OFFICIAL: Conifox Adventure Park breaks record for the World’s Longest Inflatable Assault Course  

The Tartan Titan has now launched at Scotland’s Award-Winning Adventure Park  

Conifox Adventure Park has today confirmed that they have officially broken a world record for the longest inflatable assault course which sits at a mammoth 568 metres, almost 73m longer than the current world record course, and longer than 5 premiership football pitches. 

During an exclusive launch, attended by Alex Cole Hamilton MSP; Christine Jardine MP; Jamie Ritchie, Scotland Rugby; Craig Gordon, Scotland Football and Susie Oliphant, Scotland Ladies Lacrosse amongst many others key figures, Glenn Pollard, Official Adjudicator for Guinness World Records® confirmed the record, and The Tartan Titan made history. 

Alex Cole Hamilton MSP comments, “This is like nothing I’ve never seen before and it’s great to have a world record breaking installation like the Tartan Titan in the heart of Edinburgh. Coming as it does on the eve of the festival, it really puts the heart of the city on the map. I am so proud of James and all of the team here at Conifox who have really done the best they can to bounce back quite literally from the pandemic.” 

The Tartan Titan is an immersive interactive adventure that transports participants into their favourite game shows, from Ninja Warrior to Total Wipeout and Gladiators and crammed with challenges for all ages, the attraction is a real crowd pleaser.  

Glenn Pollard, Official Adjudicator for Guinness World Records®, said: “Guinness World Records® titles are not easy to achieve by definition. It gives credibility to Conifox Adventure Park as well as anyone else who wants to come along and try and break it.

“Given the previous record has stood for 4 ½ years they would have a very tough job ahead of them.” 

The unique attraction is only available for limited dates this month (August) with dedicated time slots for adults and younger children, it’s an escapade the whole family can enjoy as they climb, crawl, jump and bounce their way through the course. 

Open to everyone taller than 1.2 metres, The Tartan Titan features 50 sections of obstacles including the Corkscrew, Wipe Out, Ninja Run, Ladder Challenge, Tidal Wave and Everest Slide.

There are also special Challenge Days when visitors can attempt to set a record time on the course with a prize for the winner of the #TITANCHALLENGE. 

The spectacular course is the latest addition to Conifox’s award-winning adventure park, at Kirkliston on the outskirts of Edinburgh, which recently invested £ 2 million in a new Activity Centre. 

James Gammell, Managing Director of Conifox Adventure Park, says: “The Tartan Titan has been fantastically well received and we’re absolutely delighted to be able to announce that it has been officially adjudicated as the world’s longest, by the Guinness World Records®.  

“Dates to take on the challenge are running out and we’re keen that as many people as possible get the chance to experience this amazing attraction. It is only available from 6th- 16th August, so there is no time to lose.”  

Thrill seekers looking for their next big challenge need to sign up soon or miss the chance to tackle Scotland’s Tartan Titan. 

To make a booking for the Tartan Titan or Conifox Adventure Park visit https://www.conifox.co.uk/ 

90ft sculpture of the bacteria E.coli goes on show at the National Museum of Scotland

National Museum of Scotland E.Coli by Luke Jerram 5 million times bigger than the real bacteria, Bristol-based Luke Jerram’s inflatable E. coli sculpture will be suspended from the ceiling of the Grand Gallery. Neil Hanna Photography www.neilhannaphotography.co.uk 07702 246823

A 90ft long inflatable sculpture by Bristol-based Luke Jerram has been suspended from the ceiling of the National Museum of Scotland’s Grand Gallery. The E.coli, which is 5 million times bigger than the real bacteria, is on display in Scotland for the first time.  

Bacteria were the earliest form of life on our planet, and so this artwork could be considered as a curious portrait of our distant ancestors. If there is life on other planets (or moons) in our solar system, it may well look like this.

This artwork was also made to reflect upon the importance of bacteria in our lives. Although some forms of Escherichia coli (or E. coli) bacteria can cause illness and even death in humans, the use of the bacteria is vital in medical research.   

