Celebrate International Yoga Day at North Edinburgh Arts

International Yoga Day at North Edinburgh Arts 

Friday, 21 June 3.45pm – 9pm

Join Stephanie, Anna and Kizer for a day of midsummer yoga and meditation.

Limited spaces so please book in advance by emailing admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk or by calling 0131 315 2151

Cost: By donation

Biodiversity funding for The Wild Line

Four projects from across the country have been confirmed as the first recipients of Scottish Natural Heritage’s Biodiversity Challenge Fund, sharing a total of £1.8 million over a two-year period.  One of them is The Wild Line, centred on a strip of Edinburgh’s coastline.

The projects will take practical steps to improve natural habitats, safeguard plant and animal species and improve biodiversity.

Biodiversity is all the different types of animals, plants and other organisms in our natural world. People know that climate change is a big issue but not as many know that nature – and biodiversity loss – is also a global and generational threat to human well-being. However, enhancing our nature is also recognised as being part of the solution to the climate emergency.

The funding will support large-scale projects that aim to deliver rapid change on the ground to help our most at-risk habitats and species, including mammals and birds, connect existing nature reserves and tackle non-native invasive species.

Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon visited a newly funded project – The Wild Line – in Edinburgh. The Wild Line is a strip of wilderness that edges the land and the sea which has become increasingly narrow due to urban development.

To boost nature and resilience to climate change, a network of species rich wildflower meadows to provide habitats for pollinators will be created. On shore retrofitting artificial habitats will enhance sea defences and protect people and nature against sea level rises providing homes for intertidal species, and invasive species, which outcompete native ones, will be removed.

Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment Mairi Gougeon said: “I am delighted that, through the Biodiversity Challenge Fund, the Scottish Government and SNH can support these fantastic projects across the country to safeguard some of our most vulnerable species and habitats, and protect them from invasive species.

Their success will play a crucial role in our efforts to improve nature and help Scotland meet its international biodiversity commitments.”

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Shoreline Project said: “We are absolutely thrilled to announce the latest strand to the Edinburgh Shoreline project: ‘The Wild Line’. Funding from the Biodiversity Challenge Fund will enable us to work with incredible partners to deliver habitat creation & improvement for pollinators, rocky shore invertebrates & sea birds.

“Our fantastic delivery partners are the Scottish Seabird Centre, City of Edinburgh Council, University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow. Huge thanks to Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon for coming down to meet us at Cramond to hear more about the project. We’re looking forward to a busy year!

SNH Chief Executive Francesca  Osowska said: “Nature loss is one of the key drivers of climate change – but it’s not too late to act. In fact, improving nature is also one of the solutions to the climate emergency.

“There are five areas we need to focus on to improve biodiversity – restoring our habitats, changing our use of the land and sea, reducing pollution and climate change and tackling invasive non-native species. These projects will improve nature across Scotland for all our benefit.

“We know we have a big task before us but we have been working for years with our partners to meet international nature targets. We are ready to deliver the transformational change needed to bring a nature rich future for Scotland.”

 

Jings! HRH Princess Beatrice of York to launch Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail

Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York, Patron of the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, will officially launch Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail in Edinburgh today.  Continue reading Jings! HRH Princess Beatrice of York to launch Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail

Celebrating Project SEARCH

Congratulations to the 22 young interns aged 16-29 who graduated from the Edinburgh Project SEARCH programme this week.

Project SEARCH graduates

Each intern has successfully completed nine months of work experience at the City of Edinburgh Council or NHS Lothian to improve their employability and skills confidence. Project SEARCH is a transition programme for individuals aged 16-29 years who have additional needs when they are beginning new careers.  Continue reading Celebrating Project SEARCH

“A Living Hell”: the tragic life and death of Margaret Fleming

Two carers have been convicted of murdering a 19-year-old woman whose death they covered up for 20 years. The body of Margaret Fleming, who had learning difficulties, has never been found. Continue reading “A Living Hell”: the tragic life and death of Margaret Fleming

Citizens Assembly to help shape Scotland’s future

First step to set up new Assembly to help shape Scotland’s future.

The process of establishing the new Citizens’ Assembly to explore some of the major challenges facing Scotland has begun.

A contractor is being sought to randomly select 120 members of the public to serve on the Assembly. The individuals will be broadly representative of Scotland’s adult population in terms of age, gender, socio-economic class, ethnic group, geography and political attitudes.

The Assembly will consider three broad issues:

* what kind of country should be

* how can Scotland best overcome challenges, including those arising from Brexit

* what further work is required to enable people to make informed choices about the future of Scotland

Constitutional Relations Secretary Michael Russell said: “This is the first time a Citizens’ Assembly has been used in Scotland and will bring together a wide range of ordinary people from across our country in a genuine attempt to reach consensus on the issues that we face. Similar models have been used successfully in countries including Ireland, Canada, Australia and Poland.

“It is a bold idea and one I hope everyone, whatever their political view, can embrace. I believe we all want the best for Scotland and if we have learnt anything from Brexit it is the need to make space for people to engage with information and to exchange different views.”

The Citizens’ Assembly is one strand of the Scottish Government’s three pronged approach to chart a distinctive course for Scotland. The others are the establishment of a legal framework providing the option for a referendum and cross-party talks to identify areas of agreement on constitutional change.

The Scottish Government’s approach is based on lessons learned from a range of Citizens’ Assembly initiatives.

Members will be identified by early September, with the Assembly meeting on six weekends between the autumn and Spring 2020.

Assembly members will receive a gift of thanks of £200 per weekend to recognise their time and contribution. Travel, accommodation and other reasonable costs, such as child care, will also be covered.

MSPs, MPs, MEPs, councillors and members of the House of Lords, political party staff, public appointees and senior public and civil servants will be ineligible to sit on the Assembly, as will representatives and officials of relevant advocacy groups.

An announcement on the convenership of the Assembly will be made by Constitutional Secretary Michael Russell shortly.