Detectives are appealing for information following the attempted robbery of a woman in Leith.
The incident happened between 11.30pm and 11.50pm on Tuesday, 10 December, 2024 on Leith Links.
Two men pushed the woman to the ground and attempted to take items. Nothing was stolen from her.
The first man is described as being of slim build and the second is described as being of stocky build. Both are around 6ft tall and were wearing dark clothing.
Detective Constable James Palmer said: “Enquiries are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anything to contact us.
“We also ask anyone driving in the area at the time with dashcam footage to come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 0052 of 11 December, 2024. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Launches Sunday 26 May 2 – 4pm at Earth in Common, Leith Links
Announcing a new collaboration between Earth in Common and Deborah Shaw (Aurora Engine), supported by the National Lottery Community Fund’s Together for Our Planet Fund
Highlights include environmental songs from Karine Polwart, works from Tinderbox Sparks Orchestra, stories from Edinburgh’s Gaelic community and Scottish International Storytelling Centre, poems from Ash Dickinson and Alec Finlay, folksong from Kirsty Law, sonic works from Siôn Parkinson and Aurora Engine, incorporating political themes of land rights, references to highland clearances and the Edinburgh housing crisis as local rents continue to increase
Coinciding with Earth Day, a new soundwalk at Earth in Common has been announced, with an upcoming launch event scheduled from 2 – 4pm on Sunday 26th May 2024, with live performances and a guided tour of the new installation with Deborah Shaw.
Tickets are now on sale for the launch event with various price options available. Book now: https://bit.ly/harksoundwalk
Environmental organisation Earth In Common presents HARK!, an immersive soundwalk nestled within the grounds of Leith Community Croft.
This unique experience will offer a tapestry of compositions, soundscapes, poetry and stories, curated by composer and sonic artist Deborah Shaw (Aurora Engine), supported by Together for Our Planet fund.
HARK! aims to foster a deeper connection to nature and reflect Earth In Common’s values regarding crofting, land and the intrinsic relationship between arts and the environment.
Alongside the pastoral, is the political, with themes of land rights, references to highland clearances and the Edinburgh housing crisis as local rents continue to increase. Some works explore the effects on communities, raising the importance of nature access in urban landscapes which the Croft provides.
Visitors will be able to access recordings through their electronic devices, and experience sonic folk tales, haunting choral compositions and immersive soundscapes featuring the collected sounds from nature and wildlife.
HARK! contributors include renowned musician Karine Polwart with a brand new song composed for the croft, “Earth In Common” inspired by her passion for nature and environmental causes. Tinderbox Orchestra will present “ICE” from their Sparks collective a piece composed in response to an ice installation at Dynamic Earth.
There will be pieces from Edinburgh’s Gaelic community, a story from Donald Smith, Director of Scottish International Storytelling Centre, and a haunting choral from Earth In Common’s own climate choir and a song from folk singer Kirsty Law.
Poet Ash Dickinson will be featured with poem ‘Fox Fishing’ about declining nature, and Alec FInlay’s words from their Push the Boat Out Poetry festival commission ‘Manifesto for Urban Crofts’ will also play as part of the soundwalk.
Sonic works will include pieces from Siôn Parkinson, composer and sound artist currently an AHRC Research Fellow at RBGE with ‘Pastoral blah’, curator Deborah Shaw (Aurora Engine) with a sound work about land rights and pieces inspired by birdsong.
As participants navigate the Croft with a provided map on their smartphones, they are invited to immerse themselves in the sounds and music at their own pace. A visit to the charming farm shop/café can enhance the experience, allowing for leisurely exploration of the works on display.
Deborah Shaw, HARK! curator, said: “I wanted to create a magical world that invites audiences to leisurely experience music while immersing themselves in nature.
“HARK! facilitates this journey, inviting listeners to tune into music, sounds, poetry and stories while also sparking conversations about land rights, climate and current housing issues”.
Alec Finlay, featured artist in HARK!, said: “I was inspired by Leith Urban Croft, which was conceived by Evie Murray, and is a contemporary twist on the traditional allotment, with an attempt to encourage a more communal approach, as well as broadening the social activities, helping with wellbeing, and giving young people an experience of nature and nurture.
“Some of the growing plots are run by schools. There’s a wee cafe, they sell produce, and are developing a visitor centre. It’s used by parents and toddlers … I think in terms of pandemic culture and climate breakdown, every park and green space should have an urban croft.
“It aligns with the idea of a ‘culture of recuperation’, which I’ve been thinking about for the past few years, and more specifically, with a project I did in Glasgow, with the Walking Library, exploring ideas of urban rewilding.”
Evie Murray, Earth in Common’s Founder and CEO said, “The Soundwalk project embodies Earth in Common’s ethos and builds on all we have achieved over the last decade.
“Leith Community Croft is an established hub for social, cultural and environmental regeneration. The Soundwalk enhances our identity at a crucial time for Earth in Common, when we are recovering from disruption caused by a major capital building project and our reserves are running low.
