Category: Granton

Lichen Walk in Granton

Granton Eastern Breakwater Lichen Walk: Wednesday 11 Sept, 5pm

Scotland is home to more than 1500 species of lichen, more than 85% of the total species found in the UK, and is recognized for its clean air quality and abundance of lichens.

Despite this prevalence, lichens are far less likely to be identified and surveyed by members of the public and citizen science initiatives than vascular plants.

This project seeks to increase awareness around lichen biology and ecology, uncovering the environmental importance of lichen species.

Join Lichen Biodiversity Scientist Dr Rebecca Yahr and researcher Toby Mills on a walk around Granton’s Eastern Breakwater to explore the abundant community of marine lichen species at the site.

The walk is accompanied by the creation of a new interactive digital guide. The interactive guide also forms part of the Art Walk’s UnderCurrent Exhibition at the Art Walk Porty Festival Hub (7/8 & 14/15 September).

Location: Starting from Granton Hub, Madelvic House
Date/Time: Wed 11 September, 5-7pm
Book via website – https://www.artwalkporty.co.uk/…/granton-eastern…/ 

Social Bite to join The Pitt in Granton with dessert pop-up

  • Social Bite’s first pop-up food venture will focus on custard and desserts
  • Social Bite customers will be able to pay it forward and donate towards the charity’s work providing food, homes, jobs and support to people affected by homelessness
  • Social Bite is the third vendor to be announced for the market’s opening in Granton later this year
  • Social Bite joins British Street Food Champions Choola, and the legendary Buffalo Truck with more to be announced

Leading homelessness charity Social Bite today announced their dessert pop-up as the newest addition to an exciting line up of local food businesses at The Pitt, Granton. The partnership between Social Bite and The Pitt will bring sweet treats to customers.

Social Bite’s first pop-up will celebrate all things custard, with delicious desserts including crumble made with seasonal fruit and a choice of toppings served with hot or cold fresh custard. Social Bite will be a permanent trader and exclusive provider of desserts for visitors to the popular street food market at its new home in Granton.

Whilst Social Bite has a history of coffee shops in Edinburgh city centre, the charity is no stranger to the Granton Waterfront. The Pitt is located opposite Social Bite’s village, which opened in 2018 and has since supported 100 people out of homelessness.

The Pitt, owned and operated by not-for-profit community interest company, Granton Project CIC, is on a mission to create positive change in North Edinburgh and will open year-round this winter.

Mel Swan, Commercial Operations Director at Social Bite, said: “We’re excited to bring the Social Bite brand and our new dessert concept to The Pitt. There’s a lot of synergy between us – as well as our love of good food, we share their ethos of creating a supportive, community environment where people can flourish.

“They’ve welcomed us an established business with a new idea. We chose custard because it’s great hot, cold or frozen, and it works on its own, baked in a dessert, or as a side. We’ve got loads of great ideas that we can’t wait to bring to The Pitt’s devoted foodies, whether you pop along for pudding or want to pay it forward.”

Hal Prescott, Chief Executive of The Pitt, said: “With a number of exciting traders already confirmed, it’s amazing to welcome Social Bite, such a well-established social enterprise, to  the project.

“They’ve already made such a huge contribution to end homelessness and we firmly believe that this innovative collaboration will make a significant impact.

“And how exciting to have Britain’s first dedicated custard stall at The Pitt on the shores of Granton!”

Dr Bike session at Granton Church

FREE BIKE MAINTENANCE

We are very excited to be hosting a FREE bike maintenance session at Granton Parish Church on Friday 20th September (5-7PM)🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️🚴.

The session is going to be delivered in partnership with North Edinburgh Arts, R2 and some amazing staff from Dr Bike.

If you bike or scoot, please, do feel free to come to check your wheels on the 20th September💪💪💪

Have your say on Edinburgh’s new school proposals

Views are being sought on proposals to build two new non-denominational primary schools and nurseries in and Granton Waterfront and Gilmerton.

