Community – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Edinburgh Zoo Giant Lanterns Lifts Off!

Giant Lanterns set to light up winter with conservation and community at its heart

Edinburgh Zoo is launching this year’s Giant Lanterns trail with the theme Space Safari, running from 13 November 2025 – 21 February 2026. All images © Gibson Digital /Royal Zoological Society of Scotland 2026

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has officially launched Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns trail. Visitors are invited to embark on an out-of-this-world adventure through a glowing universe of handcrafted lanterns while helping to protect wildlife and support local communities.

Last year, the award-winning event attracted more than 96,000 visitors, with this winter set to be the biggest experience yet. Beyond the spectacular displays, Giant Lanterns has a greater purpose, with proceeds from ticket sales helping to support RZSS’s vital conservation work in Scotland and around the world, alongside its commitment to making a positive difference in the community.

As part of this commitment, RZSS is inviting seven charity partners including Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), Child First and Places for People to experience the trail who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend. The initiative aims to make the event more inclusive and accessible, creating moments of wonder, excitement and enjoyment for people who may face barriers to taking part.

Proceeds will also help support vital conservation work, including the Saving Wildcats project led by RZSS. The project works on returning wildcats to the Scottish Highlands, helping to restore populations of this critically endangered species in the wild.

By visiting Giant Lanterns, visitors are helping RZSS work towards its ambitious goal of reversing the decline of at least 50 species by 2030, supporting vital work to give threatened wildlife a brighter future.

Running across 60 nights from Friday 13 November until Sunday 21 February 2027, the space safari trail will feature more than 1,000 handcrafted lanterns and 15,000 LED lights.

RZSS deputy chief executive Ben Supple said: “We are so happy to welcome everyone back to see Edinburgh Zoo truly glow once again. Giant Lanterns are incredibly special. It’s not just a winter light trail, it’s a lifeline for vital conservation work that is only made possible thanks to the support of our visitors.

“Last year our conservation work was able to protect threatened species not only just in Scotland but around the world. We hope Giant Lanterns will inspire our visitors to see the natural world in a new light and leave knowing that their visit has helped make a difference to wildlife, both here in Scotland and further afield.”

Tickets are available now at edinburghzoo.org.uk/lanterns.

Entry is open from 4:45pm, with the last entry at 7.30pm.

Ticket prices vary for off-peak and standard nights.

Leith wants your big ideas for its 900th birthday

Three £3,000 commissions are up for grabs now, with bigger opportunities ahead if Leith becomes the UK’s first Town of Culture in 2028

Leith is calling for ideas to help shape how the town celebrates its 900th birthday in 2028, with three £3,000 commissions available now and the potential for much larger projects if its UK Town of Culture bid is successful.

“Big Ideas. Leith Style.” is deliberately simple: no lengthy application forms and no need to be an established arts organisation. If you have an idea rooted in Leith, you can pitch it in writing, by voice note or short video.

Ideas could become projects, events, collaborations, conversations or acts of creativity: big or small, loud or quiet. They might draw on Leith’s football, food, music, memories, shipbuilding, golf, street art or community life, and could happen anywhere from a stage to a pub, playground, bowling club, church hall, theatre, café or kitchen.

Three £3,000 Countdown Commissions

Three projects will each receive £3,000 to take place in January and February 2027, marking one year until Leith’s 900th birthday.

Projects should celebrate an aspect of Leith’s culture, heritage or identity, bring people together and leave something behind, whether that is skills, relationships, confidence, memories or knowledge.

The commissions are open to people based in Leith, including individuals, community groups, charities and social enterprises, cultural organisations, businesses and informal networks. Partnerships are encouraged.

Bigger ideas for 2028

The call is also looking for ambitious ideas that could form part of Leith’s programme in 2028.

Local, national and international artists, creatives and organisations can submit ideas, provided they are rooted in Leith and create meaningful opportunities for local people and organisations.

