Sainsburys Blackhall are proud to have supported Dorothy and Joanna Bissett with their fundraising for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
The ladies had organised a sponsored 5K run through Inverleith Park on 13 September to raise funds for Breakthrough breast cancer and Sainsburys Bakery Manager Scott McDowell from our Blackhall store made and donated 150 pink cupcakes to raise funds too!
Gail, Sainsbury’s Blackhall
New Caledonian Woodlands needs your vote for Inverleith Park project
New Caledonian Woodlands has been shortlisted for the Bank of Scotland Community Fund 2014 in the Edinburgh North category – and needs your support!
By encouraging the public to vote, we have a chance to be awarded a grant of up to £3,000 from Bank of Scotland to enable us to continue doing good work in the community.
New Caledonian Woodlands are an Edinburgh-based charity that exist to enhance Scotland’s natural environment, inspire positive environmental behaviour change and improve mental and physical well-being in our community. We deliver a range of projects combining environmental sustainability with education about wider environmental issues, whilst utilising environmental activities to achieve improvements in mental and physical well-being.
Over the course of a year we work with around 100 referred participants and 1000 volunteers in a range of programmes to benefit those struggling with their mental well-being and encourage community ownership of caring for local woodlands.
We educate people about the important role they need to play in a range of environmental issues, from habitat conservation to climate change and carbon footprint reduction.
Participants on our projects work together in a friendly and relaxing atmosphere,
in a setting that benefits individuals in terms of self-esteem growth, learning transferable skills and community involvement.
Currently, our site located in Inverleith Park lacks adequate work space for our mental health participants to carry out their projects and limits the amount of individuals we can work with at any given time. We have plans to greatly enhance the space into an environmentally sustainable facility to accommodate and expand on the various mental health, employability and environmental volunteer projects we currently offer.
Being awarded this grant would help us put some tangible changes into place, the first being an outdoor Iron Age roundhouse to be used as a sheltered area for our mental health participants to hand craft products which they will then go on to sell.
Andy Ross, coordinator and founder of New Caledonian Woodlands, said: “The Bank of Scotland Community Fund could give us an amazing opportunity to build workshop space in our Edinburgh site that meets the needs of our Fruitful Woods and Good Wood mental health and employability projects. An Iron Age roundhouse will be built by our project participants and then used by them as a dry workshop space to carry out a range of activities – from making baskets to wooden spoons to small pieces of furniture. We anticipate that the roundhouse will be used by 80 participants per year from our mental health and employability projects, and will be a part of their recovery journey.”
The Bank of Scotland Community Fund was set up to help local people across Scotland have a positive impact at the hearts of their communities by giving grants to 232 local good causes in 58 Scottish communities.
Four good causes in each community have been shortlisted and Bank of Scotland is inviting everyone to vote for the causes they’d most like to support.
Members of the public can vote for their preferred community group on-line, by SMS or Twitter, or in a Bank of Scotland branch from 2 September to 10 October 2014. The local good cause that receives most votes in each community will receive an award of £3,000, with the other groups receiving £2,000, £1,000 or £500 depending on the votes received.
You can find out more about the Community Fund and New Caledonian Woodlands and cast your vote by visiting the Bank of Scotland Community Fund website at:
www.BankofScotland.com/communityfund
Voting for the 2014 Community Fund is open until Friday 10 October.
Inverleith Park was alive with animal-loving celebs yesterday. Why? The local park is very popular with dog-walkers so it was the ideal place to announce some great news for our four-legged friends. Thousands of pets now face a brighter future as PDSA has just been awarded £500,000 from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
The cash boost will be used by the charity’s vets and nurses to extend vital treatment and education programmes across the UK.
Last year alone, over 470,000 pet owners turned to PDSA for help to care for their pets – a figure that has risen by more than 50% in recent years. Annually, it costs over £60 million to run PDSA’s charitable service – all of which is funded entirely by public support and reinforces the fact that the UK is a nation of animal lovers.
PDSA Director General, Jan McLoughlin, said: “We’re delighted to receive this support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery which will make a massive difference to pets’ lives.
“Through our network of 50 pet hospitals and our education work in schools and in communities we’re able to touch the lives of more pets than any other UK animal charity.
“Every single day our amazing team of vets and nurses work flat out to deliver not just life saving treatment but also vital advice and preventive care that gives all pets the chance of healthy, happy lives.”
The funding, made possible by players of People’s Postcode Lottery will be used by PDSA to help support thousands of pets nationwide through education, prevention and treatment.
The charity was joined at yesterday’s cheque presentation – which thankfully took place before the thunder and lightning! – by a number of animal-loving celebrities including members of Britain’s Olympic silver-medal winning Curling squad, skippered by David Murdoch, and People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador, singer Danyl Johnson, at Inverleith.
