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Dandelion spreads across Scotland!

Dandelion announces summer events as part of it’s free progranme across Scotland

‘Anything Grows’ as Dandelion spreads across Scotland – from islands to villages and cities, people are being encouraged to ‘Sow, Grow and Share’

· More details of Dandelion programme revealed as activity gets underway

· Miniature vertical farms called ‘Cubes of Perpetual Light’ become music installations carrying 12 specially commissioned works by 15 Scottish & international artists including Craig Armstrong, Arooj Aftab & Maeve Gilchrist, and Jason Singh

· The music cube installations are set to tour to locations across Scotland, including the V&A Dundee, Edinburgh Book Festival, the Kelburn Garden Party & Inverness Botanic Gardens

· Cubes will also tour to other locations around Scotland on specially adapted bikes, taking Dandelion’s cubes into the heart of communities across the country

· ‘Free for All’ events encouraging everyone to ‘Sow, Grow and Share’ will see 75,000 free vegetable plugs given away to members of the public

· A short film marks the beginning of Dandelion and follows the story of musician and crofter Pàdruig Morrison to the island of Heisgeir, considering sustainable growing into the future

Dandelion gets underway today [28 April 2022], a major creative programme demonstrating the power of collective action through an ambitious ‘grow your own’ initiative that aims to reach hundreds of thousands of people throughout Scotland and further afield.

Following the arc of the growing season, from now until September 2022, Dandelion brings together science, technology, art and music to inspire people to ‘Sow, Grow and Share’ – not just food, but music, ideas and knowledge. Commissioned by EventScotland and funded by the Scottish Government, Dandelion is Scotland’s contribution to UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK.

Dandelion aims to make growing your own food as easy and accessible as possible to people of all ages and from all backgrounds, with events and activities taking place all over Scotland in an entirely free programme, from the remotest islands to the centres of cities.

In addition to Dandelion’s previously announced Unexpected Gardens – specially-created edible gardens in 13 locations from North Uist, to Leven and Stranraer – and two three-day Dandelion Festivals in Glasgow and Inverness, more details about the programme of events are revealed today.

The programme culminates in September with a cultural reimagining of Harvest for the 21st century, featuring hundreds of celebrations across Scotland.

To mark the start of its programme, with planting and growing getting underway at Unexpected Gardens across the country, Dandelion has released a specially commissioned short film, telling the family story of one of its founding members and reimagining future ways of growing across Scotland.

75 years ago, the grandparents of crofter and musician Pàdruig Morrison established an experiment in off-grid rural living on Heisgeir in the Outer Hebrides, growing their own food and living sustainably off the land.

The short film charts Pàdruig’s return to the island in 2022 as Dandelion explores high-tech growing in specially created grow cubes alongside traditional growing methods, which will see the cubes travel to different communities all over the country.

The film also features a new score specially composed by Pàdruig for Dandelion.

Cubes of Perpetual Light – where technological innovation meets art

At the centre of Dandelion is a meeting of art and science through the creation of hundreds of unique miniature vertical farms, called the ‘Cubes of Perpetual Light’.

The 1m x 1m cubes are designed to foster accelerated growing and have been developed to grow hundreds of seedlings under LED light, combining design craft, traditional horticultural expertise and technological innovation, manufactured by Liberty Produce.

The Cubes will travel the length of Scotland, demonstrating accelerated growing in unexpected places. From schools to market squares, to Unexpected Gardens – they will bring the inspiration to ‘Sow, Grow and Share’ to the community, inspiring conversations about how we can grow food sustainably now and in the future. 

As well as growing thousands of plants, specially designed ‘show cubes’ will come together to create striking musical installations featuring programmable light and quadraphonic sound. Each cube will integrate with multiple speaker systems, showcasing specially commissioned music from a collection of Scottish and international artists.

The music has been created for this particular environment around themes of sustainability, to encourage listeners to think more deeply about how, where and why plants grow.

Commissions include new music from artists including Craig Armstrong, Ravi Bandhu, Arooj Aftab & Maeve Gilchrist, Jason Singh, Claire M. Singer, Manu Delago, Auntie Flo, Amiina & Kathleen MacInnes, Pàdruig Morrison, Trio de Kali, Maya Youssef and Fergus McCreadie.

Each new music piece is commissioned by Dandelion with additional support for international work from British Council Scotland.

These ‘show cubes’ will come together to create special installations hosted by venues and festivals throughout Scotland, including V&A Dundee, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Kelburn Garden Party and Inverness Botanic Gardens.

