FREE MONDAY MORNING SESSIONS FOR NORTH EDINBURGH FAMILIES
Join our new family-friendly cycling group in North Edinburgh!
Explore the local area on short rides led by two qualified cycle leaders on Monday mornings. We’ve still got places for our next session on Monday 2 September at 10am.
We have a limited number of bikes available to borrow – just let us know your needs when booking! All children must be 8+ and accompanied by an adult.
These sessions are FREE for residents of Muirhouse, Pilton, Granton, and Drylaw. Priority will be given to local community members and NEA Members.
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, is celebrating National Allotment Week (12-18 August) by inviting gardening enthusiasts along to its Edinburgh store for a series of free Grow How workshops throughout the month, focusing on allotment gardening.
The sessions are designed for both seasoned allotment pros and those just starting out, gaining valuable skills and knowledge to make plots flourish, taking place on the first Saturday of the month, then every Wednesday throughout August at 10.30am and 3.30pm at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store.
Dobbies’ Grow How sessions will equip gardeners on the best late-summer crops to sow in August for a flourishing harvest later in the season, how to prune your summer fruits to maximise its yield and ways you can ready the allotment for any upcoming holidays with watering techniques.
For the month of August, guests attending Grow How sessions in the Edinburgh store will have the chance to donate to the Stroke Association, to mark National Allotment Week. Dobbies has supported Stroke Association for several years. Gardening is known to have a positive impact on both the physical and emotional recovery of stroke survivors and the charity supports several groups with allotments across the UK.
Dobbies’ Plant Buyer, Nigel Lawton, is looking forward to welcoming people along to August’s sessions in Edinburgh. He said: “Growing your own produce is something that we’re really passionate about at Dobbies.
“It is also growing in popularity, as many gardeners recognise the benefits of growing fresh produce in both the taste and the positive impact it can have on physical and mental health.
“A thriving allotment isn’t just about delicious homegrown produce – it’s about getting your hands dirty, enjoying the outdoors and feeling a sense of accomplishment.
“We’re thrilled to be working alongside our friends at the Stroke Association to encourage gardeners of all abilities to learn valuable skills and discover how allotments can benefit wellbeing at our Grow How sessions in the Edinburgh store.”
Saul Heselden, Head of Corporate Partnerships at the Stroke Association, said: “Recovering from a stroke can bring lots of challenges, but finding joy in the simple pleasures of nature can make a real difference.
“Gardening can provide a much-needed boost to both your physical and mental health, and allotments provide an affordable way for people to experience the benefits of gardening, while also growing their own produce.
“Right now, the Stroke Association can only reach one-third of the survivors who most need support. We want to reach all those in need, but we can only do this with the generosity of our supporters like Dobbies. We’re incredibly grateful they have chosen to fundraise through the Grow How workshops at the Edinburgh store to raise vital funds for people affected by stroke.”
Dobbies is also a sponsor of the Stroke Association’s Strength in Bloom virtual garden, where visitors are invited to donate by planting symbolic flowers and trees, or selecting a plaque to dedicate to an individual affected by stroke.
To celebrate some of the sporting events taking place this summer, including the Euro’s, Scottish Golf Open and the Olympics, The Centre, Livingston has invited three charities and a social enterprise to take part in its ‘Jump into Summer’ sports themed events programme, which includes a ‘Beat the Goalie’ challenge in a Euro’s football pop up, basketball and table tennis ‘try outs’ and 44 free daily workshops.
The action-packed event is designed to give visitors the chance to try out a new sport or improve their skills and join in the various free sessions for kids of all ages, running from Saturday, 29th June until Monday, 12th August, from 11am – 4pm each day.
In partnership with West Lothian Community Foundation, a Euro’s football pop up will be located at the activity hub near Waterstones from the 4th – 8th July where shoppers can take part in a ‘Beat the Goalie’ challenge and get help from the coaches on how to improve their technique.
Newly signed players from Livingston FC will also be joining in the fun on Friday, 5th at 1.30pm.
To tie in with the Scottish Golf Open, a golf simulator will also be in situ at the activity hub to encourage people to try their hand at the sport or improve their speed and swing from Friday 12th – 14th July.
Lothian Phoenix Wheelchair Basketball Club will also be taking part in the event with various demonstrations and opportunities for shoppers to see how many hoops they can shoot, from Friday 26th – Sunday, 28th July.
On the 3rd and 4th of August West Lothian Community Table Tennis Club, which is a charity based at The Centre, Livingston will also be providing taster and mini coaching sessions.
Leaderboards will chart the best results on the day at the sports pop ups with lucky shoppers being in with a chance of winning £25 Gift Cards.
To highlight the benefits of cycling, Livingston based social enterprise, West Lothian Bike Library, will be taking up residency next to Car Park 1 on Wednesday, 7th August from 11 – 2pm, where they will also be carrying out bike safety checks.
From the 29th June until the 12th August, on all 44 days, families can take part in a wide variety of free workshops with activity leaders from workouts and storytelling sessions to painting classes and a one mile lap of the shopping centre on Saturday, 10th August at 11am, with kids receiving a wooden keepsake medal at the end for taking part.
There will also be a ‘Spot the Sport’ trail to find pictures in 10 shop windows and on completion, families can enter a weekly prize draw to win a £50 Gift Card every week. All activities are free with the option to donate to any of the four summer charity partners.
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “Our ‘Jump into Summer’ sports themed programme, which links into some brilliant events this summer, is packed with lots of free fun-filled activities for kids of all ages.
“This is a great opportunity for us to give visitors the chance to either try out a new sport or improve their skills with the help of some fantastic coaches.
“The event also gives us another opportunity to support and shine a light on the great work that our summer charity partners are doing in the local community, including West Lothian Community Foundation, Lothian Phoenix Wheelchair Basketball Club, West Lothian Community Table Tennis Club and West Lothian Bike Library.”
For more information on all free activities, check out www.thecentrelivingston.com.
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Join our new family-friendly cycling group in North Edinburgh! 
