Five things you need to know today - The Edinburgh Reporter

Love Parks Week

Fringe previews

Virgin Money Fireworks

The Festival on EdinburghReportage

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Whether you are a residents or a visitor to Edinburgh you are encouraged to show some love for the city’s parks as the nation prepares to celebrate its green spaces.

Love Parks Week will include communities, groups and individuals holding events around the country.

And as the summer sun draws Edinburgh outdoors, the public are reminded that they might play their own part in keeping the capital’s 141 parks in tip top condition.

With tourists and festival-goers on the increase over July and August, it is more important than ever that people join the fight against litter by disposing of waste responsibly, using litter bins or super-sized containers on offer in the city’s most popular parks.

Park users are also being asked to make use of designated barbecue spots where available to avoid leaving scorch marks in the grass, while dog walkers should ensure they clean up after their pets.

Convener of Transport & Environment – Lesley Hinds

Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “We have a beautiful array of parks here in Edinburgh, ranging from small residential spots like Montgomery Street Park to world famous landmarks, such as Calton Hill.

“With the invaluable support of dedicated community and Friends of Parks groups, our parks team work tirelessly to ensure the green spaces across the city, many of them Green Flag Award-winners, are of a national standard.

“But we can’t do this without the support of the public. Our parks provide a haven for people around Edinburgh, particularly during the warmer weather, and I ask those who use them to keep them that way by behaving responsibly and disposing of litter.”

A series of events will take place across the capital for Love Parks Week, including a specially-organised walk along River Almond and Cammo Estate and the ‘Great Saughton Bear Hunt’ in Saughton Park.

A visitor survey will also be launched this week by Saughton Park, aimed to gather public opinion on a proposed major redevelopment, which would result in historic features being restored and improvements made to parks and gardens. More information on the survey can be found on the Council website.

In addition, Edinburgh will be gearing up to represent the UK in the Entente Florale, Europe’s largest environmental competition, when judges visit the city’s parks and open spaces next month.

Find out more about Love Parks Week events on the Edinburgh Outdoors website and by following @EdinburghOutdoors on Twitter.

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We are running out of time to do any more Fringe previews than we have already done – so if you have a show you absolutely have to tell us about then use our Submit your Story feature by clicking here. You can add some photos and give us an idea of what your show is about and why people should attend.

We interviewed the writer and the main character from Broken Dolls yesterday morning and you can watch that here

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWI9eGDG97E]

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Almost time for the festivals to begin but we are already looking forward to the Virgin Money Fireworks on 31 August 2014.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RufAR91eUiM]

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Share your Festival moments with us whether they are written thoughts on your days at the Edinburgh Festival, some photos or a bit of video. If you are in a show or you are off to watch a show then please use our EdinburghReportage Edinburgh Festivals storyboard to tell us your story. What did you think of the show? Tell us on video and upload to our site.

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The 65th Tattoo (1-23 August), embracing the Homecoming-centred theme, ‘Our Home, Friends and Family’, will be revealed by Tattoo Chief Executive & Producer, Brigadier David Allfrey this morning.

The Producer will provide more detail about the eagerly anticipated attendance of hundreds of top Commonwealth performers from the four corners of the globe including Singapore, South Africa, New Zealand and Malta.

Members of the Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra along with the Nagaland Folkloric Group – making their first Tattoo appearance – from North East India will be in attendance this year at the Tattoo. And this year celebrating 350 years of service musicians from Her Majesty’s Royal Marines will add their unique presence to the occasion.

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