In another tour, four musical growing cubes carried on four cargo bikes will also travel around Scotland in August, with a preview at Falkirk’s Kelpies on May 14 as part of the Falkirk Science Festival.

Visiting locations from Glasgow to Edinburgh, Greenock, Hawick, Forres, Stranraer, Inverness, Wick, the bikes will introduce audiences to accelerated growing and bring the Dandelion programme to town centres, school playgrounds and green spaces cross the country.

Each site will be visited by the bikes for one day, with a two-day tour being staged at Inverness and Wick. 

Music Director for Dandelion, Donald Shaw said: “Just as plants can grow from tiny seeds, great music can grow from small ideas that we nourish till they bloom into full art forms.

“The cubes can demonstrate accelerated growing in a wide range of settings, both the expected and unexpected. Placed in a particular environment they create a micro-world within a world, allowing musicians and listeners to imagine a sonic landscape that surrounds us, providing a space for contemplation and for us to imagine a future where we sow, grow and share differently.”

Inspiring the nation to Sow, Grow and Share

Dandelion is also giving away hundreds of thousands of plant plugs at Free for All events in towns and cities across Scotland, inspiring people all over the country to ‘Sow, Grow and Share’.

Members of the public are invited to pick up their plants and can also enjoy a performance of harvest songs from across the world by a five metre ‘Flower Singer’ accompanied by other performers representing sun, wind and water. A team of growing specialists from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) will be distributing the plants and are on hand to give advice and tips to those new to growing.

Kicking off on May 28 in Greenock, Free for All events will be delivered in communities for people who are new to growing.

The Free for Alls will visit Govan, Stranraer, Dundee, Leven, Falkirk, Edinburgh, Hawick and Argyll and Bute throughout May, June and July, encouraging everyone to get growing across the summer months.

In addition, the Dandelion Festival in Glasgow will host a Free for All on Sunday June 19. Taking place over three days, from Friday June 17, the first Dandelion Festival will take root at the heart of Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park, with the second festival taking place in Inverness at the Northern Meeting Park, from Friday September 2 until Sunday September 4.

Across the weekend, the venues will be transformed with live music, interactive walkabout theatre, science and creative activities for all the family as part of a unique festival that dares to reimagine our relationship with food and the planet.

At both festivals, a spectacular Pavilion installation will form a ‘living’ stage-set, made from’ 60 Cubes of Perpetual Light’ brought together.

Artists including Rura, This is the Kit, Admiral Fallow, Newton Faulkner, Hen Hoose, Niteworks, Darlingside and Les Amazones d’Afrique are among the line-up for the free event Glasgow in June, with Inverness line-up due to be announced in June.

Running alongside the public programme, Dandelion engages the next generation of growers, with over 89,000 children and young people taking part in the Dandelion Schools Growing Initiative, which also started today.

The schools programme sees over 100 specially adapted grow cubes distributed to secondary schools, working in partnership with feeder primary schools, with 464 schools taking part across the country.

Pupils will become citizen scientists in the largest community-led growing experiment ever undertaken in Scotland, comparing future farming techniques with traditional growing, later sharing the food they have produced, alongside art, live music, and stories, at hundreds of playground Harvest events.

The Schools Growing Initiative is delivered in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, a charity providing education initiatives for young people and educators which focus on environmental issues.

All Dandelion events are free to attend and non-ticketed. For full details of all events and activities including the Unexpected Gardens and Dandelion Festivals, visit dandelion.scot.

Culture Minister Neil Gray said: “The principles at the heart of the Dandelion projects and celebrations – of sharing ideas, knowledge and bringing together expertise for the common good – are more important than ever.

“The Dandelion events will seek to show the power of collective action, and its themes align with many of the ambitions of the Scottish Government.

“I would encourage everyone to check out the programme for activity near them, from enjoying one of the Unexpected Gardens, attending a festival, or having the chance to grow some of the hundreds of thousands of seeds and plant plugs being distributed at Free for All events in towns and cities across Scotland.”

Dandelion Futures Director, Fiona Dalgetty said: “Dandelion provides an extraordinary opportunity for people of all ages to come together to grow food and to celebrate all the ways in which our food is also connected to culture, music and song.

“The schools programme places the arts alongside science, technology, engineering, and maths to create an exciting cross-curricular STEAM project for pupils, teachers and the wider community to enjoy.”

Paul Bush OBE, Visit Scotland Director of Events said: “Dandelion is an incredibly diverse and exciting addition to Scotland’s events landscape this summer, fusing ideas and imagination from right across the creative spectrum.