Luke Jerram’s E.coli is part of the 18th edition of Edinburgh Art Festival which runs from 28 July – 28 August 2022 at venues across the city, as are the exhibitions Anatomy: A Matter of Life and Death and Japanese Contemporary Design, both of which are also on at the National Museum of Scotland during the Festival. 

Luke Jerram said: “Making visible the microscopic world around us, the artwork was made as an experimental object to contemplate. 

“When standing next to it, does the bacteria alter our personal sense of scale? Does it look scary, beautiful, comical or alien? Will audiences be attracted or repelled by it?” 

Alison Cromarty, Head of Exhibitions and Design at National Museums Scotland said: “We’re delighted to be bringing this spectacular creation to Scotland for the first time.

“It’s great to have it on display during the festival period and particularly as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival.” 

This giant inflatable E.coli sculpture was made for the KREBS Fest, presented at University of Sheffield.

The artwork was first displayed for a month in the Winter Gardens in and then in Firth Hall, Sheffield. The artwork has since been presented in other venues around the UK including the Eden Project.

It has been brought to Edinburgh with the support of the University of Sheffield and the and UKRI strategic priority fund “Building collaboration at the physics of life interface”. 

Council breaks ground at Scotland’s largest net zero housing development

Councillor Jane Meagher has officially broken ground at Scotland’s largest net zero housing development in Granton.

The start of construction works at the £72m ‘Western Villages’ project represents a significant milestone for the City of Edinburgh Council in the delivery of the £1.3bn Granton Waterfront regeneration project. Over the next ten years, 3,500 mixed-tenure homes and associated infrastructure will create a new, sustainable coastal community.

Cllr Meagher was joined by representatives for the project – including the Council’s own development and regeneration team, contractor CCG (Scotland) and architect Cooper Cromar – at the site located on West Shore Road adjacent to Forthquarter Park.

The 444-home masterplan will consist of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, including wheelchair-accessible ground-floor dwellings, available in a mix of social rent (195) mid-market rent (193) and private sale tenures (56) that will each benefit from stunning parkland and sea views.

To achieve net zero carbon, all homes will be constructed using advanced construction methods to improve thermal performance (and reduce heat loss). Delivered by an on-site energy centre containing air-source heat pumps and renewable technologies such as solar PV panels, this low carbon heat system and zero emissions strategy is being supported by £4.1m of funding from the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme.

Complemented by carbon offsetting measures, this pioneering approach to reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions has been developed by CCG in partnership with energy and sustainability consultancy, Carbon Futures. Sustainability credentials will be further enhanced by a reduction in car usage, provision of Electric Vehicle charging, and increased emphasis on active travel to lower the development’s carbon footprint over the longer term.

Set for completion in 2024, the homes for rent will be managed by the Council whilst the private homes will be led by CCG Homes, the private housing arm of the CCG Group.

Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “We are so proud to lead the country’s biggest net zero housing development and to break ground today.

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

“This housing is going to provide hundreds of affordable homes, right at the centre of what will be Edinburgh’s newest neighbourhood – offering a fantastically lively, active, and sustainable waterfront lifestyle for everyone who moves in.

“People moving in will benefit from a real 20-minute neighbourhood, with great progress being made in our £1.3 billon wider regeneration project including a growing cultural and arts cluster in the area, after we announced works to refurbish the former Granton Station building into a creative workspace, as well as a new creative and community hub at 20 West Shore Road by Edinburgh Palette.

“It’s also great to see the iconic Granton Gasholder is being brought back to life – now illuminated in solidarity with Ukraine it is set to be fully restored and opened as a public amenity space.

“The operators of the Pitt Street market have also announced their plans to take up a new residence here, with more than half of all stalls to be led by start-ups and entrepreneurs, and we’re only going to see more and more new services, businesses and creative endeavours choose Granton.

“This is the start of an exciting new chapter for the city and for how we build new homes and new neighbourhoods and I look forward to seeing it all take shape.”

