Dig out your pencils and come out and play for a weekend celebrating nature and art in our community.
Whether you are a keen artist, or last drew at primary school, all are welcome to come and get stuck in with our art materials and activities. Get arty on Saturday and see the full exhibition of works on Sunday.
Activities include:
• Learning plant identification through sketching (workshop at 11am and 1pm)
• Design your own mythical beast of Granton
• Clay creature sculpting
• Ant’s eye view – get up close to tiny worlds
• Get imaginative with our art materials – stay and make for as long as you like
• Add your nature art to our exhibition
• Teas, coffees and snacks by donation
Click here for free Eventbrite booking.
Find us at Granton Hub, Maldevic House, Granton Park Avenue, EH5 1HS (We are wheelchair accessible).
Andy Burnham yesterday became the first Prime Minister to work from No10 North, declaring ‘the days of power being hoarded in SW1 are over’
Burnham throws open the doors to No10 North, marking a new era of power flowing out of Whitehall and into every postcode
PM revives the National Economic Council in Manchester, bringing ministers and regional mayors around the table to drive devolution from week one
Comes as PM gives families and business owners breathing space with VAT off electricity bills, £2 bus fare cap restored, and a 20% business rates cut for pubs, clubs and music venues
Andy Burnham yesterday became the first Prime Minister to work from No10 North as he declared the days of power being hoarded in SW1 are over.
Operating from Heron House in Manchester’s city centre, No10 North will be the government’s new situation room for growth. It brings the levers of local economic growth and devolution together under one roof for the first time.
The Prime Minister is expected to work from No10 North each week so that decisions about the country’s economic future will no longer exclusively be made in Westminster. Other ministers will also work from No10 North on a regular basis, underlining this Government’s determination to do things differently.
The Prime Minister will chair the first meeting of the revived National Economic Council at No10 North today (Friday), bringing together senior ministers and regional mayors to put devolution at the centre of the Government’s mission to make Britian better.
The National Economic Council was first established in 2008 to provide a national response to an economic emergency. Its revival reflects the Prime Minister’s belief that delivering economic growth now requires the same level of urgency, focus and collective action, bringing together other government departments and local leaders.
Regional mayors will be invited to sit around the table, cementing devolution at the centre of economic decision-making and backing the Prime Minister’s pledge to rewire Britain so that decisions are taken with local leaders, not just for them.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “For 40 years, power and resources have been sucked into the centre, and too many communities have felt forgotten, without the attention and investment they deserve.
“No 10 North will change that by putting more power into every postcode across the entire country.
“It will be the situation room for making Britain better – the place we use to get power out of Westminster, into the hands of people at a local level, so that they can turn things around.
“The days of Whitehall resisting devolution are over, for good.”
Ahead of the first meeting of the National Economic Council, the Prime Minister will speak to leading Business Representative Organisations including the Federation of Small Business, CBI and the BCC to discuss how Government and business can work together to unlock growth, investment and create jobs across the country.
The NEC’s attendees will flex according to the issues under consideration, bringing together business leaders, trade unions and other partners where their expertise can help drive delivery.
Local economic growth, devolution strategy and local growth policy are being brought together so that government departments, mayors, combined authorities and business can work from a single plan rather than competing ones.
First Secretary of State Louise Haigh said: “Today marks a fundamental re-balancing of where power sits in our country. No10 North has been set up to drive economic growth in every postcode and put power in the hands of every community.
“Through this department, this Government will ensure that the places overlooked by Westminster for decades are given a real voice. No.10 North is open for business.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey MP added: “This is a new era for devolution. Never before has a government been so serious about passing on its own power from Westminster in favour of local areas.
“No10 North sits at the heart of that plan. This is the way we signal real change – and the way we get it done.”
The meeting comes off the back of a series of interventions made to ease the cost of living and back local high streets, setting the tone for the PM’s cost-of-living government.
This week the government has announced:
The removal of VAT from domestic electricity bills from 1 October, saving a typical household around £45 a year.
The £2 cap on bus fares in England will kick in from January 2027.
A 20% cut in business rates for pubs, social clubs and live music venues in England from April 2027, benefiting nearly 32,000 venues and worth around £1,100 a year to a typical pub, on top of the 15% relief already in place.