“It’s wonderful to see artists, scientists, and technologists coming together to create a unique events programme that will inspire audiences and visitors right across Scotland to think positively about how we can all play our part in shaping a sustainable future.” 

Martin Green, Chief Creative Officer for UNBOXED, said: “Dandelion is a brilliant coming together of artists, designers, technologists and scientists to make something special and important about what we eat, how it grows and what we can do ourselves, wherever we live.

“Through the cubes, the music and the opportunities to participate, Dandelion is sowing the seeds for all of us to think about and put into action how we create a sustainable future. I can’t wait to experience Dandelion alongside four other brilliant UNBOXED projects taking place in Scotland this year.’

Muirhouse youth project ‘devastated’ by arson attack on minibus

MUIRHOUSE Youth Development Group’s minibus was the victim of arson on Saturday afternoon.

All at MYDG are devastated as this will have a massive impact on the project’s programme and what they are able to offer local young people.

If you have any information please contact @PoliceScotland on 101

Edinburgh Secondary Breast Cancer Charity Ball Raises Over £90,000

Vital research to benefit from Make 2nds Count fundraiser

Revellers at a glamorous Great Gatsby Ball have raised more than £90,000 to support vital research into a forgotten form of breast cancer.

The gala event, at Edinburgh’s Prestonfield House, was organised by leading UK charity Make 2nds Count which campaigns to raise funds and awareness of secondary breast cancer which kills 1000 woman a month.

The charity, which helps to finance various crucial research projects, also supports patients and families and educates and informs about the little-known disease.

The ball, on March 25, was hosted by STV’s Laura Boyd and brought the Scottish business community together for an evening of fine dining, live entertainment and auction prizes.

The live and online auctions, which included prizes of a three-night city break to Lisbon and an Icelandic Northern Lights adventure for two people, raised a combined £31,664, while ‘Crack the Code’ – where participants were invited to guess the winning combination to win a stunning diamond necklace donated by Rox Edinburgh and the Grimes family – and ‘The Gift Tree’ boosted the cause by another £8,010.

Two incredibly generous anonymous donations of £10,000 each and ticket sales of over £30,000 pushed numbers towards the final sum of £90,274, to the delight of organisers and the sponsors – headline sponsor Copart UK Ltd and table sponsors Bruce Tait Associates, Saltire Roofing, Erskine Financial, David Rankin, Lamborghini Edinburgh and Sutherland Independent.

Make 2nds Count founder Lisa Fleming of Edinburgh said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the fantastic result we’ve achieved. Every penny raised will be invaluable to boost much-needed research into the disease and offer support to more and more patients and families.

“We not only had an incredible evening, but we come away from the experience with the knowledge that we can and we will continue to raise awareness and that the work we do can make a real difference to people’s lives across the UK.”

The little-known, incurable cancer – also known as metastatic, advanced or stage IV breast cancer – is a cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body. On average there are around 35,000 patients in the UK currently living with this form of the disease.

Lisa set up Make 2nds Count after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. She had no primary diagnosis, warning signs or lump when she was told the disease had already spread to the majority of her bones. It swiftly spread to her brain and she is living with a life sentence.

For more information about Make 2nds Count and the work they do, please visit:

https://www.make2ndscount.co.uk

Project SEARCH creates opportunities for young people with disabilities

A programme which provides paths to employment for disabled young adults has returned, with new opportunities for internships in the Capital.

Edinburgh’s Project SEARCH has been helping people to gain vital employment skills and prepare for work since 2014 and is back after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic.

This year, 21 young people will be able to take forward placements, including roles with the City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian. For the first time, seven of these positions will be available with Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, which has signed up to become the programme’s first new employer in seven years.

Internships will be complemented with additional training and a ‘ready for work’ qualification from Edinburgh College.

Councillor Kate Campbell, Edinburgh’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Our goal is that 100% of the people who join Project SEARCH find employment before the end of the course or quickly after graduating.

“It’s an opportunity to support young people so that they can build confidence and learn the skills they’ll need to have fulfilling careers. But it’s also an opportunity for organisations to learn how they can become better employers, providing opportunities for young disabled people who may face additional barriers, and even more so with the pandemic.

“As employers learn more about the benefits to their organisation from becoming a disability confident employer, I hope opportunities for young disabled people will increase across the city.

“So, it’s fantastic to have private sector, as well as public sector, employers involved this year.”

Mandy Watt, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Vice Convener, added: “Some of the young people applying to Project SEARCH have graduated from school virtually – and now they face the prospect of not knowing how to take their first step into the world of work.

