community activism – Page 3 – The NEN

Tierney Award for Susan – Leader of the Pack!

Susan Jeffrey received Drylaw’s Thomas Tierney Award for Good Citizenship at a packed Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre last night. Susan was joined by friends, family and colleagues at a reception organised to mark the annual award that celebrates our unsung local heroes (writes Dave Pickering).

Susan was the unanimous choice of Drylaw Telford community members for her incredible contribution as a volunteer with the Brownies at Drylaw Parish Church – Susan has been with the pack on a Monday evening for thirty years!

Presenting the award, Councillor Lesley Hinds said: “It’s really nice to see such a big crowd here tonight and it’s particularly good that Mrs Tierney has joined us once again.

“The community council received four every strong nominations this year ans it says a lot that Susan was the unanimous choice of the community council for her thirty years service with the local Brownie Pack, but also in recognition of her work as a fundraiser with Drylaw Church, where she chaired the fundraising committee.

“Presenting the award gives me particular satisfaction this year as I am an ambassador for the local Girl Guiding movement and I know just what a difference people like Susan can make to young people’s lives. I wonder just how many girls and young women have been influenced in a positive way over those thirty years? Susan has been described as a ‘warm, caring person’ and while she may be quiet and reserved she has made a great contribution to community life here in Drylaw.”

Susan said: “I would like to thank everyone – my friends and family – who have helped and supported me. I don’t know if I will manage another thirty years but we will see how things go!”

Speaking after the presentation Guide Leader Elizabeth Martin, ex-Commissioner of Raeburn Division (which covers Pennywell District, of which Drylaw is part) said: “It was an honour for me to present Susan with her 30 year knot at 170th ‘B’ Brownies in January, my final role as Division Commissioner for Girlguiding Raeburn.

“Susan has seen many girls go through Brownies and some have even become leaders within Girlguiding and Scouting. She always encourages the girls to do their best along with encouraging the volunteers she has had over the years to take a full part in the unit. Susan runs a very full programme of activities for the girls and plans the unit meetings with her other leaders. Congratulations, Susan on your Award.”

If you’d like more information about Girlguiding – perhaps your daughter is interested in joining or you’d like to find out about volunteering with the organisation, visit www.girlguiding.org.uk

Susan is the fifteenth recipient of the annual award – and the women have forged into a clear lead! The tally now stands at 9-6 in the girl’s favour, so come on Drylaw boys – get out and support your community!

Thomas Tierney Award for Good Citizenship Award Winners:

2000 Harry MacDonald

2001 David Pickering

2002 Anna Aitken

2003 Alexander Sandilands

2004 Emma Robertson

2005 Florence Atkinson

2006 Evelyn Crawford

2007 Jackie Brown

2008 Eileen Outterson

2009 Margaret Robinson

2010 Henry MacDonald

2011 Ian Moore

2012 Alex Dale

2013 Mhairi Curren

2014 Susan Jeffrey

More pictures from last night’s event:

Dave Pickering

On film: Oor Wullie and the great Pilton clean up!

This video of last month’s community clean up event in Pilton was made by Alex Godlewski for the Action for Pilton community group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDyTdOY8A0w (Preview)

You can find more about the group and what they are doing by visiting:

www.actionforpilton.org.uk

MORE Power to the People!

New session starts today at Royston Wardieburn

Discovering North Edinburgh’s Early History
30 September – 16 December

Power to the People is a group for adults who are interested in Scottish history, politics, arts and current affairs. Over the last two years we have been learning about Scotland’s history and the struggles of ordinary people through studying Scottish poetry, music, paintings, literature and films. We have also been trying to get to grips with many of the important issues concerning the Scottish Referendum (see our open letter, below).

P2TP – dear citizens of scotland

This term we will be exploring North Edinburgh’s early history and how this is linked to important social, economic and political events in Scotland through the centuries. The programme for this term will include:

• Speakers on specific topics relating to the early history of North Edinburgh and Edinburgh generally
• Visits to the National Museum of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland, RCAHMS)
• Workshops (using IT to access digital archive material)
• Films on Edinburgh’s early history

Material and resources uncovered during this term will contribute to the development of The Great North Edinburgh Tapestry, an exciting new project which will document the history of this area and the story of all the people who have settled here.

The Power to the People group is friendly, informal, fun and free. No qualifications or knowledge of history are required. New members are always welcome.

If you require more information about the course or require a creche contact Lynn McCabe, Community Learning and Development worker on 552 5700 (Tuesday – Thursday) or email on lynn.mccabe@ea.edin.sch.uk

See below for an article about the group:

PowertothepeopleStanistreet 2012

Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden invite

Deadline looms for historic local treasure

The Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden group is holding an informal ‘meet and eat’ event at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Tuesday (9 September) at 3pm.

Organiser Kirsty Sutherland said: “It is really important folk know what’s happening before the 3rd October as that is the last date anything can be done to change local development plans. Our local community council agreed with our aims and will write a letter of support for our group, but we hope more people will get involved to help save this precious community asset.”