CCG Managing Director, David Wylie, said: “CCG’s contribution to the regeneration of Granton is significant with over 500 homes set to be under construction by the middle of this year.

“Western Villages, alongside a further 75 homes with the Council at Waterfront Avenue (known as Granton D1, the first pilot project of the Edinburgh Homes Demonstrator initiative), will play a major role in the creation of this new coastal community and also help shape our understanding and capabilities of net zero housing delivery in Edinburgh and across Scotland.

“We are very proud to be pioneering applied research and development into net zero housebuilding to support our economy’s green ambitions whilst also ensuring that high-quality, highly energy efficient homes remain accessible to our communities.”

Fightback starts NOW: Community council to reconvene next week

WEST PILTON & WEST GRANTON CC TO MEET ON TUESDAY

WEST Pilton & West Granton Community Council is to reconvene on Tuesday night.

Top of the agenda will be the future of West Granton Community Trust’s building in Granton Mains. The organisation confirmed that The Prentice Centre will close at the end of September.

Former Community council chair Willie Black said: “The imminent closure of The Prentice Centre is a huge blow to the local community and we must do everything we can to ensure that this facility remains an asset for local groups and organisations to use.

“There are a number of possibilities and we would like to talk about these at next week’s meeting.”

First challenge for the local community council is to strengthen it’s current membership.

“We have three vacancies and we would like to fill these as soon as we can. We saw with the success of this summer’s Community Festival just what can be achieved when the community works together and we’d welcome enthusiastic new members to help make next year’s Festival an even bigger success.

“The meeting will also offer an opportunity to meet the councillors elected in May’s council elections so we are hoping for a good turnout. There is plenty to talk about.”

West Pilton and West Granton Community Council meets on Tuesday 9th August at 7pm in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.

Vandalism at Trinity Primary: Appeal for information

POLICE are appealing for information following vandalism at a school in North Edinburgh.

The incident took place at Trinity Primary School on Newhaven Road at about 1.30pm on Friday, 29th July, during which over £5000 worth of damage was caused to school equipment.

A thorough investigation is ongoing and anyone with any information is urged to contact Police via 101, quoting incident 2591 of the 29th July 2022 or anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Cyber security boost: Training to help safeguard Scottish organisations 

A £500,000 contract to extend cyber resilience training to more than 250 organisations across the country has been awarded by the Scottish Government.

The grant will enable the Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) to run online and in-person workshops for public services and third sector health, housing, and social care bodies to ensure they are better prepared and protected.

Scotland has been subject to a number of disruptive large scale cyber-attacks in recent years with developments in Ukraine and the recent COVID lockdown exacerbating the situation. 

The training, which has already benefited 450 organisations, includes mock scenarios such as a third-party software compromise, a ransomware attack and a threatened sensitive data leak.

It is hoped more than 250 organisations will benefit from the training programme, which comes ahead of a major summit in Edinburgh as part of European Cyber Security Month in October.

Justice Secretary Keith Brown, who will address the event, said: “We have all seen the devastating impact of an organisation falling victim to a cyber-related incident, so extending training to make more people aware of the risks is absolutely crucial.

“The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring Scotland leads the way in cyber resilience and security.

“This extended training will help many more organisations to stave off the threat of an attack, and protect against disruptive and costly data breaches.

“The workshops provide practical guidance to mitigate or respond to hostile cyber-attacks. I would urge eligible organisations to take up this opportunity to ensure they are protected.”

Jude McCorry, Chief Executive Officer of the SBRC, said: “There is no denying that the ongoing pressure facing everyone from a cyber-perspective has increased massively in recent years. Just as we see one organisation recover from the grips of a cyber-incident, another is targeted.

“It is also now believed that cyber criminals have targeted more than three-quarters of public sector organisations and, closer to home, we have seen this play out with a number of disruptive large-scale attacks already in Scotland.

“We don’t want to see more Scottish organisations fall victim to these attacks and that is why upskilling and awareness programmes continue to be so vital.”

