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Amost one in ten garden sheds broken into in Scotland

Tools, bikes and plants among the most targeted items stolen from outdoor spaces in the UK.
Brits store approximately £1,000 worth of items in their gardens, sheds and outbuildings.
Two in five (40%) people made changes to their gardens during lockdown, spending more than £200 on improving their outdoor space, on average.
How can I keep my garden secure? Confused.com offers tips to keeping outdoor spaces safe – from buying padlocks to investing in smart tech.

With summer just around the corner, keeping outdoor spaces secure should be top of mind as new research finds less than one in ten (8%) gardens, sheds, garages or outbuildings in Scotland have been broken into in the past.

According to the research by Confused.com, victims of theft in the region reported that, an average of, £437 worth of items have been stolen from gardens, garages, sheds and outbuildings in the past. In total, nearly a fifth (18%) of UK adults who live in a property with at least one of these outdoor spaces have been burgled at least once in the past, with garages the most targeted. Victims reported more than £350 worth of items as stolen, on average.

And it seems thieves appear to be most attracted to tools which have been left in outbuildings, with more than two fifths (42%) of incidents across the UK resulting in these items being stolen.

Nearly two in five (39%) victims also reported their bike as taken. However, some thieves have been brave enough to take items directly from gardens with more than a fifth (23%) of victims claiming plants and garden decorations were taken.

Most stolen items from outdoor spaces

Tools – 42%

Bikes – 39%

Plants – 23%

Working equipment – 23%

Lawnmowers – 23%

Garden decorations – 23%

BBQs – 21%

Furniture – 21%

Sporting equipment – 18%

Gym equipment – 16%

While the average value of items stolen was more than £350 across the UK, some victims found themselves without some very expensive items. In fact, almost a quarter (24%) claimed more than £500 worth of items have been taken from their outdoor spaces.

More than half (53%) of victims went on to claim from their insurer to recover the costs, although this doesn’t always make up for the value stolen. More than three in four (77%) also had to pay out of their own pocket to replace items, forking out approximately £300 of their own money, on average.

It seems Brits need to be particularly careful in keeping their outdoor spaces secure, as the research found that gardens, garages, sheds and outbuildings across the UK hold approximately £1,000 worth of items, on average.

And given our gardens were the furthest we could travel for most of last year, this seems to have sparked a spending habit in Brits, as those with gardens claim they spent more than £200 on new items and improvements in 2020.

In fact, two in five (40%) people made changes during the lockdown including adding new plants (72%) and buying new garden furniture (37%) and barbeques (22%). One in 10 (9%) even created an outdoor office, suggesting valuable work items are now more vulnerable away from the house.

With so many Brits investing in their outdoor spaces during lockdown last year, British gardens are arguably more valuable now than ever before.

In fact, one in 10 (11%) think their garden holds more valuable items than their bedroom. But security for these areas is often overlooked, making them an easier target for thieves.

Worryingly, more than a fifth (22%) of people don’t have any basic security in place for their gardens and outbuildings. Of those with gardens, only two in five (43%) have a padlock or secure lock on their gate, and only a third (34%) of those with garages keep it securely locked up.

However, the research found that there is some confusion on the best way to keep outdoor spaces protected. And according to Confused.com’s experts, it can be as simple as investing in secure locks. Although, there’s also more smart technology now that can deter thieves and keep gardens and garages as secure as the home.

Despite so many Brits reporting valuable items in their garden, one in five (20%) don’t count these when working out the value of the contents in their home.

This means some people may not necessarily have the right level of insurance cover they need for these items.

In fact, only two in five (39%) have checked that their policy covers items they keep in the garden, shed, garage or other outbuildings. While it’s easy to assume these areas of the home are protected under contents insurance, Confused.com experts suggest checking the details, as more expensive items such as bikes and power tools may not be covered as standard.

And like with any home insurance policy, items worth more than £1,000 should be listed individually – so that new expensive furniture set, or fancy barbeque may not be covered after all!

Jessica Willock, home insurance expert at Confused.com comments: “Last year, we spent a lot more time in our gardens than ever before. And because of this, people spent hundreds of pounds in making it a better space, from investing barbeques for socially distanced gatherings or creating a nice space to enjoy the summer weather.

