Category: Granton

North Edinburgh Community Festival Set to Shine!

West Pilton Park will come alive on Saturday, 17th May, from 12:00 to 5:30 PM, as the much-anticipated and award-winning North Edinburgh Community Festival enters its fourth year.

Known for its vibrancy, inclusivity, and celebration of local talent, this year’s festival promises to be bigger, brighter, and more colourful than ever before. With over 10,000 attendees expected, it’s an unmissable event for the entire community.

Festival Highlights

This year, the festival will host over 160 local organisations, charities, and community groups, offering a kaleidoscope of activities—from hair braiding and glitter tattoos to boxing and dodgeball, from live music programmed by Granton Youth and Tinderbox to dance performances and pop-up dance mobs from Edinburgh College, and from Edinburgh Fringe Festival street performers to North Edinburgh Arts for all things arts and crafts. 

North Edinburgh Arts and Imaginate have once again collaborated creating commissioned performances that will be performed by local children and young people from the North Edinburgh Youth Arts Collective.

As well as running their jam packed arts and crafts tent for families; their Art for Grown Ups, Arts & Dance and CREATE groups are all planning to join the festival parade en route as it passes by the Macmillan Hub. 

We’ll be hosting North Edinburgh’s very own ‘Crufts’ with our first ever ‘Scruffs’ Dog Show – with 6 categories to enter and prizes up for grabs including North Edinburgh’s waggiest tail!

This is hosted by Audrey Coltart of Branniffmhor Cockers, a seasoned professional in dog competitions, and a respected judge!

Whatever your interest, we’ve got it all!

The festival remains free to attend, with 90% of activities free of charge, ensuring accessibility for everyone. While food vans and items will be available for purchase, the festival aims to keep costs low for attendees.

Key Projects Spotlight

The North Edinburgh Community Festival will feature three major projects that celebrate local food, culture, diversity and artistic expression:

THE TATTIE PROJECT

  • Celebrating the humble potato, this collaborative initiative includes over 10 local organisations such as Lauriston Farm and R2. Residents will engage in activities like growing, harvesting, cooking, and distributing potatoes.
  • In the food demonstration tent, six local home cooks will share potato recipes from their cultures, highlighting the diversity of local cuisine.
  • Scran Academy and Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts will serve up 2,000 free hot baked potatoes with toppings, ensuring everyone gets a delicious taste of this staple food.
  • While we regret the absence of RRT this year due to budget cuts, we remain grateful for the 5,000 free meals they’ve provided at past festivals.

THE NORTH EDINBURGH COMMUNITY CHOIR

A festival legacy project, the choir unites over 100 young people from Pirniehall, St. David’s, Forthview and Craigroyston Primary Schools and Craigroyston High School as well as Tinderbox Music Club to perform at the festival.

Earlier this year, these students had the opportunity to perform with international megastar Ed Sheeran alongside Tinderbox Orchestra at the West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre. Their performance will include his hit song, Bad Habits!

THE FESTIVAL PARADE

Pulse of the Place, Edinburgh Carnival and Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival leads the way with the festival’s largest and most colourful parade yet.

Featuring vibrant costumes, masks, and performances, the parade will embody the theme of rainbows.

Starting at North Edinburgh Childcare, it’s a 1-mile journey into West Pilton Park. The parade departs NEC at 1030am and will reach the park at 12noon to kick off the festivities.

Expect up to 12 dance groups to bring the vibe.

Over 200 families and groups will participate including Oaklands School, LACAE and North Edinburgh Childcare.

Parade participants are welcome to join at the start or en route.

Entertainment Across Three Stages

This year, the festival will feature three unique stages:

  • Main Stage: Showcasing local community music groups and organisations such as Fischy Music, Ama-zing Harmonies, Tinderbox Tuesday Hub, Rhythms of India and Edinburgh Ukrainian Choir
  • Indoor Stage – North by North West: A platform for emerging young singers and bands including All the Wrong People, The Clamz, Bows and Bridges and Abigail Kerner
  • Carnival Stage: Hosting parade participants’ dazzling live performances including Passion 4 Fusion, Street Mash, Sol de Peru and Angie Disney’s Silent Disco!

The North Edinburgh Community Festival is a celebration of collaboration, creativity, and community spirit. Whether you’re attending for the music, activities, food, or simply to soak in the vibrant atmosphere, this event has something for everyone.

Join Us

When: Saturday, 17th May, 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Where: West Pilton Park, Edinburgh
Cost: Free entry

Mark your calendars, bring your friends and family, and experience the magic of the North Edinburgh Community Festival! We can’t wait to see you there!