SBRC will deliver the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) ‘Exercise in a Box’ programme on behalf of the Scottish Government. It has already upskilled 450 organisations across Scotland since being  launched in 2020.

Organisations interested in learning more about ‘Exercise in a Box’ are invited to attend a taster session on 25 August. Find out more or register here.

Top five cyber-resilience tips

1 Improve password security:

Creating strong, separate passwords and storing them safely is a good way to protect yourself online.

Use a strong and separate password for your email.

Weak passwords can be hacked in seconds. Make yours strong, longer and more memorable by combining three random words that you can remember.

2 Save your password in to your browser:

This is safer than re-using the same password for all your accounts. Save them to secure them.

3 Turn on 2-Step Verification:

Two step verification protects you with a second layer of security that checks it’s really you logging in. Think of it as a double lock for your data. Be doubly sure.

4 Update your devices:

Cybercriminals exploit weaknesses in software and apps to get your information. Updating fixes those weaknesses. Think of update reminders as an alarm telling you to act. Stay secure. Update regularly.

5 Back up your data:

If your phone, tablet or laptop is hacked, you could lose all your personal files including photos and videos. Keep everything secure by backing up. Back it up, keep it secure.

Gretna Green announces its Summer Of Love

·         Iconic destination launches a bespoke ‘love package’ for the perfect summer staycation

·         Package to include ancient ‘handfasting ceremony’ where visitors can cement their love for each other during their stay

·         The Summer of Love offer to be available from July 2022

Gretna Green, The Home of Romance, rebellion, and runaway marriages, is celebrating all things love this summer as it launches a bespoke new offering.

The limited edition package will include a night’s stay at Gretna Hall Hotel, a meal for two at one of Gretna Green’s fabulous restaurants, a bespoke Anvil Handfasting Ceremony over the iconic Blacksmiths anvil and to toast and celebrate in style, a delectable love-inspired limited edition ‘Summer of Love’ cocktail designed by resident mixologist, Yash Dhiman.

Visitors will also receive tickets to the recently launched Famous Blacksmiths Gretna Green Experience – the UK’s first attraction dedicated to love and marriage – where they will be taken through a history of marriage through time and become a part of the World’s Greatest Love Story. With Gretna Green marrying couples from as far back as 1754, visitors can learn all about the many different love stories spanning across the decades.

As part of the visit to Gretna Green, couples will also partake in a handfasting ceremony – a traditional practice where a ribbon is wrapped around each person’s hands ‘binding’ their love for one another. The perfect way to make a romantic break extra special and totally unique. 

The iconic destination at the gateway to Scotland, historically known as The Original Home of Romance, is also home to unique experiences and delicious eateries for all the family. Set in the stunning Scottish countryside, it boasts two luxury hotels, and is the perfect place for a summer staycation.

In addition, because of its ideal location near the English border, it offers a great day out for travellers passing through the South of Scotland on their way up North, or vice versa. 

Isabel Rhodes, CEO of the Gretna Green Ltd family estate, said: “We pride ourselves on being a unique and interesting place to visit, offering something for everyone. There really is no place like Gretna Green!

“We want to showcase all we have to offer here at Gretna Green and welcome you all from across the UK to join us in celebrating a Summer Of Love”.

Going green: Glenmorangie’s bottling plant switches to solar

– New solar array reduces bottling plant’s national grid reliance by one-third –

The Glenmorangie Company has installed a new solar array at its bottling plant in Livingston, as part of a significant eight-figure investment in its operations, which will reduce its current on-site energy consumption by 30 per cent.

The 1,476 panels cover the majority of the building’s roof, allowing Glenmorangie to generate its own renewable energy, delivering significant savings and at the same time reducing its carbon footprint. 

It forms part of the company’s overarching sustainable strategy to achieve net zero carbon by 2040. The installation has been carried out by West Lothian based DB Group, in partnership with Emtec Energy. The DB Group will offer energy management support as The Glenmorangie Company continues to reduce energy consumption and works towards its green targets. 