For further information see the group’s Facebook page.

Campaigners cross over road traffic issues

Groups unite to demand improved cycling and pedestrian crossings over Queensferry and Hillhouse Roads

Community Councils and Parent Council reps have joined forces to campaign for local road safety improvements. Craigleith Blackhall and Drumbrae Community Councils, Blackhall Primary and Royal High School Parent Councils are calling for action to make routes to schools safer and improved crossings on Queensferry and Hillhouse Roads.

Residents have reported particular problems when trying to cross those two busy roads: from having to walk too far to find a crossing, to avoiding dangerous speeding traffic or finding somewhere suitable for a bike to cross.

These and other related traffic issues are frequently raised at both Community Council and Parent Council meetings, so the community representatives have united to address residents’ concerns – they’re currently working together to look at specific problem areas and identify what practical improvements can be made.

Mary Duff is one resident who has expressed concerns over traffic and would like to see improvements to road safety. “”As a parent of a new S1 student who would like to cycle to the Royal High School, can I ask that a new, safe cycle crossing is created in Blackhall to link the residential area to the cycle paths?” she said.

“My son currently has to cross four lanes of traffic to get to the cycle path. Hence he doesn’t take his bike as I feel it is unsafe. The only other option he has is to cycle down the pavement along Hillhouse Road, cross at a busy junction with lots of parked cars (at the Blackhall dip) and cross at the pedestrian crossing … avoiding pedestrians some of the time!”

Craigleith and Blackhall community councillor Neil Watt has also had a nasty incident on busy local roads. He said: “I had a really scary experience crossing the road to Davidson’s Mains Park with my son Owen on the back of the bike – we nearly got hit by a transit turning right jumping the lights.

“I just can’t believe how dangerous and unpleasant it is to cross Hillhouse/Queensferry Road whether you’re on a bike or on foot, and the traffic’s only getting worse. I have a new job in the city centre and want to commute on the bike more, but it’s really tricky hooking up with the cycle network when you live in Blackhall or Clermiston.”

The campaigners aim to ensure their communities benefit from the safest routes to school, that it’s easy and pleasant to walk and cycle to get around, public amenities and businesses are well connected and that residents are helped to do what we they can to reduce pollution.

A spokesperson for the group said: “At the moment, we’re focussing on finding a suitable spot for a new cycle-friendly pedestrian crossing between the Blackhall dip and St Columba’s Church, and seeing what improvements we can make to the existing crossings at Blackhall Library, Craigcrook Road/Quality Street and Clermiston Road North/Queensferry Road. Beyond that, who knows!

“The next step is to ask the City of Edinburgh Council to look into the issues and work with us to improve these sub-standard cycling and walking links. If you want to help please come to one of our meetings or drop us an email via our websites to let us know what you think.”

You can let the group know your views by attending your local community council meeting (Craigleith Blackhall meets on Monday 15 September at 7.30 pm in Stewart’s Melville College on Queensferry Road, while Drumbrae also meets next on Monday 15 September at 7.30pm – in the Rannoch Centre.

If you can’t make a 15 September meeting, email your views to Craigleith Blackhall Community Councillor Neil Watt at wattmail@hotmail.co.uk

Saving Granton’s secret garden

A group of North Edinburgh activists have got together to save one of the area’s hidden gems. Granton’s walled garden has lain neglected for years, but gardner Kirsty Sutherland and her friends are determined to save the site from redevelopment and return the garden to it’s former glory.

The ‘secret’ walled garden on Granton’s waterfront is very overgrown but it’s still there, somehow still alive surrounded by derelict industrial land.

“A few of us got together last autumn and started researching this garden’s amazing social history. I was inspired by the Never Give Up book created by local activists”, Kirsty explained.

Granton Castle’s garden has been around for over 450 years and survived many changes in the surrounding land – and wars! The castle may have gone, but from 1914 the walled garden was lovingly tended by three generations of one family. However it is now under threat – developers plan to build 17 luxury townhouses on the site.

Kirsty said: “We want to save this rare garden from development, and safeguard its incredible social history dating back to Mary Queen of Scot’s time.

“There is no need for this walled garden to be developed for housing as it is surrounded by vast areas of vacant post-industrial land, much more suitable.”

The Granton Castle Garden Group is appealing to local people to help preserve the site for future generations to enjoy, and they have created an on-line petition.

The group explain: ‘The petition is aimed at raising local awareness of a quite well hidden garden, which many people have never heard of living locally far less elsewhere in Edinburgh. It has a remarkable social history including almost 100 years of being a working market garden owned and run by three generations of one family.

‘Local community gardeners and folk interested in the story put together a list of ideas for the garden too which I am sure could work in harmony with the aims of Granton Improvement Society.

‘Time is what we requested of the development company, to allow local people to hear about the garden and plans to build in it, and add their opinions and ideas.