The Council is looking for people’s views on proposals to build two new non-denominational primary schools and nurseries in the city. The plans include both creating new catchment areas and changes to the catchments of nearby existing schools. 

One proposed new school would sit within the Granton Waterfront development area in north Edinburgh. This would affect the existing catchment areas of Craigroyston, Granton and Pirniehall primary schools, and Broughton and Craigroyston Community high schools.

The other would be located within the Gilmerton Station Road housing development in south east Edinburgh. This would affect the existing catchment areas of Gilmerton Primary School, Gracemount High School, and Liberton High School.

Proposals for both schools include ideas to bring daily services together for everyone in the local area to use. This approach is designed to help create more social, inclusive and accessible communities that are connected by safe travel routes.

Education, Children and Families Convener Cllr Joan Griffiths said: “These proposals represent exciting new possibilities for flexible, inclusive and diverse schools in the heart of our communities across the city.

“We’re committed to ensuring our children get the best possible start in life in Edinburgh. We also want this improved way of using our school buildings to help everyone across the city to live well locally in healthier, greener and thriving neighbourhoods.

“We hope that as many people as possible take the opportunity to share their views on the proposals via our website or by coming along to one of our meetings or drop-in events.”

More information on the school proposals for Granton and Gilmerton can be found on the Council’s Consultation Hub, where visitors can share their views.

A mixture of public meetings and drop-in sessions to discuss the proposals will also take place in September:

Granton:

Public meeting:

  • Craigroyston Community High School on Tuesday, 10 September 2024 6.30pm – 8.30pm

Drop-in public information events:

  • Broughton High School on Wednesday 4 September 2024 5.00pm – 7.30pm
  • Granton Primary School on Monday 9 September 2024 2.30pm – 5.00pm
  • Craigroyston Primary School on Tuesday 10 September 2024 2.30pm – 5.00pm
  • Pirniehall Primary School on Thursday 19 September 2024 2.30pm – 5.00 pm

Gilmerton:

Public meetings:

  • Gilmerton Primary School on Thursday 12 September 2024 6.30pm – 8.30pm
  • Gracemount High School on Wednesday 18 September 2024 6.30pm – 8.30pm

Views and comments can also be submitted direct to the Council by end of Thursday 3 October 2024.

Have your say on new waterfront school

New primary school and nursery proposed at Granton Waterfront, which would impact catchment areas for several local schools.

Find out more and share your views by 3 October at:

http://edinburgh.gov.uk/grantonwaterfrontps

Are YOU losing out on Pension Credit?

SUPPORT and ADVICE from GRANTON INFORMATION CENTRE

THE Scottish Government has confirmed it will no longer provide Winter Fuel Payments to all pensioners in Scotland. Replicating the recent decision announced by the UK Government, Winter Fuel Payments will now be means-tested, which means only individuals in receipt of Pension Credit and certain other benefits will receive it.

Because Pension Credit is a ‘gateway benefit’, which opens up access to other support including Winter Fuel Payments, it is now more crucial than ever that individuals claim Pension Credit so that they don’t miss out on additional money they are entitled to.

If you’ve reached State Pension age, you can claim Pension Credit if your weekly income is less than:

£218.15 if you’re single

£332.95 if you’re a couple.

Even if your weekly income is higher than these thresholds, you could still claim Guarantee Credit if you meet one of the following criteria:

*you’re a carer

*you have a severe disability

*you have certain housing costs, such as service charges

*you’re responsible for a child or young person who usually lives with you.

If you have £10,000 or less in savings and investments this will not affect your Pension Credit. If you have more than £10,000, every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week. For example, if you have £11,000 in savings, this counts as £2 income a week.

MANY, MANY, ELIGIBLE PENSIONERS ARE MISSING OUT ON PENSION CREDIT!

To claim Pension Credit, you can either:

*claim online on GOV.UK (if you already claim State Pension and there aren’t any children or young people included in your claim)

*call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234 and they can fill in the application for you over the phone (lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm).

