Category: North Edinburgh News

Iconic palace and country house announce summer outdoor theatre shows

Two east of Scotland treasures will host a series of outdoor theatre performances, allowing visitors to enjoy both Shakespeare beneath the stars and the classic Treasure Island.

This summer, the National Trust for Scotland is hosting outdoor theatre and music shows at a number of their properties across the country, including Falkland Palace in Fife and Newhailes near Edinburgh.

Families and theatre lovers are invited to bring their blankets and chairs and enjoy the open air shows, set within the gardens and grounds of two of Scotland’s iconic properties.

Fans of Shakespeare can see Henry V at Falkland Palace on Sunday 15 August. Against the dramatic backdrop of one of the former homes of Mary Queen of Scots, the stirring tale of the charismatic king will be brought to life over a summer’s evening. 

The Palladian country house of Newhailes will host The Tempest on Saturday 17 July and a production of Treasure Island on 21 July, will see pirates descend on the Musselburgh estate.

Open-air theatre goers are encouraged to bring blankets, rugs and picnics along to enjoy the alfresco entertainment. 

All events can be booked through each of the individual properties on the National Trust for Scotland website at www.nts.org.uk

All events have been prepared to be as safe as possible and will follow COVID-19 guidelines and safety measures. The National Trust for Scotland is urging anyone planning to visit the events to check the latest government guidance around COVID-19 restrictions.

LISTINGS

Falkland Palace

Shakespeare’s Henry V at Falkland Palace & Garden
Date: Sunday 15 August

Time: 7pm

Festival Players International bring you Shakespeare’s most popular history play: Henry V.

After a rebellious and spirited youth, carousing in the taverns of London, Prince Hal takes on the responsibility of kingship and leads his troops across the Channel to do battle with the French at Agincourt. Follow the charismatic King Henry V in this stirring tale of leadership, bravery, humour and love; two hours of exhilarating entertainment for a summer’s evening!

Book your ticket now

Newhailes

The Tempest
Date: Saturday 17 July

Time: 7pm

Folksy’s wonderful production is filled with live music, colourful characters, enchantment and a little touch of magic.

Book your ticket now

Treasure Island
Date: Wednesday 21 July

Time: 6pm

Join plucky Jim Hawkins and his swashbuckling buccaneer crew in this exciting new adaptation of the classic pirate adventure.

Book your ticket now

Peas Please: A pledge for more veg sees University of Edinburgh land national award

THE UNIVERSITY of Edinburgh is being recognised as a UK leader in the drive to encourage the consumption of more fresh vegetables, after it was presented an award by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

In recognition of the commitment to a challenging pledge with stretched targets to be achieved by 2023, most notably to increase the weight of vegetables developed in recipes – the University’s catering team was rewarded with the “Peas Please – Rising Star” award and was up against other shortlisted companies including national restaurant chain Zizzi.

Announcing the win on a video ceremony on 24 June, the celebrity chef and campaigner remarked on the University of Edinburgh’s far-reaching ambitions and commitment to sourcing local and seasonal produce.

The Peas Please initiative is focused on making it easier for everyone to eat vegetables. The initiative released its latest Veg Facts 2021 report and found 18,000 premature deaths a year in the UK can been influenced by a poor diet and lack of vegetables and legumes.

The report also found 77% of adults eat fewer portions of vegetables than recommended by the UK Government’s EatWell guide.

Ian Macaulay, Director Catering, University of Edinburgh Accommodation, Catering and Events (ACE), said: “We are thrilled to receive this accolade. There have been significant challenges this past year due to Covid-19; so being shortlisted, and subsequently winning has been very rewarding.

“Through it all we’ve been working with our suppliers to source brilliant ingredients, including from some of Scotland’s best producers. 

“There is still a way to go – and we are always looking to improve our catering service both by listening to our customers but also providing means for healthier living.

“Our pledge to Peas Please shows our ongoing commitment and dedication to adapt to growing needs and set new targets that underpin the University’s Good Food Policy.”

The Peas Please initiative is focused on making it easier for everyone to eat vegetables. The initiative released its latest Veg Facts 2021 report and found 18,000 premature deaths a year in the UK can been influenced by a poor diet and lack of vegetables and legumes.

