Police Scotland continue to investigate a series of wilful fire-raisings in the country.

These began in Edinburgh and have happened more recently in Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

Detectives have visited more than 100 addresses as part of extensive door-to-door enquiries and seized almost 700 hours of CCTV footage.

Intelligence is being gathered, with one stolen vehicle been recovered so far. A dedicated team of officers are being supported by specialist resources as enquiries continue.

One week on from the first incident in the west of Scotland, officers continue to appeal for information after a house was deliberately set on fire in Cortmalaw Gardens, Glasgow on Thursday, 3 April, 2025.

Extensive enquiries are also ongoing into wilful fire-raisings at four other properties across the city. 

•         Premises in Milton Road, Kirkintilloch on Friday, 4 April, 2025

•         Properties in Gala Street and Ashgill Road, Glasgow on Monday, 7 April, 2025

•         Property in Meadow Court, Stepps, on Monday, 7 April, 2025

•         Premises in Wellington Road, Bishopbriggs on Tuesday, 8 April, 2025

Edinburgh and the east of Scotland

A team of detectives are investigating these incidents and a number of reports of discharges of firearms and fire-raising in the East of the country, which are all being treated as potentially linked at this time.

Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry, Specialist Crime Division, said: “It is vital that we trace whoever is responsible for these reckless acts as soon as possible. 

“While we believe these to be targeted attacks, the consequences could have been far more serious and I want to make it clear this behaviour will not be tolerated. 

“I would urge anyone with information about any of these incidents to please get in touch.

“We would also be keen to speak to anyone with dash-cam, doorbell footage or personal footage, from the areas where these incidents have taken place.

“Significant enquiries are ongoing in relation to all of these incidents, and we are utilising all available resources to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”

A number of arrests have been made in the East and a number of warrants have been executed in the city.

Arrests

On Thursday, 10 April, 2025, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old male youth were arrested in connection with wilful fire-raisings in Edinburgh.

The 18-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with an incident which took place in Hay Drive on Friday, 4 April, 2025, a wilful fire at a premises in Albert Street on Thursday, 6 March, 2025 and the wilful fire of a vehicle in the Parrotshot area on Sunday, 2 March, 2025.

He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today, Friday, 11 April, 2025.

The 17-year-old male youth has been released pending further enquiries.

A number of items relevant to the investigation, including weapons, have been seized, along with drugs and cash during the execution of warrants in the past few weeks.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ferry added: “A number of arrests have already been made in connection with incidents in the East and arrests will continue across the country over the coming weeks.

“I want to reassure the communities in the East and West of Scotland that we have a team of detectives working on this investigation and our continued action in recent weeks demonstrates our commitment to tackling this type of crime.

“We will continue to carry out additional high-visibility patrols and disruption activity and I would encourage anyone with any concerns to approach these officers, so we can take action. 

“If anyone has information that can help with our enquiries then please contact us immediately.”  

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0562 of Friday, 21 March, 2025. 

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.

Defender Christian Borchgrevink has put pen to paper for Hearts, singing a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee, and he will make the move when the transfer window opens in June.

The 25-year-old right-back is captain of Valerenga in Norway and is a product of the Oslo side’s youth system.

Borchgrevink was part of the team which secured European qualification and played in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Of course, the Norway under-21 cap will join countryman, Sander Kartum, at Gorgie.

Neil Critchley, Hearts’ head coach (pictured), said: “He is a strong, athletic, talented player and a leader on the pitch. He has played at a high level in Norway and we feel we can provide an environment where he can improve.”

Local producers are invited to sign up for the new Steading Rosewell Farmers Market which will begin this spring.

Anyone selling high quality produce can apply to join in the Rosewell Development Trust’s new venture which will meet for the first time in May. SHS Events are collaborating on the venture which they believe will support independent producers and promote quality over quantity. The market will have fully covered stalls ready for the Scottish weather.

Rosewell Development Trust are beginning the market as part of a wider mission to bring new energy and opportunity to the village.

Stewart Ferguson, Manager of The Steading said: “We’re passionate about championing small businesses and creating a space for people to connect, shop fresh, and enjoy something a little different.

“We’re committed to creating a premium, quality-driven market, and we’re keen to hear from producers who share that vision – whether it’s artisan bakery, fresh produce, small-batch preserves, or eco-conscious goods.”

Anyone interested in trading at the market is encouraged to get in touch as soon as possible, as space is limited.

To apply or find out more, email info@shsevents.co.uk or visit www.shsevents.co.uk.

Rosewell Farmers Market 2025 Dates
The Steading, Rosewell EH24 9AA
10am–4pm

• Sunday 4th May
• Sunday 1st June
• Sunday 6th July
• Sunday 3rd August

Community councils

Community council elections were held earlier this year, but in eight areas there have not been sufficient nominations to form a. new council. Nominations are being run again and are open until 17 April in these areas: Craigmillar, Davidson’s Mains and Silverknowes, Firrhill, Hutchison and Chesser, Muirhouse and Salvesen, Old Town, Portobello, West Pilton and West Granton. If you would like to become a community councillor then you are invited to play a part in local democracy. Their business covers all kinds of things – but includes being a statutory consult on planning matters. These are voluntary organisations set up by statute by The City of Edinburgh Council.

There is more information here.

Apply now to establish one of Penguin’s Little Book Stops

Penguin Books is going to celebrate its 90th birthday on 30 July – and they are celebrating by supporting 90 Little Book Stops in the UK. Teaming up with the Little Free Library, an American movement to offer book exchanges in the local neighbourhood, Penguin are asking for 90 applicants to set up their own Little Book Stop.

The 90 Little Book Stops will feature a bespoke Penguin design and be installed with an initial curation of children’s and adult books, specially selected to celebrate 90 years of Penguin books.

After that the concept is simple: take a book, share a book.

Each Little Book Stop has a steward that looks after them and they are open 24/7 so you can always find your next read. The steward will be responsible for registering with Little Free Library which will give them access to a support network and resources.

A spokesperson said: “Our Little Book Stops aim to celebrate the joy of reading and the people who make reading happen for their communities. We believe in the power of books to create connections between us and that each day, all over the UK, there are people who champion reading. Librarians, teachers, community leaders, parent groups, book sellers, youth workers, carers – the list goes on! Maybe it’s even your neighbour who is always recommending your next read.

“If you’d like to celebrate a local reading champion or bring the joy of books to your local community, apply for one of our 90 Little Book Stops today.”

It’s quick and easy to apply online before 1 May. There are four key questions to understand the potential impact of a Little Book Stop in your community and to ensure its success.

• Why is access to books important at this location?
• How might a Little Book Stop change this community?
• Does this Little Book Stop aim to celebrate a local individual or organisation that champions reading?
• How do you plan to look after the Little Book Stop as a steward?

