Wardieburn Community Clean up
Monday 23rd June – Wednesday 25th June 2025
Skips will be at Wardieburn Road, Wardieburn Street West and Wardieburn Street East
Items you no longer need or excess items that cause your normal bin to overflow
This DOES NOT include bulky waste such as mattresses, sofas or white goods
Despite recent heavy rain, long-term water scarcity pressures remain after one of the driest starts to the year for decades.
The latest water scarcity report from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) shows widespread improvement across the west of the country. In contrast, some catchments in the north and North East are continuing to deteriorate, while others have not seen enough rain to recover.
This week, Wick and Helmsdale river catchments have been raised to moderate water scarcity. If locally dry conditions continue, areas including the Avon catchment (Spey), the lower Dee and the Water of Feugh, and Helmsdale may reach Significant Scarcity next week – meaning restrictions on businesses taking water from the environment will be needed.
Rain over the past week has led to recovery in areas of the West Coast, Highlands and Islands. But the east has remained largely dry, due in part to the rain shadow effect where moist air loses much of its rain as it moves over mountains, leaving drier conditions on the other side.
This spring has been the second driest in 100 years in eastern Scotland and some areas have had below average rainfall for more than 12 months. While rain is forecast in the coming week, SEPA hydrologists say well above-average rainfall will be needed to reverse the effects of the long dry spell.
This week’s update
Measured data
SEPA’s Drought Risk Assessment Tool (DRAT) uses measured river flow data from gauging stations across the country, to monitor current environmental conditions. This data is combined with information from rainfall gauges, Met Office forecasts, soil moisture data, and fieldwork by SEPA staff to produce the national water scarcity picture.
If river flows at a DRAT station fall below a critical level (called Q95) for 30 days or more, the associated area is classed as at significant water scarcity. The tool is available to view online on SEPA’s website.
Claire Tunaley, Senior Hydrologist – Water Resources Unit, SEPA said: “By monitoring current river flows at key points across the country, and using rainfall data, soil moisture data, groundwater levels and what we see in the field, we can assess where recovery is happening and where risk remains.
“Our Drought Risk Assessment Tool, known as DRAT, uses data from river gauging stations to monitor flows closely. If flows at these stations fall below the Q95 threshold for 30 consecutive days, it indicates significant water scarcity and a high risk of ecological impact. Q95 means the flow is lower than it would be on 95% of days in a typical year – in other words, extremely low.
“When rivers reach critical lows, it affects the whole ecosystem – including fish, plants and the wider natural balance. Protecting these ecosystems now helps maintain the long-term health of our rivers.”
Regulatory restrictions
Eilidh Johnston, SEPA’s Senior Manager in Water Industry and Rural Economy, said: “SEPA has a clear duty to protect Scotland’s rivers and water environment, not just today but for the future. When conditions reach the point where any further reduction in flow would risk damage to the environment, we must act.
“We know that water is vital for people, farms and businesses, which is why we’ve been working so closely with abstractors and membership bodies to provide information about how the water scarcity situation has been developing in recent weeks. But when river levels fall too low for too long, we must act to prevent long-term harm to the environment and future supplies.
Any regulatory action we take is based on robust evidence-based assessments, using up-to-date scientific data and hydrological analysis. That includes measured river levels, rainfall records, soil moisture and weather forecasts – as well as insights from our field staff.
“If restrictions are necessary, they will be targeted, time-limited and lifted as soon as the conditions allow. We want to support Scotland’s water resilience, and we make our decisions based on science and hard facts. That’s what powers Scotland’s National Water Scarcity Plan and our weekly assessments. This is a coordinated, evidence-driven response to serious environmental pressure.”
More than 14,000 hectares of degraded peatlands have been restored across Scotland in the last year, helping to reduce carbon emissions and restore biodiversity.
Peatlands are areas of wet land that support habitats and species that are important for biodiversity, they also protect the wider ecosystem by improving water quality and reducing the severity of flooding.
Covering nearly two million hectares, Scotland is home to two-thirds of the UK’s peatlands. However, nearly three-quarters of Scotland’s peatlands is currently degraded.
The Scottish Government has pledged £250 million to support the restoration of 250,000 hectares of peatlands by 2030, with an interim target of 110,000 hectares by 2026. A total of 90,000 hectares have been restored since 1990 and 14,860 of those were completed throughout the 2024-25 financial year.
Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: “As we celebrate World Peatlands Day, I am very pleased to report Scotland’s Peatland ACTION partnership has put 14,860 hectares of degraded peatlands on the road to recovery last year. This is a new record in one year.
“Restoring peatland benefits our environment by reducing emissions, reducing risks of flooding and wildfires and improving water quality, it also invests in people and skills, creating green jobs in rural communities.
“This means we have exceeded our 2024 Programme for Government commitment and represents a 42% increase over the 10,360 hectares restored during 2023-24. I thank all of our partners for their sustained efforts and tenacity in delivering another milestone figure.”
Nick Halfhide, NatureScot Interim Chief Executive, said: “As key partners in the Scottish Government’s Peatland ACTION Partnership, NatureScot has successfully facilitated 65% of the restoration work completed in 2024-25.
“This significant achievement contributes substantially towards the overall target of 250,000 hectares of degraded peatland being put on the road to recovery by 2030.
“Restoring Scotland’s degraded peatlands is essential to addressing both the climate and nature emergencies – it makes a vitally important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while providing broader benefits for biodiversity and water quality.”
A key delivery partner of the Peatland ACTION Partnership, Forestry and Land Scotland has delivered 1744ha of peatland restoration work across Scotland in the last year surpassing its yearly target of 1500ha. CEO Kevin Quinlan said:
“Forestry and Land Scotland is proud to be supporting the Scottish Government’s commitment to restoring 250,000 hectares of peatlands by 2030 as a key delivery partner in the Peatland ACTION Partnership.
“Every site we restore adds to the scale of the contribution we make in efforts to transform and restore one of Scotland’s largest degraded ecosystems to create a far healthier landscape.”
NatureScot is due to publish the Peatland ACTION Annual Review 2024-25 this week.
NHS Lothian, and Asthma + Lung UK have praised the benefits of the LEZ, following a year of enforcement.
Experts at the NHS and a leading charity have highlighted the ongoing impact of the LEZ enforcement on air quality and health. In addition, the new rules have incentivised active travel and greater use of public transport.
A LEZ was introduced in Edinburgh on 31 May 2022, along with LEZs in Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee, restricting the most polluting vehicles and benefiting everyone’s health. Edinburgh began enforcement alongside Aberdeen on June 1, 2024. Dundee began enforcement on May 30, 2024, and Glasgow on June 1, 2023.
With Clean Air Day (19 June) just a few weeks away too this one-year anniversary is a timely reminder of the importance of the LEZ here in Edinburgh and beyond.
In recent years air quality in Edinburgh has improved, with our monitoring data showing reduced pollution levels, and people getting ready for the LEZ may have contributed to this.
Over the last year, the average amount of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued for non-compliant vehicles entering the zone has been decreasing steadily.
Between June 2024 and January 2025 alone the total number decreased by 56%. There is also evidence of lower numbers of second contraventions. The vast majority of vehicles entering the LEZ are compliant, over 95%. Around 3% of vehicles entering the LEZ are exempted classed.
The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) has also published a study indicating that active travel and public transport use increased within the LEZ during the first six months after LEZ enforcement.
The first annual report on LEZ operation is expected to be presented to the Transport and Environment Committee later this year, including air quality trends and how the scheme contributes to our carbon reduction targets, as well as operational matters such as the number of PCNs issued, costs of maintaining and operating the scheme, gross and net revenue and other key issues.
The Council is working with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) on data collection and analysis of the LEZ and will present a report in the Scottish Parliament that will help inform the national picture of LEZ impact.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson: “I’m proud that alongside Aberdeen, Dundee, and Glasgow we took the bold step of implementing and enforcing a LEZ. We’re sending a clear message that our major cities are united in pursuing a better future for all. Fundamentally, the LEZs are about making our cities healthier for everyone.
“As Scotland’s capital city, we have a duty to lead on the response to the climate and nature emergencies which will define our country for generations to come. Multiple studies show that even low levels of pollution can have an impact on our health.
“Road traffic is one of the main sources of harmful emissions that are damaging people’s health and contributing to climate change, so we have a real responsibility to tackle this.
“The average decrease in PCNs here in Edinburgh show that people are getting used to the LEZ and modifying their habits accordingly. It’s also encouraging to see studies showing a positive shift towards greater use of active travel and public transport.
I look forward to seeing the annual report when it is considered by Committee.
“The LEZ is one important tool to help us achieve our ambitious climate goals, including net zero emissions by 2030.”