‘Some really positive ideas have been generated already and discussed by keen gardeners living in Granton and Pilton. They focus on local food production, and environmental education and activities: ideas are bulleted below:

◾Heritage Orchard restoration and expansion.
◾Retail nursery for production of plants with a purpose; fruit, herbs, vegetables, nectar plants and native wildflower species.
◾Base for a local ‘edible garden design’ social enterprise.
◾Medicinal and culinary herbs production for use in a community café and workshops.
◾Permaculture garden design area showcasing planting to combat environmental changes and save water. Forest garden approach.
◾Victorian Glasshouse restoration for use to supply local community gardens and cafes with both winter crops and vegetable plants in spring
◾Beekeeping and honey products.
◾Small scale free range chickens for egg production.
◾Community education workshops centred on gardening, crafts, herbal medicine, environmental education and seasonal food.
◾History/visitor centre combined with the community café showcasing the gardens long and sometimes dramatic history, dating back as far as Mary Queen of Scots time.
◾Oral and visual History of recent horticulture from Victorian era to present day.

Kirsty added: “Please help us stop demolition planning permission before it’s too late. Help raise awareness of this ‘secret garden’, and save two acres of historic greenbelt for future generations!”

If you think this garden is worth keeping, go to:

www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-grantons-forgotten-walled-garden

to sign and ‘share’ the e-petition.

If you have any ideas or questions, email: grantoncastlegardengroup@gmail.com

draft response2 to petition 15 5 14

Tonight’s the night for Drylaw

A reminder that Drylaw Telford Community Council is meeting tonight at 7pm in Drylaw Neighourhood Centre. All welcome.

Early start for Community Council

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow’s meeting of Drylaw Telford Community Council will start at the earlier time of 6.30pm in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.

Easter Drylaw’s Mhairi Curran will be presented with the Thomas Tierney Award for Good Citizenship at an informal reception following the conclusion of the normal monthly business meeting.

All welcome.

Mhairi to receive community award

Mhairi Curran is Drylaw’s Citizen of the Year. Drylaw Telford Community Council agreed that Mhairi should receive the annual Thomas Tierney Award for Good Citizenship at last week’s regular monthly meeting.

Community worker Mhairi has lived in Easter Drylaw all her life and has been actively involved in her own community for many years – firstly through the Drylaw Telford Action Group, North Edinburgh Social Reserach Group’s fuel poverty campaign and more recently as both an office bearer with Easter Drylaw Residents Association and a member of Drylaw Telford Community Council.

Community Council chairman Alex Dale nominated Mhairi. He explained: “I nominated Mhairi because she has been involved in many of the positive things that have been happening in the area over recent years. It’s recognition of her commitment to her community – her work with the community council on the open space sub group, her early contribution on the skatepark and her work with EDRA, especially last year’s campaign against dog fouling. I’m pleased that the community council supported Mhairi’s nomination.”

It’s likely that Mhairi will receive her award at a reception in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre on 26 March. Congratulations, Mhairi!

Tierney time again in Drylaw Telford

Evelyn Crawford (above, right) was the popular choice in 2006

Do you know someone who gave up their time to help the Drylaw Telford community last year? A local volunteer who went that extra mile to support a neighbour, or a community group that’s worked to improve the local environment or enhance the quality of life in the neighbourhood? If so, Drylaw Telford Community Council wants to hear from you!

The local community council is now seeking nominations for the Thomas Tierney Award for Good Citizenship.

Tam Tierney was a committed community activist from Wester Drylaw who was involved in many of the positive things that happening in the Greater Pilton area during the Eighties and Nineties.

He was a stalwart of Pilton Sporting Club, chaired Craigroyston Community Centre for many years, was an active and enthusiastic member of Drylaw Telford Community Council. Tam was also part of the steering group – and subsequently a member of the first management committee – of Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre which opened in 1995.

When Tam passed away in 1999, Drylaw Telford Community Council decided to mark Tam’s contribution to community life – not only to celebrate his achievements but also to try to encourage others to become more active within their community.

Every year since 2000, the community council has chosen a new recipient of the Award. They are all very different, and each was nominated for a wide variety of reasons. The one thing they have in common, however – indeed the one thing they must have in common – is that they freely contribute their time to do something that makes the Drylaw Telford neighbourhood a better place to live.

Former recipients have done that in many ways – helping out as a volunteer with local projects, doing their neighbours’ shopping, supporting local groups by serving on management committees … and some have done all of these things and more!

Drylaw Telford Community Council chairman Alex Dale – who was recipient of the 2012 award – said: “The Thomas Tierney Award is an important date on our community council calendar and is usually the best attended meeting of the year.We have slightly changed the criteria for the Award this year and we hope this will encourage more people to make nominations”.

If you think you know someone who may fit the bill, visit the community council’s website at www.drylawtelfordcc.co.uk

email Secretary@drylawtelfordcc.co.uk

or contact Jackie Brown at Rainbow Daycare Centre in Drylaw Church for a nomination form.

Florence Atkinson: a very popular winner