“Disability shouldn’t be a barrier to entering employment, but we know that all too often it is. Programmes like this are working to change things and open learning and employment opportunities for our young people, allowing them to work towards their own futures.

“The addition of Virgin Hotels to the list of employers on board is really welcome news. It sets a new standard for other organisations to consider signing up. As one of the city’s newest hotels, the partnership will create even more diverse roles for people to try out and learn from.”

Adam Gray, Regional Director of People, Scotland for Virgin Hotels said: “We are really looking forward to being the first hospitality organisation to take part in Project SEARCH in Edinburgh.

“Our new hotel opening creates lot of opportunity for employment in Edinburgh and we feel the young people from Project SEARCH are a great fit for Virgin. We pride ourselves on creating an open, diverse culture for our teammates where they can come to work and be their true self.

“We cannot wait to get started meeting the young people and creating meaningful placement opportunities for them.”

Rory Young, a Project SEARCH graduate who now works full time for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I joined Project SEARCH in August 2019 and completed three placements during my internship.

“The Project really helped me to gain a variety of office-based work experience and increase my confidence within a workplace and I was supported with job seeking and job skills.

“I’ve now working as a Licensing Support Assistant. I do a variety of tasks such as dealing with all mail, printing, and issuing licenses, updating licence records, and supporting colleagues who are managing applications. I’m really enjoying the job and have fitted in really well with all my colleagues.”

The Project SEARCH course has been designed to support young people to learn relevant and transferrable skills while working in a business environment. Participants will take part in three internships where they can learn new skills and improve their confidence, while gaining over 800 hours of work practice.

Everyone enrolled will be supported by an employment specialist and a learning and engagement officer and all study works towards an SQA Employability Award that demonstrates job readiness to employers.

Types of internships available previously have included administration, reception, mailroom, catering, hospitality, librarian, portering, domestic assistant, stores department and clinical support work.

To be eligible for Edinburgh Project SEARCH you must:

Be between 16 and 29 years old
Want to secure a full-time job (16+ hours)
Be based in the Lothians
Have a recognised disability
Be willing to commit to the programme full-time for one year
Be able to travel alone or learn how to do this by the time the course starts.

SEPA’s flood messaging system to include multiple hazard warnings

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is set to upgrade its Floodline messaging system and incorporate other hazard notifications for communities and businesses across Scotland.

Since 2011, the Flood Warning Dissemination system has issued regional flood alerts and local flood warnings to at risk areas 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone can sign up to receive advance notice of flooding via an automated text or phone call for the area where they live, work or travel.

Work is now beginning to transform the system and improve the customer experience by using advanced digital technology.

The new Future Flood and Incident Messaging Service (FFIMS) will involve an initial phase of developments over the next year, including dynamic and location-based alerts. This means notifications will be more targeted to users within a set radius of areas at risk of flooding.

Other digital communication options will be included such as mobile alerts and email to make accessing local and live flooding information easier than ever before.

A second development phase will see localised three-day flood forecasts developed in addition to the national Scottish Flood Forecast, which is planned to go live in the next couple of months.

Digital developments which are resilient will be at the heart of FFIMS and will integrate with social media, Google and other web notification systems. SEPA will also explore the integration of multiple hazards within the new system.

These include a water scarcity alerting service highlighting where droughts are possible. This gives businesses time to plan ahead for water extraction, protecting both them and the environment.

BT, supported by HTK, has been awarded the contract to provide the new service for the next 12 years, delivering the digital innovations required. The contract is also the first where suppliers are required to deliver ambitious targets in line with SEPA’s Regenerative Goal.

Within this decade, SEPA aims to reduce all of its emissions and impacts to zero or net zero, while at the same time taking actions that repair the environment.

Pascal Lardet, Flood Unit Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said: “SEPA has a pivotal role to play in helping communities avoid flood risk where they can, adapt where they cannot and act when warned of flooding.

“Developing a messaging system, which is both resilient and innovative, is key to ensuring residents and businesses have the information relevant to them when it matters most.

“The science on climate change is clear that extreme weather events are likely to increase in the future. Flooding is just one example that poses a real threat to people and property. The impacts can be devastating and that’s why it’s more important than ever to have a system like this in place.”

Senga Thomson, BT’s public sector lead for Scotland, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with SEPA on this project to modernise this important service. As climate change continues to affect our homes and businesses, it’s vital that people can access real-time, accurate information on the risk of flooding in their area.

