They came, they saw … they planted!
A top team of green-fingered activists descended on Drylaw on Saturday. Their mission: total germination and much more besides!
The Spring sun was shining and the afternoon was a great success: pictures by Georgia Forsyth Sijpestijn
And, yes … they’ll be back! Hasta la vista, baby …
News from Granton Community Gardeners
The sun’s out today and Spring is slowly underway …
We’ve been busy in the gardens, including building a greenhouse, and planting a small orchard with the children at Granton Early Years Centre. We got our first potatoes planted on Saturday.
It’s a great time of year to get involved in community gardening. And this Saturday (21st) we are joint-hosting an event that will be great for getting inspired! (see flyer (above))
‘Germination’
At DRYLAW NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
Saturday 21 March
1pm – 5pm
FREE EVENT
ALL WELCOME!
A celebration of community gardening with a DIY and collaborative spirit.
See flyer for list of workshops.
Also confirmed: Meet a man who has designed and built a bike powered flour mill, have a go and cook pancakes with the result!
Lifts available from Garden at top of Wardieburn Road. Meet 12.30.
Gardening drop-ins are continuing every Tuesday and Saturday. Meet 11am at the garden on the corner of Wardieburn Road and Boswall Parkway. All welcome! No previous gardening experience required!
Gardeners Cafe is now on Tuesdays 3pm-6pm at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre up until the Easter Holidays. Free veggie soup and bread and chat. On Tuesday 31 March we will have a workshop on foraging and herbal medicine from Grassroots Remedies. Please RSVP if you’d like to come to that.
Tom,
Granton Community Gardeners
http://www.facebook.com/grantoncommunitygardeners
Edinburgh & Lothian Greenspace Trust (ELGT) are running free workshops over Autumn & Winter:
Fungi Foray
Sunday 5 October, 10am – 12noon
Colinton Dell, Edinburgh
Bird Watching
Sunday 19 October, 10am – 1pm
Colinton Dell, Edinburgh
Storytelling
Tuesday 21 October, 6pm-8pm
Hermitage of Braid, Edinburgh
Herbal First Aid
Saturday 8 November, 10am-1pm
Hermitage of Braid & Blackford Hill, Edinburgh
Basic Bush Craft – Family Friendly
Saturday 6 December, 10am-12.30pm
Hailes Quarry Woodland Park, Edinburgh
Woodland Christmas Crafts – Family Friendly
Saturday 13 December, 10am – 1pm
Water of Leith, Edinburgh.
All workshops are FREE – but booking is essential
If you wish to reserve more than one workshop please prioritise your choice and we will place you on reserve for the others.
For further information or to book contact ruth@elgt.org.uk or telephone 0131 445 4025.
Ruth Wyatt
Community Projects Officer, Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust
Buttercup Farm park created on site of former poultry farm
There was a sense of nostalgia in Drumbrae yesterday when community members joined to open Buttercup Farm Park, the first new park in Edinburgh for 15 years.
Former residents and families of workers from the area gathered to celebrate the completion of Buttercup Farm Park, created on the site of one of the city’s most successful poultry farms.
Built in 1922, Buttercup Farm was established by Andrew Ewing, founder of Buttercup Dairy Company, which at its peak had more than 250 shops over Scotland and the north of England.
On Wednesday, Mr Ewing’s relatives, including great nieces and nephews and children of former poultry farm workers, some of whom had lived on the farm, helped to officially open the aptly-named park.
The £235,000 project, designed by City of Edinburgh Council, was supported with funding from Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) and Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN) and will be completed in two phases.
The initial phase, now finished, has seen the implementation of a new park landscape, play area and toddler zone with lawn, picnic tables and seating. The second phase will begin in autumn, and will involve the planting of trees and preparation of wildflower meadows.
City of Edinburgh Council’s Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “Our parks are the jewel in Edinburgh’s crown so it’s fantastic to be able to add a new one to the city’s repertoire.
