Increasing the use of the park for physical activity
Improving the park environment
Improving people’s perception of the park
The Neighbourhood Environment Programme Fund (NEPs)
A presentation on some of the projects carried out locally to improve our open spaces.
How you can get involved in identifying future projects.
Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden Group
A presentation on Granton’s ‘forgotten’ walled garden – dating from Jacobean times.
Proposals from local people to safeguard and restore the garden.
There will also be a short period at the start of the meeting for Neighbourhood Partnership business. For further information contact Jim Pattison, 529 5082 – jim.pattison@edinburgh.gov.uk
If you go down to West Pilton Park this Saturday you’re sure of a big surprise …
Because from 11.30am to 2.30pm a group of teddy bears (and their people!) will gather to picnic, have fun and talk about how to make the park more friendly and welcoming. There will be sand-pits, giant twister and yarn bombing – all you need to do is bring your picnic!
This is the first in a series of events organised by West Pilton Park Action Group. The group, which includes both local people and organisations, has come together to make West Pilton Park feel and look more friendly and welcoming.
Sara Martin, a resident who lives alongside the park and helped set up the group. said: “I regularly use the park and I think it needs some friends! It could be a really good park but we need to make that happen ourselves. We want local people to get involved in creating idea’s for the park’s future”.
MY Adventure’s Kevin Malcolm agrees. The 24-year-old local resident said: “This area is an estate but I want it to be a community. This project could help do that”.
Future events planned include a Bark in the Park dog event, a tea dance and a barbecue! And keep your diary free on Saturday 13 June – there will be a sporting event featuring football with Spartans, a fantastic cycle obstacle course run by MY Adventure and Kabo boxing sessions plus much, much more …
“The aim of the events is to increase the number of people using the park positively, and while they are doing that to ask them how they would like the park to be used in the future”, explained Clare Symonds of Pilton Community Health Project, one of the partners in the park project.
West Pilton PArk Action Goup will be working with Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, Forth Neighbourhood Partnership and the city council to try to create a better park for local people. Like to get involved?
Contact West Pilton Park Action Group through our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Pilton-Park-Action-Group-WPPAG/653801634719747?fref=ts
By phoning Lianne on 551 1671
Contact us through any of the project partners: Pilton Community Health Project, North Edinburgh News, North Edinburgh Time Bank, West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, MY adventure and Spartans.
West Pilton Park has been cleaned up by a team of unpaid workers as part of the latest strand of the local anti-crime campaign, #StrongerNorth.
#StrongerNorth complements ongoing community safety measures but is a specifically targeted effort to deal with crime and to make the community a safer and more pleasant place to be. Involving police, the council and the local community, the #StrongerNorth initiative was set up in response to an escalation of antisocial behaviour in the area which culminated in the stabbing of a Chinese man last October.
West Pilton Park has now been tidied up by the Community Payback Order team, with overgrown weeds and trees trimmed to make it a more attractive resource for people to use and for them to feel safer while they do so.
Forth Councillor and community safety spokesperson Cammy Day said: “I’m really pleased with the work carried out to the park by the Community Payback team – it shows how simple things like clearing overgrown, unkempt areas can make places feel safer and less intimidating.
“This is a continuation of all the good work being carried out as part of #StrongerNorth and follows the recent community clean-ups, which led to several tonnes of rubbish being removed.
“There is a real sense of community amongst the people living in the area and the goal of #StrongerNorth is to capture that feeling and to take actions like these that deal with the problems people have raised with us.”
Inspector David Happs said: “#StrongerNorth is a key local priority for Police Scotland. We are fully supportive of the work undertaken by the Community Payback Team and we applaud efforts by Edinburgh Council to improve community safety in the Forth area.
“We are also pleased to see this enhancement to the local environment and believe it to be a key part of the Stronger North initiative. By clearing away this undergrowth, it will make the area significantly safer and it will hinder the disposal of stolen vehicles.”
West Pilton & Muirhouse Gala is NEXT Sunday – not today!
The school holidays are a distant memory, the nights are already ‘fair drawin’ in’ but it seems the summer fun days go on forever! Yesterday was packed with community events but there’s plenty more on offer in North Edinburgh this coming weekend too:
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre’s popular annual Fun Day takes place next Saturday from 11 – 2pm and is packed with activities
Along Ferry Road, North Edinburgh Community Art Group is holding an Art and Craft Fair in the Craighall Centre (below) from 11 – 3pm.
