National Galleries of Scotland surprised hillwalkers, tram travellers and tourists by taking replicas of popular art works out into Edinburgh yesterday.
Passers-by could discover art typically found in the National, Portrait and Modern galleries popping up at sites such as Salisbury Crags, Newhaven, The Meadows, Murrayfield and Leith.
The art works including The Monarch of the Glen by Sir Edwin Landseer, Edinburgh (from Salisbury Crags) by William Crozier, Doddie Weir by Gerard M Burns, Encounter by Remedios Varo, Callum by John Emms and Mary Queen of Scots are always free to visit at the National Galleries of Scotland’s three Edinburgh sites.
NEW RETIREMENT VILLAGE WILL PROVIDE 48 HOMES ON FORMER ST GEORGE’S SCHOOLCAMPUS SITE
Vivere Extra Care Group is pleased to have gained a ‘minded to approve’ planning consent from The City of Edinburgh Council for Edinburgh’s first fully integrated community of extra care homes, located on the 2.2 acre Lansdowne House site on Coltbridge Terrace in Murayfield.
Once complete, the new community will provide 48 extra care homes, communal resident’s lounges and facilites, on site parking, landscaped gardens and Edinburgh and Scotland’s first Zero Carbon 5G heat network, located on the vacant brownfield former Lower School Campus site of St George’s School.
The former school campus will be returned to its residential origins since it was originally a grand Victorian villa set in landscaped grounds including a Victorian lodge house and stables, formerly known as Coltbridge Hall, built in 1875, designed by architect T.B. McFadzen.
The new extra care community will help to address the proven demand in Edinburgh for age-appropriate housing with 24/7 care services that supports residents to age-in-place and retain their independence, an alternative to a care home.
Vivere Extra Care Groupplan to invest circa £25 million to restore and refurbish the historic buildings on the site and undertake the construction to return Lansdowne House to its residential origins.
During the refurbishment and construction period the new project will contribute to the Edinburgh economy providing over 100 construction jobs including a local builder apprentiship programme for 16-25 year olds.
When the new community is operational, it will support up to 16 full-time jobs on site and local business partners in Edinburgh, contributing almost £625,000 per annual (estimate) to the local economy, with the residents themselves contributing almost £430,000 per annum to the local economy in taxes and spending.
Central to the proposals is a commitment by Vivere Extra Care Group to protect, conserve and sensitively refurbish the listed buildings, alongside new build elements which will be thoughtfully designed to complement the character of the Victorian buildings.
Inside the main two storey Victorian villa (Category C Listed) all the heritage rooms on the ground floor will be fully retained and carefully restored to provide communal lounges and shared amenity spaces for residents.
The high-quality facilities will include a bistro, private dining, a multi-purpose room for a range of activities and a hobby/craft room encouraging socialising. The rooms on the upper floor will be transformed into heritage apartments offering large living spaces and beautiful retained period features.
The scheme will also offer a Health Club, including a full equipped fitness-studio, an activity area for classes such as Pilates and Yoga, a physiotherapy treatment room and post-operative services. The on-site management team will support the residents on a day-to-day basis and estate management services will ensure the maintenance of the buildings and grounds.
In the grounds, the current modern buildings will be replaced with new high quality buildings, with the grounds enhanced with landscaped gardens, including the modern reinstatement of the original sunken garden of 1875, with new planting and existing trees protected in order to enhance the residential character and quality of the place.
The landscaping will enhance the biodiversity of the site by increasing the percentage of usable green space by creating a range of garden types, with green and blue roofs enhancing biodiversity as well as slowing rainwater down before going into the main drainage system.
Scott Curran, Co-Founding Director of Vivere Extra Care Group says: “Vivere Extra Care Group is pleased to have gained a ‘minded to approve’ planning consent from The City of Edinburgh Council for Edinburgh’s first fully integrated community of extra care homes on the 2.2 acre Lansdowne House site.
“We thank The City of Edinburgh Council and members of the local community for working closely with us to help finalise our proposals for the project.”
