on a major £3million project to protect an iconic Edinburgh watercourse from rags, wet wipes and other sewer related debris gets underway next month.

From Sunday 8 June 2025, Scottish Water will be working on the A8 Corstorphine Road in Murrayfield, upgrading a storm overflow that protects homes and businesses from flooding.

Senior Project Manager Ethan Gillies Denning said: “Sewer related debris in the Water of Leith has been a recurring problem after spells of heavy rain.

“The outfall is designed to divert excess rainwater into the watercourse, but unfortunately it isn’t screened.

“While less than one per cent of the waste water comes from toilets, if people have flushed wipes or plastic items, they can end up in the natural environment which is a real problem.

“This project will help to prevent anything larger than 6mm making it out of the sewer network and into the river.”

The A8 Corstorphine Road will be reduced to one lane under two-way traffic lights between Ormidale Terrace and Murrayfield Gardens for approximately six months.

This is to allow new screens and spill chambers to be installed to the existing outfall which is located under the road surface.

Scottish Water’s Improving Urban Waters programme is a £500million package of additional investment to improve water quality through increased monitoring and reporting, and targeted infrastructure projects to significantly reducing sewer-related debris and spills.

Working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Scottish Water identified priority storm overflows for improvement or replacement.

Under the banner ‘Draining the Rain, Enhancing the Environment’ over 70 improvements will have been delivered by the end of 2027 benefitting watercourses across Scotland. More are in design for delivery beyond 2027.

The infrastructure programme is being carried out by Scottish Water’s alliance partner Caledonia Water Alliance.