“If people like our work, they can visit the ‘Soil-idarity’ page on our website to learn how they can help us survive and thrive.”
Edinburgh consumes nearly 250,000 litres of water from public Top Up Taps
THE BUSIEST and most-used taps across Scotland over the summer have been identified in the latest data revealed by Scottish Water.
The research paints a fascinating picture of exactly where thirsty drinkers have been using the national water provider’s network of Top up Taps from May to August.
Topping the chart, retaining its top position, was the Grassmarket Top up Tap which dispensed almost 35,000 litres. Seven of Edinburgh’s 10 taps featured in the top 10,
Impressively, the Top Up Taps initiative has inspired a 19% increase in people carrying a refillable bottle, and figures show that well-hydrated people across Edinburgh filled up almost 18,000 water bottles and consumed 236,353 litres of water across the area’s 11 taps.
Following the Grassmarket, the other most used taps in the region was in The Meadows Pavillion which served up 31,869 litres, and Portobello Promenade with 31,621 litres.
The Botanics West tap was the least used in Edinburgh with 2,780 litres dispensed. Meanwhile the tap in Rutland Place clocked in with a total tap usage of 15,092 litres and Leith Links at 18,259.
Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs at Scottish Water, said: “It’s brilliant that so many locals and visitors alike are using our Top Up Taps in such numbers.
“But nothing would make us happier than seeing them used even more! There couldn’t be many better reasons for carrying a refillable water bottle and topping up when you’re out and about – it’s good for your health, good for your pocket and good for the planet.”
Publicly funded Scottish Water recently installed its landmark 100th Top Up Tap in the shadow of the Kelpies in Falkirk. Since launching the initiative in 2018, the 100 taps collectively have topped up the equivalent of nearly 6 million single use plastic bottles.
The aim was to put the distinctive blue Top Up Taps in key locations all over the country – and they now stretch from Arran to Arbroath and from Shetland to Stranraer.
It couldn’t be easier to see where your communities tap is – just visit
and search by putting in any postcode or viewing a complete list of the Top Up Taps across Scotland.
Brian Lironi, added: “Water is our most precious natural resource, and we want the people of Scotland and visitors to have access whenever they need it.”
There’s an online consultation coming soon for an Activity Hub at Leith Links!
Come along to the disused bowling greens adjacent to Links Pl at Leith Links this Saturday 9th September anytime between 10am – 4pm to discuss the plans with us.
We’ll be taking a wander around Leith Links again this evening (Thursday 17th) from 6pm til 7pm. Come and join us. The weather looks to be dry and sunny. Gentle exercise, conversation, and fresh air.
This Monday 14th August we’re having a wee event for kids aged 3 to 6. Come along with your grownup to our Story, Craft & Play: Nature Explorers session.
We’ll read a brill story together about three young girls who go on a hike. Then we’ll learn a bit about nature while exploring Leith Links.
Will we spot butterflies and bees? Maybe a squirrel! There’s lots of beautiful trees and flowers to discover too. We’ll also be getting crafty as you make your own notebook and bag.
Session runs from 10am until 12 noon and is £2 per child.
If the weather is bad, we’ll adapt the session where it will all be indoors.
This Monday 14th August at 10am we're having a wee event for kids aged 3 to 6. Come along with your grownup to our Story, Craft & Play: Nature Explorers session. £2 per child. More info, booking and payment options here > https://t.co/12viXWqiRspic.twitter.com/Xxq4sbNtQA
The Edinburgh Climate Festival will take place at Leith Links on September 3rd 2022 from 12 -5 pm.
The Festival, now in its 7th year, will offer a free, family-friendly & community-led marketplace event with workshops, performances and more.
September 2022 sees the beginning of Scotland’s Climate Fringe Festival, with the Edinburgh Climate Festival marking Edinburgh’s first major event of the Climate Fringe!
The Festival aims to celebrate and inspire community climate action. Entry is free and open to all. There will be activities for all age groups from storytelling and arts and crafts, to free Yoga classes and upcycling activities.
Free e-tickets can be purchased here, with the option to give a donation.
Testimonials
“I absolutely loved the festival, the energy was brilliant! I was just sad that I didn’t have time to see all the stalls, but that’s because I spent too long in other motivating conversations, so on the whole it was pretty great for me!” – 2021 Volunteer
“So many activities and workshops and education to inspire positive collective action. This kind of creativity as a community is what activism is all about and I loved to be apart of it!” – 2021 Participant
“Many thanks again for inviting us to the Climate Festival yesterday – we had a great day. I hope there’ll be many Climate Festivals in the future!” – Chris Jardine, Greenpeace, 2019 Speaker
“We had a great time and was fantastic to engage with so many interested people. We had some great conversations and was great to exchange skills and give advice on taking action. Loved teaching these inspirational teens new mending and making skills yesterday at the Edinburgh Climate Festival.” – Fashion Revolution, 2019 Stallholder
