Tag: competition

Capture Edinburgh’s wonderful living landscape

Not too late to enter photography competition

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There’s still time to enter the Edinburgh Living Landscape photography competition, but hurry – the deadline for entries is Friday 11 September!

Senior Development Officer Lindsay Grant of the city council’s Parks and Greenspace service explained: “Our first Edinburgh Living Landscape photography competition was launched at the end of July. The idea is to collect images that show off the city’s natural beauty and how they can be enjoyed.

“We’re calling on Edinburgh’s budding photographers to capture our floral meadows in bloom for the chance to win great prizes, including membership to the Scottish Wildlife Trust, exclusive prizes from Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, a professional photography workshop, 6 month membership to Edinburgh Leisure and  tickets to the Usher Hall’s Sunday Classics concert series.

“To enter, we are asking the public to submit a photo of one of Edinburgh’s Living Landscapes and the finalists’ images will be posted on the Edinburgh Outdoors Facebook page for a public vote to select the winner.

“The closing date is Friday 11 September at 6pm and then people will be asked to ‘like’ their favourite image between the 16 and 23 September on the Edinburgh Outdoors Facebook page. The photograph with the most ‘likes’ will then be chosen as the winner.”

So there you  have it – get snapping!

Edinburgh Living Landscape photography competitionell

Blooming great – Botanics shortlisted for Garden of the Year!

Can Botanics be voted Britain’s best?

BotanincsIt’s known and loved by thousands, but can the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) get enough votes to take the title of the best in Britain?

That is the challenge after hearing the news that our very own Botanics is a contender for the title “Garden of the Year” in the annual BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards. It’s the only Garden in Scotland to make the short list and ‘Botanics’ bosses are asking friends at home and abroad to come out and show their support by placing votes.

All votes must be cast by the January 31 and members of the public can make their mark by selecting their favourite garden – and 11 other categories, ranging from great heritage attractions to holiday destinations – by emailing awards@countryfile.com, by visiting the BBC Countryfile Magazine website at http://www.countryfile.com/article/garden-year-201415 or by post to BBC Countryfile Magazine, Tower House, Bristol, BS1 3BN.

Now in its fourth year, the high-profile award attracted more than 55,000 votes in 2014, when the accolade was claimed by RHS Wisley, Surrey. This year RBGE is up against four other world-renowned sites: The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall; Trentham Gardens, Stafford; Alnwick Garden, Northumbria and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in Surrey.

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Welcoming the news that RBGE was in the running, Director of Enterprise Heather Jackson said: “This is a really good fun way to start the year. We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the award: and to be against such prestigious competition. It would be wonderful if our visitors and supporters would enter into the spirit of the event and take a few minutes to vote for us.”

The winner will be announced in the April issue of BBC Countryfile Magazine. Good luck, RBGE!

Mary Erskine’s to represent city in referendum debate

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Mary Erskine School will fly the flag for Edinburgh in the final of a TV schools debate on Saturday.

Eight secondary schools from across Scotland will battle it out on STV in the final of a national debating competition next Saturday (12 April at 1740).

The half hour programme, Referendum: The Next Generation, sees four pupils from each school take part in knock out rounds before the winner of the final debate picks up the trophy.

The other schools to compete are the Nicolson Institute (Western Isles), Douglas Academy (East Dunbartonshire), Montrose Academy (Angus), Lockerbie Academy (Dumfries & Galloway), St Andrews Academy (Renfrewshire), Grove Academy (Dundee) and St Josephs Academy (East Ayrshire).

STV teamed up with Debating Matters in 2013 to give secondary school pupils from all 32 local authority areas, many of who will be eligible to vote in the referendum on independence, the opportunity to research and discuss issues which will affect the future of Scotland.

The Scotland wide competition was open to secondary five and six pupils who had a chance to compete with other schools in their local authority area last summer before taking part in eight regional heats in November 2013. The final of the competition was held at The University of Glasgow and the programme is hosted by STV’s Gordon Chree.

Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV, said: “This programme is the culmination of a series of lively debates between secondary schools throughout the country. We are committed to providing a platform for debate on all the big issues and it is fantastic that secondary school pupils have the opportunity to research and discuss issues that matter to them. We hope people tune in to see which school picks up the winner’s trophy.”

Claire Fox, Director of the Institute of Ideas, said: “Debating Matters is delighted to have worked in partnership with STV to provide an intellectually demanding and rigorous platform for students across Scotland to engage in serious discussion of the big philosophical, cultural and political questions relating to Scotland’s future direction society, and to debate the key issues around the Scottish Independence referendum. The Institute of Ideas values substance over style and emphasises the complexities beyond the headline and beyond sound-bites, so important when young people are considering something as important as the future of Scotland constitutionally. Based on the debates we saw in the autumn and this spring, those young Scots we met rose to that challenge more than admirably.”

Good luck, Mary Erskine!

What does ‘home’ mean to you?

21c art compThe city council is running an art competition for schoolchildren from Muirhouse, Pilton and Pennywell to mark the start of construction of new homes in West Pilton Crescent – and the closing date for entries is fast approaching.

‘What does home mean to you?’ is the appropriate theme of the competition which is open to pupils of Pirniehall, St David’s, Craigroyston and Forthview, Oaklands and Craigroyston Community High School. Entries can be drawings, paintings, a collage or photographs – but your artwork must be submitted by the closing date of next Friday, 25 October.

Winners of the various categories (see the attached poster) will be announced on

Thursday 21 November. Good luck!

Home Sweet Home

Fore! Edinburgh pupils can win trip to Paradise Island

Primary schools in Edinburgh are being urged to sign up for a competition aimed at encouraging writing and creativity amongst pupils. The initiative is being launched by Paradise Island Adventure Golf, offering schools the chance to win an exciting end of term class trip to its indoor adventure golf facility this summer.

The unique leisure experience at Livingston Designer Outlet boasts two 18-hole mini golf courses set amidst a tropical paradise, complete with tiki huts and exotic wildlife.

To enter the competition, primary school pupils simply have to create a piece of artwork of a paradise island or write a story about a paradise island. The artwork or story entries can be individual or a class effort.

The best entry will win an end of term class trip to the golf complex, where the class will have exclusive use of the facility and can warm up for the summer holidays on the island.

Craig Nichol, Marketing Manager at Paradise Island Adventure Golf said: “We’re delighted to be offering pupils in Edinburgh the chance to win an end of term class trip to our adventure golf centre in Livingston. The competition not only aims to promote creativity and literacy amongst pupils, but it also provides schools with the opportunity to gain a fantastic class outing to reward pupils for their hard work during the year.”

The golf entertainment complex features two challenging courses of paradise themed fun. Barnacle Bay is a fantastic course full of twists and turns, designed to send your ball on a rollercoaster ride.

The Lost Lagoon offers more adventurous mini golfers the chance to test their skills through a maze of obstacles and uneven terrain. Both courses also allow players to attempt the thrilling 19th hole for the chance to win a free game.

Entries can be emailed to livingston@paradiseislandgolf.com

or posted to

Paradise Island Adventure Golf, Livingston Designer Outlet, Almondvale Avenue, Livingston, EH54 6QX.

All entries must be submitted by 31st May 2013.

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For further information about Paradise Island Adventure Golf or for booking enquiries, please visit www.paradiseislandgolf.com or email livingston@paradiseislandgolf.com