“But by investing in more expensive items, we’re putting ourselves at a higher risk of theft. While most items should be covered under our contents insurance, this isn’t always guaranteed. Always check the details!

“Ultimately, keeping our gardens and sheds secure will be the most effective way in protecting our valuables. We’ve compiled our top tips to keeping outdoor spaces secure, and this can be as easy as buying padlocks, or investing in cameras or other smart tech as we would for our homes.”

Gladstone’s Land reopens for a taste of the past

One of the Royal Mile’s oldest buildings, the National Trust for Scotand’s Gladstone’s Land, starts a new chapter of its 500 year-old history as it re-opens to the public today after a £1.5m restoration, including a brand new coffee shop and ice cream parlour, continuing the spirit of the building’s long commercial use.

At the top of the Royal Mile on the Lawnmarket in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, the six storey tenement represents a new approach from the conservation charity, with visitors actively encouraged to connect with the property by interacting with the exhibits to find out about its fascinating history.

Items can be picked up, chairs sat on and drawers and cabinets can be opened to reveal secrets about the property’s past. Interactive food tours are also planned for later in the month where visitors can even taste what our predecessors would have eaten.

Rescued from demolition by the Trust in 1934, over the last 40 years the focus had mainly been on the life and times of merchant Thomas ‘Gledstanes’. He bought the building in the early 17th century, extended it and commissioned its famous Renaissance-style painted ceilings.

Now though, thanks to years of meticulous historical research led by visitor services managers Dr Kate Stephenson and Anna Brereton (pictured ), the lives of other residents of the property over the centuries are being told too, with three floors of rooms laid out to reflect how they would have lived and worked.

The real-life stories of individual residents and the trading history of the address shows the rise and decline of the address and also reflects the fortunes of the Old Town as a whole, bringing Gladstone’s Land to life in a wholly new way.

Based on the will of wealthy 17th-century merchant John Riddoch, one room shows the recreation of his stockroom with the likes of ginger, sugar, pepper and cinnamon abounding. Another space shows a drapers based on the surviving trade accounts of a late 1700s business trading in silks, laces and printed cottons, including costumes for visitors to try on.

A whole new floor of Gladstone’s Land is opening for the first time, presenting an early 20^th-century boarding house inspired by Mary Wilson, a widow who in 1911 placed a newspaper advertisement offering a room in her apartment as suitable lodgings for ‘two or three respectable men’.

On the street level, a new coffee shop has been created which is peppered with references to the property’s past. Gladstone’s Land can lay claim to be the oldest continually trading place of commerce in Edinburgh and the coffee shop (an important part of Edinburgh’s culture for centuries) continues that tradition.

As well as the decoration of the space and ingredients in dishes inspired by the property’s past, the ice cream parlour on the same floor includes a specially created ice cream flavour. Researchers developed elderflower & lemon curd as the property’s first bespoke flavour, using documents related to the first sales of ice cream in Edinburgh in the 1900s and tastes associated with the property’s history.

Self-catering apartments on the upper floor have also been redesigned to create beautiful flats for holiday lets, profits from which will support the Trust’s wider conservation activities.

General Manager for Edinburgh & East Stuart Maxwell said: “When we closed in February 2020 we expected that we’d be opening the doors to the new Gladstone’s Land in August last year but world events took over. We’re really pleased to reveal what’s been going on behind the hoardings and give people the chance to reconnect with this incredibly special place.

“Work really started many, many years ago when the team came up with the idea of shifting the focus away from the prosperous merchant who owned the property to the people who actually lived and did business there and who may resonate more so with people today. By poring over documents such as wills, ships’ logs, trade accounts and newspapers we’ve been able to put together an incredibly detailed portrait of the individuals who inhabited the property over the last 500 years.

“And we’re then presenting it in a way that is quite new for the Trust. Visitors are allowed to touch almost everything in the property and there are surprises at every turn for the curious. As well as the sense of touch, the immersive experience will involve sight, smell and taste too. There’s something there for everyone, from the specialised historian to the first-time museum goer.