David Murdoch, Scottish curler and animal lover, said: “As the proud owner of a dog myself I know only too well the joy pets can bring to our lives. I think PDSA is an amazing charity and this funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery will safeguard the lives of thousands of adored pets.”
Singer Danyl Johnson, who owns a spaniel called Darcie, said he was delighted for PDSA. He said: “I have first-hand experience of PDSA’s lifesaving work having visited one of their hospitals last year. The vets and nurses really are unsung heroes, helping all those sick and injured pets that have nowhere else to turn. I’m thrilled that this money is going to such a worthy cause.”
Hazel Johnstone, Trusts Manager at People’s Postcode Lottery added: “People’s Postcode Lottery is a charity lottery raising funds for, and increasing awareness of, charities and good causes. Pets are a huge part of people’s lives and PDSA’s work is a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of pets and their owners in the city and communities nationwide.
“We are delighted that our players are able to provide this support to PDSA, the UK’s leading veterinary charity, to help its vital work.”
North Edinburgh Time Bank and Speakeasy are organising a fun afternoon of play activities at Inverleith Park on the Monday 19 May school holiday.
Anyone and everyone welcome – meet at midday at North Edinburgh Arts!
The Foodies Festival has returned to Inverleith Park this weekend …
This year’s new features including the Cake & Bake Theatre, Chocolate Theatre and BBQ Arena all went down a storm at the first of eight Foodies Festivals that took place in Brighton last weekend.
Top chefs from across Scotland, including Michelin-starred Jeff Bland from The Balmoral Hotel, Craig Sandle of The Pompadour by Galvin, Great British Menu contestant Mark Greenaway, Neil Forbes of Cafe St Honoré and John Quigley of Red Onion will cook their signature dishes live in the Chefs’ Theatre and explain how amateur cooks can prepare the same dishes at home. The theatre will be compered over the three days by Foodies veteran Jacqueline O’Donnell of The Sisters in Glasgow.
As well as culinary lessons from the experts, Fringe Festival acts Gyles Brandreth and Stephen K Amos, who has competed on Celebrity Masterchef, will be donning chef hats and giving comical demonstrations.
Now in its seventh year, Foodies Festival has introduced new features to all events in 2013. These include a spectacular Cake and Bake Theatre in association with Electrolux incorporating a ‘bake-along’ with members of the audience invited to participate.
2013 also sees the introduction of a dedicated Chocolate Theatre to showcase the world of chocolate and confectionary with daily demonstrations from David Greenwood-Haigh of Divine Chocolate. The specially-designed BBQ Arena features hourly BBQ classes and Man vs Meat competitions where contestants cook their own chicken wings, ribs, sausages and burgers and are then given 60 seconds to eat as much of their creations as possible with the crowd judging who made the best effort.
In 2013, food-lovers can also enjoy the new dining and VIP area serving signature dishes from pop-up versions top Scottish restaurants. The bar area has had a countryside makeover complete with hay bales and a focus on British cider and ale. There is also a wide variety of tent and pagoda bars throughout the site selling cocktails, wine and champagne. Foodies is proud to provide a platform to launch new drinks brands every year.
These new elements complement Foodies’ existing features including the Drinks Theatre where regular classes and demonstrations are given by some of the most talented sommeliers and mixologists and drink experts in the UK.
The extensive Producers’ Market sells a vast array of artisan produce from the local area and incorporates the Guild of Fine Food award-winning British produce.
Foodies will be showcasing local producers in Edinburgh including Summer Harvest Oils who will be selling their range of award-winning cold-pressed rapeseed oils, dressings, vinegars and mayonnaise.
Last year saw the successful introduction of Street Food Avenue to all Foodies events. In 2013 the Edinburgh crowds can again enjoy the huge selection of ready-to-eat hot and cold food from around the world including hog roasts, exotic meats, tapas, churros, burritos, Moroccan tagines, South American prime beef, sausages, pizza, Jamaican and Thai street food.
The Children’s Cookery Theatre ensures children get involved and have the opportunity to learn more about eating and cooking healthy food with hands-on daily classes.
Relaxation in 2013 comes in the form of a City Beach where families can chill out on deckchairs with an artisan ice-cream or an afternoon tea whilst children build sandcastles. Various specialist tea, coffee and fresh juice vendors can be found around the site.
The entertainment stage features live music acts performing every day until the later closing time this year of 8pm.
Saturday 10th August, 10am – 8pm
Sunday 11th August, 10am – 8pm
Visit the Edinburgh Foodies website which has all the information you need including schedules of the Chef’s Theatre and Masterclasses.
You can follow Foodies on twitter @FoodiesFestival and like them on Facebook.
Tickets for Foodies Edinburgh are available via this link or by calling 0844 995 1111.
One-day ticket £12 (concession £10). VIP tickets cost £38
Entry is free for children aged 16 and under accompanied by an adult.