“This park has been designed with local people in mind and I’m delighted to be able to open a space with such close links to the area’s social history. I’m sure will be a great asset for the community.”
Charlie Cumming, Chief Executive of ELGT, said: “Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust has been proud to be a partner in delivering Edinburgh’s first new park since 2000 and we look forward to working with local residents on future projects as the park progresses.”
Ben Walker, WREN Grant Manager, added: “WREN is committed to funding projects that make a real difference to local communities, children and families. The project has seen the delivery of a modern community park with original and exciting features and elements for the whole family to enjoy.
“It will encourage outdoor activities and promote a healthier lifestyle for all. We are delighted to support City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust to provide this new valuable community green space to be enjoyed for years and years to come.”
Local author Bill Scott, who wrote The Buttercup – The Remarkable Story of Andrew Ewing and the Buttercup Company, also joined the celebrations on Wednesday.
His novel charts the success of Andrew Ewing, who started out life as a penniless child in Stranraer but went on to establish one of the most successful poultry businesses of his time, including the 86-acre Buttercup Farm.
A generous and religious man, Mr Ewing refused to charge for any eggs laid at his farm on a Sunday, donating more than 100,000 to hospitals every week, and eventually died without any money, having given most of it away.
Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust, a project which has been instrumental in working with communities to transform vacant and derelict land, has been honoured in the prestigious Landscape Institute Awards 2012.
Optimised Environments (OPEN) scooped the Strategic Landscape Planning award for its pilot temporary greenspace study, which it conducted in partnership with the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT), following the Trust’s successful funding application to the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) Development Fund.
The feasibility and mapping research study aimed to explore the potential for bringing vacant, derelict, and ‘stalled’ land back into beneficial use in the short or medium term, by using the spaces as temporary greenspace sites and other interim land uses.
OPEN identified actions which achieve environmental and social benefits and proposed landscape solutions that are fundable and maintainable on a temporary yet self-sustaining basis.
Keith Geddes, Chair of the CSGN Partnership Board, said: “A key priority of our Development Fund is to support strategic greenspace projects which help to address the prevalence of vacant and derelict land across Central Scotland. The OPEN study in partnership with the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust represents a huge step forward in this field. The ideas for site usage for amenity, recreation and growing food are creative and innovative and effectively promote the value of landscape architecture. I have no doubt that the impact of the study will extend far beyond Edinburgh and inspire landscape architects across the CSGN.”
Liz Stewart, Fundraising and Communications Manager at ELGT, said: “After over two years of work with OPEN and other partners in pursuit of this project, we are delighted that the study has been recognised by The Landscape Institute. As we continue to go forward beyond the feasibility study, to identify and deliver real projects on the ground, the study has been influential in garnering support from partners citywide – local authority departments, developers, housing associations and community – helping us to establish credibility and buy-in to vacant land improvement. The challenges of working on vacant and derelict land are many and varied, but the support from the CSGN Development Fund has been vital in unlocking opportunity and funding in the development of these projects.”
Pol MacDonald, Director at OPEN, said: “We are delighted to receive this award for a truly ground breaking study which has revealed an outstanding opportunity to help regenerate redundant and vacant spaces in Edinburgh. These spaces have a huge potential to enhance the city and to enhance the communities which live within and around the sites. We hope that a good number of the proposals actually come forward to fruition.”
The next round of the CSGN Development Fund is now open for applications. For more information, please visit www.forestry.gov.uk/csgndevelopmentfund
The Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust works to make a positive difference in quality of life for Lothian communities, by improving local environments and green network. Since 1991, the Trust has carried out over 500 projects worth over £11million, ranging from the restoration of Victorian viaducts and local landmarks, to the creation and improvement of community parks, cycleways, community gardens, woodlands, business premises and other open spaces.