Penguin will select a range of locations all over the UK.

Apply here

Pomegranates Festival begins soon

Celebrating Traditional Dance on Screen on Friday 25 April, 6.30pm at Scottish Storytelling Centre.
The opening night of this year’s Pomegranates Festival of international traditional dance (25-30 April), begins with a packed programme of ten short films celebrating traditional dance on screen. 

More information here – and a reminder that last month we featured Pomegranates on the front page. Click on the image to read our March paper. Remember that we publish a print issue each month and are always looking for stories and photos to feature in that. Email editor@theedinburghreporter.co.uk

Edinbrick

The charity Edinburgh LEGO® Model Show takes place at Meadowbank Sports Centre on 10 and 11 May.

The centrepiece will be the giant eight metre long working model of the Forth Bridge built by a dedicated team of builders who specialise in trains. The model includes two working train tracks and trains from different eras will travel round the display all weekend.

Tickets here

Art and a spritzer

Combine the fun of painting along with some cicchetti, which is a kind of Italian tapas, and a spritzer or non-alcoholic drink of your choice at Marriott Holyrood.

Our editor was invited to try it out along with Edinburgh influencers. She said: “It was amazingly good fun and led by local artist Rachele Cavina who was a great help for novices like me. I attended a Paolozzi Pop Inspired event and did end up with something which looked a bit like pop art. I love Paolozzi and all his work so this made it even more of a pleasure. I had to remind myself to eat the food as I got so involved in my masterpiece, but it is clear that the rebranding of the hotel under the Marriott name has really changed this hotel. It is lighter and brighter – and the food choice was extensive and delicious – my favourite was the salt and chilli squid.”

Guests and locals are invited to enjoy a painting session inspired by vibrant Italian heritage and Paolozzi’s inspired themes, all while sipping on a Paolozzi Spritz and indulging in delicious cicchetti curated by the restaurant Head Chef. 

Whether you’re looking to express yourself, unwind, or simply try something new, this immersive experience offers it all. All painting materials are provided, plus receive a special gift from Edinburgh Beer Factory and 20% off at Arti & Alba’s new restaurant menu. 

Each Month consist of different themes. Discover them here. 

• 14th of May 2025 – Paolozzi Pop Art Inspired 
• 11th of June 2025 – Mosaic Style Vase 
• 9th of July 2025 – Pop Art Summer Table 
• 13th of August 2025 – Pop Art Summer Table 
• 10th of September 2025 – Abstract Landscape
• 7th of October 2025 – Pop Art Tartan Pattern

We’ve had a week of gloriously sunny weather. But the air outside has been disappointingly cold. This has given us two ways of looking upon life.  We are  cheerful looking out of the window but miserable once outside. 

And so it has been with the news – lots of troubles, but when the sun shines they don’t look so bad.  We Scots like to moan, but compared with the rest of the world, we’ve had a good week.

The dry sunny days have been wonderful.  But they have caused some 90 wildfires in several parts of the country.  Glen Rosa on the Island of Arran suffered a major fire.  Campers in the Galloway Forest Park had to be rescued by helicopter.  Fires broke out at Morar along the Harry-Potter train line between Fort William and Malaig.  Firefighters were out tackling a fire at Inverpolly Forest north of Ullapool and on the Isle of Skye a mile-long fire at Glendale took several hours to bring under control.   But all this is nothing compared to what has happened in California, or Spain or Crete.

If this is climate change, then we doing little about it. The government has scrapped its annual emissions target, after failing to reach it for years. The phasing out of petrol-driven vehicles has been postponed till 2035 and the legal requirement to stop the installation of home gas boilers has been abandoned.  Not much wonder that figures out this week show there’s been a 15 per cent bounce-back in emissions since 2021 and the Covid pandemic.

But looking out of the sunny window, our renewables capacity grew in the last year from 15GWs to 16GWs and the pollution from the Grangemouth refinery is to end with its closure in the summer.

The decline of the health and social care services have been brought into sharp focus this week by a report from the government’s own Fiscal Commission. It warns that, unless there are big changes, spending will have to rise from 40 per cent to 55 per cent of the entire Scottish government budget over the next 25 years as the number of old people increases. It points out that the average health care spending for someone over 70 is £6,000 a year and for someone over 80 it rises to £8,000.  It says such expenditure is not sustainable and it argues for a radical switch to preventive measures and a healthier lifestyle.

But again, compared to the rest of the world, we are lucky to have a national health service at all. We just need to learn to pay for it through higher taxes or a retirement levy.   

The financial troubles afflicting our 18 universities have been in the news again this week.  Chronic under-funding from the government over the last 10 years (down by nearly 40 per cent) has led to universities relying on high-fees from foreign students. It doesn’t quite cover the shortfall and, in any case, the number of foreign students is dwindling.  Scottish students, of course, do not have to pay tuition fees but the “free university” pledge by the SNP government is now coming into question.

Edinburgh university staff are being balloted on strike action in protest at plans to cut £140m or 20 per cent from its annual budget. There have already been 15 days of strike action at Dundee University over its plans to cut over 600 jobs.  An emergency grant of £22m has been provided to keep the university afloat.  At Robert Gordon’s University in Aberdeen 135 jobs are at risk.  It’s thought over half of Scotland’s universities are running a deficit.  

It’s all led to a national debate over what universities are for and how they should be funded.  The debate also extends to our 24 technical colleges which have suffered a similar cut in funding.  We are now wondering where the next generation of tradesmen and women, engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers and artists are to come from. And it sure is a funny way to promote economic growth, which is supposed to be the government’s top priority.  

It’s also a funny way to promote research and imagine a new world.  Take the discovery of penicillin for example, being celebrated this week in Sir Alexander Fleming’s home town of Darvel in Ayrshire.  A large mural, by the Glasgow artist “Roque One” has appeared on a building in the town showing Fleming holding up a slide to the light and noticing a strange fungus attacking the bacteria there.  It was the beginning of the antibiotic revolution which has saved millions of lives across the world.

If this younger son of an Ayrshire farmer had not had a good school in Darvel and Kilmarnock, a place at a polytechnic in London and eventually a university lab, he might never have made his great discovery. Such breakthroughs give us hope that science may come to our aid.

To do that we need to be much braver about raising tax and facing up to the worrying news we’ve had this week.

The story of home-owners who were trapped for almost 20 years in Livingston homes built of crumbling concrete has now been told in a new programme produced by Radio Scotland. 

In the  programme presenter Mark Stephen hears from three of those who fought or almost two decades for a new home after the Deans South estate was cleared of tenants in the early 2000’s. 

The programme features quotes recorded by Isabel Baxter remembering her husband Joe, who died just weeks before he could move into the new home built by Springfield Homes for the family last May. 