The catering team are not only committed to increasing the amount of vegetables served (currently 50% of all meals are vegetarian and plant-based) but also committed to promoting vegetables in their Student Cook Schools and to make vegetables more accessible, appealing and affordable across university cafes.

Meals and products will now contain a greater proportion of vegetables, with an increase in weight from 90g to 150g.

Vegan hot meal options are also now a permanent addition to retail outlets with seasonal and local vegetables used on a rotational basis. Customers can switch potato portions for vegetables at no extra cost.

As department of the University of Edinburgh, Accommodation, Catering and Events’ main focus is the accommodation and residential welfare of more than 10,000 students, which highlights the importance of influencing eating habits in young adult life.

For more information on The University of Edinburgh Accommodation, Catering and Events, please visit the website https://www.accom.ed.ac.uk/ or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Joy Rides at Cramond

Care home residents have ‘wheely good time’!

A CYCLING initiative at an Edinburgh care home aiming to get elderly residents out in the fresh air and interacting with the community has got off to a speedy start. 

With restrictions easing, Cramond Residence was delighted to resume its partnership with Joy Rides – a customised electric tri-shaw bike that carries two passengers and a “driver”.

Residents at the care home to the north of the city enjoyed venturing out every other week before the pandemic on bespoke trails with Joy Rides founder and cycling enthusiast Lissa McIntyre.

Joy Rides was created in 2019 and is a one woman show helping passengers combat feelings of isolation and loneliness, whilst improving health and well-being all while having fun on the front of a tri-shaw bike.

Lissa McIntyre, said: “From a very young age I’ve had a passion for cycling – there is nothing better than feeling the wind in your hair and forgetting your worries for a little while.

“No other form of transport gives you the same sense of freedom as a bicycle does, so I wanted to ensure people who couldn’t cycle were able experience this feeling – albeit minus the strenuous pedalling!

“When doing my initial market research, I noticed there was a lack of outdoor activities available for older people within the city so I wanted to close this gap and offer them the same experience and enjoyment.

“Riding on the tri-shaw gives you the freedom that comes with being on a bike outdoors with the security that a reliable, safe person is in charge behind the wheel.”

The Joy Rides project resumed in June, and aims to allow residents and other customers to filter back into their local communities without stress or unease following months of lockdown.

Lissa, said: “There are a host of positive mental, physical and social benefits that come from getting elderly people out in the fresh air, especially as many have not left the home for a long period of time.

“During the trip residents are encouraged to socialise with others from different parts of the home and are often keen to have a chat with locals.”

Residents often request the cycle to go along Cramond promenade to view parts of the city they don’t often see, such as the view to the Forth Bridges in Queensferry and across the water to Fife.

Between every session the tri-shaw bike is thoroughly cleaned, on top of this both the driver and passengers are required to wear a mask during the trip with health and safety being paramount.

Cramond Residence provides a combination of luxury accommodation and the highest quality of care, with all residents enjoying a wide range of amenities and activities, delicious food and bespoke care.

During lockdown, Lifestyle Coordinators led activities from The Residence Cinema, connecting to residents in their own private house lounge or in their bedrooms via smart TVs to encourage two-way communications.

Places in the care home start from £1850 a week. To find out more, call 0131 341 4037 or visit https://cramondresidence.co.uk/

Onwards and Upwards: 2021 Book Festival Programme announced

After a universally challenging year, it’s onwards and upwards as EIBF launch 2021’s exciting programme of live, online Book Festival events.

A stellar line-up of over 300 writers, artists and thinkers from around the globe come together this August to share their ideas and stories for a changing world – and all online events are available to book from today.

During the Festival dates, 14-30 August, enjoy more than 250 events for adults, children and families online, all available to watch on a Pay What You Can basis. Online events offer the opportunity to chat with fellow book lovers and connect with authors by asking questions in our live Q&As.

You can also catch up on events at a time that suits, and there’s unlimited ticket availability for the online programme, so you needn’t worry about missing out. Visit our How To Book page for all the information you’ll need.

In this exciting new chapter for the Book Festival, a wide range of the live-streamed events will also have in-person audiences at our new Festival home, the University of Edinburgh’s Edinburgh College of Art.