Flora Ogilvie, Consultant in Public Health, NHS Lothian said: “It’s great to know that the LEZ enforcement has been in place for a year, helping to improve air quality in the city and protect the health of our most vulnerable residents.
“Improving air quality and reducing traffic levels are also an important way of encouraging more people to travel by walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport.
“Travelling sustainably can help improve individual physical activity levels and mental wellbeing, as well as supporting better environmental health for the whole population and planet.”
Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland said: “We are pleased that Edinburgh along with Dundee and Aberdeen made the bold move a year ago to ban the most polluting cars from their city and it is a step in the right direction to help improve the air that we all breathe.
“With air pollution cutting short thousands of lives a year, we want to see our cities become far healthier places, where people can walk and cycle and not be forced to breathe in dirty air.
“With 1 in 5 people in Scotland developing a lung condition like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in their lifetime, for them, air pollution can trigger life-threatening asthma attacks and flare-ups.
“Children are more susceptible to air pollution as their lungs are still growing, and they also breathe faster than adults. As they grow, toxic air can stunt the growth of their lungs, making them less resilient into adulthood and placing them at greater risk of lung disease in the future.”
77% of all PCNs in the last year were served to light passenger vehicles (private cars) and 21% to light goods vehicles (panel vans) with the remaining 2% being divided among the other classes of vehicle. 62.4% of PCNs are paid within 14 days at the discounted rate.
The penalty charge structure for all of Scotland’s LEZs is set by the Scottish Government.
The city council publishes regular updates on PCN figures on their website.
Income from the LEZ will be used in the first instance to pay for the operation and maintenance of the scheme. Any surplus income will be contributed towards Council projects which contribute towards the wider goals of the LEZ, particularly improving air quality and climate change emission reduction.
All LEZ monitoring and evaluation information will be made available on our webpages.
Air pollution is associated with between 29,000 and 43,000 deaths a year in the UK. The World Health Organization and the UK Government both recognise that air pollution is the largest environmental threat to our health.
Another key development is that the Low Emission Zone Support Fund has now resumed and is open to new applications. This is funded by Transport Scotland and administered by the Energy Saving Trust.
There are separate funds available for households, businesses and retrofitting vehicles. All eligibility criteria and application details can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website
The way in which offshore wind projects are developed in Scotland is being consulted on, with an updated plan now published for views.
The draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE) aims to balance the needs of nature, communities, and other users of the sea.
It will be used to help inform the delivery of offshore wind projects from the ScotWind and Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) seabed leasing rounds.
Proposals in the plan aim to:
Acting Net Zero and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: “Growing Scotland’s offshore wind sector presents enormous economic opportunities for our country, with the chance to create thousands of well-paid, green jobs while accelerating our journey to net zero.
“Our updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy sets out the opportunities as well as the constraints to developing offshore wind in Scottish waters.
“It seeks to provides clarity, certainty and confidence to investors and other marine users, to ensure development is sustainable and balances the needs of communities, nature and other users of the sea, to deliver for the people of Scotland and nature.
“It is important that everyone with an interest has their say and the Scottish Government will continue to engage closely with the fishing industry, island and coastal communities and other sectors throughout the consultation.”
Crown Estate Scotland Director of Marine, Mike Spain, said: “We welcome the publication of the draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan and encourage all those with an interest in Scotland’s offshore wind sector to engage with this consultation.
“We are proud to have conducted two successful offshore wind leasing rounds and are working in partnership with the sector to enable these projects to deliver maximum value for Scotland.”
Consultation – draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy
The consultation will run until 22 August 2025
Community projects across Scotland aimed at improving lives through local climate action are set to benefit from a share of £5.7 million Scottish Government funding.
Scotland’s nationwide network for Climate Action Hubs encourage and support climate action unique to their own areas from flood mitigation, repair shops and local energy generation to food growing and tree planting.
There is now a Hub covering every area in Scotland fulfilling a previous Programme for Government commitment to ensure people are empowered to act on climate in their own neighbourhoods.
Acting Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin confirmed the funding during a visit to Buckie Thistle Football Club which is being supported by Moray Climate Hub to reduce its impact on the environment and raise awareness of climate change in local schools.
Ms Martin said: “I am very pleased to hear first-hand how Moray Climate Hub has been helping communities in the area support climate action from working with their local football team to identify ways in which they can cut their emissions to setting up a biodiversity garden for adults with learning difficulties.