“We know how much people love Gladstone’s Land and we can’t wait for them to reconnect with its impressive history, and explore the new experiences that have been added to bring those centuries to life.”

www.nts.org.uk

www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/gladstones-land

www.twitter.com/GladstonesLand

www.facebook.com/GladstonesLand

Railways Revolution?

New public body Great British Railways will integrate the railways and deliver passenger-focused travel with simpler, modern fares and reliable services.

A quarter-century of fragmentation on the railways will end as they come under single, accountable national leadership, as the UK government today (20 May 2021) unveils a new plan for rail that prioritises passengers and freight.

Today, the government is announcing our plan for the transformation of Britain’s railways. The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail fully reflects the independent recommendations of Keith Williams, to whom the government is grateful for his thorough work since 2018.

Williams identified serious issues facing the railways before Covid struck; the pandemic has exacerbated some of these and added more. The government has provided unprecedented support to keep the railways running during the pandemic. Now, we look to the future – today we are setting out an ambitious plan to ensure that the system is ready to meet these challenges.

Today’s railway is fragmented – numerous bodies with different incentives lead to a lack of joined-up thinking. No single organisation is accountable for integration, planning and leadership across infrastructure, passenger services and freight operations.

Even before Covid, the franchising model for passenger services had become unsustainable, with multiple failing franchises, delayed competitions and dwindling market confidence. East Coast and Northern had already failed and the government had to step in.

To meet these challenges this government is introducing the biggest reform to the railway in 3 decades. We are committed to delivering a rail system that is the backbone of a cleaner, greener public transport system, offering passengers a better deal and greater value for money for taxpayers.

That means getting the trains to run on time, providing a better quality of service and having a firm control of the sector’s costs.

To bring about change on the scale that is needed:

We will end 3 decades of fragmentation by bringing the railways back together under a new public body with a single, national leadership and a new brand and identity, built on the famous double arrow. Great British Railways (GBR) will run and plan the network, own the infrastructure, and collect most fare revenue. It will procure passenger services and set most fares and timetables.

We will make the railways easier to use by simplifying fares and ticketing, providing more convenient ways to pay with contactless, smartphone and online, and protecting affordable walk-on fares and season tickets. Rail services will be better coordinated with each other and better integrated with other transport services such as trams, buses and bikes.

We will keep the best elements of the private sector that have helped to drive growth. GBR will contract private partners to operate the trains to the timetable it sets. These contracts will include strong incentives for operators to run high-quality services and increase passenger demand.

The contracts are not one-size-fits-all, so as demand recovers, long-distance routes will have more commercial freedom to attract new passengers. Freight is already a nimble, largely private sector market and will remain so, while benefiting from the national coordination, new safeguards and rules-based access system that will help it thrive.

We will grow, not shrink, the network, continuing to invest tens of billions of pounds in new lines, trains, services and electrification.

We will make the railways more efficient. Simpler structures and clear leadership will make decision-making easier and more transparent, reduce costs and make it cheaper to invest in modern ways to pay, upgrade the network and deliver new lines. The adversarial blame culture will end and everyone across the sector, including train operators, will be incentivised to work towards common goals, not least managing costs.

These changes will transform the railways for the better. They will also make the sector more accountable to taxpayers and government.

Government ministers will have strong levers to set direction, pursue government policies and oversee delivery to ensure the railways are managed effectively and spend public money efficiently. Great British Railways will be empowered – a single, familiar brand with united, accountable leadership.

These reforms represent a bold new offer to passengers – of punctual and reliable services, simpler tickets and a modern, green and innovative railway that meets the needs of the nation.

In summary, our ambitious rail transformation programme will deliver 10 key outcomes:

a modern passenger experience
a retail revolution
new ways of working with the private sector
economic recovery and financial sustainable railways
greater control for local people and places
cleaner, greener railways
bold, new opportunities for rail freight
increased speed of delivery and efficient enhancements
skilled, innovative workforce
a simpler industry structure

This is not renationalisation, which failed the railways, rather it is simplification. While Great British Railways acts as the guiding mind to coordinate the whole network, our plan will see greater involvement of the private sector – private companies will be contracted to run the trains, with stronger competition to run services.