Around half of our participants will appear in person in Edinburgh, while others join digitally from their homes around the world. Tickets for socially-distanced in-person events will go on sale from midday on 22 July.

The Book Festival Bookshop will open its doors again during this year’s Festival and you’ll find it located in the beautiful Old Fire Station building at our new site on Lauriston Place. Our online bookshop is open 24/7 and will feature titles from authors in the 2021 programme. Selected authors will be offering book signings online and in-person too.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1412336086332891136

EIBF Director, Nick Barley, said: “We are incredibly excited to produce our first ‘hybrid’ festival with authors and audiences joining us both in person and online.  We welcome a mix of Scottish and international voices to discuss their ideas, hopes and dreams and we aim to explore together how to move ‘Onwards and Upwards’ from this devastating pandemic. 

“In our new home at Edinburgh College of Art we have created three broadcast studios, two of which can accommodate limited audiences. These new facilities enable us to offer author conversations to worldwide audiences and to those closer to home who are unable to join us in person, as well as welcoming a limited In-Real-Life audience.

“The Book Festival is at the forefront of the re-emergence of public events, and we have a duty of care to our authors, audiences and staff.  It is important that we help rebuild confidence and we have therefore chosen to retain 1 metre social distancing for audiences in the studios. This gives us a reduced capacity of 100 in the New York Times Sculpture Court and 60 in the Baillie Gifford West Court.

“Outside in the courtyard we are recreating the ‘village green’ element of the Book Festival that our audiences enjoy with a bookshop, café, family play area, seating spaces and a big screen upon which a number of the live events will be shown.

“The Book Festival has always aimed to be an oasis of calm and, as ever, this will be a space for audiences to chat, relax, read a book and while away the hours in the summer sunshine.”

Although we can’t promise sun, we will be bringing hundreds of the world’s best writers and thinkers to take part in live conversations this August, including events with Nobel Prize winners Amartya Sen and Kazuo Ishiguro, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Booker Prize winners Salman Rushdie, Bernardine Evaristo, Richard Flanagan and Scotland’s own Douglas Stuart (with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon) and many more. You can browse our entire programme now – we’re sure you’ll find plenty to enterain, challenge and inspire.

This year we’re exploring stories and ideas for a changing world, one dealing with the impact of Covid-19, climate change, poverty, inequality and the varied effects of technology, with authors, politicians, doctors and others discussing the overlapping crises we face – and how we can move forward.

Other key themes for 2021 include an interrogation of Britain’s history of colonialism, a celebration of LGBTQIA+ voices, a look at the importance of our bodies in shaping our sense of self, and more – visit our Themes page and explore the programme through the prism of some of this year’s most important and interesting topics.

Of course, the Baillie Gifford Children’s Programme is full of fun for all ages – with 60 events to take part in from home including readings, draw-alongs, and dancing.We’re also excited to launch a new series of pre-recorded, audio-only events, available from the very start of the Festival, and a range of walking tours and family trails around Edinburgh.

Over 60 of our online events offer BSL Interpretation or Live Captions courtesy of StageText – you can find a list of these events in our What’s On section. We’re pleased to once again offer an interactive event designed especially for those with learning disabilities focused on the wonderful new picture book You Can! by Alexandra Strick and illustrator Steve Antony, created with the support of our friends at PAMIS.

There’s plenty more to see and discover in our packed 2021 programme. The Book Festival is for everyone – whether you are in a position to pay for a ticket or not, whether you join us in person or from your sofa – so join the conversation this August as we all try to make sense of our changing world.

Operation Boxy: policing the Pentlands

Operation Boxy will run in the Pentland Hills Regional Park from 5 July to 31 July 2021 and will focus on the Edinburgh side of the hills: Bonaly Country Park, Harlaw, Torduff, Clubbiedean and Threipmuir reservoirs/areas.

This Operation involves partnership working between Police Scotland, the Pentland Hills Regional Park (PHRP) team, Scottish Water and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The purpose of the Operation is to combat anti-social behaviour and encourage responsible access and use of the Pentland Hills, including the reservoirs.

There will be daily patrols during this time where Police Officers and PHRP Officers will engage with members of the public with the purpose of education and prevention – but, where necessary, there will be enforcement of the law.

