North Edinburgh News – Page 1061 – The NEN

RNLI’s Swim Safe returns to Scotland to deliver free sea safety lessons

This summer, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has teamed up with Swim England to offer children aged 7 – 14 the opportunity to learn lifesaving water safety skills.

Last year, the RNLI in Scotland saw 267,191 visitors on the lifesaving charity’s eight lifeguarded beaches and expect that number to increase this summer.

Local delivery partners around the UK supported by the national governing body for swimming in England and the RNLI are running free Swim Safe sessions to teach children aged 7-14 how to stay safe in and around open water and what to do if they, or someone else, gets in difficulty – including how to Float to Live.

Since 2013, the Swim Safe programme has delivered free lifesaving sessions to more than 148,000 children across the UK.

Run by local partners with qualified lifeguards and instructors in four locations in Scotland in July and September, the sessions provide children with both water safety advice on land and in-water tuitions.

Iona Hamilton, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor and Swim Safe Co-ordinator, said: ‘Last summer, RNLI lifeguards aided nearly 400 people across the eight beaches in Scotland. By educating children about water safety from a young age, together we can help reduce the number of incidents around our coasts.

‘Swim Safe is a great way for young people to learn about the different dangers associated with open water swimming in a safe and fun environment with qualified instructors and lifeguards.

‘We want children and parents to enjoy the beautiful beaches around Scotland but also to consider their own safety and know what to do in an emergency.’

As part of the session, participants will have the opportunity put into practice the vital message of ‘Float to Live’, which could save the lives of them or other.

This is a simple technique where you lean on your back and use your arms and legs to stay afloat. It allows you to control your breathing, then call for help or swim to safety and is proven to save lives.

The RNLI’s key water safety advice for 7-14 year-olds is:

Stop and think – Always swim in a safe place.
Stay together – Always swim with an adult, younger children should always be within arms reach.
Float – If you find yourself in trouble in the water, float on your back like a starfish.
Call 999 in an emergency and ask for the Coastguard.

To find out more or to sign up for a RNLI Swim Safe session, visit:

https://swimsafe.org.uk/

Blackhall Mosque Fun Day tomorrow

Asalaamualaikum,

Blackhall mosque is holding its very own fun day. In’shaAllah. All proceeds will go to the mosque.

There’s something for everyone. Games, Food, clothes, bouncy castle and lots more.

So we would like to invite everyone to come and enjoy the day with Blackhall Mosque. Please pass the flyer on.

Jazak Allah Khair

New Bird Gardens Scotland centre opens in the Scottish Borders

This month has witnessed a new zoo opening its doors and welcoming visitors to the grounds in Oxton, just north of Lauder. Bird Gardens Scotland is a not-for-profit organisation and works with some of the rarest birds as part of a global effort to help these threatened species.

The grounds are developing rapidly and with each bit of progress, more bird species arrive to be part of ever-expanding breeding programmes. It has been a great year for breeding successes thus far and the last few chicks of the season can be seen through the Baby Barn windows.

Visitors are currently enjoying a clutch of tiny ducklings taking their first wobbly steps and learning to swim in their little pond. These are ringed teal ducklings, a species becoming rarer due to rainforest loss in South America, at Bird Gardens Scotland however, they are thriving.

Visitors are able to get nose-to-beak with some of the wonderful characters in the grounds. A very curious and nosey kookaburra family enjoy people-watching as visitors walk-by.

The highlight for many visitors is the friendly flamboyance of flamingos on the main pond. Only being four years old, staff at Bird Gardens Scotland were a bit surprised when the flamingos started nest-building.

These pink delights spend hours picking up small stones and bits of mud as they create their nests just beside the main boardwalk giving visitors a thrilling close-encounter of the pinkest kind.

Mark, one of the founders of Bird Gardens Scotland said: “Being so young, we were delighted and a bit surprised that the flamingos started nest-building.

“They can live up to 70 years old and don’t usually breed until they are a bit older than four. That said, we’re not going to stop them breeding and actually we hope they’ll go all the way and make little flamingling fluff-balls.’

In the grounds is a new visitor centre with a coffee shop where freshly baked cakes and quiches can be enjoyed, washed-down with great coffee and other refreshments. The visitor centre is completely off-grid so this is your rare chance to enjoy a coffee made with Bird Gardens Scotland’s onsite spring water from a coffee-machine powered by the sun.

