A Skye beauty spot,Loch Coruisk in the Cuillins, has been named as one of the seven natural wonders of the UK according to the Royal Geographical Society in partnership with outdoor brand Merrell.
Mary-Ann Ochota, TV presenter and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) said: “One of the few positives to come out of the pandemic is the opportunity many of us have had to explore the natural wonders on our doorsteps. And hopefully this summer will offer even more chances to explore new places in the UK.
“This list will have a couple of sites that might be familiar, but there’s also likely to be some hidden gems that you might never have heard of. These seven locations are really extraordinary – I think most of us would be amazed to learn that they’re right here in our own country.”
The survey found less than half of Scottish adults have heard of the Skye landmark.
The Skye beauty spot was joined on the list by Wastwater (Lake District), Dovedale (Peak District) (above), the Needles (Isle of Wight), the Jurassic Coast (Dorset), Pistyll Rhaeadr (Wales) and the Giant’s Causeway (Northern Ireland).
More than 1,000 assaults on officers and staff included coronavirus related context during 2020-21, according to latest analysis by Police Scotland.
The 1,087 reports were identified by searching cases for keywords relating to coronavirus such as ‘spit’, ‘cough’ and ‘Covid’.
The figure contributed to a total of 6,942 recorded assaults on officers and staff, 413 more than the year before, an increase of 6.3% year on year.
Reported assaults are also up 18% on the five year average, continuing a long-term trend of increasing assaults against the police.
There were 550 assaults in Edinburgh (E division) with a further 402 in Lothian and Borders (J), but specific Covid-related numbers are unavailable. The highest number of assaults recorded was in Greater Glasgow, where 1577 assaults were recorded, of which 336 were Covid-related.
Deputy Chief Constable, People and Professionalism, Fiona Taylor said: “Officers and staff stepped-forward to help combat the spread of the virus, conducting in excess of 120,000 interactions with members of the public to explain rapidly changing guidance, encourage everyone to do the right thing and enforce the law where required.
“I am grateful to the vast majority of people who responded with remarkable co-operation and support for their police service.
“Officers and staff work with dedication and a commitment to helping people and violence and abuse against them is utterly deplorable and unacceptable. It is not simply part of the job and will not be tolerated.”
Police Scotland has brought additional focus to tackling the concerning issue of violence and abuse against officers and staff under the Your Safety Matters initiative, led by DCC Taylor.
The initiative, in which staff associations and unions are represented, contributed to the development of the Chief Constable’s Assault Pledge, backed by the Lord Advocate and the Cabinet Secretary of Justice.
The pledge was launched in August 2020 and promised to provide appropriate support to colleagues where violence occurs, as well as calling on wider society and the public to support policing.
During the last year, Police Scotland has established an enhanced Operational Safety Training programme which increases the annual refresher course from one day to two days and introduces new techniques and de-escalation tactics.
New guidance for officers and staff has also been published to support better reporting of health and safety incidents and assaults.
DCC Taylor said: “Tackling the concerning trend of increasing assaults on officers and staff is a priority for Police Scotland.
“It causes physical and psychological harm to dedicated public servants. There is also a cost to the public purse through days lost to ill-health or personal injury claims.
“We will continue to work to better understand how we prevent violence and abuse against officers and staff, what impact it has on our colleagues, and how we can better support them to do their job.”
Police Scotland recently asked for public views on armed police officers using Body Worn Video cameras to record certain incidents. Almost 9,000 people took part in that survey and the majority thought the use of BWV would increase trust and confidence in the police and make them feel safer.
This positive response means we will now equip our armed police officers with body worn video cameras this year. In addition, we expect to start a national consultation with the public in the summer about providing BWV cameras to more officers and staff right across Scotland.
We have improved our infrastructure to support more take-up of existing Taser provision and are engaging with partners and elected representatives about plans to increase the numbers of Specially Trained Officers equipped with this important safety kit.
Focus on the critical issue of officer and staff safety will continue in 2021-22 and further details will be released as progress is made.
Edinburgh College Graduate Photography Exhibition to make a welcome return
Edinburgh College HND Photography students will showcase their unique talents in an exhibition culminating their two years of training in Professional photography.
Entry to the exhibition is free of charge and there is no need to book. COVID-19 health and safety will be in place to keep those in attendance safe.
The College’s Photography department has been running its annual exhibition show since the mid-1990s, and this year 70 students from the HND and BA courses will be showing over 150 images covering a variety of genres including photojournalism, documentary, fashion, advertising and the environment.