The programme has broadcast as the problems of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete or RAAC have spread far beyond the new town estate built by Livingston Development Corporation in the late 1960s. 

RAAC has also been discovered in council housing across West Lothian in council homes and across Scotland, prompting a National campaign of which one of the Deans South householders, Kerry Macintosh is a vice- chair. 

Kerry told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that listening to the radio programme, which also features contributions from her and neighbour Phil Cavan, “took us all right back to the start of this.” 

She added: “It’s been really emotional for us all. I’ve cried every time I’ve listened to it, thinking about what we all had to go through.” 

Kerry said she was pleased that the also programme  remembered Joe Baxter and his wife, who had joined her and Phil in the Grampian for a house for house. “It’s important that Joe was heard”, said Kerry  

A national petition has been created demanding a public inquiry be held at Holyrood on the the RAAC scandal and it effects on householders. In the programme Phil tells presenter Mark Stephen that” there has to be a government solution.” 

Kerry described it as shocking the troubles that home-owners across the country were finding as their homes are identified as having the same roofing materials as was identified in Deans South. 

More public protests outside the Scottish Parliament are planned. 

The Deans South story can be heard on BBC Sounds at :- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0029h2t 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Hibs head coach David Gray has provided a fitness update ahead of this weekend’s William Hill Premiership game against Dundee. 

Sunday’s match will be Hibs final game before the split as the players look to stretch their unbeaten league run to 17.  

When looking ahead to the match, Gray confirmed that he expects to have a similar squad available to the one that beat Rangers last week. 

“Everyone came through the Rangers game well and we won’t have anyone returning either, so Joe (Newell) and Elie (Youan) will still be absent. 

“Kwon is still nursing a bit of an ankle injury and Rudi (Molotnikov) picked up a little bit of a groin issue last week that we’re still monitoring.  

“We don’t want to take too many chances with that because we don’t want it to develop into anything too sinister. 

“Apart from that everyone is feeling good and we are really looking forward to the game now.” 

Plans to spend visitor levy income on advertising Edinburgh to tourists have drawn criticism from a councillor and a tenant’s union.

According to a contract tender published by the city, it appeared that the council was looking to spend an estimated £320,000 on graphic design services for its destination marketing service, Forever Edinburgh. However the council has now clarified that the framework can be used by a variety of council services which include Forever Edinburgh.

The final cost of the contract will not be any more than the figure quoted – and could be less. (The council confirmed to The Edinburgh Reporter that it is expected to be less) and final approval for the spending will need to come from councillors.

A council spokesperson said: “The framework is open to all council services and no set spend is agreed at this stage. The use of any visitor levy funds towards the framework for destination marketing would be subject to relevant committee approval, in the usual way.”

It is understood that some or all of the money might come from the transient visitor levy or tourist tax – but the council says that not all of the spending will fall within the destination marketing or tourism sphere.

The advert mentions Forever Edinburgh and tourism, so it is not immediately clear from the advert itself what the design will relate to – other than the city’s tourism offer.

Description of the procurement

• Forever Edinburgh is the Destination Marketing organisation for Edinburgh, based within The City of Edinburgh council. Forever Edinburgh is tasked with promoting the City on a national and international stage. Working closely with private tourism businesses, public agencies and the City of Edinburgh Council, they work to ensure that visitors experience the very best of Edinburgh and the city utilises its outstanding tourism assets in a sustainable way.
• They:
• Promote Edinburgh around the world to build awareness of and demand for the city to prospective inbound leisure visitors;
• Provide information and inspiration to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a stay in Edinburgh;
• Support industry on the delivery of the Edinburgh 2030 Tourism Strategy;
• Engage Edinburgh’s residents and communities in the positive promotion of their city;
• Lead our partners in steering city promotional activity;
• Support industry partners on the delivery of quality assurance initiatives; and
• Provide advice to visitors and industry partners to ensure local tourism businesses strive to exceed visitors’ expectations.
• In order to fulfil its remit, Forever Edinburgh is required to produce a large volume and variety of promotional materials.
• The City of Edinburgh Council require a Framework Agreement of Graphic Designers to create these promotional assets and aid with campaign and brand rollout and delivery. The Council requires small, nimble designers/creative studios who can deliver quick rollout of variety of smaller design assets across web, social, paid digital advertising and print channels.

Comment from Cllr Cameron

Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron said: “As Scotland’s capital city it’s right that we promote Edinburgh to the world and Forever Edinburgh is an integral part of our city’s marketing strategy. 

“Its website promotes events, activities, venues, attractions, businesses, seasonal features and travel information to Edinburgh residents, visitors, and businesses alike. Edinburgh and Lothian residents are also able to access exclusive offers including high value monthly rewards and special resident prices at various attractions via the Residents Rewards feature of Forever Edinburgh, enabling residents to enjoy more of Edinburgh at lesser expense to them.

“It is also important to note that this procurement notice is at an initial stage and is intended to cover a wide framework of creative support.”

SNP comment

SNP councillor Kate Campbell said (before clarification by the council): “Residents will be disappointed, after the budget cuts forced through by the Labour administration, that the council is choosing to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on marketing the city to tourists when most people recognise that Edinburgh already suffers from over-tourism.

“The SNP proposals for the Visitor Levy, which were rejected by Labour and their unionist coalition partners, would have invested almost a billion pounds more in council housing.

“Instead, they’ve made it very clear where their priorities lie. During a cost of living crisis this is a shameful use of public funds.”

Tourist tax

The visitor levy, set to come into effect from July 2026, places a 5% charge on overnight accommodation stays in the city. It is expected to bring in around £50 million per year for the council.

The government legislation behind the visitor levy includes an annual percentage spend on “destination and visitor management”. Since the demise of Marketing Edinburgh some of these functions are undertaken by Forever Edinburgh.

After administrative costs are taken out, as well as several areas of spending priority, 10% of whatever remains would be spent on the area.

The contract would run for two years, with an option to extend it for a further two years in the future. The £320,000 cost estimate was for a hypothetical four year contract.

Forever Edinburgh markets the city to potential tourists and new residents, with the contract tender looking to draw in graphic design firms with experience in tourism advertising.

Living Rent

Eilidh Keay, chair of Living Rent Edinburgh said: “The city does not need more tourism, it needs everyone living here to have access to a safe, secure, affordable home.

“Spending approximately £300k on marketing to tourists when people are being hit hard by a housing crisis, benefit cuts and council tax increases suggests that the council is blind to the experiences of its constituents. 

“Edinburgh council is spending £5m of the £35m tourist tax funds to go towards affordable housing, but this is not enough. For years, tourism has seen short term lets rip through our city, pushing people out of their communities due to high rents and a lack of housing.