More parts of Scotland have moved into water scarcity following another week of exceptionally dry weather, with several areas now close to Significant Scarcity.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) latest weekly water scarcity report shows conditions have deteriorated across much of the country.
The Deveron and Almond catchments have moved into Moderate Scarcity, joining the Tyne (Lothian), Firth of Forth, Firth of Tay, Don (Aberdeenshire), Esk and Tweed.
Water scarcity is now most severe across eastern and southern Scotland, where many catchments are at Alert or Moderate Scarcity. Early Warning conditions form a broad band through the interior of the country and extend into the north and the Outer Hebrides. Much of the north-west and west coast remains at Normal Conditions, although Early Warning is beginning to extend into some western catchments.
Across eastern Scotland, most locations have recorded less than 10mm of rainfall during July, while Angus has received less than 3mm over the past three weeks. Parts of Aberdeenshire and the Cairngorms have also experienced exceptionally dry conditions.
The prolonged lack of rainfall has left soils across much of eastern Scotland very dry, with many rivers experiencing prolonged low flows. Several river monitoring stations are now recording flows amongst the lowest on record.
If exceptionally low river flows continue over the next few days, Berwickshire Coastal, Whiteadder Water, Lower Tweed, Lunan Water, Lower Don, Fife (East Neuk) and North Fife are expected to move into Significant Scarcity.
Significant Scarcity is declared when river flows remain below Q95, a recognised low flow threshold, for 30 days. When a station reaches Significant, SEPA will introduce targeted and temporary restrictions on licensed water abstractions to protect rivers and the wildlife that depends on them.
Any restrictions would be proportionate, based on local conditions, kept under regular review and lifted as soon as conditions improve.
Since the beginning of May, SEPA has published weekly water scarcity reports and worked closely with organisations including NFUS, Farming and Water Scotland and the Scotch Whisky Association to help water users prepare for the season. SEPA have also engaged directly with licensed abstractors in affected areas, providing advance notice of changing conditions and practical advice to help them plan ahead.
With conditions continuing to deteriorate, SEPA are urging farmers, businesses and other licensed abstractors who have not already done so to put those plans into action. This includes reducing abstraction where possible, improving water efficiency, staggering abstractions with neighbouring users where appropriate and implementing contingency plans. These actions can help reduce pressure on rivers and minimise the need for restrictions later in the season.
Anyone can monitor conditions using SEPA’s online Drought Risk Assessment Tool (DRAT), which shows colour-coded monitoring stations across Scotland and how close local areas are to reaching Significant Scarcity.
SEPA will continue to publish weekly water scarcity reports every Thursday throughout the summer so water users can stay informed as conditions change.
Shona McConnell, SEPA’s Head of Compliance, said: “Weeks of exceptionally dry weather are continuing to put pressure on rivers across much of Scotland, particularly in the east where some river flows are now amongst the lowest on record.
“Since the beginning of May we’ve been providing weekly updates and practical advice, while working closely with organisations including NFUS, Farming and Water Scotland and the Scotch Whisky Association, as well as engaging directly with licence holders in affected areas. Our aim has always been to give abstractors as much notice as possible so they can prepare.
“For many abstractors, now is the time to put those plans into action. Reducing abstraction where possible, improving water efficiency, staggering abstractions and making use of contingency plans can all help reduce pressure on rivers and minimise the need for restrictions if exceptionally low river flows continue.
“Our weekly water scarcity reports and Drought Risk Assessment Tool help people understand what’s happening in their local area and plan ahead. If restrictions become necessary, they will be targeted, temporary and only remain in place for as long as they are needed to protect Scotland’s water environment.”
People can also help by reporting signs of water scarcity, including exceptionally low river levels, dry riverbeds and impacts on habitats, through SEPA’s website. These observations complement SEPA’s monitoring network and help build a clearer picture of conditions across Scotland.
The latest Water Scarcity Report, catchment maps, advice for businesses and other water users, and information on reporting signs of water scarcity are available on SEPA’s water scarcity pages.
The works will be on display until Friday 31 August 2026 to mark the 240th anniversary of publication
Printed in Kilmarnock by John Wilson during the summer of 1786 and published on 21 July 1786, the Kilmarnock Burns is regarded by many as one of Scotland’s most important books. The collection introduced readers to many of Robert Burns’ best-loved poems and songs, including the enduring classic To a Mouse.