To report any criminal issues please call 101, 999 in an emergency, and advise the call handler that the call relates to ‘Operation Boxy’.

Using the ‘what3words’ smartphone application is proving extremely effective in pinpointing exact locations.

Visiting reservoirs in the Pentland Hills

Please follow our advice on how to access reservoirs safely and responsibly:

Be safe: reservoirs are dangerous places to swim – read our safety advice and be aware of the risks. Note Blue-green algae bloom warnings.

www.pentlandhills.org/safety/safety-reservoirs.

Be considerate: keep clear of anglers – do not enter the water or let your dog in the water near anglers fishing from the bank and do not approach boats in the water. A fishing line can be cast out several metres from the angler.

Share the space: remember whatever your chosen activity is, either on the water or on the reservoir shores, that you share this space with others. Respect each other and give each other space.

Leave no trace: always take your litter to the nearest bin or home with you.

Respect wildlife: reservoir shores and islands are often preferred locations for some ground nesting birds. Avoid nesting sites during the breeding season (Apr-Jul), tread carefully and do not linger if birds sound repeated alarm calls.

#RespectProtectEnjoy

Help with school clothing costs

Eligible families can apply for a grant of at least £120 to help with the cost of school uniforms.

The Scottish Government and local authority leaders have reached an agreement to increase the national school clothing grant to a minimum of £120 per eligible primary school pupil and £150 per eligible secondary school pupil.  This will be supported by £11.8 million of additional funding to local authorities.

The announcement marks another commitment for the first 100 days of this Government.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “School uniforms can place a significant financial burden on families, some of whom are already facing additional hardship as a result of the pandemic.

“This school clothing grant will help to relieve some of that pressure for around 145,000 families and it will help to ensure that all children can go to school feeling comfortable, confident and ready to learn.”

COSLA Children and Young People’s spokesperson Councillor Stephen McCabe said: “Councils and schools are working to tackle the costs of the school day, ensuring that all children are able to fully participate in their education.

“Working with the Scottish Government, we are pleased that the national minimum school clothing grant has been increased and that families can get extra support as we continue on the road to recovery from the pandemic.”

Eligible families can apply for the school clothing grant through their local council.

Help with school clothing costs – mygov.scot

Historic Edinburgh brewery site set for new lease of life

A historic Edinburgh brewery site is set for a new lease of life having been brought to the market.

The site at Duddingston Road West was previously home to the former Drybrough Brewery, which operated at the location from 1895 until 1987.

The exceptional development site, named “Holyrood Village” and measuring just under two-acres in area, already boasts planning consent as a mixed-use development for 131 new homes and 15 commercial units.

Offers are now being invited for the potential delivery of a high-quality residential development, with some commercial, which will be steeped in the history and character of the former brewery site.

Consented for a mix of refurbishment and new build, Holyrood Village lies in a well-connected Edinburgh location near Duddingston Village, Holyrood Park, Duddingston Golf Course and the world-leading Edinburgh BioQuarter.

For the last 30 years the site has been operating as Holyrood Business Park, catering for a variety of small businesses.

It is also home to Format Design who are the lead architectural design team for the project and therefore able to bring an intimate expertise and understanding of the site and its history.

The brewery was designed by renowned architect, Robert Hamitlon-Patterson, also responsible for the Caledonian Brewery and the Royal Scots War Memorial in St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh.

It was one of the seven breweries in the area but is the only one to remain mostly intact and is Category B listed.

Listed building consents have been obtained and the approved development converts the old brewery whilst retaining as many of the original buildings as practically possible including the chimney stack, one of the last remaining in Edinburgh

In addition to being an exceptional residential site, the location may be suitable for other uses such as purpose-built student accommodation, subject to planning.

It lies in close proximity to a number of University of Edinburgh facilities, including King’s Buildings and Peffermill Playing Fields, as well as the Edinburgh BioQuarter.

This exciting new development takes place within the existing cobbled courtyard of the ‘Brewery’ surrounded by the original stone building which will all retain their original names (e.g. The Maltings, The Kiln, The Wellhouse and The Brewhouse) and retain the original features.

The introduction of coffee shops, small studio spaces, corner shop which will create its village community atmosphere with magnificent views over Arthur’s Seat.