ELGT also works to engage people in their local greenspaces through community growing, conservation volunteering, outdoor activities to benefit health and wellbeing, and environmental education. Locally, ELGT has worked with both Drylaw Telford Community Council and North Edinburgh Trust on environmental projects. For further information about ELGT, please visit www.elgt.org.uk
The CSGN is one of the 14 national developments set out in the Scottish Government’s second National Planning Framework. With a wide-ranging remit, far beyond just a ‘green initiative’, it aims to improve the social, physical, cultural and environmental health and well-being of Central Scotland, as well as assisting the area to meet the challenge of climate change.
Stretching from Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Dunbartonshire in the west, to Fife and Lothians in the east, the CSGN encompasses 19 local authorities across 10,000 sq km and has the potential to benefit 3.5million people, equating to 70 per cent of Scotland’s population. For further information about the CSGN, please visit www.centralscotlandgreennetwork.org
Hard to believe, but Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) is 21 today!
SInce it’s formation back in 1991 as Edinburgh Green Belt Trust, ELGT has raised over £11 million to deliver over 500 environmental and community projects across the area, improving the quality of life for thousands of local people. An independent charity and social enterprise, ELGT works with community groups, schools and businesses to improve local parks, gardens, woodlands and other green spaces.
Among ELGT’s many successes was the upgrade to Drylaw’s green spaces carried out with local schools and Drylaw Telford community council.
ELGT will be hosting a reception to mark their milestone anniversary this afternoon – many happy returns!
For more information on Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust visit www.elgt.org.uk
Following the huge success of the Innertube Postcode Challenge event last year, the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust and The Bike Station are organising this event for the second year running.
The Innertube Postcode Challenge is a ‘Treasure Hunt on Wheels’- and this year there will also be a ‘Treasure Hunt on Foot’ for all you walkers out there! It is a community cycling event, aimed at all ages and abilities, on Edinburgh’s Innnertube Map (below).
As a participant in the event, the aim is to cycle to all ten stands that will be dotted about on the North Edinburgh Innertube Cycle Path Network and collect a postcode stamp at each stand. Everyone has until 4pm to collect all ten postcode stamps (for walkers, the aim is to collect 5 stamps) and hand them in at Fiveways Junction where participants will be entered into a prize draw.
A Challenge Card to collect your stamps will be given to you on the day with a map, or you can download it here and start planning your route!
All participants have the opportunity to win: (more prizes to come!)
Supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, the main aim is to raise awareness of the paths and their potential as a means of travel across the North of Edinburgh, as well as to get people active in a fun and community fuelled way.
The event takes place tomorrow (Sunday 1 July 1) from 11am to 4pm.
This event is one of several activities that ELGT and The Bike Station have delivered to work towards ‘Inflating the Innertube’.
Following the huge success of the Innertube Postcode Challenge event last year, the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust and The Bike Station are organising this event for the second year running.
The Innertube Postcode Challenge is a ‘Treasure Hunt on Wheels’- and this year there will also be a ‘Treasure Hunt on Foot’ for all you walkers out there! It is a community cycling event, aimed at all ages and abilities, on Edinburgh’s Innnertube Map (below).
As a participant in the event, the aim is to cycle to all ten stands that will be dotted about on the North Edinburgh Innertube Cycle Path Network and collect a postcode stamp at each stand. Everyone has until 4pm to collect all ten postcode stamps (for walkers, the aim is to collect 5 stamps) and hand them in at Fiveways Junction where participants will be entered into a prize draw.
A Challenge Card to collect your stamps will be given to you on the day with a map, or you can download it here and start planning your route!
All participants have the opportunity to win: (more prizes to come!)
Supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, the main aim is to raise awareness of the paths and their potential as a means of travel across the North of Edinburgh, as well as to get people active in a fun and community fuelled way.
The event takes place tomorrow (Sunday 1 July 1) from 11am to 4pm.
This event is one of several activities that ELGT and The Bike Station have delivered to work towards ‘Inflating the Innertube’.
… away free daffodil bulbs at Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust’s Innertube Christmas fun day this weekend!