If Leith is named UK Town of Culture 2028, successful projects could receive between £15,000 and £150,000 towards their development and delivery.

The strongest ideas will feel unmistakably Leith: made with people rather than for them, reaching beyond the usual audiences and leaving something lasting behind.

Susie Gray and Jenny Mungall, co-Directors of Leith Culture Partnership, said: “Culture isn’t something Leith is short of – it’s all around us. In the pubs, the bowling clubs, the church halls, the streets, artists spaces and renowned kitchens, and it has been for 900 years.

“This call is about finding the people who can tell our story brilliantly and backing them. We want ideas from everyone, locals with things to say and dreams for Leith and those who have been captivated by Leith’s character and spirit far and wide.”

Got an idea? Send it in

There is no complicated application form. Simply tell the team what your idea is, what part of Leith it celebrates, who you would work with, who it is for and why it matters.

Ideas can be submitted in writing, by voice note or short video by the end of the day on 6 November 2026.

A new Leith People’s Forum will review ideas in November, with shortlisted applicants invited to talk through their ideas further.

Email: hello@leith2028.com

Instagram: Leith2028

Aberfan remembered 60 years on

Remembering those who lost their lives in a man-made disaster on this day in 1966.

Despite the evidence no person or organisation was held responsible and successive governments refused to act to right a wrong inflicted on a small Welsh mining community.

SHAMEFUL.

The Welsh Government said this morning: ‘At 9:15am today, Wales will fall silent to remember those who were taken from us in the Aberfan disaster.

’60 years may have passed, but we will never forget them’.

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre AGM

MONDAY 9th NOVEMBER at 6pm

It’s that time of year again!

The AGM is on Monday, 9 November at 18:00.

If you would like to help shape the future of the centre, maybe you would like to join the Management Committee. Or maybe you have a skill that you can share?

Come along and tell us about it!

North Edinburgh Arts: Act Like You Own the Place!

CELEBRATION and AGM

WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER 5 – 7pm

Act Like You Own the Place!

Join us for our Celebration and AGM

Wednesday 21 October, 5pm – 7pm

– Food & refreshments provided by our NEA Community Café

– Take a self-guided tour around the NEA building

– Take part in fun demonstrations and taster sessions

– Find out more about what’s on at NEA

– Meet local organisations and people living in your neighbourhood

– Bring your family and friends along

North Edinburgh Arts is owned by the people of North Edinburgh and is here for the long term; over 800 local people have already joined our membership scheme and are community owners of this incredible building.

Find out more about the events and activities happening at North Edinburgh Arts – have a shot at carpet bowls or riding an electric bike; or try out your crafty skills with the Knit and Natter group.

There’ll also be the chance to meet many of our tenant organisations Curious Seed, Tinderbox Collective, Flourish Jewellery, Cutting Edge Theatre, Project Esperanza, U-Evolve and more.

We want to share more about what Community Ownership means and the difference it makes. We hope you’ll join us!

If you would like to come along, please RSVP by 14 October on our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/act-like-you-own-the…

QMU’s Gaelic football success helps build a thriving student community

Queen Margaret University’s growing reputation for Gaelic football is helping create a strong sense of community for students from across the UK and Ireland, with the University’s successful teams offering a welcoming home away from home alongside opportunities to compete at a high level.

The 2025/26 academic year has been another successful season for QMU Ladies Football Club, with the club growing to more than 70 members and securing its fifth consecutive Scottish Championship League title.

The team also celebrated winning the British Championship Shield in Birmingham in 2025, competing against university teams from across the UK.

The men’s Gaelic football team has also enjoyed significant success in recent years, winning the Scottish University Championship in both 2023/24 and 2024/25 and finishing both seasons as unbeaten champions.

Following some time away from competition, the team’s re-establishment has been supported by the large Irish community studying at QMU, while also providing an opportunity for students from Scotland and elsewhere to get involved in the sport and Irish culture.