“BT already plays a unique role in keeping vital services connected, whatever the weather, including handling all 999 calls and supporting the emergency services in Scotland. We’re pleased we can extend our role to help transform the Floodline service to make it fit for the future.”

Marlon Bowser, co-founder and CEO of HTK commented; “I am delighted that our Horizon platform has been chosen to underpin this significant evolution of the Floodline service through enhanced digital and mobile communications, automation of incident messaging, and the increased personalisation of content.

“It is a genuine privilege to work with BT and SEPA on such an essential and worthwhile initiative.”

Council tells Russian diplomats: ‘You’re Not Welcome Here’

Council Leader Adam McVey has written to the Russian Ambassador in London to state that Russia’s Consulate is no longer welcome in Scotland’s Capital city.

In line with the decision made by Council on 17 March, the strongly worded letter to Mr Andrey Kelin says the City of Edinburgh Council has severed all existing and future engagements with the Russian Consulate, until Russia withdraws from Ukraine.

In it, the Leader clarifies that this move is a measure against Russia’s war and it’s ruler – and does not oppose Russian citizens, many of whom have expressed opposition to their country’s territorial policies.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: ““Countless Russians around the world and here in Edinburgh have spoken out against this war – but it isn’t these courageous people of conscience the Russian Consulate or Russian Ambassador stand for. Their offices represent Putin’s tyrannical regime and the horrific war crimes being made against Ukraine.

“Our ties will be severed for as long as this illegal invasion persists and our solidarity will remain with the people of Ukraine, many of whom have fled their home country to seek refuge here in Edinburgh. We will continue to do everything within our power to ensure they feel safe, heard and welcome in our city from the moment they land.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day commented: “As a city, we condemn the actions of Putin’s regime and all those who support it by remaining silent. This includes the Russian Consulate and Russian Ambassador, which are no longer welcome in Edinburgh, and I hope this letter spells out our stance loud and clear.

“It’s one of many symbolic actions we are taking against Russia’s war on Ukraine, alongside giving the Freedom of the City to Ukraine’s heroic political leaders Volodymyr Zelensky and Vitali Klitschko, flying the Ukrainian flag above the City Chambers and lighting up the Granton gasholder blue and yellow.

“Our most vital work, however, is taking place on the ground. We’re supporting aid efforts to Poland and Ukraine and helping refugees settle into new lives. We are working closely with partners across all sectors on this and have allocated £100,000 of Council funding to support it.”

The letter in full:

Dear Mr Andrei Kelin,

At the City of Edinburgh Full Council meeting on March 17^th 2022, Councillors from all parties voted unanimously to condemn the brutal war perpetuated by Russia and made clear that the Russian Consulate is no longer welcome in Edinburgh until Russia stops this illegal war and Russian troops leave Ukrainian soil.

The Council also agreed to sever all existing and future engagements with the Russian Consul.We are joining many others in opposing this Russian invasion and the murder of innocent Ukrainians.

However, even as those measures are taken, we make clear that our city is not an enemy of the Russian people, we recognise the courageous actions across the Russian population who have expressed opposition to this war at great cost to themselves at the hands of their own Government in Moscow.

We are witnessing the actions of the Government you represent, and the murder of brave Ukrainian civilians and soldiers- which will be investigated as war crimes in due course. Our wholehearted sympathy and thoughts are with the Ukrainian people is resisting the Russian Government’s illegal and senseless war.

Until Russia withdraws from Ukraine, I reiterate that we will not be accepting any civic invitations or collaborations of any kind and I ask that you withdraw the Consul from our City immediately- they are not welcome in Edinburgh.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Adam McVey

Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council

North Edinburgh Community Festival: Volunteers Wanted

COULD YOU #volunteer AT THE FESTIVAL?

We can’t make this happen without you!

If you can spare some time to help us on the day in various roles ie stewarding, info desk then please do complete this form : https://forms.gle/jAHZSa3henmxGGLg….

We’d love to have you as part of the festival crew!

Over The Bridge: Local residents to launch music festival in Stockbridge

A new three-day music event, Over the Bridge, is set to take place in Edinburgh this summer. The event will see some of Scotland and the UK’s biggest music acts take to the stage including James Arthur, Ella Eyre, Feeder and Razorlight, over one weekend from Friday 29^th – 31^st July at Raeburn Place sports ground in Stockbridge.

Day and weekend tickets go on sale this Friday 8^th April via Ticketmaster. Each day, live music will start at 1pm, ending at 9pm.