“Funds generated from the tourist tax should go into improving the lives of people who live and work in Edinburgh, not lining the pockets of landlords who see our city as nothing more than a holiday destination.”

(This article has been amended to clarify various points after comment from the council as provided to The Edinburgh Reporter by the council on Thursday evening.)

By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter with additional reporting by Phyllis Stephen.

A private hospital has been given the go ahead to build a new eight-bed ward on its west wing to support inpatient demand.

The Spire Shawfair Hospital plans to create the new extension on land currently used as a service yard with eight individual bedrooms with ensuite facilities.

The new modular ward, which includes a plant room, will be linked to the existing main building with a new link corridor.

Planners approved the extension saying it was an addition to a ‘valuable asset’ in the area.

Spire Hospital opened at Shawfair Park nearly 15 years ago. Its design statement said the new ward would help it meet demand on its inpatient services.

They said the new ward would “improve the services available at the Spire and cater for the increasing demand for the services to provide a more efficient healthcare offering.”

Previous permissions for extensions to the hospital have been approved in the past and planners said the latest development fitted with the use of the land although it was not ‘strictly’ business/general use.

They said: “The development is for an extension of an existing hospital that is a valued asset to the area. Whilst not strictly a Class 4 use (business/ general industry), the planning history of the site has approved a private hospital as part of the acceptable mix of uses in Shawfair Park.

“Taking the hospital as an accepted and valued use in Shawfair Park, the proposed development …does not result in adverse amenity impacts and is compatible with neighbouring uses.”

Planners granted permission for the new extension and some surrounding landscaping work to provide screening for it.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

A fresh bid to build new homes next to a former mill lade on a slope in Penicuik has been rejected by planners.

Craig Meikle applied for permission to build three split level homes on land at Craigbank Road, Penicuik, two years after Midlothian Council rejected a similar proposal over safety concerns.

But despite reducing the number of houses involved and addressing concerns about access to the mill lade with plans to fill it in, planners ruled it was not acceptable.

Refusing permission they said the houses were too big, out of character and did not provide enough amenity for residents whose gardens would be overlooked by their neighbours.

And they said a request for an assessment of the impact on protected trees and hedgerow on the site had not been provided.

Mr Meikle had previously applied for permission to build four houses on the site with plans to retain the former mill lade and build footbridges over it as part of the gardens of the new homes.

The initial proposals were rejected and at an appeal hearing at the council’s Local Review Body, further concerns were raised about emergency access to existing homes on the private street during construction and the garden design.

One councillor said the sloping gardens with a bridge at the bottom felt ‘unsafe’.

The revised application proposed filling in the mill lade which the applicant said had “ceased to exist in all but torrential downpours of rain” which they said would open up the whole garden space for beneficial use for residential amenity.

However planners rejected the proposal saying the fact the houses overlooked each other meant the garden space was still not acceptable.

They said: “This does not provide adequate private garden ground as each proposed house would overlook the garden ground of the adjacent house and so have a detrimental impact on the amenity of these occupants.”

And they said the size and scale of the new homes would have a “significant detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, adjacent special landscape area and landscape character of the surrounding area.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Growers at a community garden in West Lothian are supercharging the soil with natural forces in a bid to boost vegetable and fruit production, and fight climate change.  

The project will test the effectiveness of electro culture, a re-emerging concept which harnesses the energy of atmospheric electricity, polar magnetism and natural minerals. The off-grid method channels earth and sky to support plant vitality. 

Project leader Helen Triplett said: “Some of the old ideas are the best,” as she described the experiment sponsored by a local climate action team. 

Pyramid organites, with copper wire or other conductive materials are inserted into the soil around plants so that atmospheric electricity is captured as” free” energy that sustainably enhances plant growth.    

Helen has made the organites she will use on the experiment but similar organites, which blend crystal with natural conductors and are widely commercially available. 

With climate change impacting food systems, it’s hoped the cutting-edge approach to horticulture can offer the potential to increase harvests, improve soil health and boost biodiversity, while reducing environmental impact.  

The pilot project is taking place in four raised beds at Strathbrock Community Garden, Broxburn, which has about ten volunteers cultivating 60 beds in total.  

Helen Triplett became interested in the idea when advancing her studies in soil science.  

The effect of natural energy has long been observed in lightning-hit crops, which tend to grow faster and larger. The intense, sudden heat of a lightning strike causes nitrogen to bond with the oxygen; creating nitrogen oxides that mix with the rain and water plants with nitrate-rich rainfall speeding up the natural absorption and growth rate. 

Once a fringe interest, electro culture is now being revived by eco-minded growers like Helen, who qualified in horticulture with plantsmanship from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and is now working in her honours project with the SRUC. 

Helen described the live experiment over this year’s main growing season. Each of the beds will be filled with the same mix of soil. They will then receive a prescribed growing mix of peas, broad beans, onions, lettuce and beetroot. 

“They will have no fertiliser, none of the magic that goes into the other beds,” said Helen. “We use the energy that’s in the atmosphere to create a vortex to direct the energy to the soil.”  

The direction of spirals is dependent on the northern or southern hemisphere. The first bed will place the spirals at different heights, the second will use organites: pyramid structures that combine the metal spirals with crystals. In the third bed, the system will be placed under the soil to measure its influence. The fourth bed is a control.  

“As long as we get the vortex through the soil, we’re expecting good things,” said Helen.  

Helen has noted in her own garden the improvements to plants by placing organites near them, with healthier, larger and more productive plants compared with the same species growing nearby.  

Helen hopes the project will build a template for future applications of electro-culture that can be demonstrated by holding community workshops on the technique. The experimental plots will also encourage the community to get involved through practical demonstration. The garden is well established in local food growing and working with school children. 

The project has been supported by West Lothian Climate Action Network (WLCAN). Broxburn and Uphall Development Group was awarded money from WLCAN, one of Scotland’s regional climate hubs, which supports local projects to tackle climate change. The growers have used the award for materials to get their project off to a start.  

It was one of 14 projects given part of WLCAN’s eco development funding, which is supported by the Scottish Government.  

Helen added: “What makes this project special is its spirit: a blend of community, ecology and innovation. It’s not just about growing food – it’s about growing understanding, engaging minds and nurturing a deeper relationship with the soil beneath our feet. We’re incredibly grateful for the support that makes this work possible.  

“This will be a way we can get bigger plants by using what’s available to us. Could we grow more by using less? Some of the old ideas are the best.” 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Edinburgh Rugby today confirmed hooker Dave Cherry and scrum-half Ali Price will depart the club at the end of the season to take up playing opportunities abroad. 

Both players will be out of contract at the end of the current campaign. 

Scotland international Cherry, 34, who joined the club in 2018, has amassed over 100 appearances for the capital side.  