Unfortunately, last year all end of year shows had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, and so students who graduated then were not able to show their work. Now they will have the opportunity to show it by exhibiting alongside this year’s HND students.
The exhibition will be a celebration of Scottish Photography and the achievements of Edinburgh College students and it will be biggest student graduate photography show held in the country.
The youngest of this year’s exhibition cohort, George Norris, is 19 years of age, while the eldest, Lorna Fleming, is 67, with all ages represented in-between. The HND is a practical course which encourages students to work on live client briefs to strict deadlines, so preparing them for the world of work.
Graham McGirk HND Photography course leader said: “Having this platform to physically show their work is a big deal, after students have worked under such incredibly difficult circumstances over the last 18 months.
“This is the first step back to normality and we’re really looking forward to seeing the work hanging up at the Drill Hall and hope people will enjoy coming to see it.”
Jon Lee BA Photography course leader said: “The quality of work this year has been outstanding and we’re confident this show will be our best yet.
“It will be a superb showcase for our students and we look forward to seeing them flourish in their future careers.”
HND student Lorna Fleming, 67, from near Kelso said, “Completing the HND in Photography has proved to me that it is indeed true that you are never too old to learn.
“Photography has changed since I was a junior member of my local camera club aged 16 and at times I have struggled with technology but being part of a wide age range has been a brilliant experience.”
HND student George Norris, 19, from Musselburgh, said: “It’s been difficult with the challenges covid has brought, but I’m really proud of my achievements and I’m feeling positive about the future. I hope to take my education further in photography by entering the BA degree course.”
The BA degree in Professional Photography is unique in Scotland as it is accredited by the British Institute of Professional Photography as well as endorsed by the Association of Photographers.
More information and updates on the Exposed 21 exhibition can be found on Facebook.
The College’s annual Glow Festival, taking place from 7-18 June, will also feature work from across all of the creative courses run by Edinburgh College when it goes live on 7 June.
7N Architects are delighted that our proposals for Edinburgh City Council’s flagship regeneration project at Fountainbridge have taken another major step forward with Cruden Homes and Buccleuch Property confirmed as preferred developers for the site.
The project will deliver a vibrant, liveable, neighbourhood that will reinvigorate the canalside and will include new affordable and private homes, commercial, social enterprise and community spaces alongside a new 1,000 sq ft office building for early-stage tech companies to ‘scale up’.
It’s been a long road since the community workshops that we facilitated in 2013, but we are excited that the original community vision will now be delivered.
2. Follow the instructions on our website to send a letter to S1 Developments and tell them what you think of the development directly. Make yourself heard!
A VERY HIGH risk of wildfire is in place across all parts of Scotland until Tuesday 1 June, the country’s fire and rescue service has warned.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS)has urged people who live within or who may enter rural environments to exercise caution.
The ‘very high’ warning –released in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF) – remains in place from Sunday 31 May until Tuesday 1 June.
Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife; and threaten the welfare of nearby communities.
Area Commander Bruce Farquharson, the SFRS Wildfire Lead, said: “We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame.
“Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage.
“Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires – as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities.
“These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.”
Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments, and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.”
The competition is now live and applications are encouraged from towns and cities across the UK
Winner will have baton passed to them from Coventry – UK City of Culture 2021
UK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has today launched the competition to find the UK’s next City of Culture.
The competition, delivered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in collaboration with the devolved administrations, will use culture as a catalyst for levelling up areas outside London and put culture at the heart of their plans to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
The new winner will take on the baton from Coventry and be at the centre of the UK’s cultural spotlight for a year.
For the first time, groups of towns will now be able to join together and apply for the title to be awarded to their local area – widening the scope of which areas of the country could benefit.
Towns and cities will need to articulate a strong and unique vision for their future growth, celebrating local heritage and using culture to bring communities together, build a sense of place and inspire local pride.
Bidders will also be asked to demonstrate how investment in culture and creativity will drive growth, how they will open up access to culture and to develop partnerships and celebrate links with places across the UK.
UK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “UK City of Culture is a fantastic showcase of the huge impact culture has in towns and cities across the country. From Derry-Londonderry, to Hull and Coventry, previous winners have shown how the competition can deliver greater cultural participation, drive economic regeneration and boost local pride.
“I encourage towns and cities across the UK to put forward bids for 2025 and champion their local arts and culture scene. I’m also delighted to confirm the competition will run in future years, as a sign of our commitment to levelling up culture across the whole of the UK.
