The Friends of Saughton Park are celebrating our 10 year anniversary with a community event on Saturday 27 July from 12 till 4pm.
There will be music at the band stand and family activities – hope you can come and celebrate with us!
Today, 11 November, over 200 community groups from across Scotland have been recognised by environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful, for their efforts to support and enhance their local communities, for the climate and for nature.
At a virtual 2021 Beautiful Scotland and It’s Your Neighbourhood Seminar and celebration event, 18 It’s Your Neighbourhood entrants from Edinburgh were congratulated for their efforts with a certificate of achievement (see table below), with four also receiving a Certificate of Distinction for continuous improvement.
In addition, Friends of Starbank Park also won second place in the NatureScot It’s Your Neighbourhood Pollinator Friendly Awards.
Catherine Gee, Deputy CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “With the world’s biggest and most important climate change conference to date taking place in Glasgow this week, it is brilliant to be celebrating the work of these communities in Edinburgh who are taking action now.
“We know that across Scotland people are committed to improving and enhancing the places that they care about. And, through the It’s Your Neighbourhood entrants we hear of people doing their bit to understand their own greenhouse emissions and to support nature in the places they care about. These people are making a real difference and I would like to thank them for inspiring us every day.”
This year, three NatureScot It’s Your Neighbourhood Pollinator Friends Awards were presented at the seminar and Friends of Starbank Park, scooped second place, winning £150.
Jim Jeffrey, Pollinator Strategy Manager with NatureScot, who announced the award said: “Once again the Keep Scotland Beautiful Pollinator Friendly Award has attracted a host of interesting entries. The standard just gets better each year.
“Making space for nature, as we face up to the twin threat of climate change and biodiversity loss, has never been more important, and each of the community groups in this category have impressed with the range of actions they are taking.
“The winning projects were among a of number of great examples showing how working together we can help pollinators, whilst making our communities and green spaces more appealing, and fantastic places to spend time in.”
The annual seminar celebrated everything that the entrants, from 30 local authority areas, have achieved in their communities to combat climate change and support biodiversity.
Entrants have also worked to enhance their neighbourhoods, involve the community, and improve areas through gardening and horticulture while tackling litter and other environmental quality challenges.
Speakers included representatives from various entrants from across Scotland, sharing their inspiring stories and delegates also heard about the exciting opportunity to get involved with Scotland’s Climate Festival.
It’s Your Neighbourhood entrants were visited by one of 23 trained volunteer assessors who provide their support, expertise and guidance through the It’s Your Neighbourhood framework which is a part of the UK-wide RHS Britain in Bloom campaign.
RHS Community Development Manager Kay Clark said: “Community gardening groups are showing that, through their work, they can bring communities together, transform outdoor spaces and work in support of wildlife and the local environment.
“They are showing that gardening has a role to play in addressing the challenges that we collectively face and that is every reason to celebrate.”
If you would like to join the #OurBloom family, gain access to support and advice, and help us to keep Scotland beautiful, online registration for 2022 will open in mid-January on the Keep Scotland Beautiful website.