Our reforms will also unleash huge new opportunities for the private sector to innovate in areas such as ticket retailing and data that can be used by passengers to better plan their journeys.

We look forward to building this new vision for Britain’s railways in collaboration with the sector. We are proud to set out plans to support our railways and serve our country with a system that is efficient, sustainable and run in the public interest.

Grant Shapps Transport Secretary said: “Our railways were born and built to serve this country, to forge stronger connections between our communities and provide people with an affordable, reliable and rapid service. Years of fragmentation, confusion and over-complication have seen that vision fade and passengers failed. That complicated and broken system ends today.

“The pandemic has seen the government take unprecedented steps to protect services and jobs. It’s now time to kickstart reforms that give the railways solid and stable foundations for the future, unleashing the competitive, innovative and expert abilities of the private sector, and ensuring passengers come first.

“Great British Railways marks a new era in the history of our railways. It will become a single familiar brand with a bold new vision for passengers – of punctual services, simpler tickets and a modern and green railway that meets the needs of the nation.”

Rocio Concha, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Which?, said: “Before the pandemic, passengers had been treated as an afterthought for too long on the railways – so it is good that the government’s plans seek to improve the passenger experience on trains, bring innovation to the ticketing system and make it easier to get compensation.

“The true test of this plan will be whether passengers see real improvements to the way their train services operate, not only adapting to new needs but addressing the old challenges that could cause so much disruption to the lives of those reliant on the railways.”

Quarriers launch appeal to ‘Bring Back Smiles’

Quarriers has launched its ‘Bring Back Smiles’ appeal to support vulnerable young people and to help them to recover from the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.

As a leading social care charity, Quarriers already provides vital support for children, families and young people and has launched the fundraising campaign to support over 1000 children across Scotland and to provide positive experiences and resources.

Dr Ron Culley, Chief Executive of Quarriers, said: “For many young people the changes brought by the pandemic have been overwhelming and the world has seemed a scary and unpredictable place.

“Every day our highly experienced staff are seeing children who have high levels of anxiety, low mood, lack of motivation and loss of confidence.

“As restrictions are relaxing, many of us are getting back to the activities that we enjoy. However, poverty, disability and disadvantage will make it too hard for many families to give their children positive experiences over the summer to support their mental health and that is why we have launched the ‘Bring Back Smiles’ appeal.”

Donations can be made at www.quarriers.org.uk/smiles and just £5 could support vulnerable youngsters in the following ways:

Boost independence – help to cover transport costs for teenagers in rural areas to meet up with friends over the summer.
Build confidence – provide funding for a child to take part in an activity they have never done before such as paddle boarding.
Lift spirits – help to fund safety equipment to help youngsters have fun, such as a bike helmet.

Quarriers provide essential support across Scotland through their work with young carers, children with complex needs and young people who are in care or have experience of care, and families coping with poverty.

Quarriers also provides mental health support through school-based services and they have first-hand experience of the help children need to move on from the difficulties of recent times.

Beautiful little girl in a blue dress eating an ice cream.

Christine Dow, Project Worker, Quarriers Let’s Talk Service, said: “COVID has changed the experience our children have had of childhood, and we don’t know the long-term impact this will have on our youngster’s development.

“But what we do know is that we are seeing a huge effect on their mental health right now and we want to help them. Throughout the pandemic, Quarriers frontline workers have kept support going and by using video calls, telephone calls or sometimes just texting we have learned that many of the children we support are anxious.

“Some children can’t stop thinking about the dangers of the virus and some feel frightened of the outside world or find going outside stressful. Lockdown saw family routines break down, sleeping patterns disrupted and appetites affected. Some children have experienced low moods and lack of motivation whilst others have experienced panic attacks.

“We know mental health services have seen a huge increase in referrals and supporting our young people at this crucial time is vital. We hope to help as many youngsters as possible across Scotland through the Quarriers Children’s Fund.”

To help to ‘Bring Back Smiles’ please visit: www.quarriers.org.uk/smiles

Scottish Child Payment helps nearly 79,000 young people

New benefit to tackle child poverty pays out £3.6 million since February

An estimated 78,775 children have already benefitted from Scottish Child Payment since its launch.

