Category: Newhaven

Local Tesco store supports local hospice with five figure donation

As part of their ongoing commitment to the local community, a Tesco Superstore in Edinburgh has raised £19,382 for St. Columba’s Hospice Care through instore fundraising and other initiatives.

The store, located on Broughton Road, has spent eight years raising vital funds for the hospice, which provides people in Edinburgh with end-of-life care, as well as supporting their families.

Recently, members of the Tesco team took part in the 7 Hills of Edinburgh Challenge, a long gruelling walk of around 27km with over 700m of climbing involved, in which they raised nearly £2,000 for the hospice alone.

In September, the team will be taking part in the famous Edinburgh Kiltwalk, part of Scotland’s largest mass participation walking event with over 178,000 people taking part since 2016.

Year-long fundraising in store includes a book donation point, which was started by store colleague Caroline Phillip, where customers are encouraged to take a book and make a small donation, which is then given to the hospice – with a current sum of £17,432 donated so far. Books are provided by local businesses and customers.

Ross Wallace, Store Manager at the Superstore, said: “We have supported St. Columba’s Hospice Care for many years and are delighted we have been able to give them such a fantastic donation of over £19,000.

“The hospice has provided help to not only colleagues in store, but our customers as well, so it’s a cause very close to our communities’ hearts.

“I’m extremely proud of all my staff for going the extra mile to raise funds for a vital service which supports so many people in the area, and I’d like to thank everyone who kindly donated over the years too.”

Amanda Southey, Partnerships Fundraiser, said: “We’re incredibly thankful to the team at Tesco for their continued commitment and generosity over the years.

“Their support makes a real difference to families across Edinburgh and the Lothians, allowing us to deliver expert, compassionate care, so no one has to face the end of life alone.”

Tesco Superstore is located at 7 Broughton Rd, Edinburgh, EH7 4EW.

Donations can be made to the store’s Kiltwalk efforts at: 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rosswallace-688924857d8396eb850a9ec7.

For more information on St. Columba’s Hospice Care and how to support, please visit https://stcolumbashospice.org.uk/.

Plans to relocate award-winning garden to Victoria Park

A national award-winning sensory garden designed by Leith resident Luke Coleman is set to be installed in Edinburgh’s Victoria Park, after being relocated from Yorkshire.

Earlier this month the garden, named ‘Drakkar’s Drift’, was on display at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Flower Show, Wentworth Woodhouse. Here it won a Gold Medal, RHS Young Designer of the Year, People’s Choice and Best Construction awards.

The garden, inspired by the history of the Scottish isles and its connections with the Vikings, will be installed on the site of one of two disused bowling greens returned to the Council by Edinburgh Leisure in 2023. Feedback from extensive local consultation carried out last year showed that residents were keen to see a sensory garden introduced to the area, alongside other options.

The garden has been dismantled and transported back to Edinburgh thanks to £20k previously secured and a fundraising drive is now underway to raise the additional £30k needed to reconstruct and embed Drakkar’s Drift in Edinburgh as a public asset. This will include expanding the design of the garden to meet the needs of the site and introducing paths, seating, and other features.

Councillor Margaret Graham said: “Luke’s Gold Medal success is a celebration of local creativity meeting international horticultural excellence. Bringing Drakkar’s Drift to Edinburgh would enrich our parks and unite community, nature and culture.

“We’ve been listening to residents, many of whom told us they’d like to see sensory planting on the site of the park’s old bowling green. As well as bringing this beautiful garden to the site, this project would enhance and develop it for community use. I’d encourage anyone with an interest in the site to support the campaign if they can.”

Designer Luke Coleman creates eco-friendly garden designs that harmonise with nature, where communities and ecosystems can thrive. Since the design of the garden began, he has envisioned that it would return to Edinburgh for residents to enjoy.

Luke said: “It’s been a dream to bring Drakkar’s Drift to life at the RHS Show, and now, seeing it find a permanent home in Edinburgh is something truly special.

“This project is about more than design; it’s about community, connection, and creating a legacy. I’m incredibly grateful for the support so far, and I hope people will get behind the fundraiser to help us rebuild the garden for everyone to enjoy.”

Amongst the garden’s elements are four mature trees, 1,500 herbaceous perennials, 13.5 tonnes of mossy boulders and living sculptures that support biodiversity.

