Balerno – Page 2 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Dream showhome opened by local rugby stars

Cala Homes launch its latest showhome at The Avenue, Ravelrig Heights, Pictured players from the local Currie Chieftains rugby club, Captain Fergus Scott and Oren Corrigan (P3) and Cala Corrigan (P2)

AN EXPANSIVE new CALA Homes (East) showhome has been officially opened by local rugby stars of the future and present.

The Waverley at Ravelrig Heights in Balerno is a five-bedroom home spanning more than 3726 square feet, including detached self-contained accommodation above garage and large garden.

The showhome, CALA’s largest in the region, is now available for pre-booked viewings after being opened by junior and senior players from Currie Chieftains, based in nearby Malleny Park in Balerno and which the homebuilder has been main sponsor for the last 10 years.

The impressive home is part of The Avenue, a collection of just eight electric gated homes located on an open crescent to the private edge of its successful Ravelrig Heights development.

Fergus Scott, Club captain with the Chieftains attended the opening – and was joined by brother and sister Oren and Cala Corrigan from its thriving junior setup.

He said: “This home is incredible inside and out. It’s a real privilege to be given the role of officially opening a flagship showhome.

“CALA has supported the club for the last decade – a time in which we’ve been able to expand and improve our setup immeasurably, adding junior and women’s teams and attracting players from Balerno, Currie and the wider area.”

Craig Lynes, Managing Director with CALA Homes (East) also attended the launch. He said: “This showhome is a credit to the teams behind it and is the perfect showcase for our brand.

“Inviting the Chieftains down as our VIP guests to open such a special home was an obvious decision for us – owing to the positive impact it has throughout the surrounding community.”

With interiors designed by Eileen Kesson of Envision Design, the focal point of the home is a dramatic split staircase and galleried landing. The showhome is presented with two contrasting downstairs lounges, a vast kitchen and family room – with separate utility room – and a formal dining room downstairs.

Upstairs five spacious double bedrooms (including three en-suite) provide copious storage options. The main bedroom also includes a large dressing area.

Homes on The Avenue at Ravelrig Heights feature an exceptional specification as standard, including underfloor heating, electric gated entrances, and large secluded gardens reaching up to a third of an acre in size.

The location also offers easy access to the city, airport, excellent schooling and surrounding countryside, outside pursuits and walks.

Currie Chieftains was conceived by six rugby enthusiasts who met in a pub in 1970, building its reputation on a 25-year climb from the Edinburgh District League, Division 2 to reach the top-flight Scottish Premiership in the mid-1990s.

To find out more information or express interest in ‘The Avenue’ at Ravelrig Heights, please contact 0131 516 5774 or visit https://www.cala.co.uk/theavenue

Local groups receive awards for Keeping Scotland Beautiful

The efforts of 14 Edinburgh groups have been acknowledged by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful at an online seminar yesterday.

North Edinburgh is well represented among these green-fingered groups, with awards for Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, Fresh Start Growers, Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden, Friends of Lauriston Castle Estate, Friends of Starbank Park and North Edinburgh Arts Gardening Group.

The other capital groups to receive awards are Balerno Village Gardeners, Craigentinny Community Gardening Project, Craigentinny Primary Parent Council, Friends of Morningside Cemetery, Friends of Saughton Park, Inch View Care Home, Inspiring Hillside and Northfield Community Growing Group.

Annually Keep Scotland Beautiful runs two community environmental improvement programmes in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society; the competitive Beautiful Scotland campaign and the It’s Your Neighbourhood initiative.

In total 197 groups, those who would in previous years have been out creating and maintaining community gardens or allotments, looking after habitats for wildlife and adopting streets, have been issued with Certificates of Recognition for the work volunteers and supporters did manage to carry out to brighten up and pull their neighbourhoods together during this year’s health pandemic.

A full list of the 14 groups from Edinburgh can be found in the attached table (below).

Edinburgh-groups Download

Faced with the challenges of 2020, there has never been a more important time to recognise and celebrate the achievements of communities and individuals across Edinburgh.

Throughout lockdown and the following months, groups have worked tirelessly to improve their communities through horticulture, environmental responsibility and working in partnership for the benefit of residents, visitors and our natural environment.

Despite circumstances this year, 47 new entrants were welcomed to the network, and although judging and mentoring visits were not able to take place due to restrictions across Scotland, groups were still supported with online seminars, networking events, question and answer sessions and a weekly e-newsletter.

Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful said, “We know that lockdown resulted in many people reconnecting with green and blue spaces local to them. Yet, it has also been a particularly challenging year for the communities who strive every year to protect and enhance the places they live and work in.

“We have been amazed by the desire of communities, volunteers and local authorities to stay connected, motivated and inspired by each other, all with a steadfast determination to do things to make a difference, even if this had to be done differently this year.

“I’d like to thank all the groups in Edinburgh for the efforts they have made to keep Scotland beautiful this year.”

Although many of the groups had to stop or curtail their planned activities for the year, we have been blown away by what they have managed to achieve – whether that be setting up a food bank, encouraging and supporting others to grow their own, creating virtual garden tours, connecting their members through online catch ups and keeping their neighbourhoods bright and cheerful.