The benefit, which is unique to Scotland, is intended to help low-income families with the costs of raising a child. It gives qualifying parents and carers £40 every four weeks for each child under six.

A total of 92% of the applications received and processed have been approved, and payments started in February.

Applications were received from people living in all 32 local authorities in Scotland, with the highest number of 17,330 from Glasgow City.

Parents and carers are able to apply for all eligible children in their household in a single application and can also apply for Best Start Grants and Best Start Foods at the same time.

Scottish Child Payment is in addition to the UK wide Child Benefit.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Security Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “It is great to see so many families benefitting from the Scottish Child Payment and that it is making a positive impact on the lives of so many children. We are working hard to tackle child poverty and it is fantastic to see the number of households being supported so quickly after the payment’s launch.

“It is a benefit unique to Scotland within the UK, and has been hailed as a potential ‘game-changer’ in the fight against child poverty.

“It shows how, with the welfare powers we have gained, we are making a real, positive difference to the lives of young people and their families, boosting the life chances of children across the country.”

More than 104,000 applications were made between 9 November 2020 and 31 March 2021.

If you need local help or advice about your benefits, contact Granton Information Centre. Telephone 0131 552 0458, 0131 551 2459 or email info@gic.org.uk

Helping Hands: Ruth writes poem in recognition of colleagues for International Nurses Day

An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde critical care worker has written a poem to recognise the hard work and dedication of colleagues as part of International Nurses Day 2021.

Senior Charge Nurse, Ruth Wilson, tells the tale of a nurse’s role through ‘Helping Hands’ which outlines the huge remit and responsibility of nurses in providing day-to-day care. Ruth, 55 from Ayrshire who has worked as a nurse for more than 36 years, sees first-hand how colleagues look after patients on a day-to-day basis.

Read ‘Helping Hands’ below:

Helping Hands

At the start of the day, hands are washed before countless nursing tasks
Protecting ourselves with hand hygiene and professionally fitted masks

These hands will wash patients, write careplans, and administer medication
They will clean surfaces and equipment with total dedication

These hands will give out meals, make beds, and answer numerous telephone calls
They will guide and support mobilising patients in order to prevent falls

These hands will pour cups of tea, tie up linen, and empty patient bedpans
They will secure pumps and equipment to gleaming drip stands

These hands will feed and clothe, perform oral hygiene and comb hair
They will fill out fluid balance charts and give regular catheter care

These hands will take notes on ward rounds, and order things on “Trak”
They will dispense analgesia, offer a massage or give a soothing ice pack

These hands will organise flowers, open cards and tidy the place
They will dress wounds, cut nails, moisturise patient’s bodies and their face

These hands will soothe fevered brows through the comfort of touch
They will wipe away tears when it all gets too much

These hands will perform CPR and airway skills and really without much thought
Will automatically pilot to the resuscitation skills they were taught

They will support relatives with bad news, and patients will be allowed to cry
They will perform last offices when their patients die

They will sign discharge letters when people are getting home
They will clean all the surfaces shinier than chrome

These hands are priceless hands, helping hands, the hands you hope are there
If you ever get sick yourself, you want hands that care.

RUTH WILSON

Muslim communities urged to celebrate end of Ramadan safely

Ahead of the start of Eid al-Fitr, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Eid al-Fitr, the end Ramadan’s month of fasting, is a profoundly important event to Muslims across Scotland and around the world.

“This is the second Eid to have taken place during the pandemic, which I know has been incredibly challenging. I want to thank community leaders and members for doing an amazing job keeping each other safe during this difficult period.

“I understand how disappointing it will be to have to restrict celebrations. However, everyone celebrating Eid must do so safely and in line with the necessary public health restrictions – unfortunately that means not visiting other people’s homes and maintaining a two-metre distance with those from outside your household at all times.

“The changes to lockdown restrictions I announced yesterday will be welcome to many, but they do not come into force until Monday, so everyone should continue to follow the Level 3 restrictions that still apply in all areas of Scotland until then. We know from public health data that travel from India, Pakistan, Turkey and Nepal is a particular risk, so everyone arriving from those countries must follow the red list rules.