He reached his century milestone in front of over 40,000 fans at December’s memorable 1872 Cup victory over Glasgow Warriors at Scottish Gas Murrayfield. 

Price, 31, arrived at Edinburgh Rugby in November 2023 from Glasgow Warriors. Since then, he has made 34 appearances for the club, bringing experience and leadership to the squad. 

Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach, Sean Everitt, said: “Dave and Ali have both made significant contributions to Edinburgh Rugby and we thank them for their dedication and commitment to the club. 

“Dave has given a lot during his time at the club, but it is a position we are well stocked with good young Scottish talent and, therefore, we have decided not to continue his deal, and wish him the very best in his next steps. 

“Dave’s journey to becoming a centurion is a testament to his hard work and resilience, while Ali’s experience and leadership have been invaluable to the team. 

“There is still a lot of rugby to be played this season, and I know both Dave and Ali will continue to play a key role in our run-in. We wish them all the best for their future endeavours and thank them for their service to Edinburgh Rugby.” 

Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner are currently seeking views on the potential use of live facial recognition (LFR) by Police Scotland. 

Officers point put that this is not a consultation to determine whether Police Scotland will use live facial recognition, it is an exploratory conversation to determine the Scottish public’s views on this technology and its potential use in policing.  

If Police Scotland decide to explore further any implementation of live facial recognition, there will be a separate public engagement on this matter before any decision is made. 

A spokesperson said: “We recognise that specific detail regarding any potential future use is limited at this stage, however, the three bodies felt it appropriate to discuss with the public and key stakeholders to assess support or otherwise for the technology. 

“ Police Scotland will decide on the basis of responses whether to commit more resources to exploring LFR in detail and then fully consulting on specific detail in the future. 

“Should you require these questions in another format, please contact SPAStrategyandPerformance@spa.police.uk 

To take part in the survey click here

Detectives investigating recent gang feud activity in and around Edinburgh have arrested two teenagers.

Officers said that an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old male youth were arrested in connection with wilful fireraisings which took place in Hay Drive on Friday, 4 April, 2024.

The 18-year-old has also been arrested in connection with a wilful fire at a premises in Albert Street on Thursday, 6 March, 2025 and the wilful fire of a vehicle in the Parrotshot area on Sunday, 2 March, 2025.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Enquiries are ongoing into the incidents, which are linked to the recent discharge of firearms and other fire-raising incidents in the city.

“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

“A 24-year-old man was earlier arrested and charged in relation to two wilful fireraisings.

“He was due to appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 8 April, 2025.”

Detective Superintendent Paul Grainger added: “I want to reassure the community that extensive enquiries are ongoing into this investigation and arrests will continue over the coming weeks.

“If you have any information that can assist our investigation, please get in touch.”

Traditional Dance will be featured on screen on 25 April at the Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of Pomegranates Festival.

On that evening there will be an evening of ten short films celebrating traditional dance on screen. This is an exclusively curated programme showing diverse dance from Scottish Step and Highland to East African and Chinese.

The programme includes three diverse films directed by award-winning Canadian dance filmmaker Marlene Millar, Firstly,  To Begin the Dance Once More – the newly revisedTraditional Dance Forum of Scotland’s first-ever screen dance production exploring Scottish and Egyptian stories of motherhood, featuring choreography by Vincent Hantam, andset to the new epic poem about Beira and Bride (the Queen of Winter and the Goddess of Spring) by Scottish storyteller Donald Smith. 

Secondly, Offering – inspired by traditional dance processions from the Quebec-based Migration Dance Film collective, world-renowned for their innovative use of vocals and body percussive movement.  Offering is directed by Marlene Millar in collaboration with choreographer Sandy Silva with the guest appearance of street dance sensation Omari Motion Carter. And thirdly, Bhairava filmed on the ancient site of Hampi in India, directed by Marlene Millar and Philip Szporer (Mouvement Perpétuel, Montréal) with cinematography by Kes Tagney.

Kes Tagney’s recent short Home featuring Scottish step dance Sophie Stephenson accompanied by musician Ronan Martin is also featured in the programme. 

Other highlights include The Bright Fabric of Life directed by celebrated Estonian artist and filmmaker Mare Tralla; Deer Dancer which was first released as a major commission at the Edinburgh Art Festival in 2019 and features three dances, including Highland Fling, by Hanna Tuulikki exploring male masculinity in dance; two breakdance shorts Autocorrect commissioned by Sadler’s Wells and directed by this year’s choreographer-in-residence MC, hip hop dance artist Jonzi D; and Second Guessing by Glasgow Bgirl Emma Ready which explores the harm experienced by coercive control.

Two other rarely screened films include Chinese short Crowned by Flame directed and performed by Lyuxian Yu; and Echoes of a Taiko Drum which was produced by Billingham Festival Director Olga Maloney, and features a unique fusion of Taiko Drums, Georgian, Irish and Indian Kathak Dance.

This 80-minute shorts film programme will be followed by a Q&A with featured creatives, including Scottish Bgirl Emma Ready, Estonian filmmaker  Mare Tralla and Canadian filmmaker Kes Tagney. 

The Pomegranates Festival (25 – 30 April) is the annual platform for the diverse 250+ individual and organisational members of the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland to teach, learn and perform in new dance theatre and screen dance shows, as well as new productions and residencies. This is the fourth edition of Scotland’s annual festival of international traditional dance, initiated, curated and produced by the Traditional DanceForum of Scotland. It is presented in partnership with TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Central Library, Dance Base and the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

In 2025 the Pomegranates Festival is funded by Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding through TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland); the City of Edinburgh Council and University of Edinburgh through the Edinburgh Local Community Fund. 

For tickets and more information visit https://www.tdfs.org/pomegranates/

Iliyana Nedkova, who together with Wendy Timmons is co-founder and curator of the Pomegranates Festival said: “I  am very pleased that this year’s Pomegranates Festival’s opening evening show is all about world traditional dance and music specifically devised for the camera, not for the stage.

“I believe that magic happens where cinematography meets choreography. Following years of curating, judging and producing short dance films and screen dance festivals, I always wondered why we don’t have a dedicated platform for trad dance on screen. Well, while waiting for the dance film festival circuit to create such a platform, we decided to launch our own global programme and perhaps sow the (pomegranate) seeds of world trad dance on screen by selecting some of the best and rarest examples in this emerging new genre.”

Mare Tralla, the Estonian-born and Edinburgh-based artist, as one of the creatives featured in the programme said: “I can’t wait for the launch on the big screen of the latest Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland’s screen dance production The Bright Fabric of Life at the opening night of the Pomegranates Festival.