The volume is in a fine red leather binding created in the 1880s by distinguished London bookbinder Francis Bedford. Over the following decades it passed through the hands of several notable owners, principally in the United States, before eventually returning to Scotland and joining Dr Zachs’ collection at the Blackie House Library and Museum.
Originally printed in a run of just over 600 copies, only around 90 copies are known to survive today and each copy is different.
The copy on display at the Writers’ Museum, generously loaned by renowned Burns expert and scholar Dr William Zachs, contains a particularly interesting inscription on its title page: “Helen Montgomerie From her Friend J.S.”
The inscription dates from around the time of publication. The initials ‘J.S’ may refer to Burns’ friend James Smith of Mauchline, who purchased 40 copies of the book on 8 August 1786 and was the inspiration for Burns’ poem To J.S., which appears in the volume. Alternatively, the inscription may refer to Jean Smith, James’ sister and one of Burns’ celebrated ‘Belles of Mauchline’.
The identity of Helen Montgomerie, however, remains a mystery.
Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “As we mark 240 years since the publication of this remarkable book, I’m delighted that visitors to the Writers’ Museum will be able to experience first-hand one of Scotland’s greatest literary treasures.
“We are extremely grateful to Dr William Zachs for generously lending this extraordinary copy to the museum and helping us share this important piece of Scotland’s cultural heritage with residents and visitors alike.
“Perhaps one of our visitors may even be able to help solve the mystery of who Helen Montgomerie was.”
Dr Bill Zachs said: “240 years on, the poems in Burns’ first publication remain not only a landmark in the history of Scottish literature but an enduring expression of creative genius.
“Seeing the original printing of such timeless pieces as ’The Cotter’s Saturday Night’ and ’To a Mouse’ brings us closer to the world and wonder of Scotland’s National Bard.”
To celebrate the loan, the Writer’s Museum will host a special event on Friday 28 August from 2-4pm, featuring live music and readings of Burns’ poetry.
The museum is free to visit and is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm.
Prime Minister vows to bring back hope ahead of first meeting with First Ministers of Scotland and Wales.
Andy Burnham will also attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Will say devolution has to be about giving local communities power.
Comes as the Prime Minister gives families across the nations more breathing space with immediate action on the cost of living.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham will pledge to deliver growth in every postcode across the UK as he visits Scotland during his first week in office.
This afternoon [Thursday 23 July], the Prime Minister will hold meetings in Glasgow with the First Minister of Scotland John Swinney and the First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth, before watching the opening ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Games later on.
During his talks the Prime Minister will set out how he plans to work collaboratively with the heads of the Scottish and Welsh Devolved Governments – based on a genuine partnership.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “When I say we need good growth in every postcode, I mean every postcode across the whole of the UK. Every place and every person matters.
“I’m not focused on point scoring or discussing constitutional changes like referendums, I want practical measures to help people live well and bring back hope.
“That’s why I’m giving families more breathing space with help on the cost of living, which I have started this week by taking VAT off electricity bills, saving money for millions of households.”
In his first week, the Prime Minister has taken action to give families more breathing space by cutting taxes on energy bills for tens of millions of families this winter.
But this is just the start. As the Prime Minister has said, we need to rewire the Westminster-centric system that has left too many people feeling disconnected from decision making. That’s why he has set up No10 North to spread opportunity and investment more fairly across the UK and put power closer to people’s lives.
The government says they are building a new economy, re-industrialising the United Kingdom and using public procurement to back our industry and create jobs.
The Prime Minister is expected to meet with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland on his tour of the United Kingdom in August, where he will visit places across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Through this tour, the Prime Minister will hear from people about what is needed in their communities as we restore hope that’s not been there in recent decades.
As family meals make a comeback, Scotland’s Cheapest Supermarket invites families to nominate grandparents who never gave up on gathering around the table
As more families choose to cook and eat at home, Aldi is celebrating the generation that has always understood the power of sharing a meal together.
Research from Barclays’ UK Consumer Spending Report for May 2026 found that 42% of consumers are changing their spending habits due to rising costs, and are cutting back on takeaways and meals out.
Over the same four-week period, separate transaction data also recorded a 2.7% fall in spending at restaurants, cafés and bakeries.*
With more meals being enjoyed at home, Aldi believes there’s a renewed opportunity for families to reconnect around the dinner table, and nobody knows the value of that better than Scotland’s grandparents.