“I know following these rules during such a significant event will be difficult, particularly when the overall picture with the virus is positive. However, cases are high and rising in Moray, and Glasgow is seeing an increase in cases too. By sticking to the Level 3 restrictions for just a few more days, we can all help to keep the virus under control and ensure Scotland stays on the path to recovery.

“I’d like to say a deep thank you to all of Scotland’s Muslim communities for everything you have done during the pandemic, and wish you an enjoyable Eid.”

The First Minister visited Glasgow Central Mosque on Wednesday 12 May alongside Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf and Scottish Labour Leader and Glasgow MSP Anas Sarwar.

Mr Sarwar said: “Scottish Muslims have made sacrifices during Ramadan. But they have also made big sacrifices over the last year to get through this pandemic.

“Like me, I know you are desperate to be reunited with your loved ones. But I would urge everyone to please follow the Covid rules closely in the coming days.

“This is to keep you and your family safe and well.

“There is hope and optimism again as the lockdown continues to ease. And if we follow the rules we will soon be able to see and hold our loved ones again safely.

“I wish all Scottish Muslims a happy Eid, Eid Mubarak!”

Morrisons launches mega sale on baby products

Morrisons has launched a mega in-store sale on baby and toddler products. The sale, which is on across the month of May will allow parents to save big on brands including Pampers, Baby Dove, Johnson’s and many more.

Morrisons has also launched a new baby food range under its Nutmeg brand with prices starting at just 50p – a fraction of the cost of similar products from Hipp and Ella’s Kitchen which normally for almost double (90p).

To help parents even further as the nation moves out of lockdown, they can also sign up to the Baby & More Club for additional exclusive offers, helpful tips, members-only freebies and competitions.

And because parents need treats too, Morrisons has further offers on bath and beauty products to unwind and relax.

Pennywell bus attack: Police follow a positive line of enquiry

Around 7.10pm last night (Wednesday 5 May), police received a report of a bus window being smashed in Pennywell Gardens, after a stone was thrown by a group of youths.

Enquiries are continuing and officers are following a positive line of enquiry.

Edinburgh children bloom in Pocket Garden challenge

Pupils from eight Edinburgh schools have shown their budding design skills by winning the nationwide Pocket Garden Design Competition, run by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful.

The eight schools are: Cowgate Under 5s Centre, Duddingston Primary, Hillwood Primary, Murrayburn Early Years Campus, Summerside Kindergarten, Castlebrae Community High School, Greenbank Pre-School, and Dean Park Primary.

During 2020 and 2021, 230 entries were received from 22 of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas. The winning schools received the opportunity to build and grow their designs to appear in a digital showcase.

Children, from as young as three, were challenged to design a colourful and sustainable garden that could feature at the Scottish Gardens Show at Scone Palace in late May.

Sadly, the show has had to be cancelled due to Covid restrictions but the winning schools are still growing and building their gardens and these finished gardens will be available to view in an online showcase, where the nation will also be able to vote for their favourite Pocket Garden.

Following the great success of five previous Pocket Garden competitions in past years, schools from across Scotland were encouraged to take part and develop designs for a tiny garden which reflects the four interlinked 2021 themes.

These themes include The Year of Coasts and Waters, One Planet Picnic, Wildlife Gardening and Celebrating Nature on our Doorstep.

Eve Keepax, Education and Learning Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Many people rediscovered a connection to nature on their doorsteps during lockdown, and the competition has encouraged young people to celebrate that through their designs.

“We are delighted that schools and young people are finding the benefits of this competition in learning and teaching about issues that are important to them. The Pocket Garden designs we received were practical, creative, challenging, sustainable and full of fun!”

Anthony McCluskey, Chair of the Garden for Life Forum, who was involved in the judging, said: “Nature is in crisis, but we can all do our bit to help wildlife in our local areas.

“Even small gardens and growing spaces can make a great contribution to supporting populations of insects like bees and butterflies, and provide homes and food for birds, hedgehogs, and amphibians. Getting close to nature is great for our mental wellbeing too, so everyone wins when we grow for wildlife.”

The winning Pocket Gardens will be available to view in the digital showcase from Saturday 5 June at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/pocketgarden. Voting for the nation’s favourite Pocket Garden will be open from 5 – 13 June.