On Friday 29^th July, Over the Bridge will be headlined by Say You Won’t Let Go singer James Arthur (above), with Ella Eyre, Cassia, RATS, Alex Amor, Stina Marie Claire, and Aaron Smith completing the days line up.

Saturday will see Glasgow rock band Twin Atlantic headline (below), with Feeder, Declan Welsh and the Decadent West, Liz Lawrence, Zuzu, Beren Olivia and Swiss Portrait also on the bill.

Following the recent announcement of a reunion of the original lineup, the final day will see Razorlight (below) take to the stage, made famous for hits including America, Golden Touch, andIn the Morning to see out Over the Bridge after a day of music from Sports Team, Sam Ryder, Daytime TV, Luke La Volpe, Charlotte Jane and False Friends.

Over the Bridge will also support Edinburgh’s favourite food and drink traders for guests to enjoy over the three days. The event will be using a reusable cup scheme to remove single use plastic waste. This will help improve sustainability, as well as reducing litter generally on and off the site.

Taking place at Raeburn Place in Stockbridge, Over the Bridge has been developed by Stockbridge residents Edward Wilson and Preston Mommsen.

Two years ago, the duo brought The Neighbourgood Market to the same location with the popular, vibrant food and drinks market returning last year over a twelve-week period.

The market showcased some of Scotland’s best food and drink offering from the likes of Stockbridge favourite Good Brothers Wine Bar, Innis & Gunn, The Peruvian, Pizza Geeks, Stag Bites, Edinburgh Gin and many more whilst visitors were also able to enjoy live music from local artists.

As residents who live and run businesses in Stockbridge, the pair recognised the potential impact that the event could have on local residents. They went through a thorough public consultation process with locals and the wider community to ensure Over the Bridge is a positive event that everyone can enjoy. This included liaising with the major community groups, letters to residents, door knocking and face to face Q&A sessions in the area.

Over the Bridge co-founder, Edward Wilson, said: “We’re extremely proud to be Edinburgh locals, and two years ago we wanted to bring something special to the city, which is when The Neighbourgood Market was born.

” After two tough years for Edinburgh, including a scaled back version of Fringe Festival, live music and arts have been on hold. This year, we wanted to bring live entertainment back to the city, so we are excited to announce the launch of the three-day music event, Over the Bridge.

“With a line up of amazing local and national acts, and with day and weekend tickets available, we hope it will be one of the highlights of this Summer in Edinburgh.”

Tickets for Over the Bridge go on sale at 10am on Friday 8^th April, with day tickets starting at £50.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit:

https://overthebridgeedinburgh.com/

Creative expert reveals five fun crafts to do this Easter with your Kids

With Easter approaching, craft experts from Crafty.net reveal five fun crafts that families can do at home on a budget this Easter.

You don’t have to be an expert in crafting to create something fun with your kids this Easter, but sometimes it can be overwhelming figuring out where to start when creating something from scratch. To help find inspiration, think about the season and what colours or animals you associate with it; this can be a great way to put you in the right frame of mind.

If the ideas don’t flow easily, you can find that extra boost of inspiration in many different places. Whether you’re searching the internet on sites like Pinterest or YouTube, the ideas for Easter DIYs will begin to flow.

Start by seeing which supplies you have to hand already, or see what you may be able to re-purpose. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on crafts to produce something incredible; here are a few ideas to get you started:

Easter crafts with lolly sticks

This craft is a fun way to entice your kids to recycle after their sweet treats; if you don’t have any lolly sticks in your home, you can find some at your local craft store. Be as creative as you desire, whether that’s creating bunny or chick faces, bunny bookmarks or lolly stick baskets.

Some fun extras alongside your lolly sticks and PVA glue could include some paints of your choice, pipe cleaners and pom-poms; using embellishments is where the creativity flows.

Easter crafts with construction paper

Construction paper is a fun way to create your Easter crafts on a budget. A fun keepsake such as ‘paper handprint bunnies’ involves taking a piece of paper and tracing your kids’ hands, cutting around the outline and folding the pinky finger and thumb to the centre. Next cut to the base of the middle finger giving the shape of bunny ears and paws. From here, you can have fun with what extras you add to embellish your bunnies with pens or goggle-eyes.

Alternatively, create some Easter decorations by tracing an outline of bunnies on pieces of construction paper with different prints and placing a white pom-pom as the bunny tail. You could put these on a piece of yarn you have lying around to create some colourful bunting.

Easter crafts with paper plates

For chick paper plate craft, start by painting a paper plate yellow and add some goggle-eyes for fun, along with a piece of orange paper that can be used for the beak and chicks’ legs. This craft can be easily created for bunnies or other spring animals you have in mind.