“I designed the set and costumes, shot and edited this new film in the summer 2024 with a great team of creatives using the body language of traditional African dance choreographed specifically for the camera by the esteemed Vincent Hantam. The film tells stories of motherhood and kinship, love and loss from Sub-Saharan Africa and Scotland. Also on the night we will celebrate the paperback release of Mhairi Collie’s book which inspired our film. The book, just like the film, explores the dramatic life story of Sylvie, an Ethiopian patient and Juliet – a Scottish surgeon.”

The programme includes these ten films:

AUTOCORRECT (2022, Dir. Jonzi D)
Commissioned by Sadler’s Wells and directed and performed by Jonzi D, AUTOCORRECT features three male hip hop dancers from New York, London and Kampala. The short film takes inspiration from the cerebral poetry of Saul Williams, supported by Soweto Kinch’s textured soundscape.

Bhairava (2017, Dir. Marlene Millar and Philip Szporer)
This short evokes facets of Shiva, the Lord of Dance, as both the destroyer of evil and the guardian of time. Carried by a strong and deeply evocative musical score and by the singular energy of the ancient site of Hampi, dancer and choreographer Shantala Shivalingappa embodies the presence and distinctive qualities of Bhairava. With her technical mastery and refined expressivity, she alternates between moments of precise symbolic gestures and more abstract body language surging from the powerful and omnipresent persona of Bhairava, creating a vivid incarnation of the deity.

Crowned by Flame (2024, Dir. Lyuxian Yu)
In this work,  the artist uses cigarette boxes (the world’s smallest drum), fire, and the traditional Ji Guan Headpiece (Cockscomb Headpiece)—key symbols of the Chinese ethnic minority Yi culture—to tell a powerful story about navigating cultural heritage and personal freedom. The performance contrasts black modern props with vibrant, traditional ethnic objects, creating a striking collision between cultural pride and the push for liberation.

Deer Dancer (2019, Dir. Hanna Tuulikki) 
A cross-artform project that grew out of research into the Deer Dance of the indigenous Yaqui of Sonora, Mexico, and their Pascua Yaqui descendants in Arizona, USA; the Highland Fling of the Scottish Highlands; and the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance of Staffordshire, England. The piece was further informed by experiential research into hunting practices and by direct observation of deer in their habitat and explores the mimesis of male deer behaviours, from the capering fawn, to the rutting stag, and how they can inform a ‘performance’ of masculinity by male dancers, and the implications of these gendered performances in society today.

Echoes of a Taiko Drum (2022, Dir. Olga Maloney)A new short screen dance and music film, produced by Billingham Festival Director Olga Maloney, featuring a unique fusion of Taiko Drums, Georgian, Irish and Indian Kathak Dance.Winner of the Best Audience Award at the European Short Film Festival in Berlin in 2022.

HOME (2024, Dir. Kes Tagney)

Shot in Scotland and Cornwall, HOME premiered last year at the Inverness Film Festival. It features Scottish step dancer Sophie Stephenson accompanied by musician Ronan Martin. Inspired by Stepheson’s love for Scotland, at its heart is a real sense of belonging and feeling of deep connection with the place you call Home.

Offering (2023, Dir. Marlene Millar)
Using the traditional dance procession choreography, Offering creates a meaningful and joyful conversation between the body percussion artists featured in all Migration Dance Film Projects to date and new emerging artists from street, hip hop and gigue dance and circus arts. Special guest appearance by the British hip hop artist OmariMotion Carter. 

Second Guessing (2023, Dir. Emma Ready and Therese Lynch )
Second Guessing investigates coercive control from the victim’s perspective. Emma Ready is a Bgirl, choreographer, and creative educator. During her 25 years of breaking, Emma has established an international reputation as an inspirational, and empathetic motivator. 

The Bright Fabric of Life (2024, Dir, Mare Tralla)Using the body language of traditional African dance choreographed specifically for the camera, The Bright Fabric of Life tells stories of motherhood and kinship, and love and loss from Scotland and Sub-Saharan Africa. It captures the poignant story of Sylvie – a beautiful Ethiopian girl, whose dreams are destroyed when a disastrous childbirth leaves her broken both emotionally and physically, facing rejection and isolation.

To Begin the Dance Once More (2023, Dir, Marlene Millar) Four international dancers based in Scotland and Egypt reimagine the mythological world inhabited by the Celtic and Egyptian mothers of Earth. A beautifully compelling and vital piece of storytelling and movement for the screen. Featuring choreography by former Scottish Ballet Principal Dancer Vincent Hantam, and set to a new epic poem about Beira and Bride (the Queen of Winter and the Goddess of Spring) by Scottish storyteller Donald Smith. 

The traditional season-opener of the Scottish amateur golf calendar, the Craigmillar Park Open, takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

A full field of 79 players will be playing, cut to 40 after the two Saturday rounds.
Generously sponsored by Golf Finance, the 72 hole event has a long and prestigious history.

Sir Nick Faldo won in 1976 and turned professional shortly afterwards. The last time the event finished in a tie was 2015 when Ewen Ferguson prevailed over Connor Syme in the play off. Both are now among Scotland’s best professional golfers.   

The event counts towards the Scottish Golf Order of Merit and carries World Golf ranking points. Prizes for the top ten scorers begin at £500 in Scottish Golf vouchers for the winner.

Entry is free.

Police have arrested and charged a 31-year-old man in connection with road traffic offences following a fatal hit and run crash on the A90 Queensferry Road, Edinburgh.

Around 11.15pm on Tuesday, 8 April, 2025, officers were made aware of a crash involving the rider of a Kawasaki KLE650 motorcycle and the driver of an unknown car.

Emergency services attended and the 61-year-old male rider was pronounced dead at the scene.

The car has since been traced and the 31-year-old man arrested and charged in connection with road traffic offences. Further enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.

Sergeant Paul Ewing said: “We would like to thank the public for their assistance with our investigation and our thoughts remain with the family of the man who died.

“Anyone with any further information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 4274 of 8 April, 2025.”

The Edinburgh and Lothians Miniature Railway Club (E&LMRC), which was founded in 1951, was facing an uncertain future due to proposals to redevelop their current premises in Piershill. Planning permission for a new aparthotel on the site of their current clubroom was granted last year. However, the club is pleased to announce that it is in the process of moving to a new clubroom at Central Hall on West Tollcross.

Club secretary, David Laing, said, “we’re very grateful to Central Church for granting us a license to occupy part of the basement at Central Hall. This will provide us with a place to meet, store, maintain and build the layouts that the club takes to model railway exhibitions across Scotland and the UK”.

Club member Michael Swinton will be exhibiting his own layout, Swinton Traction Maintenance Depot (TMD), on behalf of the club at The Lothians Model Railway Show, at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University Student’s Union this coming weekend (12th / 13th April 2025).

The club will also be attending exhibitions in Glenrothes, Perth, Dundee and Manchester later this year and are currently arranging their second annual exhibition at George Watson’s College, on 6th / 7th September 2025 following the success of last year’s inaugural event.

