Jane’s Walk Festival – free neighbourhood walks next month

The international Jane’s Walk festival will be back in Edinburgh in 2023 with five free neighbourhood walks on 5-7 May.  

Jane’s Walk is a community-based approach to city building. The organisation uses volunteer-led walking tours to make space for people to connect around their neighbourhoods.This is the second year the festival will be held and it is hosted by Sunday Assembly Edinburgh and the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) Bookshop. 

Jane’s Walk was founded in Toronto in 2006 in honour of community urban activist Jane Jacobs (1916-2006). Over the following decade, the movement saw rapid global uptake. In 2017, 1,700 Jane’s Walks took place in 225 cities around the world, spanning 37 countries and 6 continents. The movement continues to grow every year. 

The 2023 walks are: 

Friday 5th May, 2pm: West End (hosted by Mark, meet at Binns Clock, Johnnie Walker Princes St) – register free, download the PDF poster

Friday 5th May, 2pm: Lochend (hosted by Hetty, meet at the main entrance to Lochend Park, Lochend Road South (the one closest to the Doocot) – register free, download the PDF poster

Saturday 6th May, 2pm: Stockbridge (hosted by Sarah and Amy, meet at St Stephen’s Church, Comely Bank Road) – register free, download the PDF poster

Sunday 7th May. 2.30pm: Willowbrae (hosted by Lara, meet at the Lillyhall Terrace entrance to Holyrood Park) – register free, download the PDF poster

Sunday 7th May, 2.30pm: Saughton (hosted by Titus, meet at the Garden Bistro cafe in Saughton Park) – register free, download the PDF poster

Jane’s Walks encourage people to share stories about their neighbourhoods, discover unseen aspects of their communities, and use walking as a way to connect with their neighbours. They are: 

  • Free, volunteer-led, and open to everyone
  • Non-commercial and non-partisan
  • Seek to promote dialogue and connection 

Sunday Assembly Edinburgh, the city’s ‘secular congregation’, are again acting as city hosts to organise and encourage these walks. Since 2013 Sunday Assembly Edinburgh have been meeting in the city to celebrate life with the motto Live Better, Help Often, Wonder More. Chair Mark McKergow said: “We love helping people to connect with others in their neighbourhoods. These walks are inclusive and offer ways for different voices to be heard.” 

http://sundayassemblyedinburgh.org/janes-walks/

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/janeswalkedinburgh