Yarn-Bombed Postboxes Pop Up for David Attenborough’s 100th Birthday

This May, red post boxes across the UK have been transformed into colourful crochet tributes to British wildlife, marking Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday.

Launched by Hobbycraft, the nationwide “yarn bombing” campaign sees handcrafted toppers appearing in key locations linked to Sir David’s life – from his current hometown of London to Cambridge, where he studied, and Leicester, where he grew up, as well as Edinburgh, Manchester, Bournemouth and Glasgow; turning everyday street furniture into joyful celebrations of nature.

The toppers will be dropping throughout the month of May.

Each topper features detailed scenes inspired by British wildlife, including bees, squirrels, and woodland habitats, designed to delight passers-by and spark conversations about the natural world.

The postbox topper installations were created by Hobbycraft’s Knitcraft expert Natalie Beard @sewing_the_seeds_of_love, who said: “Each topper is a celebration of Sir David’s incredible legacy and the wildlife he’s spent his life championing.

“We hope they inspire people to get creative and connect with nature. Hobbycraft has everything you need to get crafting.”

At the end of May, the toppers will be donated or auctioned to raise funds for environmental charities.

Ben Macpherson holds Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith

LEES, David – Reform UK: 2,746

MACPHERSON, Ben – Scottish National Party (SNP): 13,630

NEVENS, Kate – Scottish Green Party: 10,559

OWEN, Liss – Scottish Liberal Democrats: 1,895

THOMAS, Oliver Philip – Scottish Labour Party: 7,894

YOUNG, Haris – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party: 1,297.

Ben Macpherson (SNP) has been duly elected as Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith constituency with 13,630 votes.

SNP HOLD

Alex Cole-Hamilton returned in Edinburgh North Western

AHMED, Irshad – Scottish Labour Party: 1,879

CAIRNS, Rachel – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party: 1,749

COLE-HAMILTON, Alex – Scottish Liberal Democrats: 22,959

HENRY, David – Scottish Workers Party of Britain: 268

JARDINE, Lyn Ann – Scottish National Party (SNP): 9,943

THOMSON, Davie – Reform UK: 3,342

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Scottish Liberal Democrats) has been duly elected as Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Edinburgh North Western constituency with 22,959 votes.

LIB-DEM HOLD

Scottish Greens win Edinburgh Central

LORNA SLATER WINS HISTORIC VICTORY

MOWAT, Jo – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party: 2,262

MURRAY, Craig John – Alliance to Liberate Scotland: 150

NEILL, Gary – Reform UK: 1,876

POWNALL, Robert Neil – Independent: 41

ROBERTSON, Angus – Scottish National Party (SNP): 7,702

SLATER, Lorna – Scottish Green Party: 12,680

Lorna Jane Slater (Scottish Green Party) has been duly elected as Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Edinburgh Central constituency with 12,680 votes

SCOTTISH GREENS GAIN

Labour holds Edinburgh Southern

ALLISTON PICKARD, Jane Patricia – Scottish Liberal Democrats: 3,334

BROCK, Deidre Leanne – Scottish National Party (SNP): 12,000

JOHNSON, Daniel Guy – Scottish Labour Party: 16,963

MUNRO, Marie-Clair – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party: 3,421

TURNER, Charles – Reform UK: 3,317

WILKINSON, Marc – Edinburgh & East Lothian People: 524

Daniel Guy Johnson (Scottish Labour Party) has been duly elected as Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Edinburgh Southern constituency with 16,963 votes

LABOUR HOLD

Police appeal for information following crash on the A720

Police are appealing for information following a serious crash on the A720 city bypass, Edinburgh. Around 1.10pm on Thursday, 7 May, 2026, we received a report of a crash involving a red, white and blue Honda CBR 1000RR motorcycle near the Hermiston Junction.

Emergency services attended and the 30-year-old male rider was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.

The road was closed to allow enquiries to be carried out and reopened around 2.30pm.

Constable Josh Allan said: “Our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of this crash.

“I am appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash and who hasn’t already spoken to officers to contact us.

“I would also ask anyone who was in the area and saw the motorcycle prior to the crash or who may have dash cam footage which could assist to get in touch.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 1652 of Thursday, 7 May, 2026. 

Lib-Dems win Edinburgh Northern

COWDY, Christopher – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party: 1,900

DIJKSTRA-DOWNIE, Sanne – Scottish Liberal Democrats: 12,972

HYSLOP, Euan – Scottish National Party (SNP): 10,479

KINROSS-O’NEILL, Kayleigh Ferguson – Scottish Green Party: 5,289

MCLAUGHLIN, Andrew – Reform UK: 2,867

MERON, Abu – Scottish Workers Party of Britain: 258

RYAN-SAHA, Eleanor – Scottish Labour Party: 3,744

Sanne Dijkstra-Downie (Scottish Liberal Democrats) has been duly elected as Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Edinburgh Northern constituency with 12,972 votes.

SNP hold Edinburgh South Western

FIRST EDINBURGH RESULT ANNOUNCED

KUMAR, Simita – Scottish National Party (SNP): 11,727

MUNRO, Catriona – Scottish Labour Party: 8,438

ROSE, Cameron – Reform UK: 3,936

WEBBER, Sue – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party: 4,636

WILLIAMSON, Andy – Scottish Liberal Democrats: 3,672

SNP HOLD

Letter: The hidden mental health impact of children’s healthcare

Dear Editor, 

I would like to draw your readers’ attention to a pressing matter. Every day, despite some of the best medical care available in the world via our NHS, children are traumatised in hospital. 

Clinical environments, complex and painful procedures and isolation from friends can all build up to immense levels of stress. The anxiety can be particularly acute for little ones, who find it hard to understand what’s going on. 

Healthcare-related trauma experienced in childhood can lead to the avoidance of medical appointments and delayed diagnosis and treatment. It can also affect access to care in adulthood and have a devastating impact on long-term emotional wellbeing. According to our research, 10% of adults in the UK said their childhood experiences of healthcare had negatively impacted their mental health. 

Another little-known fact is that play can stop this trauma in its tracks. Starlight provides play resources to hospitals and hospices throughout the UK. We also provide support and high quality training to health play specialists and healthcare professionals to help them support children through play.

We have launched an appeal to reach even more children as soon as they need it because play can be the best medicine for babies, children and young people.

Find out how you can help children like nine-year-old Arlo who has a rare genetic condition and has spent weeks in hospital at starlight.org.uk

Sincerely, 

Hannah Mattock, 

Individual Giving Manager, Starlight 

Strachan House Care Home say goodbye and good luck to retiring senior nurse

After 12 years of continuous service at Strachan House care home in Edinburgh, much-loved senior nurse Dawn Sharp has decided to retire.

Dawn had worked for the company since 1995 across many of Barchester’s services before spending her last 12 years at Strachan House. The home couldn’t have been happier to have Dawn with us throughout the years providing a steady hand and a calm approach. 

Staff and residents at the home sent Dawn off in style with flowers, cards and a huge hug of course. Everyone at the home has very fond memories of Dawn and she will be sadly missed. 

During her time at Strachan House Dawn has been a wonderful nurse, someone dependable with Gladys one of the residents saying Dawns wonderful nature was the reason she was her favourite.  

Dawn said: “Strachan House is like a family to me and though I’m looking forward to retirement, I’m really going to miss everyone here so much!”

Fran Fisher General Manager at Strachan House said: “Dawn is one of those people who was born to care for others – she has such a huge heart and was greatly loved by the individuals living at Strachan House Care Home. She was an inspiration to her colleagues and we will all miss her. We wish her all the best!”

Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.