“Football clubs, like Buckie Thistle, play an influential role in their local community, and their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint will undoubtedly inspire others to do the same, and provide a template for climate action that other clubs can follow.
“Tackling climate change is our collective responsibility and will require collaborative action at all levels. We must also share in the economic and health benefits that protecting our planet for future generations will bring.
“Communities are uniquely placed to play a critical role in shaping and driving forward the transition to low carbon and climate resilient living and we want to empower people to take action in their neighbourhoods that’s right for them.
“That is why we are proud to continue to support our hugely successful framework of regional climate hubs, which provide a vehicle for communities to come together and engage in collective grassroots action.”
Moray Climate Hub Manager (Moray CAN) Louise Nicol said: “We’re delighted to receive continued funding , it means we can keep supporting communities across Moray to take meaningful climate action in ways that work for them.
“Working with Buckie Thistle has been great, and we are both learning so much from each other. Football is more than a game – it’s a community hub, and it’s a great way to open up conversations about the environment.”
Buckie Thistle Football Club General manager, Stephen Shand, said: “We’re very grateful for the support from Moray Climate Hub – it’s helped us get our heads around what we can do as a club to be more environmentally responsible.
“We’re just at the start of the journey, but it’s exciting to learn more and see where small changes can make a difference. The help we are getting to find funding has been a huge boost to the club.”
A total of 24 hubs have been set up across Scotland – fulfilling a 2024 Programme for Government commitment.
Contact information for climate action hubs.
The Scottish Government is providing up to £6 million of funding in 2025 – 2026 for its network of Climate Action Hubs alongside a support package for delivery. This is broken down as follows – with some funding still to be allocated:
| Hub | Total 25/26 Grant |
| Angus | 171,946.00 |
| Argyll and Bute | 158,208.00 |
| Ayrshire | 370,000.00 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 212,461.60 |
| Dundee | 163,895.00 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 105,985.00 |
| East Lothian | 166,617.00 |
| East Renfrewshire | 106,294.00 |
| Edinburgh | 375,000.00 |
| Fife | 307,505.00 |
| Forth Valley | 375,000.00 |
| Glasgow | 473,425.00 |
| Highlands & Islands | 476,952.00 |
| Inverclyde | 102,000.00 |
| Lanarkshire | 473,661.95 |
| Midlothian | 125,000.00 |
| Moray | 146,247.00 |
| North East | 510,895.00 |
| Outer Hebrides | 141,700.00 |
| Perth & Kinross | 165,000.00 |
| Renfrewshire | 162,000.00 |
| Scottish Borders | 171,151.33 |
| West Dunbartonshire | 70,960.00 |
| West Lothian | 170,985.00 |
| Total | 5,702,888.88 |
Following rainfall at the beginning of the week, some parts of Scotland have seen temporary improvements in water conditions. However, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is warning that parts of the country, particularly in the east, remain under pressure.
Most of the East Coast from Moray and Aberdeenshire down to the Borders remains at Moderate Scarcity.
The rain has improved ground conditions and permitted widespread recovery in the west. In the south-west, the river catchments of the Almond, Annan, Nith, Dee (Galloway) and Cree have recovered from Moderate Scarcity to Alert. It has also caused a similar recovery in the Almond catchment further east.
To the north, the Leven (Dunbartonshire), Loch Fyne, the Argyll coast, Loch Linnhe, the Lochy (Invernessshire), Loch Shiel, Loch Alsh and Loch Maree have all recovered and are now in Early Warning alongside the Inner and Outer Hebrides. The Awe and Etive area has recovered from Alert to Normal Conditions, due to the heaviest rain falling here.
The rest of Scotland remains at Alert.
Scotland experienced a drier than average autumn, winter and spring, leaving many rivers and aquifers struggling to recharge. Even with recent rain, groundwater remains low in many places.
The UK Climate Projections 2018 (UKCP18) forecast we would see hotter drier summers, heavier but more unpredictable rainfall and growing pressure on water resources. This is part of a long-term shift, and Scotland is already seeing the changes the climate models predicted.
Kenny Boag, Head of Environmental Performance (National) from SEPA said: “We’ve had rain in some areas but not widespread recovery. There has been some relief in parts of the West, for many river catchments the long-term deficit remains. It’s a complex picture, and while we welcome signs of recovery in some areas, most of the East Coast continues to experience water stress.
“Many catchments remain under significant pressure and the water environment is still in a vulnerable state. More rain is forecast over the next few days, but we need sustained rainfall in the right places over weeks, not just days, to make a real difference.
