There are loads of exciting, fun and FREE actvities for the whole family to enjoy this weekend. As well as the Craft giveaway at The Botanics (see previous post), don’t forget this is Doors Open weekend in Edinburgh (visit the website for a list of all attractions at www.cockburnassociation.org.uk
And of course there’s also Septemberfest, Broughton High School’s autumn extravaganza – see their Facebook for a full list of what’s going on on Saturday down at East Fettes Avenue.
Edinburgh-based People’s Postcode Lottery today announced the launch of the Dream Fund, a £400,000 funding pot that encourages charities and organisations across the country to work together to secure vital funding.
The Dream Fund is an awards programme which offers financial support for groups looking to work together to realise the project of their ‘dreams’. Made possible only by the ongoing support of People’s Postcode Lottery players, this new funding round will mark the Fund’s third year and a collective total of £1 million invested in innovative projects all across Scotland.
This year, Trustees chose to increase the funding pot available for the applying charities and projects by an additional £100,000, so that it can also help tackle youth unemployment. With unemployment rates for young people (aged 16-24) in Scotland hitting 22.9%, 1.6% higher than the rest of the UK*, it has never been more important to invest in projects that increase the life opportunities of the long-term unemployed.
Clara Govier, Head of Charities People’s Postcode Lottery, said, “We are opening the fund again today with the existing three categories; encouraging active living, bringing communities together and tackling climate change.
“However, this year in response to the continuing bleak economic outlook and the declining number of opportunities available for young people, we have decided to increase the support available to £400,000 to specifically help expand life opportunities available for our young people.”
The Trust is encouraging all charities and organisations to apply for up to £100,000 and join the list of projects that have already received support from the Dream Fund. Previous winners include Alzheimer Scotland and The Scottish Football Association Museum Trust, who together were awarded over £75,000 through the programme last year to run a Football Memories Project across the country.
Alistair Fergusson, Development Co-ordinator, Alzheimer Scotland said, “The support from the Dream Fund has just been invaluable. It has enabled us to achieve so much more than we had ever expected, we’ve been able to reach out and help groups that this time last year we simply wouldn’t of thought possible. We would really encourage all eligible organisations to apply to fulfil their organisations dreams too.”
Full application information, including eligibility criteria, can be found at www.postcodetrust.org.uk. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 31 October.
Pictures: Alzheimer Scotland’s Alitair Fergusson with three year old Izzie Berry tie ‘dream tags’ to a tree in the Botanic Gardens
Come to the Botanics on Sunday 19 August for a special day to celebrate the launch of the new Disney Pixar movie Brave.
Highlights include:
Pick up a bow and arrow and try your hand at archery (suitable for adults and children 7+) from 11am until 3pm. Children will be safely introduced to the basics with light fibreglass bows, guided by qualified archery leader Rusty Bodkins www.archery4kids.co.uk, in medieval dress. Cost £2 for 8 arrows.
Enjoy Tales of the Forest at storytelling sessions for children over four years old in the John Hope Gateway between 2pm and 3.30pm. Free entry.
Follow the new Tree Trail which highlights the Botanics’ magnificent and historic tree collection. Leaflets are available from the Visitor Welcome Desk in the John Hope Gateway.
Take advantage of a special discount on Tales from the Forest by Ian Edwards – a wonderful book of folk tales which encapsulate man’s essential relationship with trees, accompanied with beautiful black and white ink drawings by Edinburgh-based illustrator Eri Griffin. On offer at £4.50 in the Botanics Shop (normal price £6).
The Botanic Gardens is to receive £1.5 million to replace ageing glasshouses, Finance Secretary John Swinney announced today. The money is part of a £26 million investment package of which will lead to a greener Scotland.
The money supports renewable energy and low-carbon projects, as well as projects which will help people enjoy Natural Scotland, and comes as part of an overall £105 million package of economic stimulus announced by Mr Swinney last month.
The Scottish Government has repeatedly called on the UK Government to provide resources for capital investment in order to support economic recovery. The projects funded can be taken forward quickly and will support jobs and investment.
The £26 million will go to the following projects which will support Scotland’s environment:
Finance Secretary John Swinney said: “Scotland’s astounding natural resources are recognised throughout the world, and I am pleased that this funding will support a suite of projects which will help us to take proper advantage of these resources to deliver economic growth for the Scottish people.
“Careful stewardship of Scotland’s resources has allowed us both to identify funding for these capital projects, and to ensure that Scotland’s environment will continue to be an economic and natural asset to be enjoyed for generations to come. The funding for renewable energy and low-carbon projects will help us to capitalise on our world-leading expertise in this area to support jobs and attract further investment. And as we look ahead to next year’s Year of Natural Scotland we will support a number of projects in our National Parks and through the Forestry Commission and Botanic Gardens which will enhance facilities for visitors.”
The FOOD for THOUGHT FORUM, in association with Pilton Community Health Project and Barri Grubb, has highlighted a feast of free food events across the Forth area over the summer holidays. How’s this top ten for tempting treats?:
Saturday 7 July 11 – 2pm
West Pilton Community Garden & Planting Day
West Pilton Place, next to Pilton Youth & Children’s Project Greenhouse – all welcome, just turn up!
Tuesday 10 July 10am – 12 noon
Craigroyston Cookery
Craigroyston High School, Pennywell Road – phone to book on 538 7285 or 477 7801.
Thursday 12 July 1 – 3.30pm
PEP Summer Fayre
West Pilton Park – all welcome, just turn up!