Club secretary, David Laing, added, “we anticipate being able to welcome prospective new members at our new premises from May 2025, so if anyone in Edinburgh, or the surrounding area, is interested in railway modelling and would be interested in joining a model railway club, please send an email to secretary@elmrc.org.uk to arrange a visit. We’re a friendly group and membership is open to anyone with an interest in model railways irrespective of ability. New members are always welcome”.

Here are some dates in the SPFL diary for the second half of this year and the start of 2026.

The SPFL has announced that the William Hill Premiership, William Hill Championship, William Hill League 1 and William Hill League 2 will all kick off on the weekend of August 1-3 2025. 

The William Hill Premiership will conclude on the weekend of May 16/17 2026, while clubs in the Championship, League 1 and League 2 will finish their regular seasons on the first weekend in May, before the play-offs get under way. 

The second season of the expanded UEFA club competitions – the league phase of the Champions League and Europa League again runs until the end of January 2026  exerts additional pressure on the domestic calendar.  

As was the case for 2024/25, there will be no scheduled William Hill Premiership winter break in season 2025/26. 

The group stage of the Premier Sports Cup will start on the weekend of July 12/13, 2025 with the final scheduled for Sunday December 14 2025. 

 To enable the tournament to be completed before Christmas, the quarter-finals will, as in the current season, be played on a weekend due to the lack of a midweek slot. 

SPFL Chief Operating Officer Calum Beattie said: “We are only just into the second half of the season across the four divisions and there is so much to look forward to in the remaining months of season 2024/25. 

“However, we are well aware that clubs and supporters need to plan ahead. We are therefore pleased to be able to confirm start and end dates for season 2025/26, as well as the full schedule for the Premier Sports Cup. 

“We will again have five clubs competing in UEFA club competitions in season 2025/26 and, of course, we are all hoping that next season ends with Scotland’s participation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.” 

SUMMARY OF KEY DATES FOR SEASON 2025/26 

WILLIAM HILL PREMIERSHIP 

Fixture round 1 
Weekend of August 2/3, 2025 

Fixture round 33 
Weekend of April 11/12, 2026 

Fixture round 38 
Weekend of May 16/17, 2026 

William Hill Premiership play-off final 
Thursday May 21 & Sunday May 24, 2026 

WILLIAM HILL CHAMPIONSHIP 

Fixture round 1 
Weekend of August 1/2, 2025 

Fixture round 36 
Friday May 1, 2026 

WILLIAM HILL LEAGUE 1 & WILLIAM HILL LEAGUE 2 

Fixture round 1 
Saturday August 2, 2025 

Fixture round 36 
Saturday May 2, 2026 

PREMIER SPORTS CUP 

Group stage 
MD1: Weekend of July 12/13, 2025 
MD2: Midweek of July 15/16, 2025 
MD3: Weekend of July 19/20, 2025 
MD4: Midweek of July 22/23, 2025 
MD5: Weekend of July 26/27, 2025 

Second round 
Weekend of August 16/17, 2025 

Quarter-finals 
Weekend of September 20/21, 2025 

Semi-finals 
Weekend of November 1/2, 2025 

Final 
Sunday December 14, 2025 

Sinuous, scintillating and spectacular, New Adventures’ cygnets have come of age in this transfixing 30th Anniversary production of Matthew Bourne’s ground-breaking take on Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, the production that made ballet accessible to whole new audiences when it premiered at Sadler Wells Theatre in 1995.

Continue reading here.

At Festival Theatre until 12 April.

Council consultation

A council consultation on parks ends on Friday. One of the rules has been highlighted by Spokes as possibly problematic for cyclists.

The cycle campaign group has responded to the consultation saying that rule 4.19 which restricts padlocking or securing cycles to railings, gates, poles or posts may put some people off cycling to parks.

They have pointed out that some cycles – such as cargo bikes or assistive bikes for those who cannot cycle on their own – are not suitable for standard cycle racks and it might be necessary for their owners to secure the bikes elsewhere.

But there is of course more to the consultation than just cycling. The consultation is to be found here, and it closes on Friday.

The Council plans to bring in a revised set of Management Rules for Public Parks, Beaches, and Green space. These rules are made under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. The Culture and Communities Committee met on 22 April 2022. The Committee support discussing changes with the public. They also seek additional suggestions for new rules. Since then, further work has been carried out. A revised draft set of management rules have been developed.

There are laws to support your enjoyment of the outdoors. These are the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC). Management Rules are important guidelines. They set out how people should behave in parks and other public spaces. Having rules means that the Council does not need to ask the Scottish Ministers for permission to make sure everyone uses our spaces properly and safely. The management rules shall apply to the city’s public parks, beaches, and green spaces. This will include the Pentland Hills Regional Park. This is in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Elsie Inglis statue

The planning application for a new statue of Elsie Inglis – and the first one of a woman on the Royal Mile – has to be determined by 25 April 2025. Comments closed on Friday 4 April and there are 647 of them. Of these comments 408 support the statue and 237 pose objections to the statue. Meanwhile we will keep an eye out for the statue being discussed, as it no doubt will be, at a Development Management Sub-Committee.

There is also an Elsie Inglis related event on at Surgeons Hall Museum with a lunchtime talk on 30 April at 1.15pm and although it has sold out onlineThe event webpage is here in case of cancellations.

Swan Lake

It was the perfect setting at Inverleith Pond for a photo call with ballet dancers from the newest production to come to the Festival Theatre – if a little cold! The production is on now at Festival Theatre.

Read more here.

Charity funding

The council has opened its Community Grants Fund with funding of up to £5,000 per application available to bring community ideas to life.

Cllr Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “Community-driven projects have the power to transform neighbourhoods and improve lives. Our communities are the lifeblood of our city, and we are committed to ensuring they have the resources they need to turn their ideas into reality. The Community Grant Fund offers a valuable opportunity to make a meaningful impact. I’m excited to see the incredible projects that will emerge from this round of applications.”

Read more here.

RNLI put out safety message

The lifesaving charity, RNLI, is encouraging everyone to stay safe this April, especially when visiting coastal locations, such as Cramond Island.

Cramond is a tidal island that can be reached by low tide via a causeway. However, once high tide arrives, people on the tidal island no longer have a safe passage back to the mainland and get stuck on the island, or on the causeway.

Individuals crossing the causeway to Cramond are encouraged to check the safe crossing times beforehand and arrange suitable plans to return back, but unfortunately, many members of the public have been caught off guard and have needed rescuing by the RNLI.

Read more here.

A small team of six volunteers is preparing for the inaugural Edinburgh Tartan Parade which takes place one month from today.

Rehearsals have been carried out along the city centre route and the final touches to arrangements for the big day are now in the process of being made. 