Over £450,000 in funding awarded to seven projects for tree planting in Scotland’s cities and towns

WINDFALL FOR GRANTON COMMUNITY GARDENERS

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The Urban Forestry Programme is supporting projects in urban areas to help more people experience the benefits of trees

Future Woodlands Scotland (FWS), the charity dedicated to creating and conserving woodlands across Scotland, has selected the first seven projects to receive large grants of up to £100,000 from its Urban Forestry Programme Challenge Fund. 

The Urban Forestry Programme is an ambitious ten-year project that sees FWS working alongside project founding partner bp to support and improve green spaces in Scotland’s cities, towns, and urban areas. 

The seven successful projects focus on increasing access to green spaces in underserved areas, promoting biodiversity, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. They aim to create a long-lasting impact on local communities, offering opportunities for outdoor education, mental and physical health improvement, and strengthening community ties.

The projects include: 

  1. Govanhill Baths Community Trust, Creative Canopy Project, Glasgow (above)

An arts and environmental project based in Govanhill which invites residents, artists and growers to co-create a dispersed orchard across the neighbourhood. 

  1. Glasgow City Council, The Glasgow Canopy Project

Planting street trees, woodland planting, hedgerows and habitat creation in the Govan and Dalmarnock areas of Glasgow. 

  1. St Marks Primary School, Planting our Way to a Better Future, Glasgow

Planting a combination of whips and standard trees in school grounds in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire. 

  1. Edible Estates, Nature Around Us, Edinburgh (above)

Working with residents, schools and community organisations to establish woodlands and orchards within two council housing estates in Edinburgh. 

  1. West Lothian Council, West Lothian Urban Tree Planting Project

Planting trees in parks and public green spaces, residential areas and school grounds and giving residents the opportunity to be involved. 

  1. South Lanarkshire Council, Removing Barriers to Tree Planting

Planting trees in strategic locations across South Lanarkshire, with a link to Clyde Climate Forest to allow collaboration with partners. 

  1. City of Edinburgh Council, Canopy Communities Project

A partnership project with Granton Community Gardeners to support tree planting and ecological connectivity in three areas of the city including co-design with residents. 

Funding for these projects follows an announcement earlier this year about the first three projects – Friends of Inch Park, Friends of Linn Park and Norton Park SCIO – to receive small grants of almost £51,000 between them.  

A total of 33 applications were submitted across two competitive grant categories: projects ranging from £2,000 to £20,000, and those ranging from £20,000 to £100,000.  

Shireen Chambers, CEO of FWS said: “It’s been fantastic to see the response to the first year of the Urban Forestry Programme Challenge Fund with 10 projects selected for funding across both grant categories. 

“We looked for projects with a strong urban focus which prioritise areas most in need of trees and woodlands. We want to ensure everyone can benefit from trees – by learning about them, engaging in their care or simply spending time around them. 

“These greening projects will bring more trees into the heart of our towns and cities – enhancing spaces, strengthening communities and helping more people connect with nature.  

“We are proud to lead this important initiative with the backing of our founding partner bp and we look forward to seeing how these projects create lasting change over the coming years.” 

Projects were chosen based on the contribution they could make to the Urban Forestry Programme 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 

The City of Edinburgh Council was awarded £100,000 over three years to recruit a Canopy Development Officer for its Canopy Communities project.  

The project will support the co-design of greener spaces in three areas of the city, educating residents on species, biodiversity and the importance of trees, with the aim of achieving 30% canopy cover. 

City of Edinburgh Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Trees make life better for everyone and this is an opportunity to plant more, where people want them.

“We know just how important green spaces are to people’s health and wellbeing and initiatives like Canopy Communities, alongside others like our commitment to become a Million Tree City by 2030 and our Thriving Green spaces 2050 strategy, are about involving communities to create, protect, and sustain woodland and biodiversity across Edinburgh. 

“I’m delighted with this funding, which will let us progress essential work on our Canopy Communities project. It recognises the impact this project will have on enhancing and growing green space in the city where it is most needed.” 

Increasing the number of trees in Scotland’s cities and towns is crucial in supporting the journey to net zero and delivering a wide range of socio-economic benefits. Urban tree cover is currently less than 16%, much lower than the EU average of 30.2%. 

Applications for funding were assessed using the Tree Equity tool, which was created to address imbalances in urban tree distribution by American Forests, a US non-profit organisation, and was brought to the UK by the Woodland Trust and Centre for Sustainable Healthcare.   