Commenting on this Will Scarlett of Scarlett Land and Development, who are marketing the site, said: “This is a truly-unique opportunity for an exceptional development in a well-connected location.

“There is the real potential here for a purchaser to deliver an exceptional scheme, steeped in the history and character of the former brewery. The site may also be suitable for other uses, such as student accommodation, given its location in close proximity to many key University of Edinburgh facilities and the BioQuarter.”

The site is being marketed by Scarlett Land and Development and further information can be found at:  

https://www.scarlettdev.co.uk/developments/holyroodvillage/

Rawhides: Riding 4 Artemis

Rawhides take on 800 mile cycle challenge from the Highlands to Wiltshire to support The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity in memory of Artemis Wood

 In November 2019, Artemis Alice Wood, youngest daughter of Jody and Juliana Wood, tragically lost her battle with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (JMML), aged just three. JMML is a rare form of myelodysplasia sharing some of the characteristics of Leukaemia. 

Artemis was born in Singapore, where her father Jody, a keen amateur cyclist, rode out most weekends with the Rawhides, an amateur cycle club founded in Singapore by a group of friends, all expatriates from the UK.

In July 2021, Jody and a group from the club are attempting to cycle from the north coast of Scotland to the North Wessex Downs in Wiltshire in 8 days, in memory of Artemis and to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and The Institute for Cancer Research.

Jody Wood explained: “Artemis showed fortitude and courage right until the very end.  She really was the bravest of little girls and we hope that this ride will raise incredibly valuable funds, in Artemis’ name, to support care and treatment for other children who so desperately need it.

“Artemis touched so many lives, and as a family we are honoured that the Institute of Cancer research has named one of their brand-new collaboration hubs The Artemis Wood Collaboration Hub.

“The treatment and care she received from the Royal Marsden and St George’s Hospital was nothing short of breath-taking. I hope that The Rawhides’ Ride 4 Artemis will therefore not only support their work, but also raise awareness of the extraordinary job they are doing.”

Artemis was diagnosed at Southampton University Hospital and received treatment at The Royal Marsden and St George’s Hospital, Tooting.

She successfully underwent a stem cell transplant at The Oak Centre For Children and Young People at The Royal Marsden’s Sutton campus, in September 2019.  Matilda, her big sister, provided the stem cells. 

However, whilst the transplant was successful, the side effects of the chemotherapy and transplant were too much for Artemis’ little body to bear. 

The money the team hope to raise will be split between The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the Institute of Cancer Research.

Professor Mel Greaves, Institute of Cancer Research, whose life has been dedicated to leukemia research, said “Everyone here at the ICR, is honoured that you have chosen to support our research in Artemis’ name and memory.

“We are humbled to be part of her legacy, and we would like to create an enduring link between Artemis and the research advances we will be making for years to come.  Given the time we have lost to COVID over the last year, developing smarter, kinder treatments for young patients is vitally important to our mission.

“The generosity of our supporters and donors is incredibly important at this time and we would like to thank you once again and wish you all the best for the ride.”

Dr Rob Dowse, Consultant Paediatric Haematologist at The Royal Marsden, who treated Artemis, said: “Around the world teams of scientists, doctors and patients are collaborating to discover how JMML happens, and to find more targeted, kinder and more effective treatments.

“It is our hope that together we find the treatment that means in the future, all children like Artemis can survive and thrive. The funds raised by these 14 cyclists will help ensure our research teams can continue to make progress. I wish them the best of luck!”

The Rawhides Riding 4 Artemis will take the team on an 800 mile journey starting from Durness, where they will turn down the West Coast of Scotland, past Ullapool and then back inland towards Inverness. 

From there, it is on to Fort William and past Glasgow into Ayr.  On crossing the border back into England, the group will make their way to Penrith, taking in the Yorkshire Dales before moving onto the Peak District. 

The final legs (and possibly the final legs of the riders too!) will see them pedal through Oxfordshire before finishing up in Wiltshire.  The riders will pedal over a hundred miles a day for eight days in a row, with a few hills and no doubt some traditional British weather & Covid restrictions thrown in along the way!