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The Company’s purpose-built Livingston site was opened in 2011. As global demand grows for both its Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Single Malt Whiskies the Company is doubling capacity at its bottling plant through an expansion due to complete in 2023. The solar array forms part of that development.

Michael Scotland, Facilities and Projects Director at Glenmorangie, said: “We’re putting sustainability at the heart of the expansion of our Alba bottling plant. Our capacity will be increasing with new high-speed lines being installed over the coming year.

“At the same time, we have installed solar panels to reduce our current reliance on the national grid. This also gives us a clear pathway to maximise green energy across our site as we work towards our sustainability targets.”

Peter Nelson, Operations Director at Glenmorangie, added: “The Glenmorangie Company has ambitious plans for growth while we are fully committed to building a sustainable future for our business and communities across Scotland.

“We have key projects already in motion or completed at our sites including the solar array at Livingston, the installation of an anaerobic digestion plant in Tain as part of our Dornoch Environmental Enhancement Project (DEEP).

“We also continue to work in partnership with other Distilleries on new hydrogen energy trials with many more projects in the pipeline to achieve our 2040 net zero ambition.”

Kimpton Charlotte Square unveils new art exhibition inspired by capital’s iconic landmarks

The award-winning Kimpton Charlotte Square hotel has launched its latest exhibition in partnership with local gallery, Colinton Arts. 

As the city welcomes visitors from around the globe for the world-famous Edinburgh Festival to celebrate arts and culture, the Hotel unveils a collection of artists inspired by the capital’s iconic landmarks and scenery.

Jason Cordingley, oil painter and art educator, creates landscapes that echo the vitality of nature and the splendour of man’s architectural creations. His cityscapes capture some of Edinburgh’s most picturesque locations including Calton Hill, Princes Street Gardens and the historic Old Town. All of these locations will be at the heart of August’s festivities.

Jason commented: “Often I will push the extremes of both colour and tone in an attempt to conjure a dream like quality to my work. The exhibition pieces outline my passion for texture as I experiment with bold colours and tones to pay tribute to the Scottish landscape.

“The opportunity to exhibit my work at this luxury hotel is extremely special to me, particularly as an Edinburgh-based artist with a great love for the city. I’m thrilled that guests will see my work as we spotlight the capital in all its glory.”

In addition to the Edinburgh focussed pieces, Kimpton Charlotte Square is also showcasing work by Stephanie Pijper and Leon Anderson.

As an award-winning artist from the North-East of Scotland, Stephanie’s work features exquisite attention to detail and themes of rebirth throughout. Her featured artwork includes The Secret Garden and My Tears Made the Flowers Grow.

A self-taught artist, Leon Anderson (above) takes well known dog breeds and uses clothing and expressions to highlight traits that make them so loveable. His inspired canine characters include Lady Di-chschund, Outlander Jamie and Admiral Harvey.

Located in the historic village of Colinton, Colinton Arts is a family-run gallery presenting the very best of local and regional talent including exclusive paintings, prints and sculptures.

Lindsey Alexander, owner of Colinton Arts, said: “As a relatively new gallery and long-standing framing studio, we’re fast gaining an excellent reputation. 

“We’re becoming well-known for our varied portfolio of artists working in a wide variety of media and we’re grateful to the Kimpton for this wonderful opportunity. 

“Gallery Manager Lesley Briggs and I are really looking forward to this exhibition and gaining greater exposure for our talented artists.”

Kieran Quinn, general manager at Kimpton Charlotte Square said: “The Edinburgh Festival is one of the most iconic events in the city and something we as a hotel look forward to every year.

“As a boutique hotel where art is at the core of our allure, it was an obvious collaboration for us. We can exhibit breath-taking, exclusive pieces which capture the best of Edinburgh while supporting another local business.

“Our guests travel from all over Scotland and beyond so we’re excited for them to see these pieces and add to their memorable experience.”

Guests and members of the public are invited to see Jason, Stephanie and Leon’s work on display at Kimpton Charlotte Square from today (Wednesday 3 August) until the end of October.

For artwork purchasing queries, please contact: info@colinton-arts.com.