Tuesday 17 July 10am – 12 noon
Craigroyston Cookery
Craigroyston High Schoo, Pennywell Road – phone 538 7285 or 477 7801 to book.
Thursday 19 July 11am – 1pm
Spanish Cooking at Barri Grubb
Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway – To book your place call 551 1671.
Tuesday 24 July, 11am – 1pm
Fabby Food Store Picnic and Barbecue
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre – just turn up!
Tuesday 24 July 11am – 1pm
Simple Snacks at Millennium Centre Summer Youth Club
Muirhouse Millennium Centre, Muirhouse Medway – call 467 3578 to book.
Wednesday 1 August 12.30 – 4pm
Trip to the Botanics’ Edible Garden
Bus leaves The Haven Project, Craigroyston Primary School. To book, call 551 1671.
Saturday 4 August 1 – 4pm
Granton Community Gardens Barbecue
Corner of Boswall Parkway and Wardieburn Road – just turn up!
Wednesday 8 August 11.30 – 3.30pm
Trip to Craigies Farm
Bus leaves PCHP, Boswall Parkway. Phone to book on 551 1671.
The FOOD for THOUGHT FORUM, in association with Pilton Community Health Project and Barri Grubb, has highlighted a feast of free food events across the Forth area over the summer holidays. How’s this top ten for tempting treats?:
Saturday 7 July 11 – 2pm
West Pilton Community Garden & Planting Day
West Pilton Place, next to Pilton Youth & Children’s Project Greenhouse – all welcome, just turn up!
Tuesday 10 July 10am – 12 noon
Craigroyston Cookery
Craigroyston High School, Pennywell Road – phone to book on 538 7285 or 477 7801.
Thursday 12 July 1 – 3.30pm
PEP Summer Fayre
West Pilton Park – all welcome, just turn up!
Tuesday 17 July 10am – 12 noon
Craigroyston Cookery
Craigroyston High Schoo, Pennywell Road – phone 538 7285 or 477 7801 to book.
Thursday 19 July 11am – 1pm
Spanish Cooking at Barri Grubb
Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway – To book your place call 551 1671.
Tuesday 24 July, 11am – 1pm
Fabby Food Store Picnic and Barbecue
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre – just turn up!
Tuesday 24 July 11am – 1pm
Simple Snacks at Millennium Centre Summer Youth Club
Muirhouse Millennium Centre, Muirhouse Medway – call 467 3578 to book.
Wednesday 1 August 12.30 – 4pm
Trip to the Botanics’ Edible Garden
Bus leaves The Haven Project, Craigroyston Primary School. To book, call 551 1671.
Saturday 4 August 1 – 4pm
Granton Community Gardens Barbecue
Corner of Boswall Parkway and Wardieburn Road – just turn up!
Wednesday 8 August 11.30 – 3.30pm
Trip to Craigies Farm
Bus leaves PCHP, Boswall Parkway. Phone to book on 551 1671.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is holding a plant sale at their nursery in Inverleith Avenue South (off Inverleith Place) this Sunday (13 May) from 2 – 4pm. Entry is £3, free to RBGE members.
THE Royal Botanic Garden is today counting the cost of this week’s storm after the gales toppled more than 40 trees and smashed hundreds of windows.
The visitor attraction has been left reeling after hurricane-force winds lashed the Inverleith site, with a number of the trees blown down dating back 125 years.
Among the most valuable is the ailanthus altissima – also known as the Tree of Heaven – which was torn from its roots by 100mph winds.
Curators at the Botanics hope they can propagate the rare Chinese tree – brought to Scotland in 1925 by the collector Joseph Rock – along with other rare varieties struck down by the winds.
Many were uprooted or snapped off at ground level, damaging smaller trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants around and beneath them as they fell.
The public glasshouses and research houses also suffered severe damage, leaving plants exposed to the elements, with 400 panes of glass in all smashed.
David Knott, curator of the living collections said “I have never experienced storm damage at RBGE like this before. We will attempt to propagate the wild origin trees that have come down.”
It comes as property experts at the city council continue to survey the damage caused by the high winds at 110 city sites.
Insurance industry sources said many individual claims for damage to roofing or building fabric could total tens of thousands of pounds.
At Edinburgh Airport, a Jet2 cargo plane is being repaired after being struck by a flying bus shelter.
Scottish Power said around 600-700 homes across Edinburgh and the Lothians were still without power, with extra engineers drafted in from down south to help fix the faults.
A spokeswoman said they had received the same number of faults in a single day as they would normally in three months.
Forecaster for the Met Office Dave Clark said gusts reaching around 50mph would return to the Lothians on Sunday.
Kirkliston Leisure Centre will be closed for the foreseeable future until a new roof can be installed and the climbing centre at Ratho was closed after its roof was damaged, and later partly reopened. Leith Waterworld, which was closed due to storm damage, will reopen for its final weekend.
STAFF at Edinburgh’s world-famous Royal Botanic Garden have been left red-faced after the horticultural event of the decade fell flat.
The institution has been waiting eight years for its giant “corpse flower” to bloom and confidently predicted the event would happen this summer – the first time ever in Scotland.
So sure were staff, they printed T-shirts and set up a webcam, and even prepared to borrow a thermal imaging camera from the fire brigade to monitor the flower at night.
But all the 154kg monster produced was a giant, spindly leaf.
It is hoped that the plant will flower next time around which will be around March 2013.
Source: Edinburgh Evening News