The success of QMU’s Gaelic football clubs is also helping attract prospective students, particularly those from Ireland who are looking to continue playing the sport while studying in Scotland.

For some students, the opportunity to join a successful Gaelic football club is an important factor when choosing where to study.

Nicki Carr, an MSc Speech and Language Therapy student from Dublin, said: “The QMU Gaelic Football team has been a big part of my first year at QMU and has really helped me settle into university life.

“Moving to a new country and starting a busy postgraduate course was a big change, so being part of the club gave me a great way to meet people, make friends and feel more settled.

“I really enjoyed being able to continue playing a sport I love without there being too much pressure around performance. The team was a good balance of football and socialising, and I got to meet people from different courses and years that I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise.

“Having a thriving Ladies Gaelic Football Club team was actually one of the things that attracted me to QMU when I was applying, as I knew it would be a good way to meet people and get involved in university life. Looking back, joining the team has been one of the best parts of my first year and has given me so many good memories and friendships that I’m really grateful for.”

Although Gaelic games are deeply rooted in Irish culture, QMU’s clubs welcome students from all backgrounds and experience levels. Whether students have played Gaelic football or camogie (an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women) for years, are new to the sport, or simply want to try something different, everyone is encouraged to get involved.

The men’s team has seen first-hand how quickly new players can take to Gaelic football, with students with little or no previous experience able to develop their skills alongside more experienced players. For the 2025/26 squad, creating a “home away from home” has been an important part of the club alongside building on its recent success on the pitch.

Ciara Brady, Social Secretary for QMU Ladies Gaelic Football Club, said: “The inclusive culture created within the clubs means that members quickly become part of a close-knit community, with friendships formed through training sessions, matches, travel and social events throughout the year.

“The success on the pitch reflects the commitment and dedication of players, coaches and committee members, but the clubs’ impact extends far beyond trophies. They provide opportunities for students to grow in confidence, meet new people and create memories that last well beyond graduation.”

The club’s achievements have also been recognised through the QMU Students’ Union Excellence in Sport Award, with the Ladies Gaelic Football Club receiving the award for two consecutive years.

Joe Agnew, QMU’s Student Union President of Activities, said: “Sport plays an important role in the student experience at Queen Margaret University, and our Gaelic football clubs are a fantastic example of how extracurricular activities can help students build connections.

“The achievements of our women’s team, alongside the continued success and growth of our men’s team, demonstrate the strength and enthusiasm for Gaelic games at QMU. The clubs give students the chance to compete at a high level while developing skills and connections that can last throughout their time at university and beyond.”

With both clubs continuing to grow, QMU’s Gaelic football teams are combining sporting success with opportunities for students to try something new, develop their skills and become part of university life.

Film nights at Royston Wardieburn

WICKED – SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER at 6pm

We are having Family Film nights at the centre, starting on 26th Sept @ 6pm with Wicked being our first movie (see above).

Register for a Free Entry ticket, all children must be accompanied by an adult, bring your own snacks and drinks, or purchase some on the night.

Tickets can be collected free from the Community Centre reception or booked through Eventbrite.

DENISE AULD

Community First: Saying Goodbye to our Donald

The North Edinburgh community said goodbye to one of the area’s most recognisable figures on Friday. Donald McDonald was a community stalwart for as long as anyone can remember, and his passing leaves the community a poorer place.

Donald was born in Pilton Crescent and lived there for almost all of his life.

He lost his mother at a young age and was brought up by his father and grandmother. Young Donald and his dad were inseparable and went everywhere together.

A shy boy, Donald did not excel at school but loved music, and the bond with his Ainslie Park music teachers Mr and Mrs McIntosh endured for many years after Donald left the local school.

He went on to work with Scottish Ominibuses, later SMT and Eastern Scottish and it was there he developed a deep love for transport, particularly buses and ferries.

