Surprising new career for Leith’s popular parliamentarian
What does a parliamentarian do when it’s time to walk away from front-line politics? Some take up directorships, some retire gracefully to spend more time with their families while others write newspaper columns, memoirs and novels. Continue reading Kirkgate Crusher: “You grunt, I’ll groan”
Thinking of standing in the Holyrood election? Then you’d better get your skates on!
Nominations close today for candidates to stand in next month’s Scottish Parliamentary Election – and papers must be submitted by 4pm.
The Notice of Election was published on 14 March for Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh Eastern, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Edinburgh Pentlands, Edinburgh Southern and Edinburgh Western Constituencies plus the Lothian Region.
In order to stand as a candidate, individuals must submit nomination papers, which are available on the Council website, by Friday, 1 April.
The Scottish Parliamentary Election will take place on Thursday 5 May when people living across Scotland will elect MSPs to represent them at Holyrood.
Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer for Edinburgh and Regional Returning Officer for the Lothian Region, said: “The Notice of Election signifies the official start of the election period. The forthcoming election will enable the city’s residents to have their say, and I would take this opportunity to urge all citizens to use their vote.
“We are keen to continue the enthusiasm demonstrated by voters during the UK Parliamentary Election last year and the Scottish Referendum in 2014, including the 16 and 17-year-olds who will be able to vote for the first time. Anyone unsure about how to register, where to vote or how to vote by post can find more information on the Council website.”
More than 84% of the city’s residents voted in the Scottish Independence Referendum in September 2014, which also saw a record-breaking turnout across the country. At the UK Parliamentary Election in May 2015 turnout in the capital stayed high, at an average of 73% across Edinburgh’s five constituencies.
On 5 May it will be the first time that 16 and 17-year-olds can vote in a Parliamentary election after the Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill was passed last year.
While most people who registered to vote in time for the UK Parliamentary Election will still be eligible to take part in the Scottish Parliament Election in May, first time voters or anyone who has since moved house will need to register again. Continue reading Last call for Holyrood candidates
For an instant injection of summer
Ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes and pots, and it also does very well in borders amongst other ground covering plants. Wherever you place them, their colourful trumpets perform a summer samba that lasts well into the autumn. Continue reading April garden plant of the month: Million Bells (Calibrachoa)
Nature Mother of Invention exhibition at the Botanics
It’s been dubbed ‘the most important plant family you’ve never heard of’ and visitors to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) can discover just how much we have relied upon Sapotaceae for everything from plimsolls and golf balls to intercontinental communication – and continue to exploit it with advancements in skin care and miracle sweeteners.
Even the iconic hornbill bird has a place in Nature Mother of Invention, the major exhibition in the John Hope Gateway.
With an underlying premise that creativity and invention do not flourish in isolation, the exhibition uses Sapotaceae to explore the ongoing fascination for life enhancing – and life-sustaining – products that have influenced the world since Victorian times.
The main vehicle for this fun and informative excursion is the “gutty” or, to be accurate, several pairs of gutties as remembered particularly, if not fondly, by individuals who had the cheap plimsolls forced upon them as young children.
This is an exhibition brimming over with “human” stories to engage all ages, as RBGE tropical botanist and Sapotaceae expert Dr Peter Wilkie explained: “This is a large family of trees and shrubs, first brought to the attention of Europeans in the mid-17thcentury and the latex produced by these plants is a good example of the innovation and – the implications – that come from exploitation (and over exploitation) of nature. The basis of the ‘gutty’ was not the natural rubber of today but gutta-percha, the latex produced by trees of the genus Palaquium, from the family Sapotaceae. Unlike the elastic natural rubber, gutta-percha is malleable when heated and retains its shape when cooled.
“As a result it has been useful for a wealth of objects both ornamental and utilitarian – from the aforementioned plimsoll to dental filler and jewellery. However, probably the greatest impact on the modern world has been as the basis for under-sea telegraph cables laid from 1857 to allow intercontinental telecommunications and, more recently, the internet.
Other members of the Spapotaceae family featuring in the exhibition range from Shea butter from the Vitellaria paradoxa tree to Argan oil from kernels of the argan tree, endemic to Morocco and miracle berry – Synsepalum dulcificum – the fruit that, when eaten, causes sour foods such as lemons and limes to taste sweet. Interactive piece include an invitation to try your hand at Morse code.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) officers have marked the anniversary of the Cheapside Street disaster that claimed the lives of 19 firefighters in Glasgow. Continue reading Firefighters remember colleagues killed in Cheapside Street disaster
Eggstraordinary fun guaranteed at West Pilton Park!
There are still some places available for activities being run by West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre during the Easter holidays:
Friday 1st April
Museum Trip £1.00 per child P4-P7 10.30-2.30pm
Booking required as limited spaces
Monday 4th April
Cooking 50p per child P4-P7 2.00-3.30pm
Tuesday 5th April
Sports & Games 50p per child P4-P7 2.00-3.30pm
Booking required as limited spaces
Wednesday 6th April
Arts & Crafts (45 mins) 50p per child P1-P3 2.00-3.30pm
Dance & games (45 mins)
Have fun colouring, making, playing games, dancing
Thursday 7th April
Spartans Football 50p per child P4-P7 2.00-3.30pm
Football Training & games here at the Centre
Friday 8th April
Trip to Five Sisters Zoo £1 per child P1-P3 10.00-3.00pm
Please call into the Centre to book your place on any of the above activities
Community annexe at High School under threat
Members of Craigroyston Community High School’s Community Centre management committee have e-mailed politicians to seek support to save the school’s community wing. Continue reading Craigroyston Community Centre faces closure – again
Scottish Book Trust launches new writing campaign
Are you ready to ‘fess up? Scottish Book Trust is looking for your secrets and confessions in a brand new writing campaign! Continue reading Share your Secrets and Confessions!
Lynn and Lydia are developing a seven week pilot programme for adults in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre …
The purpose of the new pilot is to give adults a chance to try different activities which we hope we will be able to provide on a more permanent basis after the summer. At this stage we are calling the group Spring Chickens although the group may decide to change it at a later date! Continue reading Calling all spring chickens: roost at Royston Wardieburn!