Price includes entry into the Chefs’ Theatre, Food Masterclass, Drinks Masterclass and Kids’ Cookery Theatres and they must be registered for upon arrival (first come first served).
Wanted to remind you about the free, fun event taking place this afternoon in Inverleith. ‘The BIG Search’ is a treasure hunt / quest type event that involves reading clues and finding the answers across the area from Blackhall to Warriston!
Open to teams of children, young people, adults and families of up to 6 people (at least one must be aged 16+), every participant will get a teeshirt and goody bag and the winning team will get exciting prizes!
Pick up your packs from 1pm at either Stockbridge or Blackhall Libraries and bring your sheets back at 4pm to Inverleith Park where there will be fun activities and BBQ (weather permitting).
Please come along and take part and please tell your friends, families and neighbours about this first in Inverleith! The event is organised by the Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership’s Children and Families Action Group.
Thanks to Ocean Terminal and Scottish Gas for their support in this event.
Elaine Lennon, Partnership Development Officer
Tel: 0131 529 5270
Bad weather has forced the organisers of the Edinburgh’s end of festival fireworks concert to move its family viewing area from Inverleith Park into the city centre.
Big screens and loudspeakers are usually set up in Inverleith Park to allow more people to enjoy the annual finale, but the park is waterlogged in places after persistent heavy rain and cannot be used for Sunday night’s event.
Viewing areas will now be set up on Waverley Bridge and to the north of Princes Street instead.
Waverley Bridge will close to traffic for the first time this year to provide more space for people to gather and becomes an official viewing area for the first time, and speakers will also be installed to relay the music played by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra as the fireworks are set off over Edinburgh Castle.
There will also be another viewing area on the north of Princes Street, between Castle Street and Frederick Street, for families and people with disabilities.
The Edinburgh International Festival said it would put a proportion of its allocation of Princes Street Gardens tickets on sale tomorrow (Thursday) at 10am rather than the day before the display, as is usually the case, to help those who had planned on going to Inverleith Park to make alternative arrangements.
Inverleith Park’s the place to be this weekend for food fans. The local park is the venue for Edinburgh’s Foodies Festival, a chance to meet top chefs and experience the most exciting mix of food, drink and culinary talent.
You will see cooking demonstrations from Michelin starred and top chefs including Ed Baines, Levi Roots, Martin Blunos, Rachel Green and Cyrus Todiwala who will prepare their favourite recipes for you and show you how to prepare these dishes at home.
You can sample and buy artisan food from over 100 exhibitors, indulge in signature dishes from top restaurants and sip summer cocktails shaken by expert mixologists.
Enjoy cuisine from around the world, showcased in the Street Food Avenue; relax in a deckchair and enjoy an ice cream on the Jamie magazine City Beach; children can enjoy hands on cookery classes in the brand new Childrens Cookery School.
Make a full day of it with a unique mixture of masterclasses from top experts in the Food and Drinks Theatre, entertainment and music on the live stage.
Edinburgh Foodies Festival, Inverleith Park
For further information visit www.foodiesfestival.com/
Bring your pampered pooch to St Columba’s sponsored dog walk at Inverleith Park, with a dog show, agility course, doggy manicures and lots more!
The Bark in the Park event to raise funds for St Columba’s Hospice has been rescheduled. The doggie extravaganza was due to take place on 29 July, but following the summer deluge the event had to be postponed. However organisers have set a new date for Bark in the Park and it will now take place on Sunday 26 August at Inverleith Park.
Edinburgh’s four legged friends are invited to put their best paw forward and come along to Bark in the Park on Sunday 26 August – a doggy-themed day out at Inverleith Park in aid of St Columba’s Hospice.
Registration from 9.30am
Wufts dog show starts at 10.30am
Activities run from 10am – 1pm
Dog walk starts at 11am.
As well as a sponsored dog walk around the park, there will be lots of extra activities guaranteed to get tails wagging. Back again, after its ‘barking’ success last year is the ‘Wufts’ dog show, judged by experienced judge and breeder Fiona McKinlay.
Owners who think their canine is Crufts material have a chance of walking away with one of five prizes:
Most Handsome Dog
Waggiest tail
Best Six Legs
Best small dog
Best large dog
For playful pups there will also be an agility course to try out, while for more pampered pooches, doggy manicures and grooming will be available.
Entry costs just £7.50 per dog in advance or £10 on the day and St Columba’s requests that all entrants try to raise at least £25 sponsorship. Entry to the Wufts dog show competition is £5 per dog. So come along for a great day out and give your pampered pooch a real treat!
To sign up, contact St Columba’s Hospice fundraising team on 0131 551 1381 or email fund@stcolumbashospice.org.uk
Bark in the Park 2012 is kindly sponsored by Batchelor, Davidson and Watson Veterinary Surgeons.