The natural history themed classroom in the visitor centre is getting ready to welcome school groups where children can meet tortoises, snakes and tiny frogs and learn about the conservation of the natural world. The classroom is also a quirky out-of-office meeting space and it could be the only rentable room that has the delightful song of poison dart frogs creating a charming atmosphere.

Owen, also one of the founders, and Mark’s husband, said: ‘We literally built the visitor centre during lockdown. We had materials on site and we learned a great deal as we built the building and installed the play areas.

“We are incredibly proud of ourselves for getting this far and we are very excited about the years to come.

“There are many plans to add gardens and breeding facilities. Sadly, there are many species in need of a helping hand as climate change, habitat loss, wildfires, deforestation and many other influential factors cause loss of wildlife.”

To make the bird gardens as accessible as possible, Mark and Owen decided to have a reasonable admission charge which allows entry for a whole year, this means that for the local community the site is effectively free to use and for passing visitors it is cheap to visit.

Owen said: “As a not-for-profit organisation, we wanted to get people in the doors to learn about the birds we work with and to celebrate conservation efforts with us. When people are exposed to the actual birds, a strong sense of care is naturally generated.

“This is a powerful driving force for collective change which is the only way we are going to push forward addressing environmental issues and make changes that will benefit wildlife, habitats, the planet and of course our future too.

“If Bird Gardens Scotland can contribute to that, then all our work will have been a success.”

Bird Gardens Scotland is a registered Community Interest Company.

Bird Gardens Scotland is open daily.

Admission: adult £10 & all concessions £6.50 (under 4 go-free)

Everything to date has been built, created and installed with volunteer help.

Bird Gardens is just north of the Carfraemill roundabout outside the village of Oxton.

Home to over 400 birds and wallabies.

The site is 7 acres. Half has been developed, the second half is underway.

Bird Gardens is part of the global zoo community working on effective conservation breeding.

The visitor centre is an eco-build using recycled, reclaimed and upcycled materials where possible.

SEPA: Significant water scarcity warnings despite the rain

Water scarcity situation now Significant in River Tyne, with more catchments expected to follow

The Tyne catchment in East Lothian has reached Significant Scarcity and water abstractors are being contacted about possible licence suspensions
Suspensions remain in force in parts of the Tweed catchment, with the rest of the catchment expected to reach Significant Scarcity in the coming days.
The Ythan catchment in Aberdeenshire is also expected to join the Tyne and Tweed in Significant Scarcity in the next few days.

River and groundwater levels are critically low in the Tyne catchment in East Lothian, with the area reaching Significant water scarcity in the latest report published by The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Businesses reliant on water abstractions are being contacted about next steps and possible licence suspensions to prevent further harm and potentially irreversible damage to the local water environment.

SEPA officers will be engaging with abstractors where suspensions are required to ensure compliance and advise restrictions will be lifted as soon as conditions improve sufficiently.

Parts of the Tweed catchment in the Scottish Borders remain in Significant water scarcity with suspensions on abstractions still in place. The rest of the area is also expected to reach this level in the coming days, along with the River Ythan catchment in Aberdeenshire.

Nathan Critchlow-Watton, Head of Water and Planning at SEPA, said: “Although we have seen some rainfall in these areas over the last week, it has not been enough to make up for the long-term deficits that have built up throughout the year.

“With more prolonged dry weather forecast, we will continue to monitor conditions and take appropriate action until the risk of water scarcity has reduced.

“Suspensions are part of Scotland’s National Water Scarcity Plan, which is designed to ensure the correct balance is struck between protecting the environment and providing resource for human and economic activity during prolonged dry periods. They are a last resort and SEPA only takes such action when the evidence tells us it can no longer be avoided.

“It is vital that business reliant on local water environments are prepared for these conditions as climate change means water scarcity is becoming a more regular occurrence. We are already seeing that this summer and we are committed to working with those affected now and in the future to help them build resilience.”

Further advice and guidance

Businesses may be able to switch to groundwater as their source and can apply to do so on our website. Applications from Significant Scarcity areas will be prioritised and fast-tracked.

Anyone concerned about meeting licence conditions or wishing to discuss contingency measures are encouraged to contact SEPA by emailing waterscarcity@sepa.org.uk

While SEPA focuses on managing abstractions from Scotland’s natural water resources for agriculture and other industrial uses, Scottish Water maintains public water supply.

For more information on water scarcity and to view the latest report, visit www.sepa.org.uk/waterscarcity.

Over one million families claiming tax credits to receive first Cost of Living Payment from 2 September

Around 1.1 million claimant families receiving tax credits will get their first Cost of Living Payment from Friday 2 September 2022, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed.