“SEPA continue to work closely with abstractors and sectors using water from our environment in the areas facing sustained water scarcity.
“Clear, early communication is being provided so no one is caught off guard. We know how important water is to the Scottish economy, particularly sectors like farming, food and drink, and energy – but we also know that without a healthy water environment those sectors cannot thrive.
“Balancing economic and environmental needs is at the heart of our role as a regulator. If restrictions are put in place, they will be proportionate and in place for a short time as possible. But we will act where necessary to protect the water environment because it underpins Scotland’s economy, communities and way of life.”
SEPA continues to urge everyone from farmers and producers to industry and manufacturers to continue using water efficiently and manage this shared resource responsibly. Advice is available on SEPA’s website, as well as from SEPA staff contacting abstractors with licences in areas at risk.
While the British weather can be a bit of a lottery, this Spring Bank Holiday (May 26, 2025) is a great opportunity to spend much-needed moments reconnecting with parks, woodlands and open spaces.
This comes after a recent UK survey by People’s Postcode Lottery, where 45% of respondents in Scotland said they do not have enough time to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of being in nature.
Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “The survey highlights that more people would like to spend time outside enjoying nature, so I hope this bank holiday provides an opportunity for many to embrace the great outdoors in their local park or woodland.
“The incredible plant species and wildlife in these areas offer a great way to reconnect with nature and enjoy its benefits.
“Players of People’s Postcode Lottery raised more than £40 million in 2024 for charities working to protect wildlife and the natural world.”
The UK-wide survey revealed attitudes, relationships and connections towards nature and the environment. Among these include attitudes towards lifestyle and environmental topics, including sustainability-focused practices.
Information from respondents living in Scottish postcodes found:
Empowering people to get out more
People’s Postcode Lottery supports a huge range of environmental charities, including Woodland Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and Friends of the Earth. These organisations help protect and preserve nature so everyone can spend more time in green spaces, forests, parks and beaches across their own postcodes and beyond.
You can get involved too; use this bank holiday to immerse yourself in nature, by taking on some nature trails with your family, organising a beach clean with your friends, or swapping your gym session for a run through your local park.
All of these are great ways to reconnect with the environment and benefit from the abundance of parks and open spaces available in your area.
An ‘ambitious’ prioritisation programme for projects under the City Mobility Plan (CMP), over the next decade, has been agreed by city councillors.
This programme effectively manages the resources we have, to continue to deliver on the city council’s CMP objectives to:
The council says it has engaged extensively on the CMP and its objectives over the years with a range of stakeholders.
This reports also outlines the future decision-making process, with an annual update report covering any proposed changes.
Prioritisation was scored against 15 separate criteria points across three key areas: Objectives, Deliverability and Financial. Some examples include impact on road safety, public transport, inequality, and capital raising challenges.
Over 70 projects are set to be taken forward, including:
Over 50 projects are recommended to be paused, the vast majority of which are already on hold or not started. There are also around five projects which are set to be paused for this financial year only. Again, these are all either on hold or not started.
The full list of projects and their statuses can be found in the report on the city council’s website.
The report was approved with amendments from the Administration and the SNP group, along with an addendum from the Green group.
Transport and Environment Convener, Cllr Stephen Jenkinson said: “I’m really pleased that we’ve agreed this bold programme for our city. Prioritisation allows us to work smarter with the resources we have available – making sure we have a clear and achievable path to achieving our objectives.
“This programme follows the successes of major infrastructure projects such as Trams to Newhaven and active travel projects including the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL), Roseburn to Union Canal and Leith Connections.
“This is an extensive piece of work which allows the City Mobility Plan to be agile, and able to adapt in the future as necessary.
“However, one key element in this conversation is the fact that we remain dependent on external funding for many projects, particularly from the Scottish Government and by extension Transport Scotland.
“Complex projects which take years to plan and complete but which are subject to annual external funding decisions makes this situation inherently difficult, we need commitment and stability from the Scottish Government if we’re to deliver the changes which our city needs and deserves.
“We’ll now take forward these projects which will keep Edinburgh moving and make our city a safer, more sustainable and accessible place for all.”
LIVING Streets Edinburgh wrote to city councillors prior to the meeting. The campaigners said: “We’re surprised, and very disappointed, to see no mention of some key initiatives which we were able to get included in the CMP delivery plan.
“Especially disappointing after the committee decided to freeze footway maintenance while increasing spending on roads, only last month.