Vivere Co-Founding DirectorBeatrix Lehnert adds: “This is an important step in the provision of much needed extra care housing in Edinburgh. Lansdowne is the first of four planned developments we have in the pipeline in Edinburgh over the next five years.
“Our proposals are aligned with the Scottish Government’s ambition to both raise life expectancy in Scotland and the provision of suitable housing and amenities for older people which help to enhance their health and wellbeing.”
For further information on Vivere Extra Care Group visit:
Gogar Park Young Curlers says funding boost will make a ‘huge difference’
Aldi Scotland has awarded £2,500 to Gogar Park Young Curlers through its Scottish Sport Fund as part of a special one-off Champion’s Award launched to celebrate Scotland’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Gogar Park Young Curlers will use the funding from Aldi Scotland to invest in essential equipment, including sliding shoes, brushes, coaching aids and team uniforms. This support will help the club provide more inclusive and accessible entry-level opportunities, ensuring that every child has the chance to take part in the sport, regardless of their access to equipment.
Mihoko Pooley, member of Gogar Park Young Curlers, said:“This funding from Aldi Scotland will make a huge difference to our club and the young people who take part in our sessions.
“Curling can be difficult to access without the right equipment, so being able to provide shoes, brushes and uniforms will help us welcome more children and give them the best possible start”
Founded in 1979, Gogar Park Young Curlers is a junior curling club based in Edinburgh with around 70 members under the age of 21, mainly from Edinburgh and the Lothians. The club operates weekly Sunday morning sessions at Curl Edinburgh between September and March, supported by volunteer coaches and parent helpers.
Young curlers from the club compete in a wide range of internal and national competitions, from Under 12s to Under 21s leagues, travelling across Scotland from Stranraer to Inverness.
The club has a strong track record of developing elite talent, with former members Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat going on to win Olympic gold and silver medals at Beijing 2022 and set to represent Team GB again at Milano Cortina 2026.
Pooley continued: “With the Winter Olympics coming up in 2026, there is a real buzz around curling just now. This support will help us build on that excitement, grow participation and continue our proud history of developing young curlers.”
The Scottish Sport Fund Champion’s Award was introduced as a celebratory extension of Aldi Scotland’s long-running sports funding initiative, recognising a single club that demonstrates a strong commitment to developing young sporting talent. The award aims to harness the national pride sparked by Scotland’s return to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and invest it back into grassroots sport.
Sandy Mitchell, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Scotland, said:“Scotland’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup was a huge moment for the nation, and we wanted to celebrate that success by giving something back through our Scottish Sport Fund.
“The Scottish Sport Fund Champion’s Award recognises clubs that go above and beyond to support young people, and Gogar Park Young Curlers is a fantastic example of that commitment. We are proud to support the next generation of sporting champions across Scotland.”
Aldi Scotland introduced its Scottish Sport Fund in 2016 to support individuals of all ages and abilities to get involved in physical activity in their local communities. Over the past decade, the retailer has supported more than 650 clubs across Scotland, donating over £500,000 to improve access to sport at a grassroots level.
ROLL WITH IT – OASIS REUNION CELEBRATED WITH SAUAGE ROLLS
In a delightful nod to Oasis’ triumphant return to the stage, Make it Scotch encouraged fans to ‘Roll with it’ with Specially Selected Pork sausage rolls yesterday afternoon (Friday, 8th August).
As fans queued up for the highly anticipated reunion gig, they were treated to free sausage rolls and Oasis-inspired bucket hats, ensuring they wouldn’t “Look Back in Hanger.”
The excitement was electric as fans held up their savoury treats and donned their new hats, all set against the backdrop of the iconic Murrayfield stadium. This fun and light-hearted activation brought smiles and satisfaction, making the wait for the concert even more memorable.
Be sure to catch more of these moments shared by @makeitscotch on their social media channels.
To find out more about Specially Selected Pork, Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb, visit: makeitscotch.com.