This £326 UK Government payment will be paid automatically into eligible tax credit-only customers’ bank accounts between 2 and 7 September 2022. The first HMRC payments will total around £360 million.

Nadhim Zahawi, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “I know people are really concerned by rising prices so I’m glad that over a million more low earners will shortly receive their first Cost of Living Payment. We are also preparing options for further support so the new Prime Minister can hit the ground running.

“Alongside £400 off most people’s energy bills, tax cuts and the Household Support Fund, these direct payments are a very important part of our £37 billion package of help for households, which is targeted at those who need it most.”

Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary, said: “This first Cost of Living Payment will provide vital financial support for eligible tax credit-only claimants across the UK. A second payment will be made to eligible customers from the winter.

“The money will be paid automatically into bank accounts, so people don’t need to do anything to get this extra help.”

These latest payments mean that more than eight million eligible households in receipt of a means-tested benefit will have received the first of two automatic Cost of Living payments of £326 from 14 July.

The second means-tested payment of £324 will be issued later this year – from the autumn for DWP benefit claimants, and from the winter for tax credit-only customers.

Tax credit claimants who also receive benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions will have already received their first Cost of Living Payment from July 2022.

The Cost of Living payments from the UK Government are part of a £37 billion package of support, which will see millions of low-income households receive at least £1,200 this year to help cover rising costs.

As well as the Cost of Living Payment, other UK Government support includes:

£400 discount from the government to help with the cost of energy bills from October onwards
£300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment that will be paid alongside Winter Fuel Payments
£150 Disability Cost of Living Payment from 20 September for those receiving an eligible UK disability benefit.

This is all in addition to changes to the Universal Credit taper rate and work allowances worth £1,000 a year on average for 1.7 million working claimants; a rise in the National Living Wage to £9.50 an hour; and a tax cut for around 30 million workers through a rise in National Insurance contribution thresholds.

The UK Government is offering help for households. Customers should check GOV.UK to find out what cost of living support they could be eligible for.

Trinity Community Gala tomorrow

Sunday 28th August is the date for the bi-annual Trinity Community Gala.

Lots to see and do! Go along and support what is always a great local event!

See below for more details:

https://trinitycommunitycouncil.wordpress.com/…/trinit…/

Motorcycle crime: three more arrests

#OperationSoteria, Edinburgh Policing Division’s city wide Operation, have been exhausting all lines of enquiry to bring offenders to account for motorcycle thefts and associated anti-social behaviour.

Over the past week, enquiries have led to the arrest of 3 individuals with significant links to motorcycle crime across Edinburgh and the execution of a warrant. This equates to a weekly total of 30 charges, and the recovery of 4 bikes, all as a direct result of our targeted activities.

Since the commencement of #OpSoteria on 20 June 2022, we have made 27 arrests. This translates to 160 charges all relating to motorcycle theft and antisocial behaviour offences and the recovery of 76 motorcycles, bringing the total value of bikes recovered since June to more than £581,713.

Anyone with information about motorcycle crime or the dangerous use of motorcycles in the capital can speak to officers confidentially and anonymously on 101, or through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Council lied to justify destructive development, claim Silverlea campaigners

Community campaigners fighting to save the Silverlea woodland, wildlife and heritage site from a housing development have condemned as “Council lies” the claim that the site is a “barren” flytipping site of “low landscape value and low recreational value with few quality trees”.

A meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council development sub-committee on 10 August flouted the Council’s own policy by approving the building of 142 houses on the green belt in the Muirhouse and the Salvesens area in north-west Edinburgh.

The Save Our Silverlea Campaign describe a photo of the site produced by the Council to justify the development as “totally misleading”.

A SoS spokesperson said: “The photo showed a big pile of flytipped waste – but when a team from Save Our Silverlea visited the site days after the Council meeting, all we found was one white plastic bag and a dumped shopping trolley. The Council photo was either very old or taken elsewhere. Councillors visited the site shortly before the meeting so they should have known the photo was ‘fake news’.”

Save Our Silverlea have produced photos of the site showing massive trees and a verdant and vibrant woodland.

30-40 mature trees are to be felled to make way for the proposed scheme.

“We defy anyone – even a Councillor – to look at these magnificent trees and say this is a “barren” flytipping site. Clearly there has been some flytipping over the years – but if the site was sympathetically opened up to the community as a mini nature reserve with low impact paths and perhaps a children’s play area, then this increased footfall would act as a deterrent to flytipping.

“The Council is effectively “saving” the site by destroying it.”