Silverlea Care Home on Muirhouse Parkway (below) are also holding a Summer Fun Day on Saturday from 2 – 4pm with lots of fun for everyone – all welcome.
And last – but certainly not least – West Pilton and Muirhouse Community Gala does go ahead – but it’s NEXT SUNDAY (not today!)
Organisers have confirmed: “This year’s gala is at full steam ahead .. It’s been a bit quiet from us as the committee have other commitments too. But your gala on Sunday 24 August at West Pilton Park will be a blast , we have a little something for everyone and hope to see as many people turn out as the last one ..”
Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses following a suspicious fire in West Pilton Park. The incident happened around 7.45pm on Monday (8 October), when two wheelie bins were pushed up against the wall of the Pilton Equalities Project (PEP) before being set alight.
No damage was sustained to the building and no one was injured during the incident, but police are urging anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward. Officers carrying out local enquiries to identify those responsible are particularly keen to speak to two youths who were known to be in the area at the time.
A police spokesman said: “This reckless act of vandalism could have potentially injured members of the public or, indeed, the suspects themselves. Anyone who was in or around West Pilton Park and remembers seeing anything suspicious is asked to contact police immediately.”
Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.
Residents across Edinburgh are being encouraged to love their local park this week as national Love Parks Week launches across the country. From 21-27 July, events will be held across the Capital with the aim of encouraging people to visit, enjoy and take pride in their local parks and green spaces.
Edinburgh is home to over 130 parks – ranging from small community parks, to natural heritage parks and large premier parks. A broad range of activities are on offer – from play areas, skateboard parks, peaceful gardens, football pitches to ponds and wildlife. We have our fair share of them here in North Edinburgh – from Inverleith and latest Green Flag winner Ravelston (pictured below) to Drylaw, West Pilton and along to Victoria – large and small, there are so many green spaces to be enjoyed right on your doorsteps.
City Environment Leader Councillor Lesley Hinds (pictured below), said: “Attractive and well-presented parks and greenspaces are fundamentally important to maintaining the quality of life in Edinburgh. We take particular pride in ensuring good outdoor spaces are accessible to all and the city has the highest number of Green Flag parks in the country.Although the weather might not be the best at the moment, we’re still hoping lots of people will turn out next week to visit their local park and take part in some of the events.”
This year Love Parks Week will focus on access for all to healthy green spaces. The campaign will highlight what a healthy (quality) green space looks like and will begin to assess the nation’s parks by encouraging people to give their park a simple health check.
In 2006, 96,000 people attended 240 events across Britain. Last year 1,200 events were held with an estimated one million participants.
Among the local ‘Love Parks’ event highlights this week are:
Inverleith Park: 12 – 4pm, Wednesday 25th July
Go behind the scenes and meet the people behind our parks and woodlands at our depot in Inverleith Park. Staff from the Forestry Service will talk about their work and demonstrate their tree climbing skills. There will also be a horse logging demonstration.
You can also visit the blacksmiths and joiners workshops – the teams responsible for looking after the safety of our play areas and maintaining our presentation seats.
Our Allotment Officer will be joining the Inverleith Allotment Association to give tours around the Inverleith Allotment site, crowned the best allotment site in the city in the Edinburgh in Bloom competition 2011.
Chat with our Park Rangers about the work they do to improve our parks for people and wilidlife, with a site visit to the new annual wildflower meadow in the park.
Cammo Estate and River Almond Walk: 10 – 1pm, Thursday 26th July
Join our natural Heritage Ranger at the Cammo Estate visitor centre for a gentle stroll along the banks of the River Almond then a meander around Cammo Estate looking at history, heritage and wildlife. This is one of the best parks and river walks around Edinburgh.
Age 12 and above.
Water of Leith – Balerno to Slateford: 10:30 – 2:30, Sunday 29th July
Follow the Water of Leith from Balerno to Slateford, passing through old mill villages of Edinburgh. Hear about the history of the area, the importance of the river – past and present and discover the wildlife which thrives along this corridor. Bring a packed lunch, wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather. Please note you will have to arrange your own transport, the walk will begin in Balerno and end in Slateford.
