ELREC appeal: Pedal for Nepal

PLEASE DONATE FOR NEPAL: ELREC CYCLES FOR NEPAL

Dear Friends / Colleagues,

Help us to raise funds for Nepal Earthquake victims. Please donate via gofundme http://www.gofundme.com/ELREC4NEPAL or at ELREC. No donation is too small.

On the 25th of April 2015 a powerful earthquake killed more than 8500 people and destroyed many homes, roads and historical monuments. Nepal has declared a state of emergency. The earthquake has left hundreds of thousands of families homeless and without access to drinking water, and reliable and safe food supply.

It is heart-breaking to think what these people are going through after losing their loved ones, their homes and their villages. These are very difficult times for Nepal. Nepal is one of the least developed countries in the world with a very high level of poverty. The people of Nepal need all the help they can get to overcome this terrible disaster.

To support Nepali victims, come join us on Sunday 9 August to raise funds for Nepal. We will cycle along the Water of Leith from the city centre to Balerno and cycle back to the centre.

Please let us know if you will be joining the cycle ride or whether you will be at the meeting and starting point to give your support. Many people have already indicated their intention to cycle the route.

Please wear appropriate clothing, bring your own bicycle, water and snacks. If you don’t have a bike, let us know: we might be able to help.

When: Sunday 9 August from 2pm to 5pm

Where: Meet and startat the junction of Saunders Street and Deanhaugh Street, Stockbridge: EH3 6TU. See route Map (below).

Our goal is to raise £5,000

We welcome all donations whether you are able to cycle with us or not.

ALL FUNDS RAISED WILL BE DONATED to Nepal Scotland Association (http://www.nepalscotlandassociation.org/).

ELREC will provide you with feedback on the use of the funds in Nepal. The funds will help to re-build homes for the victims in villages such of Nuwakot and Gorkha where there is acute poverty.

Thank you in advance for all of your generous donations to help the people of Nepal.

For further information, please contact ELREC by email: admin@elrec.org.uk or by phone on 0131 556 0441.

Foysol Choudhury MBE
Chair, Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council
http://www.elrec.org.uk/

Walk the Walk with Fresh Start

Homelessness resettlement charity Fresh Start is urging fundraisers to walk ‘The Walk’ when its sixth annual sponsored walk takes place on 31 May – and walkers are being urged to sign up today! Last year a record 62 people walked the eight mile route together and the charity is hoping to beat that this time.

Fresh Start Director Keith Robertson, said: “Providing a roof over a family or an individual’s head is the first step in ending homelessness but making sure they keep it is the next challenge. That’s where Fresh Start comes in. We help people get the fresh start they deserve in life – and all money raised from the sponsored walk will go towards our work helping people who have been homeless resettle into the community.”

George Banks, from Ebenezer United Free Church in Edinburgh, who volunteers at Fresh Start, helping prepare the charity’s Starter Packs, said: “Last year was my first year on the walk which I enjoyed so much I am doing it again this year. Some friends of Fresh Start have been walking The Walk for a number of years and I’m delighted to take part again. The Walk takes you through some fascinating bits of Edinburgh and when you get tired there are plenty of places to have a wee seat – all in the knowledge that there is a huge welcome at the finish line and that you are doing it for a great cause.”

The 2013 walk follows its traditional eight-mile route along the Water of Leith to Colinton Dell, where we go on to the Union Canal towpath and head back into town towards the finishing line at Lochrin Basin, Fountainbridge.

The walk sets out from Dean Parish Church at 10.00am, with lunch and refreshments being served on the Re-union Canal boat.

Everyone is welcome to join in the fun. There’s no fee to take part however each walker is asked to raise a minimum of £25. For those wishing to raise money, a new Just Giving site has been set up at

http://www.justgiving.com/freshstartedinburgh

To register your interest, telephone Fresh Start offices on 0131 476 7741

Still time to register for St Columba’s Water of Leith Walk

Water of Leith Walk

While the countdown is on for the St Columba’s Hospice Water of Leith Walk on 12 May, there’s still time to register – registration is open until 10 May, so why not sign up to walk one of the most beautiful routes in Edinburgh to help build a new St Columba’s Hospice?

Sunday 12 May 2013
Start times between 9.30am and 11am

Walk the Big Yin
Balerno – Leith Links (12.25 miles)

Walk the Wee Yin
Murrayfield – Leith Links (5 miles)

We hope you will join us!

Taking a stroll along the Water of Leith is one of the must do things for any visitor to Edinburgh, yet how many of us have ever walked the whole 12.25 miles of it? Here’s your chance to do just that, and help build a new home for St Columba’s Hospice.