Influencer Granny Griggly visits Aldi in Peterhead.
Picture Simon Price /Firstpix Photography
Today (22 July), Aldi launches a nationwide campaign celebrating the grandparents and grandparent figures whose home cooking has brought generations of families together.
Long before recipe apps, air fryers and social media food trends, grandparents were passing down family recipes, cooking from scratch and creating the meals that became the backdrop to family life.
From bowls of homemade broth and freshly baked scones to Sunday roasts that still draw everyone home, they’ve spent decades proving that the best memories are often made around the table.
Now Aldi wants to recognise those everyday family heroes.
Families across Scotland are invited to nominate a grandparent or grandparent figure whose cooking, generosity and love of bringing people together have made a lasting impact on their family. Whether it’s the gran whose soup is famous across three generations or the grandad still teaching grandchildren how to bake, Aldi wants to hear the stories behind Scotland’s favourite family cooks.
As a thank you, Aldi will fund a month’s grocery shop for up to three Scottish grandparent figures.
To nominate, families should email scottishcompetition@aldi.co.uk with a short explanation (200 words) of why their grandparent deserves to be recognised.
Tom Brearey, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Scotland said: “Some of life’s best moments happen around the dinner table.
“As more people choose to cook and eat at home, this is a great opportunity to spend quality time with family, share stories and reconnect with the people around us.
“Grandparents have understood that for generations. They’ve always known that a home-cooked meal is about much more than what’s on the plate – it’s about bringing people together.
“This is our way of celebrating the people who’ve quietly kept those traditions alive for years, and thanking them for everything they do for their families.”
Train stations across Scotland have been highlighted in a major new survey by leading women’s charity Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI), which examined safety standards at stations across the UK.
The survey highlighted concerns at a number of Scottish stations, including Canal Street in Aberdeen, where surveyors raised issues around passenger safety and accessibility, and Markinch, where concerns were noted about access and passenger support. The report also highlighted wider concerns around staffing, access to assistance and passenger reassurance at quieter and more rural stations such as Paisley St James.
While stations such as Inverkeithing and Kirkcaldy demonstrated many of the safety features campaigners are calling for, including visible safety support and stronger passenger facilities, surveyors warned that limited staffing and inconsistent access to assistance can leave women feeling vulnerable, particularly during evening journeys.
SIGBI says these local findings mirror a national pattern of declining staff presence and inconsistent safety measures across the rail network. Across the UK, only 10% of stations are staffed at all times, 30% are permanently unstaffed and fewer than half (44%) display clear information about who is responsible for passenger safety.
Gillie O’Rourke, President of SIGBI, said:“These key measures, which can help women feel more secure, remain inconsistent, patchy and mixed at best. This leaves women increasingly vulnerable when travelling by train.”
SIGBI has been campaigning for safer railways for women and girls for over 30 years. First launched in 1996, ‘The Future of the Railways’ was an investigation into personal safety on the railways, which the charity’s members – known as Soroptimists – used to lobby the Government into taking action to do more to protect women on public transport.
It was launched in response to a Soroptimist being attacked on a train in the London area.
Soroptimists carried out grassroots research into the experiences of female passengers, visiting more than 500 overground stations across Britain. Their work also included consultation with station managers and rail staff to build a comprehensive picture of safety and accessibility on the rail network.
SIGBI published a report making recommendations to the UK Government on how to improve safety in stations, claiming the Government’s approach to passenger safety in railway stations was ineffective.
In 2024, the project was relaunched during the charity’s conference in Edinburgh, to ask the same questions of the UK’s railway stations, to see how much has changed. The results of the new survey are the outcome of 388 surveys undertaken by Soroptimists covering 373 stations and 985 platforms.
The survey’s aims were to assess the visibility of railway staff, emergency help points, and station signage, and to evaluate the clarity and quality of safety information.
The new findings expose a persistent gender safety gap across the rail network, raising urgent questions about accountability, visibility, and the protection of female passengers after dark.
“It is shocking that in almost 30 years so little has changed, the same issues persist, the same voices are going unheard, and progress feels more like a circle than a line,” Gillie added.
In response to the investigation’s findings, SIGBI is calling for the introduction of minimum safety standards for all stations, particularly during the evening. The charity believes urgent action is needed to address the gaps in basic safety provision across the rail network.