The Edinburgh entrants and their results can be found in the table below:
| Group Name | Local authority area | IYN Certificate 2021 | Level 2021 | Certificate of Distinction 2021 |
| Balerno Village Gardeners | City of Edinburgh | Outstanding | 5 | Y |
| Craigentinny Community Gardening Project | City of Edinburgh | Improving | 2 | |
| Ferry Road Allotments | City of Edinburgh | Outstanding | 5 | |
| Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden | City of Edinburgh | Thriving | 4 | Y |
| Friends of Lauriston Castle Estate | City of Edinburgh | Advancing | 3 | |
| Friends of Morningside Cemetery | City of Edinburgh | Thriving | 4 | |
| Friends of Saughton Park | City of Edinburgh | Outstanding | 5 | |
| Friends of Starbank Park (NatureScot IYN Pollinator Friendly Award – second place) | City of Edinburgh | Outstanding | 5 | Y |
| Heart of Newhaven | City of Edinburgh | Advancing | 3 | |
| Inch View Care Home | City of Edinburgh | Thriving | 4 | |
| Inspiring Hillside | City of Edinburgh | Advancing | 3 | |
| Inverleith Allotments | City of Edinburgh | Outstanding | 5 | |
| Kirkliston in Bloom | City of Edinburgh | Establishing | 1 | |
| Lochend Community Growing Project | City of Edinburgh | Outstanding | 5 | Y |
| Northfield Community Growing Group | City of Edinburgh | Advancing | 3 | |
| The Lions’ Gate | City of Edinburgh | Advancing | 3 | |
| The Sorted Project | City of Edinburgh | Improving | 2 | |
| Victoria After School Club | City of Edinburgh | Thriving | 4 |
HRH The Earl of Forfar KG GCVO paid a visit to Saughton Park yesterday to join Keep Scotland Beautiful as they celebrated the commitment of volunteers and supporters dedicated to improving our environment.
During his visit, to the recently restored, and Green Flag Award winning park, The Earl of Forfar met with city council staff and a number of groups and individuals who work with the charity to tackle litter, combat climate change and improve local places.
His Royal Highness met with volunteers from the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis Park community group who shared their experiences of the Green Flag programme across Scotland and in particular the role they play.
He also heard about the longstanding Beautiful Scotland and It’s Your Neighbourhood programme in Scotland, meeting a passionate judge and assessor, Colin Ainsworth, and volunteers from Friends of Saughton Park Group and Bonnie Blantyre and Pals Community Group who discussed the challenges and opportunities facing community improvement projects during the pandemic.
A young reporter, Callum Alexander, who is eager to raise awareness of the importance of improving our environment, and KSB’s education team were then able to share their experiences with The Earl of Forfar before he was introduced to KSB’s June Clean Up Scotland Hero, Jason Wilcox, who highlighted his litter picking activity with the West Lothian Litterpickers and the scale of the problem as we have eased out of lockdown.
His Royal Highness also met with representatives of Keep Porty Tidy a group involved in our My Beach Your Beach campaign at Portobello.
Finally, The Earl of Forfar was introduced to a number of volunteer Charity Trustees and was invited to present our outgoing Chair Lindsay Montgomery CBE, and John Frater with Fellowship Certificates to make their long service to the charity.
Tom Brock OBE, KSB Chairman said, “It was an honour to be able to introduce His Royal Highness, The Earl of Forfar, to some of the truly amazing volunteers we work with, from our outgoing Charity Trustees to the communities, local authorities and young people who are all working tirelessly to keep Scotland beautiful.
“Our connection and need for clean, green spaces has never felt more important and it was a privilege for us to celebrate and showcase the work being done across the country by passionate individuals all striving to improve places and neighbourhoods and play a key role in Scotland’s green recovery.
“I would like thank The Earl for showing such an interest in the work we, and those we work with, do to make Scotland clean, green and sustainable for everyone.”
The efforts of 14 Edinburgh groups have been acknowledged by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful at an online seminar yesterday.
North Edinburgh is well represented among these green-fingered groups, with awards for Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, Fresh Start Growers, Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden, Friends of Lauriston Castle Estate, Friends of Starbank Park and North Edinburgh Arts Gardening Group.
The other capital groups to receive awards are Balerno Village Gardeners, Craigentinny Community Gardening Project, Craigentinny Primary Parent Council, Friends of Morningside Cemetery, Friends of Saughton Park, Inch View Care Home, Inspiring Hillside and Northfield Community Growing Group.
Annually Keep Scotland Beautiful runs two community environmental improvement programmes in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society; the competitive Beautiful Scotland campaign and the It’s Your Neighbourhood initiative.
A full list of the 14 groups from Edinburgh can be found in the attached table (below).
Faced with the challenges of 2020, there has never been a more important time to recognise and celebrate the achievements of communities and individuals across Edinburgh.