Freedom of Information request

The camapigners say the city council tried to justify the destruction of dozens of mature trees by claiming they were planting 131 saplings on the narrow strip of grass known as Silverknows Park.

At the Council meeting Save Our Silverlea spokesperson Edward Murray described the real situation: “My flat overlooks Silverknowes Park and I watched them planting these saplings out in mid-February on a bitter cold day with the ground waterlogged,” he explained.

“The end result is the vast majority of these saplings never took root. They’re dead. Are we then to exchange 30-40 mature trees for row upon row of dead twigs in plastic tubes? That doesn’t strike us as a fair exchange.”

On 16 August Save Our Silverlea submitted a Freedom of Information request asking how much the Silverknowes Park Tree Plantation cost.

At the Council meeting Edward Murray described Muirhouse, where he has lived for over 30 years, as “just a dormitory for workers to sleep in before going back to work again”.

Mr Murray added: “Muirhouse is the size of a small town; it has no primary school, no park, not even a pub. It doesn’t even have a supermarket. In short, it is a deprived area. We have nothing down there. It’s one of the most deprived areas in Edinburgh.

“And now, having taken practically everything, you want to take our last green space, the Silverlea site, for development, destroying a wildlife habitat and creating congestion and pollution along the Silverknowes/Muirhouse Parkway, described by Police Scotland as ‘the second most dangerous road in Edinburgh’.”

Save our Silverlea are continuing their campaign: “As climate change threatens the future of humanity, we need to act to defend our green spaces. This land should be used for the local community – not to make £millions for greedy property developers.

“We need much more council/ social housing – build council houses on the brownfield sites where they are now building 1000s of private houses. The struggle to save our Silverlea continues.”

ELGT839_PL1_rev01-Silverknowes-Park-Planting Download

Rowanbank Gardens Sets New Standards in Outdoor Living

Apartments’ Communal Areas Provide Fruit Trees, Vegetable Growing Beds and Even its Own Potting Shed
Plans for Bee Hives on Rooftops – Plus On-Site Chicken Coop

Almost 150 new trees, plus herb and vegetable growing beds and more than half a kilometre of evergreen hedgerows, are to be provided at Artisan Real Estate’s Rowanbank Gardens in Corstorphine, as the low carbon development continues to set new standards in environmentally sensitive living.

Already making headlines for its fossil fuel-free design credentials – with monthly energy bills estimated at less than £65 per month* – Rowanbank Gardens is now set to deliver a unique mix of garden spaces aimed at maximising the benefits of outdoor living. Described as a ‘spectacular blueprint for low carbon living’, the development will deliver 93 high quality apartments for private sale, together with 33 affordable homes, set around a large communal garden.

The garden area will contain a mix of 30 fruit trees, including cherry and Cox’s Orange Pippin and Red Windsor apple trees. There will also be several large growing beds with space for strawberries, herbs and vegetables surrounded by woodland grass meadows – and even a dedicated potting shed complete with a planted ‘turfed’ roof.

Rowanbank Gardens has been designed to set new industry standards for sustainable, low-carbon development, challenging many of the norms associated with the building of traditional apartment buildings in city centre areas.

Its construction follows Artisan’s design framework geared to achieving low to zero carbon city living, which starts with ‘use less, first.’ From the start, external landscaping has been an important factor in the layout and design of the development.

“We wanted to create an external environment which was both in tune with nature and instrumental in bringing residents together,” explains David Westwater, Artisan’s Development Director for Scotland.

“One of the lessons we learned from the pandemic was that apartment dwellers, even in the city centre, need to have a strong connection both with the outdoors and with their neighbours. So, as well as providing private balcony and patio areas for the majority of apartments, we also decided to be more proactive with our communal green spaces, rather than simply providing the usual manicured square of grassed lawn and flower beds.

“Rowanbank Gardens’ residents will be able to grow their own herbs and vegetables together in raised growing beds as well as being able to harvest cherries and apples from almost 30 fruit trees. And the planting of 520 metres of evergreen Yew and Burkwood hedgerows surrounding the development will provide an attractive all-year-round border for those inside and out, whilst providing a natural habitat for birds and other wildlife.”

He added: “The turfed roofs of the main apartment buildings, bike and potting sheds will also attract plant, insect and bird life which are encouraged with natural inducements such as wild-flower planting.

We will be working with future residents and the local community to explore the potential of hosting bee hives on the apartment roofs as well as the possibility of managing an on-site chicken coop for the benefit of residents.”

