Grove Community Garden – Review of polling places – Portobello Market – Wildlife Photographer of the Year – Sport
Grove Community Garden are having a party today.
The members have created a mobile mini allotment and now also have a second plot which they are busy working on to create Grove 2. The planters and the soil have already arrived and their community members are setting to work. The new garden is by the canal on land being held by the council through EDI. Although this is not a permanent site it allows the Grove to become part of the Fountainbridge Canalside Initiative which is trying to encourage a hive of activity along the canal. There are plans for markets, social enterprise, workshops walking groups and pop up cafes.
There are about 125 people or so involved in the community garden which is able to offer some of its produce to a local sandwich shop and to the Bruntsfield Green Grocer. Get along to the Grove for their celebration this afternoon!
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If you live in the city centre you may already have received notice that your polling place for the European election next month is changing from St Stephen’s Church which has now been sold to the Roxburghe Hotel on Charlotte Square. The council report that it will cost less to hire the hotel as a venue than it did to hire the church in St Stephen Street.
Otherwise the council will hear this week that the review of South Morningside School as one of the other polling stations for elections has concluded that the school continues to be the best place in the area. The parent council had objected to the continued use of the school building for this purpose and had suggested that Morningside Parish Church should be used instead.
The council say that polling stations have to be accessible, recognisable and spacious enough for the facilities required with available parking.
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Stockbridge Market takes place today but in Portobello they are getting ready for next week. Councillor Maureen Child who writes to us regularly to keep us up to date with all things Porty explains:-
It will soon be Portobello Market time again! A week on Saturday – 3 May – they fling open the gates of Brighton Park again for another morning of market stall shopping with independent traders. There’s the regular live music band of the Caleerie Buskers and local face painter Annie D will be there. Come and join us and browse everything from handmade soaps, plants, garden furniture and crafts, organic mutton, cheese, condiments, oils, bread to jams, dog treats and African vegetarian goodies! Check here for a full list of stallholders Portobello Market is open at 9.30am until 1.30pm.
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Wildlife Photographer of the Year
17 March – 1 June 2014
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street
Free
Through the lens of wildlife photography this exhibition captures the intrigue and beauty of our planet. These awe-inspiring images, selected from 43,000 entries by amateur and professional photographers in 96 countries, give us a glimpse of the natural world as it has never been seen before. From charismatic animal portraits to dramatic landscapes and provocative photojournalism, this year’s breathtaking exhibition raises the bar of wildlife photography once more, exciting loyal fans and new audiences alike. The 100 award-winning images from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 competition are beautifully displayed on back-lit installations, with each image accompanied by its photographer’s story and technical details.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is co-owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide.
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We will have our usual weekly sports round up tomorrow morning but you might have a look at our Sports section for Mike Smith’s appreciation of Sandy Jardine and also John Preece’s photos of the hockey from Glasgow – a forerunner to the Commonwealth Games.
Meanwhile our Hibs man John Hislop will be at the Edinburgh Derby at Easter Road where police will be out in force.
Police Scotland will be carrying out an operation at Sunday’s SPFL game between Hibernian and Hearts, searching for anyone in possession of fireworks or flares.
Officers will be carrying out searches outside Easter Road stadium, and a specialist search dog will also be used to identify anyone trying to smuggle illegal items into the stadium.
Police are warning that robust action will be taken against anyone trying to take flares or fireworks into the ground. The warning follows incidents at matches earlier in the season where flares or fireworks were used.
Superintendent Liz McAinsh, who is in charge of the policing operation on Sunday, said: “The match kicks off at 1245pm, and I would encourage supporters to get there early, as there is limited parking near to the ground.
“There will be search cordons in place around the stadium, and searches will be undertaken as a condition of entry to the ground. A specialist search dog will be used to detect anyone in possession of fireworks or flares.
“We recognise that the majority of supporters are well behaved, however there are a small minority who in the past have put themselves and others in danger by throwing fireworks or flares.
“If this behaviour continues then it will only be a matter of time before someone suffers a serious injury, and we are working with clubs and stewards to do all we can to prevent such dangerous behaviour.
“Anyone who is caught with a flare or firework can expect to be arrested, either at the time, or as a result of a post-match investigation. As well as receiving a criminal conviction, they may very well find themselves being banned from attending future matches throughout the country.”
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