On Sunday 11th December 2011, local environmental charity the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) will be getting active and improving biodiversity as well as delivering craft workshops and fun activities for families. This will take place on Edinburgh’s network of off-road cycling and walking paths as part of the Innertube project being delivered this year by the Bike Station and ELGT, funded by the People’s Postcode Trust ‘Dream Fund’.
The Innertube Christmas Fun Day is a free community event packed full of activities including Christmas crafts, bulb planting, making bird feeders, Dr Bike, storytelling and festive refreshments!
The event will take place at the Hawthornvale entrance to the Innertube cycle path network in Newhaven on Sunday from 11am – 2pm.
ELGT needs volunteers and families to come along to this free community drop in event to plant daffodil bulbs, listen to storytelling and make Christmas crafts with natural woodland materials. Volunteers will be rewarded with hot chocolate, mince pies and some free daffodil bulbs to take home and plant, either in the garden or in pots. There will also be the opportunity to have bikes checked by Dr Bike and make a bird feeder to take home and keep the birds fed this winter.
ELGT Community Projects Officer Esperanza Martin said: “Communities along the Innertube have been very active this year, carrying out environmental improvement activities such as conservation work, litter, vegetation and path clearance work as well as fun guided activities like bird, bat and heritage walks and storytelling. This community fun day is going to provide something for everyone and also the opportunity to celebrate the hard work that has been carried out in 2011!”
ELGT carries out practical environmental projects, such as the creation of community parks, gardens, woodlands, allotments and other greenspaces and works with communities in Edinburgh and the Lothians, getting people active and enjoying all kinds of greenspaces around the capital.
Quality local greenspaces are fantastic, free resources for play, education, exercise and enjoyment and can have a positive impact on health and wellbeing, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
To keep updated as this exciting & innovative greenspace project develops, sign up for email updates at www.elgt.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @greenspacetrust @innertubemap
You can follow the Innertube project and add your own stories by visiting the interactive project website innertubemap.com
ELGT
… away free daffodil bulbs at Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust’s Innertube Christmas fun day this weekend!
On Sunday 11th December 2011, local environmental charity the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) will be getting active and improving biodiversity as well as delivering craft workshops and fun activities for families. This will take place on Edinburgh’s network of off-road cycling and walking paths as part of the Innertube project being delivered this year by the Bike Station and ELGT, funded by the People’s Postcode Trust ‘Dream Fund’.
The Innertube Christmas Fun Day is a free community event packed full of activities including Christmas crafts, bulb planting, making bird feeders, Dr Bike, storytelling and festive refreshments!
The event will take place at the Hawthornvale entrance to the Innertube cycle path network in Newhaven on Sunday from 11am – 2pm.
ELGT needs volunteers and families to come along to this free community drop in event to plant daffodil bulbs, listen to storytelling and make Christmas crafts with natural woodland materials. Volunteers will be rewarded with hot chocolate, mince pies and some free daffodil bulbs to take home and plant, either in the garden or in pots. There will also be the opportunity to have bikes checked by Dr Bike and make a bird feeder to take home and keep the birds fed this winter.
ELGT Community Projects Officer Esperanza Martin said: “Communities along the Innertube have been very active this year, carrying out environmental improvement activities such as conservation work, litter, vegetation and path clearance work as well as fun guided activities like bird, bat and heritage walks and storytelling. This community fun day is going to provide something for everyone and also the opportunity to celebrate the hard work that has been carried out in 2011!”
ELGT carries out practical environmental projects, such as the creation of community parks, gardens, woodlands, allotments and other greenspaces and works with communities in Edinburgh and the Lothians, getting people active and enjoying all kinds of greenspaces around the capital.
Quality local greenspaces are fantastic, free resources for play, education, exercise and enjoyment and can have a positive impact on health and wellbeing, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
To keep updated as this exciting & innovative greenspace project develops, sign up for email updates at www.elgt.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @greenspacetrust @innertubemap
You can follow the Innertube project and add your own stories by visiting the interactive project website innertubemap.com
ELGT