Artisan’s significant investment in outdoor space, as well as its cost-effective energy efficient living is providing a popular draw especially amongst first-time buyers and downsizers. Since it launched late last year, sales at Rowanbank Gardens have been buoyant, with 13 of the first ‘Appleberry’ phase already sold.

A further four of the remaining 14 apartments in Appleberry are now available, with the remaining apartments being released shortly.

Prices for a one-bedroom apartment start at £245,000 with a two-bedroom at £315,000, making the development a perfect destination for first-time buyers and downsizers wanting to live in well-connected, bustling community just minutes from the city centre.

To register interest In Rowanbank Gardens and book an appointment at the new on-site sales and marketing suite, visit the development website at www.rowanbankgardens.com or call 0131 516 3302.

Edinburgh nurse Evelyn to receive WellChild Award

Remarkable Evelyn from Edinburgh is rewarded for exceptional work for seriously ill children with national WellChild Award

Nurse Evelyn Rodger from Edinburgh has been named as a winner in the prestigious national 2022 WellChild Awards, in association with GSK, having been nominated by colleague and charity CEO, Rami Okasha, and will be off to collect her award in London on September 8^th.

The Awards are run by WellChild, the national charity for seriously ill children, and will be attended by the charity’s Patron, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. The Duke will deliver remarks.

Evelyn, who is a Diana Children’s Nurse with Children’s Hospices Across Scotland was picked from hundreds of nominations from across the UK to win the Nurse category in these Awards which celebrate the resilience of children living with serious illnesses or complex conditions and honour the dedication of those individuals who go the extra mile to help these children and their families.

Evelyn has been a Diana Children’s Nurse (DCN) with Children’s Hospices Across Scotland for the past eight years, having joined the charity in 2014.

In her role Evelyn is based in the neonatal Unit in Simpsons in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but she also covers five neonatal units across Southeast of Scotland and Tayside.

In addition to her nursing Evelyn supports and delivers training for NHS Lothian and CHAS staff, developing an environment of close working not only with the hospital and community teams, but with the CHAS hospice, at home and family support teams. Evelyn’s dedication and her collaborative approach creates a seamless service to families.

Evelyn was instrumental in a pioneering memory making project called ‘Joes Toes’ which has raised over £15,000 since 2018 to allow CHAS and neonatal units to purchase the materials required to make 3D baby hand and foot-casts, respectfully done in baby Joe’s name.

Joe was one of twins who was sadly stillborn as a result of twin to twin transfusion syndrome. Part of Evelyn’s role as Diana Nurse is to provide bereavement support and to help parents find ways to create precious lasting memories with their babies, a role which she feels very passionate about.

Joe’s mother Marie said: “Evelyn is a compassionate, kind, gentle woman who is incredibly knowledgeable in bereavement care and we feel privileged that she was there to support us in making cherished memories with Joe and with saying goodbye with no regrets.

“As part of the memory making process, we asked if she would be able to help us take 3D casts of Joe’s feet. Evelyn was more than willing to help us in any way she could. Joe’s cast is now one of our most cherished possessions and to be able to physically touch, hold, see, something that was exactly his is so very precious.

“Our little Joe has given us, and now other families, so much without even being here. He never drew breath but he has changed us forever.”

CHAS CEO Rami Okasha, who nominated Evelyn for the WellChild Award, said: “Evelyn is retiring from CHAS in September this year so to receive a WellChild Award in her retiral year is an incredible honour.

“Evelyn has supported hundreds of families, making sure they have time to spend together and are able to make the choices about end-of-life care for their child and understand the really difficult things that are going on around them.

“More than that Evelyn is an inspiration to her colleagues who work so well with the team across CHAS and across the NHS to support newborn children and parents when the time they have together is going to be incredibly short.

“Evelyn goes above and beyond to build deep connections with families and says in touch with them even long after her care ends. I have heard myself from parents the difference that Evelyn has made to them. It is humbling to hear and I want Evelyn to know there are people across Scotland whose lives she has changed forever and they are incredibly grateful to the skill and dedication and kindness she has shown every single day at her work.”

WellChild Chief Executive, Matt James said: “There are more children and young people than ever before in the UK living with long-term, serious health needs.

“The WellChild Awards 2022, in association with GSK, will be a unique opportunity to recognise and highlight the immense challenges they have faced and to celebrate the remarkable positivity, resilience and spirit they have demonstrated.

“It will also help us to shine a light on the dedication of those around them, from siblings, professionals and volunteers who have gone above and beyond to help them through such challenging times.”