“We’ve therefore sent councillors this message:
Dear Councillor
I’m writing in connection with the report on City Mobility Plan priorities, Item 7.5 on the TEC agenda for 22 May bit.ly/43ktlep The recommendations do not adequately reflect the CMP’s ambition to effect “a transformational change in walking and wheeling in Edinburgh”.
Over two years ago, two new initiatives were introduced into the Active Travel component of the City Mobility Plan: ‘Action for Better Crossings” (ABC) and the “Edinburgh Accessible Streets Initiative” EASI). These programmes (both proposed by us) finally offered the prospect of a strategic, rather than piecemeal, approach to addressing some of the most fundamental problems with getting around the city as a pedestrian – for example:
As we understand it, effectively nothing has been done yet to implement either initiative as a coherent programme. We had hoped that they would form a key part of this report. However, there is no mention whatsoever in the report of either ABC or EASI, despite Council having confirmed them as at the heart of CMP policy only last year (see attached).
Instead, some elements of ABC and EASI are simply noted as part of the ‘rolling programme’ in Appendix 4b. Paragraph 4.14 of the report states an expectation that these will be funded at “an overall level roughly equal to recent overall investment”. This isn’t good enough: there is no indication of how much money is budgeted for these schemes; certainly there has been no systematic investment at all in recent years in widening footways. Many of the other aspects like the pedestrian crossing programme and the crucial school streets reviews have huge backlogs owing to lack of resourcing.
These vital programmes need to be considered alongside, and on the same level playing field, as the active travel and public transport listed in Appendix 1.
Councillors should be able to consider whether investment in school streets, road safety, ABC or EASI is more or less worthy than these projects, whether they be George Street, Hawthornvale-Salamander Street, the Lindsey Bridge or Dalry 20 Minute Neighbourhood.
Otherwise the opportunity to consider where best to invest both staff time and capital funding is lost and a ‘silo’ approach is entrenched.
We also have serious concerns with the overly-complex methodology for assessing projects in Appendix 1. It gives no weighting to walking and wheeling (“top of the travel hierarchy”) and doesn’t sufficiently value schemes relatively modest but important to pedestrians such as Calton Road and the Causey.
These projects fail to score highly enough only because work on them has already been “paused’ for years.
However, the fundamental weakness of the report is to take too narrow an approach to evaluating a limited set of projects. We would therefore like to see the report deferred perhaps for two cycles, and a new report brought forward with a more strategic approach to future investment, including the programmes mentioned above.
David Hunter – Convener
Betty the Shark, an e-waste sculpture created by artist Johnathan Elders, has made another surprise appearance – this time at Edinburgh’s St James Quarter.
The spectacular basking shark, created using electronic waste, is promoting its future attendance at this year’s Edinburgh Climate Festival.
The free event is taking place at the Edinburgh Meadows on June 28th from 12 – 7pm and, much like Betty, aims to ignite community conversation on climate related issues.
The shark was sculpted as a metaphor for the appetite we hold for the latest tech, shining a light on overconsumption and the consequences of the waste we produce.
You can join Betty’s next journey in celebrating and inspiring climate action at the Edinburgh Climate Festival this June.
During the day you can also enjoy a variety of family-friendly performances, stalls, talks, free activities as well as other art installations alongside the sculpture.
The festival serves as a platform for locals to engage with & discover remarkable climate initiatives, just like Betty the Shark, that are taking place in Edinburgh whilst also enjoying an exciting day out with their families.
Franciele Sobierai, ECF’s Event Coordinator, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Betty the Shark to this year’s Edinburgh Climate Festival.
“Her powerful message about overconsumption and e-waste really captures the spirit of what our festival is all about: inspiring change through creativity, education, and community action.
“We invite everyone to come along, see Betty up close, and be part of a day that celebrates climate action in fun, engaging, and meaningful ways.”
You can find Betty the Shark at Edinburgh’s St James Centre until June 23rd, when she will be getting ready to swim over to the Edinburgh Meadows for her spot at the Edinburgh Climate Festival on the 28th.
You can learn more about the festival & get involved by visiting the links available here
Betty the Shark was created using discarded waste collected by CCL North and is supported by Cognition Art, Edinburgh Remakery, Edinburgh Science, Outer Spaces & Creative Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Climate Festival is brought to you by Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) & Networking Key Services (NKS), through the Communities’ Reduce Reuse & Recycle (C3R) Project.
The festival is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund and is supported by The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University.