With Rock ‘n’ Roll stars Oasis arriving in Edinburgh next week, the city council has released advice for residents, businesses, and visitors:
The sold-out shows taking place at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Friday 8, Saturday 9 and Tuesday 12 August mark the band’s first appearance in the Capital since 2009 and are expected to draw Supersonic crowds of up to 210,000 fans over the three nights.
And we won’t just Roll with it. To keep the city running smoothly for everyone, planning has been underway for some time in collaboration with our partners. There has also been regular engagement with residents, particularly in the Murrayfield area to plan ahead and address any concerns.
As the fans Slide Away, we will be making sure key areas surrounding Murrayfield will be tidied up all three nights after each show. We will be dedicating extra litter collectors for Roseburn Park too.
City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cllr Jane Meagher, said: “Excitement is building in Edinburgh for Oasis Live 25 as it’s our turn to witness rock history. With all of our partners in the city we’ve been planning for this for some time to make sure we’re ready to welcome thousands of Oasis fans over three nights.
“There will be extra trains, trams, and buses to accommodate concert goers, along with those attending our summer festivals. With this in mind we urge you to plan ahead.
“We are keen for everyone to have an enjoyable experience, not only at the show, but on their way before and after. Whilst we relish hosting the biggest and best events and want everyone attending to truly enjoy themselves, it’s important that we remember our residents. We’ve had regular engagement with those living near Murrayfield to plan ahead and address any concerns.
“We ask that visitors are considerate and respectful of them whilst enjoying our fantastic capital city. We’re urging people to only travel to Murrayfield and the surrounding area if you have a ticket.”
To find out more, and for helpful information in the lead-up to the concerts, visit our dedicated events webpage.
Work on a major £3million project to protect an iconic Edinburgh watercourse from rags, wet wipes and other sewer related debris gets underway next month.
From Sunday 8 June 2025, Scottish Water will be working on the A8 Corstorphine Road in Murrayfield, upgrading a storm overflow that protects homes and businesses from flooding.
Senior Project Manager Ethan Gillies Denning said: “Sewer related debris in the Water of Leith has been a recurring problem after spells of heavy rain.
“The outfall is designed to divert excess rainwater into the watercourse, but unfortunately it isn’t screened.
“While less than one per cent of the waste water comes from toilets, if people have flushed wipes or plastic items, they can end up in the natural environment which is a real problem.
“This project will help to prevent anything larger than 6mm making it out of the sewer network and into the river.”
The A8 Corstorphine Road will be reduced to one lane under two-way traffic lights between Ormidale Terrace and Murrayfield Gardens for approximately six months.
This is to allow new screens and spill chambers to be installed to the existing outfall which is located under the road surface.
Scottish Water’s Improving Urban Waters programme is a £500million package of additional investment to improve water quality through increased monitoring and reporting, and targeted infrastructure projects to significantly reducing sewer-related debris and spills.
Working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Scottish Water identified priority storm overflows for improvement or replacement.
Under the banner ‘Draining the Rain, Enhancing the Environment’ over 70 improvements will have been delivered by the end of 2027 benefitting watercourses across Scotland. More are in design for delivery beyond 2027.
The infrastructure programme is being carried out by Scottish Water’s alliance partner Caledonia Water Alliance.
A team of nurses from NHS Lothian has been praised for the exceptional care and support provided to Scottish Rugby international, Emma Wassell, during her health challenges earlier this season.
In recognition of the high-class care Emma received, five nurses from the cardiothoracic ward at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh were invited to deliver the match ball at Scotland’s victorious Six Nations match against Ireland on Saturday.
Speaking of their experience, Eilidh Wynne, Senior Charge Nurse said: “It was such an honour for us to be asked to present the match ball – we got a big cheer from the crowd and felt like superstars. We were pitch side for the national anthem and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing. It really was such a special moment and it’s one we’ll remember forever.
“The whole team in ward 102 works incredibly hard and this is a reminder that we should all feel immensely proud of the work we’re doing day in day out.