Scottish Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “I encourage Scottish towns and cities to take this opportunity to celebrate their local culture and consider bidding to be UK City of Culture in 2025.
“The competition can have a transformational impact on host communities and has the potential to bring a major boost to Scotland as we look ahead to the recovery and renewal of the culture sector.
UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said: “The UK City of Culture competition offers a wonderful opportunity for the winning city to make its mark on the UK’s cultural landscape.
“Through raising a city’s creative and cultural profile and drawing in visitors, winning this prestigious title can also provide a real social and economic boost.
“It would be brilliant to bring the prize to Scotland for the first time and I’d strongly urge Scottish towns and cities to get involved.”
The future for the competition has also been confirmed, with Oliver Dowden announcing today that UK City of Culture will become a regular event in the country’s cultural calendar – running in 2029 and beyond.
The first city to take up the mantle was Derry-Londonderry in 2013, followed by Hull in 2017. The City of Culture title attracted millions of visitors and drew in significant investments for both cities. The cultural programmes have had a lasting positive impact on local people, with surveys showing that communities felt prouder and more positive about the place they live after their City of Culture year.
Bidding for the title in its own right can have a hugely positive impact on a place – helping to bring partners together and develop strategic cultural leadership. To encourage as many places as possible across the UK to bid and to benefit from the UK City of Culture process, DCMS will offer funding of up to £40,000 to up to six longlisted places to help develop their applications.
Coventry City of Culture 2021 is already providing a blueprint for how culture can be at the heart of social and economic recovery.
It is expected that Coventry’s status as UK City of Culture will see a significant boost in visitor numbers and economic investment with over £110 million in additional investment secured over the 2018-22 period. The programme aims to attract around 5,000 volunteers and create more than 900 jobs.
The bids for the 2025 title will be assessed by an independent panel chaired by Sir Phil Redmond. He is joined this year by Claire McColgan, Director of Culture Liverpool, as Deputy Chair.
The panel of 11 members will include representatives for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. It will visit each of the shortlisted cities, to be announced later this year, before each city or town makes a final pitch to become the next UK City of Culture.
The formal application process for the 2025 competition is now open. The winning city or town will be announced in Spring 2022. Prospective bidders will be invited to join a two day workshop in Coventry which will provide further detailed information and advice on the bidding process.
Sir Phil Redmond, UK City of Culture Chair, said: “I am delighted with the announcement of the competition for 2025, with its expected continuance as a regular feature in our cultural calendar.
“The UK City of Culture years provide the UK with an opportunity to project its creativity to the world while providing cities the opportunity to revaluate their place in the UK, to come together, forge stronger partnerships and reset both internal and external perceptions as Derry-Londonderry 2013, Hull 2017 and currently Coventry 2021 are experiencing.
“It is the excuse for people to talk to each other, rather than at each other.
Martin Sutherland, Chief Executive of Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “The impact that winning the UK City of Culture title has on a city is huge.
“Over the last four years in Coventry, we have seen significant investment come into the city as a direct result of being UK City of Culture 2021, leading to an ambitious reimagining of the city’s public realm and cultural infrastructure as well as supporting the extraordinary artists, freelancers, cultural organisations and charities that make this youthful and diverse city so exciting.
“Our year as UK City of Culture has just begun, but we can already sense the long-lasting impact on the city, its business and its communities. We wish the best of luck to those cities, towns and regions who are competing for the 2025 title.”
Takeaway food is often cheap, convenient and tasty, but it also tends to be high in fat, salt and sugar. Regularly consuming takeaways can have a negative impact on your heart health and your waistline. Swapping your usual takeaway for a healthier option may be a good way to cut down on fat, salt and sugar.
Heart Research UK has some tips for choosing healthier takeaways:
Find a food outlet with healthy options
Choose a food outlet that provides healthy options on their menu. Some food outlets list calories on their menus to help you to make healthier choices.
Choose wisely from the menu
Avoid deep fried foods, such fried chicken and chips. Swap large deep-pan pizzas for smaller pizzas with low fat toppings and avoid stuffed crust pizzas.
Avoid ordering too much food
Instead of ordering starters, mains, sides and desserts, why not just order a main course and finish off with some fruit and yoghurt. If you order too much, why not share it or freeze a portion.