This includes reliable emergency help points, monitored CCTV, adequate lighting and clear emergency contact information.
SIGBI is also pressing for greater accountability, with clear signage showing who is responsible for safety, alongside improved accessibility measures and facilities to ensure all passengers – especially women and girls – can travel with confidence.
Lindsay Green, Programme Director at SIGBI, said:“Our goal is to stand up for women and girls, advocating for equal rights, opportunities, and representation The relaunch of our railway safety project has been key in advancing this important issue and bringing it to the forefront of policy makers’ agendas.
“The timing of the survey’s relaunch happened to coincide with the British Transport Police’s last report which stated that violence against women and girls on British railways had risen by more than 50% since 2021. Clearly, more needs to be done, and urgently.
“We’re proud to be playing our part in helping to shape a safer environment for women when travelling.”
In addition to its work with this report, SIGBI is carrying out ‘Bystander Awareness’ training in communities up and down the UK, in a bid to help further identify and prevent violence against women and girls.
Read SIGBI’s Railway Station Safety Survey Report here:
LAST ORDERS AT POPULAR COMELY BANK INDIAN RESTAURANT
After so many wonderful years serving you at Ronaq Restaurant Comely Bank, we are writing with heartfelt gratitude, and a touch of nostalgia, to let you know we’ll be closing our doors.
Your support has meant the world to us. Though we’ll miss hosting you, we’re excited for the future.
A new restaurant will soon open in this location, and we encourage you to welcome them warmly.
Drumbrae Library and Leith Library in Edinburgh have launched a new initiative which will deliver free, impartial advocacy to members of the public through a new partnership between the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) and national charity Advice Direct Scotland.
The Edinburgh libraries will be included in the first phase of the programme, which will see trained advocates from Advocacy.scot – run by Advice Direct Scotland – offer in-person support in select public libraries throughout the country to help people access and deal with Social Security Scotland benefits, ensuring their voice is heard.
The new in‑library service will offer an accessible, face‑to‑face option for those who prefer a more personal interaction or who may face barriers to accessing online services.
The first phase of the programme will also launch in the following libraries:
Aberdeenshire: Fraserburgh Library
Clackmannanshire: Alloa Library
Dundee: Coldside Library, Lochee Library and Wellgate Library
Glasgow: Bridgeton Library, Dennistoun Library, Elder Park Library, Maryhill Library, Mitchell Library, Pollock Library, Pollokshaws Library and Springburn Library
Highlands: Dingwall Library
Inverclyde: South West Library
Moray: Elgin Library
North Ayrshire: Arran Library and Kilwinning Library
North Lanarkshire: Coatbridge Library
South Ayrshire: Ayr Library
South Lanarkshire: Larkhall Library
West Lothian: Almondbank Library, Bathgate Library, Broxburn Library and West Calder Library
By embedding these services within trusted, familiar community spaces, the partnership aims to make it easier for people to access the help they need, while also strengthening engagement with local library services.
Visitors will be encouraged to become library members, connecting more people with books, digital resources, learning opportunities and community activities.
Alison Nolan, chief executive of SLIC, said: “Libraries are trusted public spaces that sit at the heart of communities, offering connection, learning and support to people of all ages. By partnering with Advice Direct Scotland, we can extend that support even further, ensuring that anyone who needs advice can access it easily, locally and without barriers.
“This collaboration strengthens the role of libraries as essential community anchors and helps build a more inclusive and resilient Scotland. Through their participation in the partnership, Edinburgh locals will have easier access to trusted advice, advocacy and guidance whenever they need it.”
Marjorie Gibson, operation director at Advice Direct Scotland, which runs Advocacy.scot, added: “Our mission is to ensure everyone in Scotland can access free, impartial advocacy when they need it most.
“Libraries are welcoming, familiar environments and bringing our advocates into these spaces will help us reach even more people in a way that feels comfortable and accessible.
“We’re proud to work with SLIC to expand our support and connect communities with the right guidance at the right time.”
A man has been charged in connection with the death of 44-year-old Vikki Soloman in Edinburgh.
Around 8.45pm on Monday, 20 July, emergency services were called to a property in Craigievar Square in the city and Vikki was found with serious injuries and pronounced dead at the scene.
The 46-year-old man was arrested a short time later and has now been charged.
He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow – Thursday, 23 July, 2026.