“It’s always nice to see patients getting back to their norm and it was fantastic to see Emma looking so well – that’s really what makes the job worthwhile.”
The team presented the match ball and were treated to hospitality at the event at Hive Stadium Edinburgh, which drew over 6000 spectators (the second largest crowd in the team’s history).
Emma Wassell, who is on the road to recovery after emergency surgery to remove a chest tumour, said:“It was really special to have some of the nurses that looked after me at our last home game of the Guinness Six Nations. A real full circle moment where they could get recognised for what they do when they are a big part of the reason that I can get back to what I do.
“I have nothing but gratitude for the care I received by all NHS staff while going through some personally tough circumstances – they really are there for you morning, noon and night. Whether it’s providing your medication, taking your blood samples, bringing you a coffee or simply allowing a constant stream of rugby players in to sit by my bedside!
“They made my time in hospital a whole lot easier and I am so glad we could give them some recognition, in what turned out to be a very special game!
“I have spoken a lot about my rugby family and one of the first nurses to introduce themselves to me was Kirsty Stewart – who was none other than one of my teammates, Alex’s mum.
“This was a huge level of comfort for me, and even though rugby wasn’t my main priority when I was in hospital, it was so nice to have someone that could truly understand how I was feeling around missing it.”
The Scottish Rugby coach chatted with Rav Ravutia about the upcoming Scotland V Fiji match at Murrayfield to be played today – Saturday, November 2 with a 5.40pm KO
Scotland international rugby coach Gregor Townsend enjoyed some friendly rivalry as he chatted with a Fijian veteran, whilst launching the Scottish Poppy Appeal 2024.
The rugby legend was visiting Lady’s Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh when he was introduced to staff member, Fijian national Rav Ravutia, ahead of his side’s Nations Series opener against Fiji on November 2.
Aswell as discussing the upcoming match, Gregor was interested to hear about Rav’s story and how he came to serve in Scotland and later work for Poppyscotland.
Rav, 51, was first introduced to Scotland after visiting the capital with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Band who were invited to perform in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1998.
Upon returning to his homeland, the following year Rav resigned from the Fijian Army after eight and a half years service and flew to Scotland to sign up for the British Army.
Serving from 1999 to 2023, Rav was a member of the Royal Scots and later the Adjutant General Corps.
After leaving the Army he was a member of the Royal Scots Regimental Association Fijian branch in Edinburgh but found himself unemployed and with a forces disability was unsure where to turn.
With the help of fellow veteran friends, Rav was introduced to Poppyscotland.
Rav said: “Last year I was introduced to the work of Poppyscotland and very quickly was made extremely welcome. That is when I began my new career here as a veteran poppy and wreath maker.
“It is an absolute honour to work for this charity and goes to show just one of the many ways they can help veterans following service.”
Rav continued: “It was great to meet Scotland international coach Mr Townsend as he launched the Poppy Appeal and in particular ahead of Scotland playing my national team Fiji next month. We spoke about my time in the army and of course had some good chat about the rugby. In fact, I asked him to please go soft on Fiji!”
Gregor said: “It was a real privilege to meet the veterans at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory upon launching the Scottish Poppy Appeal, and great to meet Rav and share some friendly rivalry ahead of our Nations opener with Fiji.
“Every year Poppyscotland supports hundreds of veterans and their families, helping them live life fully after service.
“Show them you care, wear a poppy. Your donation can change lives for our Armed Forces community.”
The Scottish Poppy Appeal is Scotland’s biggest fundraising appeal, with more than three million poppies already being distributed around the country.
The money raised from the Appeal has enabled Poppyscotland to help countless men, women and families with issues linked to their time in the Armed Forces or with struggles adjusting from military to civilian life.People can find out more and support the Scottish Poppy Appeal at www.poppyscotland.org.uk.
Residents and staff at an Edinburgh care home have joined a fundraising challenge that pays tribute to people with dementia by walking more than three miles around their gardens.