Age 12 and above.
Edinburgh has a number of Friends groups looking after parks and greenspaces in the city. Working with the Council, the Friends of Parks groups give residents a greater say in what goes on in their park. Find out more on the city council website or contact the Parks department on 0131 529 3030 / parks@edinburgh.gov.uk for information on whether your local park has a friends group, or, if not, how to set one up.
Residents across Edinburgh are being encouraged to love their local park this week as national Love Parks Week launches across the country. From 21-27 July, events will be held across the Capital with the aim of encouraging people to visit, enjoy and take pride in their local parks and green spaces.
Edinburgh is home to over 130 parks – ranging from small community parks, to natural heritage parks and large premier parks. A broad range of activities are on offer – from play areas, skateboard parks, peaceful gardens, football pitches to ponds and wildlife. We have our fair share of them here in North Edinburgh – from Inverleith and latest Green Flag winner Ravelston (pictured below) to Drylaw, West Pilton and along to Victoria – large and small, there are so many green spaces to be enjoyed right on your doorsteps.
City Environment Leader Councillor Lesley Hinds (pictured below), said: “Attractive and well-presented parks and greenspaces are fundamentally important to maintaining the quality of life in Edinburgh. We take particular pride in ensuring good outdoor spaces are accessible to all and the city has the highest number of Green Flag parks in the country.Although the weather might not be the best at the moment, we’re still hoping lots of people will turn out next week to visit their local park and take part in some of the events.”
This year Love Parks Week will focus on access for all to healthy green spaces. The campaign will highlight what a healthy (quality) green space looks like and will begin to assess the nation’s parks by encouraging people to give their park a simple health check.
In 2006, 96,000 people attended 240 events across Britain. Last year 1,200 events were held with an estimated one million participants.
Among the local ‘Love Parks’ event highlights this week are:
Inverleith Park: 12 – 4pm, Wednesday 25th July
Go behind the scenes and meet the people behind our parks and woodlands at our depot in Inverleith Park. Staff from the Forestry Service will talk about their work and demonstrate their tree climbing skills. There will also be a horse logging demonstration.
You can also visit the blacksmiths and joiners workshops – the teams responsible for looking after the safety of our play areas and maintaining our presentation seats.
Our Allotment Officer will be joining the Inverleith Allotment Association to give tours around the Inverleith Allotment site, crowned the best allotment site in the city in the Edinburgh in Bloom competition 2011.
Chat with our Park Rangers about the work they do to improve our parks for people and wilidlife, with a site visit to the new annual wildflower meadow in the park.
Cammo Estate and River Almond Walk: 10 – 1pm, Thursday 26th July
Join our natural Heritage Ranger at the Cammo Estate visitor centre for a gentle stroll along the banks of the River Almond then a meander around Cammo Estate looking at history, heritage and wildlife. This is one of the best parks and river walks around Edinburgh.
Age 12 and above.
Water of Leith – Balerno to Slateford: 10:30 – 2:30, Sunday 29th July
Follow the Water of Leith from Balerno to Slateford, passing through old mill villages of Edinburgh. Hear about the history of the area, the importance of the river – past and present and discover the wildlife which thrives along this corridor. Bring a packed lunch, wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather. Please note you will have to arrange your own transport, the walk will begin in Balerno and end in Slateford.
Age 12 and above.
Edinburgh has a number of Friends groups looking after parks and greenspaces in the city. Working with the Council, the Friends of Parks groups give residents a greater say in what goes on in their park. Find out more on the city council website or contact the Parks department on 0131 529 3030 / parks@edinburgh.gov.uk for information on whether your local park has a friends group, or, if not, how to set one up.
West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala organisers have announced that Forth One’s Grant Stott will be opening the event at West Pilton Park on Sunday 26 August.
In a statement on their website, the committee said: ‘We have just had confirmation that Forth One’s Grant Stott is going to come and officially open the first West Pilton & Muirhouse Community Gala Day. The committee are very excited at having the “puss on a bus” main man come down and charm all the locals with some punchy one liners and give out some prizes!’
All stall spaces have now been booked for the big day; as the organisers say: ‘All we need now is some sunshine and some people!’
