Pentlands Open Studios this weekend – travel by bike!
The artist trail, Pentlands Open Studios, is located in Colinton and Balerno and will also use the Colinton Village Enterprise SCIO (CVE) at Spylaw Park where there is the CVE Pit Stop Café. Now CVE have announced they will have rickshaws in the park on Saturday and Sunday for everyone to get the chance of travelling up to Juniper Green in style. The service will be free of charge. Send us your photos if you manage to bag a place on the rickshaw.
Live-streaming from Criminal Appeal Court begins today
In a first for Scotland there will be a regular livestream from the Criminal Appeal Court from today in a move to demonstrate the openness an transparency of the judicial system which The Lord Justice General, Lord Pentland, promised when he took office earlier in the year.
Lord Pentland said: “The principle of open justice is fundamental to our legal system and, indeed, the stability of our country. It helps secure the efficient and impartial administration of justice and supports public confidence in and respect for the rule of law.
“The launch of Criminal Appeal Court Live is the latest initiative to be introduced as part of our commitment to this important principle and I’m pleased to open up the court to a much wider, online audience.
“The service will help to educate and inform the public about the work of the Criminal Appeal Court and allow interested parties – including complainers – to view proceedings without the need to attend in person.
“It will also provide the media with more efficient access to cases to assist with informed and accurate reporting and allow academics and students to engage with the court process in a more convenient way.
“This is an important step in ensuring that justice can be seen to be done in today’s digitally driven world.”
Criminal Appeal Court Live which is filmed in Court 2 at Parliament House in Edinburgh will initially feature appeals against conviction and Crown (prosecution) appeals against sentence, with a view to all appeals eventually being livestreamed.
The SCTS website will be updated with details of the new service and provide additional information on upcoming cases, including a brief outline of the appeal, a link to the livestream feed, and any written decision of the court.
Details of cases to be livestreamed can be found on the Criminal Appeal Court Live webpage on the SCTS website.
Scottish Greens choose new leadership team
The Scottish Greens will announce their new Co-Leaders today after a vote during the summer. The candidates include Dominic Ashmole, Ross Greer, Gillian Mackay and Lothians MSP, Lorna Slater. Ms Slater has been a co-leader of the party with Patrick Harvie since 2019.
Mr Harvie will step down from leadership, but has been selected as a lead candidate on the Glasgow regional list for the 2026 elections. He said he had been honoured by the position.
Mr Harvie said: “I’m immensely grateful to Scottish Green Party members for giving me the opportunity to lead and represent the Scottish Greens for so long. It’s been a privilege.
“I am stepping down with a lot of fond memories but also a great deal of optimism about the future of our party and our movement.
“When I first began as co-convener we were a very different party, and it has been humbling and inspiring to have played such a frontline role as we have grown across every part of Scotland.
“At the time I took office it wasn’t just climate deniers and the political right who wrote us off. Lots of people who had sympathy for what we stand for hadn’t yet been persuaded we could make a difference.
“But we got stuck in and we delivered Green change, from higher taxes on the wealthy to ending peak rail fares and establishing free bus travel for young people. It is because of this record that we have firmly established ourselves as a bold and radical force in Scottish politics.
“With a new leadership team taking office on Friday it will be the start of a new chapter for our party. Regardless of who wins, my role will be changing, and I’m looking forward to being a loyal lieutenant for whoever they are.
“The polls look very positive for our prospects to elect a record number of Greens MSPs in 2026, and if the party works hard and supports the new leadership team, we can continue to change Scotland for the better.
“Green ideas are more necessary than ever. Our world is on fire, our economic system is broken and the far right are on the rise. Green voices are absolutely vital if we are to protect people and planet, and secure a fairer, greener and better future.”
New post boxes
Royal Mail has announced it will roll out solar powered postboxes of the future in Edinburgh and elsewhere in the UK.
There will be a digitally activated drawer which can take parcels up to the size of a shoebox in the new design billed as the biggest change in the 175 year history of the postboxes.
Customers will scan a barcode to make the drawer drop down to access it for posting packages at a more convenient location than going to the nearest post office.
Creative Edinburgh Awards
Tickets are now live for the 2025 Creative Edinburgh Awards
Creative Edinburgh invites you to “conjure the magic of creativity, rejoice in the spirit of artistry and celebrate the fortunes of those who have boldly pursued their creative visions over this past year.
“Whether you want to nominate a colleague, a friend or yourself, applications are open now to make sure Edinburgh’s creative community are truly acknowledged for their accomplishments. There are eight award categories covering a wide range of creative practices, and we want to hear about anyone and everyone who deserves recognition for their work.”
Applications are open for nominations now and will close on Sunday 28 September 2025.