He was made redundant during the Thatcher years and never worked again, but put his energy and enthusiasm to good use as a volunteer across his beloved North Edinburgh.

Donald served on a wide range of boards and management committees across North Edinburgh over many years, showing a rare commitment.

During the week, Donald would call in to visit many of his favourite projects, spending time talking to staff. He was a diligent board member, too, often turning up hours early for his own wee pre-meeeting session!

Invariably Donald would be carrying his trademark shopping bag, which was filled with a cornucopia of papers, articles, photographs and a wealth of material he was always keen to share. Sometimes during meetings he would delve into his bag and produce an item of interest; often interesting, certainly, although not always relevant to that particular meeting!

As well as being a North Edinburgh Edinburgh News board member Donald also distributed the free newspaper every month, and he often went far and beyond his own patch to share the NEN.

Weekends would see Donald attending his local Granton Parish Church, where he was a faithful member of the congregation all of his life, and also touring the length and breadth of the country, using public transport to visit far flung places to attend exhibitions, displays and shows.

Dunoon, Arbroath, Melrose, Stirling … Donald visited them all, and he made sure the North Edinburgh News was distributed in some places far outwith the Greater Pilton borders!

I remember fondly, too, his unlikely partnership with another local legend, ‘salty sea dog’ George Scammell. For some years the pair were a double act; North Edinburgh’s own Little and Large. They were doughty supporters of the campaign to save the SS Explorer, which languished, rusting and unloved, in a quite corner of Leith Docks. It took many years, but the campaign was ultimately successful,

Donald would be involved in so many campaigns and could be always be counted on to support his community when it mattered. Deputations, protests, public meetings, Donald would be there. For Donald, it was always community first.

He was an active member of many groups over the years: Granton History Group and Pilton Environment Group (PEG) are just two and in more recent years he enjoyed the debate, discussion and visits with Royston Wardieburn’s Spring Chickens and Power to the People groups.

Despite his years of commitment and dedication to his community it was absolutely no surprise that Donald was aghast when Royston Wardieburn’s management committee proposed to name a community room in his honour. Donald didn’t want any fuss, didn’t want to be in the limelight: community first.

I for one am very happy that Donald finally relented, and a plaque now bears his name in the Centre where he played such an active role and participated in so many activities over the years. I hope he was quietly proud.

Goodbye, then, dear Donald. You will be fondly remembered with great affection by all who knew you across our community.

Donald McDonald: Funeral Details

WARRISTON CREMATORIUM – FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER at 2.30pm

Community activist Donald McDonald’s funeral will take place at Warriston on Friday 11 September at 2.30pm.

ODE TO DONALD

Donald McDonald, what can we say?

He’s been involved in this community

in every single way

supporting local groups,

listening to what they say,

providing support for

our buses, trains and boats.

He’s lived in Granton all his life

knows the area and all its strifes.

He’s always fought for local people

doesn’t ask for recognition,

questions all our Councillors’ decisions.

The community centre is his pride,

through the years, watching funding slip away

he battled on no matter what.

We realise that the war’s not done,

but his spirit has never broken.

Three cheers for Donald for all the times he’s spoken.

Donald we are all so proud of you

And how you’ve coped with your trials and tribulations.

The time has come to accept your knowledge,

the centre will now have a room called

The Donald McDonald

to thank you for your time and toils

You will never be forgotten.

Poem by Anna Hutchison

Thanks to Lynn McCabe for supplying this information.

More Chatty Cafe at LifeCare!

At a loose end? Fancy a cuppa?

For over 2 years now, LifeCare have been proud to host a The Chatty Cafe Scheme UK table in our community café. Due to such high demand for our Monday sessions, we are excited to be launching a new day of Chatty Cafe starting next week on Wednesdays!

Everyone is welcome to join us on Wednesday 9th of September 10am – 11.30am for our official opening party! Enjoy tea, coffee and cake and good company, all completely free