As an alternative craft, you can make an Easter Wreath by cutting out the middle section of your paper plate to achieve your wreath shape. Now it’s time to add your creative flair; adding ribbon wrapped around the wreath adds fun texture and colour, or egg-shaped coloured paper is a great way to personalise your easter wreaths. Whether it’s decorative or a fun craft for your kids, there are many options with paper plates, so have fun.

Easter crafts with egg cartons

Using egg cartons is another excellent way to encourage recycling for your little ones. Using the egg cups, you can paint them to add some colour, and use pens to decorate the cups as a face. Why not make this craft extra fun by adding some easter treats inside the cup, such as chocolate mini eggs.

You can create flowers by cutting your egg carton into a quad, adding colour paint of your choice to the container, and yellow to the middle of the carton or add a fluffy pom-pom for the pollen along with a green popsicle stick for the stem of the flower. These can be displayed in many ways, either a spare jar or a floral foam brick – then you have a lovely bouquet of recycled flowers.

Easter crafts plastic eggs

This craft offers a great option to get creative, finding colourful plastic eggs at your local craft shop and pipe cleaners; you can make bunny ears; alternatively, on an orange egg, you could add green pipe cleaners to make a carrot for this Easter season.

Another great craft you can do at home is to open the plastic egg up and glue the larger flat base to the pointed top, creating a fun plant pot where you could incorporate some of your favourite flowers.

Musical instruments are always a win; how about crafting some simple maracas by filling up your plastic eggs with household objects such as rice. Next, take two plastic spoons, hold them against the plastic egg securing with a piece of tape, then you have your musical instrument.

Crafty is a Premium Craft Membership designed to deliver quality SVG Cut Files and Designs for one low monthly price.

National Museums of Scotland: What’s On in April

Exhibitions & Displays

National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Open 10:00–17:00 daily

Audubon’s Birds of America
Until 8 May 2022
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Ticketed, £0-£10

This exhibition examines the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and largest books.

Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work which achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.

Audubon’s Birds of America showcases 46 unbound prints from National Museums Scotland’s collection, most of which have never been on display before, as well as a rare bound volume of the book, on loan from the Mitchell Library. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see so much of Audubon’s work in one place.

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Book now nms.ac.uk/BirdsofAmerica

The Typewriter Revolution
Until 11 Sep 2022
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free entry

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition examining its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons.

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters

Inspiring Walter Scott

Until 8 Jan 2023
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1
Free entry

Following the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him.

In this small exhibition discover how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.

In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller and supporting Year of Stories 2022.

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition

Book of Hours

31 Mar – 3 Aug 2022
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1)
Free

Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display.

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen.

The book will be exhibited in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery, in a display alongside other objects associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Six different pages within the book will be revealed, with a new page displayed every three weeks. A QR code will allow you to scroll through the vividly illustrated pages in detail.

The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein.

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life
1 Jul – 13 Nov 2022
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Ticketed

Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.

This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century.

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers.

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy

Events

National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Open 10:00–17:00 daily

Edinburgh Science Festival 2022

9 Apr – 24 Apr 2022
10:00 – 17:00

The Edinburgh Science Festival brings two weeks of science-fuelled exploration to the National Museum of Scotland, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks.

The Grand Gallery will be home to DataSphere, a multi-media exploration of the information driving our world. Elsewhere in the museum get-hands on with amazing drop-in experiments from the University of Edinburgh, and children’s workshops exploring everything from Creative Coding to Disease.

Adults can enjoy a series of fascinating talks and debates on topics from climatology and the philosophy of science to death, folklore and the cities of the future. Speakers include A.C. Grayling, Jim Al-Khalili, Alice Bell and Mary Roach.

The DataSphere will also be transformed after dark with bars, a DJ and exclusive activities just for grown-ups. Take the chance to have as much fun as the kids as you send, swipe and scroll through the data that drives our world.

To book or find out more, visit the Edinburgh Science Festival website.

*NEW* Centre for Open Learning: Victorian Scotland

21 Apr – 23 Jun 2022
11:00-13:00
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available)

National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore the national collections and their wider history with experts.

This 10-week course uses selected items from the museum’s collections as the basis for studying Victorian Scotland. Using a different historical object each week, students will consider the political, economic, industrial, imperial, cultural and social history of Scotland in this period of enormous change and creativity.

The course will be led by Helen Rapport PGCE, M.A., PhD.