The St Columba’s Hospice Water of Leith Walk will be held on Sunday 12 May. Walkers of all ages are welcome, and participants can walk on their own, or enter as a family or a team with up to six members.

Starting in Balerno, the full 12.25 mile walk (the ‘Big Yin’) will follow the river as it winds its way through Colinton Village and Dell, the Union Canal, Saughton Winter Gardens, Murrayfield Stadium, the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art, Dean Village, Stockbridge, the Royal Botanic Garden and finally, to our new finishing point at Leith Links.

For those that would find a shorter stroll more appealing, there is also the gentler ‘Wee Yin’ – a five mile route from Murrayfield to Leith.

Along the way you’ll get the chance to see stunning natural landscapes, remnants of Edinburgh’s industrial history, and a wide diversity of plants and animals, from orchids to otters.

This will be an unforgettable experience and help build a new home for St Columba’s Hospice.

To register please contact Sìne on 0131 551 7707 or sward@stcolumbashospice.org.uk or download the flyer/entry form on the right and email it to us.

You can also register on the day, the details are as follows:

The ‘Big Yin’

Registration location – Balerno Community Centre
Registration time – 9.30am – 10.30am
Official start time – 10.00am
End point – Leith Links

The ‘Wee Yin’

Registration location – Murrayfield Coach Park
Registration time – 10.30am – 11.30am
Offical start time – 11.00am
End point – Leith Links

Well, well, well – appeal for St Bernard’s

A fundraising appeal to help complete the restoration of an historic well on the Water of Leith has been launched. A revamp of St Bernard’s Well, which sits inside a Roman-style temple near Dean Village, will cost over £230,000 – and after contributions from Edinburgh World Heritage and Edinburgh City Council, £50,000 is still needed.

St Bernard’s Well has a fascinating history. The natural spring was discovered by three boys from Heriot’s School in 1760 and it soon became a popular visitor attraction. The spring minerals were believed to have healing powers and people flocked to “take the water”.

Lord Gardenstone, a rather eccentric Law Lord with a pet pig and an excessive fancy to snuff, bought the well and commissioned Alexander Nasmyth to design a building for it in 1789. Nasmyth drew inspiration from the Temple of Vesta at Tivoli and placed a sculpture of Hygieia, the roman goddess of health on the upper level.

Lord Gardenstone also appointed a keeper for the well who would be responsible for charging the visitors their due fees for the water, and control the specified opening times. Subscribers were welcomed in the morning and the afternoon, all others in the hours between. However, “Upon a proper certificate from any regular physician surgeon, or apothecary of Edinburgh, the keeper shall supply poor persons with water at any time prescribed.”

Some claimed that the water could cure everything from a bruised leg to ‘total blindness’, but others described the taste as having the ‘odious twang of hydrogen gas’ or even like ‘the washings from a foul gun barrel’!

Now over 220 years old, St Bernard’s Well is in need of some care and attention and it’s hoped the appeal can restore the iconic site to it’s former glory.

Richard Lewis, Edinburgh City Council’s culture leader, said: “By restoring this unusual and quite beautiful well, we will be preserving a significant Edinburgh landmark for future generations.”

Adam Wilkinson, director of Edinburgh World Heritage, said: “St Bernard’s Well has to be one of Edinburgh’s most picturesque and tranquil locations, an elegant classical temple in a charming bucolic setting only minutes from Princes Street. We hope that people will come forward now to help us restore this important part of Edinburgh’s heritage for future generations to enjoy.”

Council seeks to bridge flood funding gap

The city council is to continue talks with the Government and local government umbrella body COSLA over a funding shortfall for the second and third phases of flood prevention works on the Water of Leith. The Council made an unsuccesful bid for goverment support last December but a decision is expected later this year on funding for flooding projects.

Transport convener Councillor Lesley Hinds (pictured above) said: “The total cost of building existing and future flood defences for Edinburgh is at least £144m, which is well beyond our own means. While the completed scheme on Braidburn and the finished parts of the Water of Leith are providing protection, other parts of the city continue to be at risk. Recent events have shown again how important it is that we have these defences in place and I very much hope COSLA and the Scottish Government can be persuaded of the capital’s case.”

The current funding arrangements are detailed in a report to the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment committee next week. The report also describes the lessons learned from recent flooding, especially on 7 July 2012 at the Stockbridge Colonies and in Warriston. As a result, various improvements are to be made in how the Council works with other organisations to plan for and respond to major flooding incidents.

Councillor Hinds added: “Flooding can be a devastating experience for those who are affected. While our staff worked very hard to deal with the consequences of the exceptionally heavy rainfall there are always lessons to be learned for the Council, our contractors and our partners I’d also urge every household tosign-up for alerts from SEPA and follow their guidance on being prepared for flooding.”