You can follow all the action on Instagram or Facebook – @fundraising4artemis

To support the Rawhides in this endeavour, please visit their Virgin Money page: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/RawhidesRiding4Artemis

All you need to know in 60 Seconds – https://vimeo.com/551831890/b640df5f0d

Scotland’s largest ‘net zero’ housing development set for Waterfront

Proposals to create Scotland’s largest ‘net zero’ housing development in Edinburgh have been granted approval by city planners this June.

The 444-home Western Villages is being led by the City of Edinburgh Council in partnership with Glasgow-based contractor CCG (Scotland) and architect Cooper Cromar.

The development will form part of the Granton Waterfront Regeneration, where over 3,500 homes are set to be created over the next ten years, delivering one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including wheelchair-accessible ground-floor dwellings, available in a mix of social (195), mid-market rent (62), market rent (63) and private sale tenures (124).

Designed within a masterplan that will take advantage of stunning parkland and sea views, there will also be greater emphasis placed on pedestrian and cycle movement with electrical car charging, car club accessibility and public transport in favour of traditional car parking which is reduced across the development.

The homes designed to the principles of CCG’s newly launched ‘Net Zero Home’ housebuilding standard. Developed in collaboration with energy and sustainability consultancy, Carbon Futures, the Net Zero Home focuses on enhanced fabric performance, low carbon heating and renewable technology as part of a gas-free energy strategy to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (arising from regulated operational energy use) to a rate less than or equal to zero per year.

With an ambitious target to become a ‘net zero’ city by 2030, this first phase of Granton Waterfront will act as a blueprint for future sustainable development and help Scotland to transition towards a greener economy.

City of Edinburgh Council’s Vice Convener for the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee, Councillor Mandy Watt, said: “All of the steps we’re taking to make homes more sustainable will reduce the energy they use once occupied, thereby helping us to tackle climate change and become net zero carbon by 2030. That’s why we’re pleased to have CCG working with us as they adopt a new ground-breaking housebuilding standard. 

“It’s great to see this development with a large proportion of social rent homes get planning approval. We have incredibly ambitious plans which form the bedrock of our housing strategy over the next ten years. There is a critical need for more affordable homes in Edinburgh and we are responding to that through the commitment to build 20,000 social and affordable homes by 2027.

“Western Villages forms part of the wider Granton Waterfront regeneration project which will create one of Europe’ s largest coastal city parks, providing opportunities for residents and visitors to reconnect with the city’s waterfront by offering more areas for leisure and outdoor experiences, civic spaces and sustainable housing.”

CCG Managing Director, David Wylie, said: “Housebuilding is going to play a major part in achieving our ambitious target of becoming a ‘net zero’ economy by 2045.

“With gas being removed from new build homes as early as 2024, it places greater emphasis on collaborative working as the partners on this project have demonstrated; utilising the CCG Net Zero Home building standard to create an affordable, scalable and practical solution that can ultimately be delivered now for any residential development.

“We commend the City of Edinburgh Council for their bold commitment and share their aspirations for a more sustainable future for Scotland.”

Cooper Cromar Project Director, Graham Connor, said: “Cooper Cromar are delighted to have been appointed as the Architect to design and deliver this important residential project delivering one of the initial phases of the Granton Waterfront Development Framework which sets out the Urban Design Framework and Design Guidelines for future developments within the wider Granton area.

“We have sought to create a masterplan that not only stands alone for its significance as Scotland’s largest net zero development but also respectful to the wider regeneration of Granton. It will complement and integrate with future phases of housing delivery and we look forward to working with the project partners over the coming years.”

Carbon Futures Director, Andrew Money, said: “We are delighted to have supported City of Edinburgh Council and CCG with their bold and ambitious plans for Western Villages.

“From the outset, the key areas of focus for the design team were to maximise fabric performance and avoid the use of fossil fuels. This approach, together with the use of on-site renewable energy, will greatly reduce energy demand and deliver a significant reduction in utility costs for homeowners.

“The energy strategy for Western Villages delivers a low-carbon development, future-proofed against upcoming government legislation and presents a fantastic example of how the construction industry can support the nationwide effort to reduce carbon emissions and create a more sustainable future.”

Construction of Western Villages is expected to begin in mid-2022.