Throughout lockdown and the following months, groups have worked tirelessly to improve their communities through horticulture, environmental responsibility and working in partnership for the benefit of residents, visitors and our natural environment.
Despite circumstances this year, 47 new entrants were welcomed to the network, and although judging and mentoring visits were not able to take place due to restrictions across Scotland, groups were still supported with online seminars, networking events, question and answer sessions and a weekly e-newsletter.
Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful said, “We know that lockdown resulted in many people reconnecting with green and blue spaces local to them. Yet, it has also been a particularly challenging year for the communities who strive every year to protect and enhance the places they live and work in.
“I’d like to thank all the groups in Edinburgh for the efforts they have made to keep Scotland beautiful this year.”
Although many of the groups had to stop or curtail their planned activities for the year, we have been blown away by what they have managed to achieve – whether that be setting up a food bank, encouraging and supporting others to grow their own, creating virtual garden tours, connecting their members through online catch ups and keeping their neighbourhoods bright and cheerful.
If you’d like to join the network in 2021, check out the website for inspiration and details on how to get involved:
www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/BeautifulScotland or www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/IYN
Saughton Park celebration 11am – 4pm
Saturday 31st August, 11am – 4pm
The Orchard Project been collaborating with City of Edinburgh Council and Friends of Saughton Park to improve their orchard as part of a large renovation of Saughton Park. Orchard Project’s Chris Macefield, explains:
Saughton Park has recently undergone a refurbishment, and HRH Princess Anne officially reopened the park on the 6th June. The Orchard Project, in partnership with Bulmers, were called in to assist with improving the orchard that lies within the park. We’ve provided trees, training, technical advice and tools for this community project.
HRH Princess Anne officially re-opens Saughton Park following an £8million refurbishment. Photo by Greg Macvean.
We supported the Friends of Saughton Park members by facilitating the planting of over 40 fruit trees in this historic walled garden, demonstrating how to grow trained trees, such as espaliers, cordons and fan forms. The fruit varieties planted include plum, apple, pear, quince, fig, peach and mulberry.
Sarah Bennett, one of the Friends of Saughton Park members, said: “We started out by visiting other orchards and talking to fruit experts and tasting apples before we selected any varieties. It’s been great fun and fingers crossed we will soon have fruit to eat. As a group we are so excited at what lies ahead – we have plans to plant a wild fruit orchard and organise apple days and blossom picnics.”
HRH is the patron of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, which is another partner organisation involved in developing the park. The royal opening was a great celebration of the commitment from local residents and the groups active in supporting the park.
HRH Princess Anne in Edinburgh Photo by Greg Macvean
There are plans to develop further areas for fruit growing within the park, along with dedicated wildlife habitat zones, in addition to a ‘Physic Garden’ with lots of interesting medicinal and culinary herbs.
To get involved in this exciting project, contact Sarah Bennett on friendsofsaughtonpark@gmail.com
FRIENDS of SAUGHTON PARK
The Friends of Saughton Park are an active and engaged group who wanted to include a community orchard as part of the park’s regeneration.
The Orchard Project have been working onsite since last year, running foraging and grafting workshops and the park’s Garden Party to share the orchard plans with the wider community. The Orchard was planted last winter and the Friends are forever engaged and enthusiastic and are often the first to sign up to trainings, visits and events, which The Orchard Project organises.
The Friends group really appreciate the support of The Orchard Project, which has given them focus for developing their site. They submitted an application for the Edinburgh Orchard Summit this year organised by TOP, and won £400 to improve their orchard’s watering system. They ran an Apple Day this year in collaboration with The Welcoming Centre, a space for refugees.
Shona is also part of the Saughton Park orchard group, and acts as the Chair of the Friends group. She is a fiercely enthusiastic orchard leader, and has attended many trainings and events with TOP, including supporting the Apple Day event at the Royal Botanical Gardens of Edinburgh.
Shona used to work on the cheese counter at Waitrose and has recently got a new job with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society to run their grow & learn courses. This change of work and sector was made possible, in part, by her involvement with the orchard.