Water of Leith cleanup

The Water of Leith is flows from the Pentlands through the heart of Edinburgh to Leith, and it takes a bit of work to keep the river looking it’s best. The Water of Leith Conservation Trust organise regular clean-ups along the stretch of water, and Inverleith Community Learning and Development worker Callum McLeod was involved in the latest spruce-up on 29 July.

He said: “I’d walked the route with Ben from the Conservation Trust and there was no shortage of things to do! Thankfully we had a good team of volunteers on the Sunday and we tackled some troublesome Himalayan Balsam, which is a very invasive flowering plant, and there were a number of log jams to clear. There were also some lighter lighter duties – tending to the formal garden areas and there was no shortage of litter all the way along, unfortunately – but that meant there was something for everyone to do.”

Tons of rubbish cleared from the water and riverbanks tidied up!

It does take a lot of work to keep the Water of Leith looking good, but you can do your bit as a volunteer – check out the website at www.waterofleith.org.uk Among the rewards – apart from the exercise, companionship and fresh air – is a chance to see birds like sparrowhawks and kingfishers up close, and an amazing variety of wildflowers along the banks. It’s like being in the country in the middle of the city!

Water of Leith cleanup and family picnic

The Water of Leith Conservation Trust, in conjunction with the Inverleith Coordinated Summer Programme, is organising a cleanup and family picnic on Sunday 29 July from 10am.

Organiser Callum McLeod of Inverleith’s Community Learning and Development team (pictured below) said: “This is an annual event and we’re concentrating on the stretch between Canonmills and Dean Village. There should be something for everyone –litter picking, some tending of culture garden areas, clearing out invasive plant species along the banks or even clearing log jams after the floods for the more adventurous – all depending on folk’s skills and abilities of course! We quite a good turnout last year despite the rain and so I’m looking forward to it!”

Participants are encouraged to bring along some food, too. After all, all work and no play …

“If people and maybe even bring along a packed lunch and or picnic things we can sit and enjoy some friendly company in pleasant surroundings after all the hard work of the clean up. We’re hoping for some decent weather, of course!”

Interested? Meet by the bridge at Saunders Street at 10am, or for further information call Callum McLeod on 332 6316 or email callum.mcleod@ea.edin.sch.uk

Join St Columba’s Water of Leith Walk on 13 May

Join in the second St Columba’s Hospice Water of Leith Walk and enjoy some of the most scenic parts of Edinburgh from a new perspective!

Sunday 13th May Start times between 9.30am and 12am

Walk the Big Yin (9:30 – 11:00) Balerno – Leith (12.25 miles)

Walk the Wee Yin (10:30 – 12:00) Murrayfield – Leith (5 miles)

Join our Facebook page for this event here!

You can also register on the day – Please note as pre registered participants have raised sponsorship money for St Columba’s Hospice we ask same-day registrants to make a suggested donation or agree to raise sponsorship after the event. More details on same day registration will be posted nearer the time.

We hope you will join us!

Taking a stroll along the Water of Leith is well known for being one of the must do things for any visitor to Edinburgh, yet how many of us have ever walked the whole 12.25 miles of it? Here’s your chance to do just that, and help build a new home for St Columba’s Hospice at the same time.

The second St Columba’s Hospice Water of Leith Walk will be held on Sunday 13 May. Walkers of all ages are welcome, and participants can either walk it on their own, or enter as a family or a team with up to six members. Entrants are encouraged to wear something blue to show their support of St Columba’s Hospice, with a prize on the day for the best blue fancy dress! We had Banana Man, Smurfs and even Alice in Wonderland, so get your thinking caps on for 2012 as competition is bound to be fierce!

Starting at the town of Balerno, the full 12.25 mile walk (the ‘Big Yin Walk’) will follow the river as it winds its way through Colinton Village and Dell, the Union Canal, Saughton Winter Gardens, Murrayfield Stadium, the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art, Dean Village, Stockbridge, the Royal Botanic Garden and finally, to the Shore at Leith.

For those that would rather have a shorter stroll, there is also the option to enter the ‘Wee Yin Walk’ – a five mile route from Murrayfield to Leith. Along the way you’ll get the chance to see stunning natural landscapes, remnants of Edinburgh’s industrial history, and a wide diversity of plants and animals, from orchids to otters.

Sign up today to enjoy an unforgettable experience and help build a new home for St Columba’s Hospice. To find out more call Michael at St Columba’s Hospice on 0131 551 7707 or email us.

St. Columba’s Hospice

Join St Columba's Water of Leith Walk on 13 May