More than a dozen residents and staff from HC-One Scotland’s Murrayfield House Care Home have teamed up to take part in Alzheimer Scotland’s Memory Walk fundraising campaign.
With the aid of frames and wheelchairs, the residents – aged from 77 to 97 – have been walking around the care home’s gardens and along nearby Murrayfield Avenue, gathering donations in local shops along the way.
Led by wellbeing coordinator Margaret Finch, the walkers aim to complete the 5km challenge in stages over a number of days.
They have already raised more than £1,000 and counting – smashing their initial target of £300 – but hope to raise even more vital funds to support dementia care, research and improvements in brain health.
Margaret, 63, from the city’s Silverknowes area, has worked at Murrayfield House Care Home for five years.
She said: “The residents and staff were keen to do the Memory Walk because so many of us have either had support from Alzheimer Scotland or have a loved one who has been affected by dementia. My late mum had vascular dementia so I’ve had first-hand experience of the impact this illness can have.
“Alzheimer Scotland do such important work – funding research and fighting the stigma around dementia – and we are all determined to raise as much money as we can for them.
“Our manager Fiona Truesdale gave us the idea to organise the Memory Walk and we’ve had such great support for it from the whole team, including my fellow wellbeing coordinator Norma Mackie.
“The residents have loved putting on their purple t-shirts and taking part.”
One of the oldest walkers is 96-year-old retired engineer Douglas Lamond. Douglas said: “I like to keep fit by doing exercises every morning, so I was delighted to take part in the Memory Walk and cheer the group on.”
Other walkers included Doreen Hall, 88, who lives at the home with husband David, 88, and Elspeth Braidwood, 80, a former Sunday school teacher who used to work at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
Doreen’s daughter Debbie said: “My mum Doreen has dementia and Alzheimer Scotland have been a great support, not just for her but also for my dad David who cared for her when they both lived in their own home.
“It’s wonderful that they have the opportunity to support the charity through the Memory Walk.”
The Memory Walk campaign allows people across Scotland to take part in organised events throughout September, or to complete the challenge at a time and place that suits them by doing Your Walk, Your Way.
Events are taking place in Inverness, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow. Tickets cost just £10 for adults and children can be registered for free. It’s quick and easy to set up a sponsorship page, which can be shared with family, friends and colleagues.
Every penny raised will help people with dementia and their carers, as well as supporting better brain health for everyone in Scotland.
Lauren Heap, centre manager for Alzheimer Scotland’s Edinburgh and West Lothian Brain Health and Dementia Resource Centre, said: “Alzheimer Scotland is proud to support people living with dementia and their families and carers, from our centre here in Edinburgh.
“Scotland’s Memory Walk has always had a wonderful ability to bring people together. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the lives of people with dementia and walk to remember them. Every pound raised helps Alzheimer Scotland continue to develop and deliver vital dementia support.”
To find out more and to sign up for Scotland’s Memory Walk, visit memorywalk.alzscot.org
Council leader says ‘thank you’ for success of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Edinburgh
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Edinburgh truly has given Taylor Swift and her hundreds of thousands of fans visiting the Capital from across the globe this weekend a spectacular welcome.
“From everything I have seen so far the atmosphere across the city has been one of fun and celebration as ‘Swifties’ travelled around having ‘The Best Day’ until it was ‘Time to Go’ home. And the event is expected to have injected tens of millions of pounds into our city’s economy.
“Whilst we’re rightly proud to attract the biggest and best events such as these concerts to the Capital I’m also conscious of the impact on our residents. And so I’d like to thank them as well as our partners including Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams and our staff for extending such a warm welcome to everyone who attended the concerts this weekend.
“Our staff have been working round the clock keeping their ‘Eyes Open’ making sure the area in and around the stadium is clean and our marshals have been on hand to help guide ‘Swifties’ to their destination and make sure everyone is safe and well.
“With our world famous summer of festivals just around the corner these highly successful concerts mark a fantastic start to an incredible summer of culture in the Capital.
“This is all another reason why I think Edinburgh is the best city in the world.”