To discuss your benefit entitlements and to find out what you can claim, get in touch with us at Granton Information Centre.

Our Welfare Rights Advisers are here to help!

Call 0131 551 2459 or 0131 552 0458 or email info@gic.org.uk

Music at St Columba’s

If you’re looking to escape the hubbub of the Edinburgh Festivals, then why not join us in The Hub, on Friday 23rd August for a free, relaxed live music session..

From 2-3pm our friends, Jenny Baxley Lee, Katey Warren and Astro & Stella will be performing a variety of Americana, Country and Folk songs for your listening pleasure.

All are welcome – booking recommended. Please register by emailing arts@stcolumbashospice.org.uk.

Granton Medway Community Park: Second consultation event

Come along and join us at another drop in event at the entrance to the community park on Granton Medway anytime between 4pm and 7pm on Wednesday 21st August to meet the team and see the designs.

We would like to share our initial ideas for the landscape improvements and get your feedback if you like them, or have further suggestions.

Contact: Lynn Stocks, Principal Engagement Consultant

Landscape Architecture & Urban Design

AtkinsRéalis

0131 221 5770

Canning Exchange, 10 Canning Street

Edinburgh, EH3 8EG

Compassionate Gardeners

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES WITH ST COLUMBA’S

Did you know our team of Compassionate Gardeners make an immediate and heartwarming impact on the lives of those living at home with an end-of-life diagnosis who yearn to spend precious time in their much-loved gardens.

Coming alongside the garden owners, our green fingered volunteers offer a little deserved TLC to help restore the loveliness of the garden and by doing so often greatly add to the sense of wellbeing of the garden owner and often the volunteer too.

As one of our volunteers recently laughed ‘as I work in the garden, the garden works on me too!’

By offering two hours once a fortnight volunteers can really make the world of a difference to someone living with a palliative condition and also share the joy of gardening.

To find out more, email Maggie on myoung@stcolumbashospice.org.uk

Walking Like a Tortoise Granton exhibition at Central Library

Walking like a Tortoise, a mixed media, walking art exhibition

Edinburgh Central Library, 7 – 9 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EG. Foyer and Display Case on Main Stairs

1 August – 30 September (10am – 8pm Monday to Wednesday; 10am – 5pm Thursday to Saturday)

‘Walking like a Tortoise’ is a range of art work based on a series of walks around Granton on the northern edge of Scotland’s capital city. Using maps of the area from 1870 to the present day, Tamsin Grainger skirted the urban and coastal landscapes of Granton, looking into hidden corners, seeing from unlikely angles and meeting those who live and work there.

Through photography, words, video, textiles and found materials, she asks how the act of slow walking can develop a sense of belonging somewhere, and how mindful noticing of the area on foot, promotes appreciation of and connection to what is home.

Tamsin’s been walking around Granton for 14 years now, alone and with other members of the community, and has become interested in the alterations that people and the climate have wrought.

Although places transform all the time, the built-up environment and natural spaces of Granton have recently been changing at an exceptionally rapid pace and still are: the harbour is now a no-go area; streets and stations have been given new names and functions; and views have disappeared.

Slowly wandering the boundary and making artwork has stimulated a deeper understanding of local history and heritage, but how much of this will soon have vanished?

Is Granton disappearing and being replaced by the Edinburgh Waterfront?

By visiting the exhibition, you are invited to consider: ‘What are the invisible boundaries which define us?’ ‘What happens if the exact edges of our living space change? Is it important to you that things stay the same or do you welcome transformation?’ ‘Do you feel part of the decision-making processes which precipitate such changes?’ and, ‘Is there a link between a sense of who you are and feeling that you belong somewhere?’

Tamsin Grainger is a walking artist who has lived in Granton for 15 years and has extensive experience in the Community Arts in Edinburgh. She was Dance Artist in Residence for the City of Edinburgh, and is currently the Granton Waterfront Heritage Programme Development Worker. This exhibition was first shown at the Granton:hub in 2023.