In addition to the 10 funded projects, the Urban Forestry Programme has also supported two pilot projects: a fruit and nut tree planting project in Stirling, and a tree warden volunteer scheme in Glasgow. 

Applications for the 2025 Urban Forestry Programme Challenge Fund will open in November.

More information on the Urban Forestry programme is available at www.futurewoodlands.org.uk

Granton Goes Greener: Free Plant Share Event

THURSDAY 15th MAY from 5 – 7pm

We are very excited to be hosting another FREE PLANT SHARE event at Granton Parish Church, Edinburgh🪴🌻🌵

This time, we will be working with some experienced gardeners from our local Salvation Army North, who are going to share some plants and plant cutting from their garden 💚💚💚.

We already have some plant pots and are looking for donations of both indoor and outdoor plants, plant cuttings and seeds.

And remember, you do not need to bring a plant to swap on the day, we hope to have some variety on offer for everyone needing some for their houses or gardens.

Any questions-email: anna@grantongoesgreener.org.uk

TODAY: Cherry Blossom Picnic at Starbank Park

A quick ask for folks to bring baking donations and plants for the stalls please.

We are very excited about our picnic and look forward to seeing you all there this afternoon!

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#communityevent

#blossomdays

#hanam

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#allwelcome

Sketching at granton:hub

Landscape, Seascape & Urban Sketching: All Levels

10 weeks, April to June 2025

Capture the spirit of Granton’s waterfront, streets, and skyline in this exciting new sketching course. Open to all levels, this class is perfect for those inspired by the urban environment and natural surroundings.

You’ll explore the essentials of line, light, and perspective while sketching both on-site and in the studio. Expect friendly guidance, creative inspiration, and the chance to exhibit your work in our Summer Exhibition.

Book here or at our link in bio:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/landscape-seascape-urban…

Spaces are limited—book now to secure your place at the discounted rate!

We look forward to welcoming you—whether you’re joining us again or for the very first time—as we begin a new season of creativity and connection.

Warm regards,

On behalf of The Art School Team

Romain Viguier

North Edinburgh Community Benefits Fund: Information Sessions

TUESDAY 22 APRIL 10 – 11am or 6 – 7pm ONLINE

Funding reminder! We’ll will be hosting two digital drop in sessions for anyone that is interested in applying to the North Edinburgh Community Benefits Fund and wants to find out more.

Tuesday 22 April, 10.00am – 11.00am – Online information session – Please email Granton.Waterfront@edinburgh.gov.uk for an online link.

Tuesday 22 April, 6.00pm – 7.00pm – Online information session – Please email Granton.Waterfront@edinburgh.gov.uk for an online link.

https://yourvoice.edinburgh.gov.uk/budgets/7

Waterfront Walks with St Columba’s

Join our next block of Waterfront Walks each Monday in May to discover Edinburgh’s new memorial art installations, located between McKelvie Parade and Granton Harbour.

Each week, our Community Artist Isla Macleod and Emma Ritchie from Caledonia Funeral Aid and Caledonia Cremation will lead the group to see a new element of this historic installation.

Isla and Emma will facilitate conversations and creative activities around bereavement, change & loss, and how we can make sense of these feelings through the arts.

This group is open to people who have been bereaved in the past year, and who are seeking a creative minded space to be amongst peers with similar shared experiences.

Limited places available – booking essential!

Please email Isla on imacleaod@stcolumbashospice.org.uk or Emma emma.kelso@funerals.scot to register.

Men With Pens

NEW PROJECT AT GRANTON LIBRARY

Men With Pens is a series of creative writing and letter writing workshops for men living with mental health conditions. 

Working with groups in Perth and Edinburgh. Each participant will be paired anonymously with a participant from the other group.  The men will be encouraged to write letters, creating pen pals, to discuss their mental health. 

We will also work together, using reading and creative writing as a tool for maintaining well-being. 

The workshops will be led by Ross MacKay, an award-winning writer with lived experience of his own mental health conditions. 

Monthly Wednesday evening sessions at Granton Library on:

14th May – 5.30-7.30 

11th June – 5.30-7.30 

9th July – 5.30-7.30 

6th August – 5.30-7.30 

7th August – Evening Celebration at Edinburgh International Book Festival 

To book a free place, please email menlibraryproject@gmail.com

Suitable for men aged 16+.