Book now nms.ac.uk/VictorianScotland

*NEW* Centre for Open Learning: Georgian Scotland

21 Apr – 23 Jun 2022
14:00-16:00
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available)

National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore the national collections and their wider history with experts.

This 10-week course explores Scotland’s great changes and developments from 1714–1815. Making extensive use of National Museums Scotland’s collections, the course covers the Enlightenment and the growth of universities, trade, transportation and industry, as well as the impact of Jacobite rebellions and events overseas, from France and Spain to the American colonies.

The course will be led by Helen Rapport PGCE, M.A., PhD.

Book now nms.ac.uk/GeorgianScotland

*NEW* Centre for Open Learning: Discovering the National Collections:
Jewellery from Antiquity to Present Day

22 Apr – 20 May 2022
11:00-13:00
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4
£75 for 5 sessions (concessions available)

National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore the national collections and their wider history with experts.

This course will use the museum collections to introduce the extraordinarily diverse world of jewellery. From antiquity to the present day, we will explore our fascination with adornment to discover how trade, culture and craftsmanship pushed the boundaries of jewellery making around the world.

This course is led by Karen A Clulow BA MA FSA Scot, and will be taught within a range of galleries in the National Museum of Scotland.

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events

*NEW* Festival Family Encounters Day
7 May 2022
10:00-16:30
Grand Gallery

Free, drop-in. Some events may have timed slots and require sign-up on the day.

The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival opens on Saturday 7 May with Family Encounters at the National Museum of Scotland. Come along to get curious, creative and enjoy specially commissioned performances from Scottish based artists.

All events at Family Encounters on 7 May are free. Some may have timed slots and require sign-up on the day.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events

National Museum of Rural Life
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR
Open 10:00–17:00 daily

*NEW* Bird Bingo
1 Apr – 30 Apr 2022
10:00-17:00
A trail around the museum
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Come and play Bird Bingo at the National Museum of Rural Life, can you find all the birds hiding around the museum?

Using the clues on our family trail sheet, see if you can spot different birds in our museum galleries and learn fun facts about them on your journey.

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Find out more nms.ac.uk/birdbingo

*NEW* Spring Explorers

11 Apr – 14 Apr 2022
10:30-15:30
Learning Centre and Theatre
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Become a Spring Explorer this school holiday with family storytelling and lots of sustainable crafts.

Hear a story about farm animals, and make a bird feeder, paper pot for planting or a beautiful egg box flower to take home.

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Find out more about the activities and their dates nms.ac.uk/springexplorers

*NEW* Woolly Weekend
28 May – 29 May 2022
11:00-16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Visit the National Museum of Rural life to celebrate our woolly wonders. See our shearer at work with the Scottish Blackface sheep and enjoy wool-themed family crafts and activities.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/woollyweekend

National Museum of Flight
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
From 1 Apr, Open daily 10:00 – 16:00

*NEW* Make Do and Mend

19 Apr – 22 Apr 2022
11:00-16:00
Concorde Hangar
Free with museum admission

Find out about the sustainability skills that people used during and after the Second World War with hands-on, family-friendly activities.

Discover original Second World War RAF items and find out how people reused these objects creatively in the times of austerity after the war.

Visitors can also try “French” knitting or book tickets for the “Bundle and Steam” fabric printing workshops.

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Find out more and book nms.ac.uk/makedoandmend

*NEW* Dig for Victory

8 May 2022
11:00-16:00
Free with museum admission

Find out how people grew and cooked their own food during the Second World War with cooking demonstrations, talks, tours and hands-on family activities.

Discover the challenges of wartime cooking with food historian Nichola Fletcher and find out about the fruit and vegetables that were grown on the airfield. Families can also join drop-in workshops to create a wildflower seed bomb or make a paper pot to take home.

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Find out more nms.ac.uk/digforvictory

Online

The Joy of Birds

31 Mar 2022
19:30-20:30
Online
Free, with optional donation

Join David Lindo and Duncan Orr-Ewing to celebrate the joy that birds bring us, the urgent threats they face, and the science and conservation work protecting them.

David Lindo, also known as The Urban Birder, is a wildlife broadcaster, nature writer and urban wildlife educationalist. He is Vice-President of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Honorary President of the Colombia Bird Fair, and was voted 7th most influential person in Wildlife by BBC Wildlife Magazine.

Duncan Orr-Ewing is Head of Species and Land Management for RSPB Scotland.

This event includes live Q&A.

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Book Now nms.ac.uk/JoyofBirds

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789