Make a healthy ‘Fakeaway’ at home
Cook healthier versions of your favourite takeaway dishes at home using online recipes. Try swapping side dishes, such as chips, naan bread or fried rice for home-cooked brown rice or wholemeal pitta bread.
Think about what you drink
Rather than drinking sugary or alcoholic drinks with your takeaway, try drinking low calorie drinks, such as sugar-free squash or water instead. This can reduce your calorie intake as well as the cost.
Police Scotland has released an image of a female they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries in relation to a racial incident which occurred near to Ibrox Stadium on Saturday 15 May 2021.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police via telephone number 101 quoting incident number 1048 of Saturday 15 May 2021.
Anyone sending information can choose to remain anonymous.
Alternatively you can contact CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
Police have released CCTV images of seventeen people they believe may be able to assist with enquiries. Anyone with information is asked to contact Police via telephone number 101 quoting incident number 1048 of Saturday 15 May 2021.
Officers investigating the disorder at George Square have made another two arrests. Two men, aged 34 and 44, have been arrested and charged in relation to the disorder and have been released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date.
Detective Inspector Craig Warren, who is leading the investigation, said: “These arrests are just the beginning and the public can be confident we are doing everything possible to identify those responsible for the violence and disorder that took place.
“This will take time due to the numbers involved but rest assured, if you were involved in causing this disorder, violence or anti-social behaviour you will be arrested.
“We are continuing to review CCTV, video and still images and I would appeal to anyone who may have captured incidents on their mobiles to please get in touch with us. You may have footage that could help us in our investigation and it’s vital we speak with you.
“The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) is available for the public to send any information, photographs or images directly to the investigation team.
“There has been footage circulating on social media covering the events in George Square. If you recognise people involved in these acts of violence and disorder, please let us know. You can contact 101 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Irreverent video with TikTok creator Jarad Rowan launches ahead of busy camping season
Ramblers Scotland has today launched a new short film featuring Scottish TikTok star Jarad Rowan, aimed at encouraging responsible wild camping in Scotland.
Jarad, known as @LittlestChicken to his hundreds of thousands of social media followers, discovers five ‘Rules of Wild Camping’ during a trip to Borders Forest Trust’s scenic Corehead estate near Moffat.
The light-hearted video – supported by NatureScot and John Muir Trust – shows Jarad learning where to camp, what to pack, where to go to the toilet outdoors, how to leave no trace and the importance of using stoves rather than lighting fires.
Jarad, aged 21 from Stranraer, said: “This was such a great project to be involved in and I had the best time filming! It was also really cool to be shooting in Dumfries & Galloway. There are some lovely spots here in Scotland. I’m wondering does this make me an icon in the world of wild camping now?!”
The film has been planned by Ramblers Scotland alongside a team of young adults – the target audience – who have completed Ramblers Scotland’s Out There Award, which helps 18 to 26-year-olds kick-start their journeys into the outdoors.
Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy said: “Scotland has world-class landscapes for everyone to explore. Getting more people active outdoors more often will help make Scotland a happier and healthier nation.
“It can also provide valuable income for rural communities and help more people feel inspired to protect the places where we all love to walk.
“The challenge we now face is making sure that the welcome increase in people getting outdoors is backed by the support needed to ensure people have the knowledge and opportunities to enjoy the experience responsibly.
“I hope our new film will support people – especially beginners – to plan fun, responsible nights out under the stars.”
Ramblers Scotland and partners have launched the video ahead of what is expected to be a hugely busy summer for Scotland’s outdoors, particularly as many festivals, indoor parties and overseas travel remain off limits.
In fact, a recent study by the David Hume Institute (DHI) showed 36% of people in Scotland spent more time outside in nature last year than before – with 58% intending to spend more time outside in future.
It will be shown across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Twitter and TikTok throughout the summer.
Viewers are linked to a detailed new webpage at ramblers.org.uk/wildcamp that helps beginners plan safe and fun wild camps in Scotland.
The video campaign is part of a wider programme of visitor management activities led by VisitScotland and Scottish Government with public, charity and private partners.
Together the partnership aims to deliver not just communication and education activities about enjoying the outdoors responsibly but also to address issues related to infrastructure and to co-ordinate direct engagement with visitors to prevent problems arising.
Last year, antisocial and irresponsible behaviour by a small minority of visitors in some popular locations caused real issues for the environment, local people, and other visitors. This summer is expected to be even busier, so it is vital that people act responsibly.
The film was produced by Edinburgh-based video agency Heehaw.