Drakkar’s Drift draws inspiration from the basalt columns of Fingal’s Cave on the uninhabited island of Staffa – an interest sparked by a 2023 trip that led Luke to deeper research into the island’s history.

The Norse word ‘Drakkar’ refers to Viking ships displaying a dragon head at their front and so reminds of the arrival of the Vikings in the northern Scottish isles over a thousand years ago. 

Find out more about the project and donate online.

Starbank says goodbye to Sophia

FRIENDS of Starbank Park will say goodbye to one of their own tomorrow when Sophia Abrahamsen is laid to rest.

Starbank Friend Janet McArthur said: “Sophia had the most amazing stories of Newhaven and the local area – she was so knowledgable! A legend who sat in the park in the afternoons, she could trace her family back to Danes who came over to build the Great Michael ship. She was such a dignified lady and she’ll be much missed. It’s very sad.”

Funeral service will be held at Ebenezer United Free Church on Friday 18 July at 2.30pm followed by Warriston Crematorium (Cloister Chapel) at 3.30pm to which all family and friends are invited. Family flowers only please.

Sustainable cooking for New Scots

ELREC WORKSHOP AT HEART OF NEWHAVEN

SATURDAY 14 JUNE 12.45 – 2.45PM

Introducing our first workshop for New Scots in Edinburgh 🌏

Join our free Sustainable Cooking Workshop to meet new people, practise your English, and take part in something meaningful!

Together we will explore the rich tradition of Ukrainian Borsch, a flavourful sour soup made with meat stock, fresh vegetables, and aromatic seasonings, cherished across Eastern Europe and Northern Asia.

Come be a part of a powerful experience that unites community, culture, and cause.

Date: 14 June 2025 (Saturday)

Time: 12:45 – 14:45

Venue: Heart of Newhaven Community Centre

Address: 4-6 Main Street, Newhaven, Edinburgh, EH6 4HY

Language: English and Ukrainian

Open to: New Scots aged 18 or over who have a basic understanding of English

Registration: https://forms.gle/PYDCdzj3m9EfbikW7

#SustainableCooking#community

Earth In Common: Imagine Victoria Park event

SUNDAY 15 JUNE from 12.30 – 3.30pm

We are very excited to announce that the former bowling green in Victoria Park is set to become a vibrant community croft.

We are delighted to be attending a gathering at Victoria Park, hosted by @FriendsofVictoriaPark #picnicinthepark

We plan to host a stall and are inviting residents to come along and share their ideas and help shape the future of the space.

Whether you’re passionate about sustainability, education, food, or simply want to make a difference in your neighbourhood, your voice matters and we’d love to see you there.

Local cruise ship levy could raise over £1 million for Edinburgh

A cruise ship levy could help to ensure residents benefit from Edinburgh’s popularity as a cruise ship stop.

In a formal response to be submitted to the Scottish Government’s Cruise Ship Levy consultation, the council has expressed strong support in principle for a levy to help it manage tourism sustainably at Edinburgh’s ports.

The response also calls for any legislation to be based on evidence and involve greater consultation with ports and the cruise ship industry, as well as close working with other local authorities and regional partners.

Close to 217,500 cruise ship passengers visit Edinburgh and the region annually, with a significant number docking in Leith, Newhaven and South Queensferry. Currently, passengers are exempt from paying local visitor levies.

While any legislation to introduce a national Cruise Ship Levy is still to be developed, comparisons to similar sized destinations suggest it could raise over one million pounds for Edinburgh and the region.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Next summer we’ll become the first city in Scotland to launch a visitor levy, but under the Scottish Government’s legislation cruise ship passengers will be exempt.

“We consider it fair to treat all overnight visitors to Edinburgh the same, whether they choose to stay in a hotel, a short-term let, a campsite or a cruise ship.

“With public finances under increasing pressure, we believe this legislation should be used to empower councils to raise more income locally to better manage cruise ship tourism and pollution in our waters. As such, income raised should be ringfenced for the local area.

“In our waters we’re seeing more ships docking year on year, larger ships, and with that comes an environmental impact. Cruise ship tourism affects local communities and services just as other tourism does.”

You can view the City of Edinburgh Council’s draft response to the Scottish Government’s Cruise Ship Levy Consultation.

A final version will be submitted shortly, including amendments agreed at a meeting of the Policy and Sustainability Committee on Tuesday 27 May.