New park opens within former Granton gasholder

A new public park officially opened in Edinburgh today as part of the £1.3bn regeneration of Granton Waterfront to become a new environmentally friendly coastal town. The Gasholder 1 Park sits within the completely restored gasholder with views over the Firth of Forth.

Council Leader Jane Meagher was joined by Minister for Employment and Investment Tom Arthur, representatives from the main contractor McLaughlin & Harvey, as well as volunteers from Granton Hub and members of Pianodrome, Scran Academy and Craigyroyston Youth Football Club to mark the opening of the park ahead of a family fun day and ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday 5 April.

A club member of the Craigroyston Youth Community Football Club will join the Council Leader to cut the ribbon and officially declare the park open for residents and visitors to enjoy for decades to come.

The entrance of the park is marked with large Hollywood style lettering making it more visible for local people and others visiting to enjoy its open green space and play equipment. It has six different zones including three play areas with a wide range of play equipment.

There is plenty of outdoor space to explore and an inner ring walk going round the outer edges of the frame with a range of places to sit and relax. An outdoor exhibition has also been created which showcases the history of Granton gasworks as well as the restoration process.  

The 1.2 hectare park, set within the restored iconic gasholder frame, was created using £1.2 million from the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme. 

This work followed refurbishment of the frame as well as removal of the historic bell using funding from the UK Government.  The restored and repainted gasholder frame is also now a beacon of light in north Edinburgh as it is lit up permanently after dark.

 A new sculpture now also takes pride of place at the centre of the park, commissioned by the Council last year following input from the local community. Svetland Kondakova Muir designed the piece to portray one of the Firth of Forth’s most special visitors – the humpback whale – the recently completed artwork was put in place last week.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “The Gasholder 1 Park opening is a huge milestone reached for the £1.3bn Granton Waterfront project. It is really inspiring to look out over this important piece of coastal land for our Capital city and see these much needed homes and other facilities literally springing up out of the ground.

 “The new park is a fantastic addition for local communities and the hundreds of new tenants including families who have recently moved into the homes we have built for social and mid-market rent in the area.

“Many of these are on land immediately surrounding the new park and I’m delighted to say that many more homes are being planned or under construction which will be ready for hundreds of new tenants in the next few years.

 “The historic gasholder gives the new park a unique look and feel and it will also be seen for miles around as the restored frame is lit up after dark.

 “This exciting opening follows the restoration of the former Granton Station building and the new public square also created to provide a sense of place for the local community which opened to great fanfare in March 2023. 

“I’m delighted to cut the ribbon on Saturday to open this exciting new space for the local community as well as the thousands of other visitors I’m sure it will attract from Edinburgh and beyond in the years to come.”

 Investment Minister Tom Arthur said: “We have contributed £1.2 million towards transformation of Granton’s Gasholder from a derelict site to a vibrant and accessible space for people to enjoy. 

“This is part of wider efforts to regenerate the Granton area, including a recent project supported by the Scottish Government to transform derelict industrial units at Granton Waterfront into communal spaces. 

“To help communities thrive, we are providing £62.15 million towards regeneration in 2025-26. This will support projects which revitalise green spaces, town centres and derelict sites to benefit people across Scotland.”

UK Government Minister for Local Growth, Alex Norris, said:  “Having visited Granton earlier in the year, it is wonderful to see the new Gasholder 1 Park will be opening this week. This green space will really bring the community together, from young families to elderly residents and visitors to the City.  

 “The refurbishment of the derelict gas holder structure has provided a real beacon of light to Edinburgh, retaining its unique history and character, while wider transformation work is underway to Granton Waterfront.

“This is exactly the kind of collaboration and locally led growth we want to see all across Scotland and the UK in our mission to boost growth and renewal as part of our Plan for Change.”

Graham Brown, Senior Contracts Manager at McLaughlin & Harvey, said: “Gasholder 1 Park was a unique restoration project to deliver for the City of Edinburgh Council.

“In deconstructing the old bell, refurbishing the listed steel structure, and repainting the frame, we have solved complex engineering challenges.

“The ribbon cutting ceremony is a brilliant opportunity for McLaughlin & Harvey to celebrate the vast civil engineering experience of our team as well as the success achieved in our collaboration with our client and supply chain partners.”

The family fun day will include

  • Community singalong with Pianodrome at 11am
  • Ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11.15am with Council Leader Jane Meagher
  • Family arts and craft activities
  • Penalty shoot-outs with Craigroyston Community Youth Football Club
  • Free ice cream
  • Free face painting
  • Exhibition stalls