The first Edinburgh Tartan Parade on 10 May will begin at the City Chambers, processing down the Royal Mile to Cockburn Street, onto Waverley Bridge and then into Princes Street Gardens. Some 1,600 people have now registered for the event and registrations are now closed (although there is a waiting list just in case of any cancellations).

The date was chosen to be the second Saturday in May – World Fair Trade Day – and the founder of Edinburgh Tartan Parade, Tania Pramschufer of Hand Up Events, has a real connection with all things Fair Trade. She runs the market on Castle Street under Hand Up Events which she describes as a social enterprise company. She registered a tartan design for World Fair Trade some years ago and has promoted the clan by taking part in the New York City Tartan Day Parade wearing the distinctive blue and green design.

Louise Marshall, piper to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and members of Pulse of the Place youth band will lead the parade wearing the tartan.

Ceilidh

After the parade with 1,600 people signed up to take part, there will be a three hour long ceilidh in Princes Street Gardens for the parade participants and marshals and everyone who is involved. Dancing will be led by Edinburgh-based ceilidh band, Whisky Kiss, who have become regulars at the New York event, although they are omitting it from their calendar this year.

The all-women organising team is keen that members of the public then come along in the evening to Usher Hall where there will be a concert, featuring the Red Hot Chili Pipers and also bagpiper, Craig Weir.

Tartan Parade Scotland will bring together tartans, pipe bands, dancers, musicians, organisations and individuals from Edinburgh and beyond to celebrate the country’s rich heritage, tartans, culture and inclusivity. 

The inspiration for the Tartan Parade Scotland stems from the successful NYC Tartan Day Parade and the ongoing collaboration between Tartan Parade Scotland and Kyle Dawson, President of the NYC Tartan Day Parade. 

Mr Dawson said: “I’m delighted to confirm that I will be attending the Edinburgh Tartan Parade on May 10th. It will be an honor to celebrate this fantastic event and see firsthand the incredible work that Tania and her team have done to bring the spirit of Tartan Day to Edinburgh.

“As President of the National Tartan Day New York Committee, organizers of NYC Tartan Week, I am thrilled to witness the expansion of this celebration of Scottish heritage. The energy, camaraderie, and pride that define our own parade, will undoubtedly be mirrored in Edinburgh, creating an unforgettable experience for all participants. Tania and her team have done a phenomenal job in fostering this celebration, and their dedication is evident in the enthusiasm surrounding the event.”

Camilla Hellman, President of the American Scottish Foundation, which is also a part of the New York City Tartan Day Parade, and in particular the events at Bryant Park held ahead of the parade, said: “The American Scottish Foundation is also going to be marching – we are excited to support the inaugural Edinburgh Tartan Parade – we are galvanizing our contingent!

“Just as there is nothing like marching in the New York Tartan Day Parade up Sixth Avenue past Radio City, it will be such a unique experience to march through the historic streets of Edinburgh as the city celebrates the culmination of its 900th Anniversary with the Edinburgh Tartan Parade. Tania Pramschufer is a master organizer, and cannot wait to join everyone marching along the cobbled streets on May 10th.”

The route for the Tartan Parade Scotland 2025 will commence with its journey from the iconic Royal Mile, weaving its way down Cockburn Street, proceeding to Waverley Bridge, and finishing at the picturesque Mound Precinct. Attendees can expect a display of clan tartans, as well as lively performances by pipe bands and highland dancers, organisations and individuals all coming together to honour Scotland’s legacy.

The Tartan Parade Scotland aims to “celebrate Scottish culture, foster community engagement, and commemorate Edinburgh’s significant 900th anniversary as a city”. The event’s vision is to unite people in the appreciation of the beauty of tartan, from Scotland and all around the world.

A trailer event was held at The Mound in 2024

The official launch by @lezleymarion of the Edinburgh Tartan Parade was a lively affair… pic.twitter.com/y0hFR60T9p

— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) May 11, 2024

Parade Participants who have signed up so far include:

Tartan Parade Scotland
Dancercize with Anne
Crofthead Farm Community Centre
Scotpipe
Clan ARMSTRONG
Bay City Rollers Fan Community
Cheryl Heggie School of Dance
Clan Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland
College of Master Kilt Tailors
ScotlandShop
Official Alan Longmuir – Proud Son Of Edinburgh Tartan
Promotional Warehouse
Universal fans of the bay city rollers
Accrington Pipe Band
Delting & Nesting Jarl squads
Pulse of the Place
Lindsay School of Dancing
FAIR CITY BATON TWIRLERS
Discovery Dance
European highland dancer
Color Guard of the St. Andrews Society of Washington D.C.
CLAN LAMONT SOCIETY
Dunfermline & District (RBL Scot) Pipes and drums
Burntisland & District Pipe Band
Brenda Ronnie School Of Highland Dance
James Gillespie’s High School Pipe Band
Autism Tartan
Scouts Scotland Pipe Band
Combined Banchory and Robert Gordon’s College Pipe Bands
HERALDRY SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND
Banff Castle Pipeband
Grassmarket Tartans
Caithness Youth Pipe Band
History Matters Ltd
Samaritans Scotland
The Force, Display Team of Champion Drum Majors
Clackmannanshire Pipe Band
New York Caledonian Club
The Society of William Wallace
Clan McKay Drummers
Official Bay City Rollers
Scottish Arts Club
Hawick Scout Pipe Band
Grassmarket Tartans
Association of Hackney Carriage Drivers
SAPD. Pipe Band.
Pentland Caledonia Pipe Band
Tartan Creations by Yvonne Macrae
Clan MacLennan Scotland Association
American Scottish Foundation
Balerno & District Schools Pipe Band
Tynecastle Youth Community Pipe Band
Eagles Pipe Band
Moodiesburn and District Pipe Band
Association of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Scotland
Sarah Henry School of Dance
Stockbridge Pipe Band

RNLI, the lifesaving charity is encouraging everyone to stay safe this April, especially when visiting coastal locations, such as Cramond Island.

Cramond is surrounded by tidal waters and while it can be reached by low tide via a causeway, it is still dangerous. Once high tide arrives, people on the tidal island no longer have a safe passage back to the mainland and some get stuck on the island, or on the causeway.

People crossing the causeway to Cramond are encouraged to check the safe crossing times beforehand and arrange suitable plans to return back, but unfortunately, many members of the public have been caught off guard and have needed rescuing by the RNLI.

Volunteers at RNLI lifeboat stations based at Queensferry and Kinghorn typically respond to call outs at Cramond Causeway. In 2024, Queensferry RNLI Lifeboat Station launched 81 times, aiding 130 people caught in difficulty in the water, and Kinghorn RNLI Lifeboat Station launched 58 times, saving 2 lives and aiding 31 people. 

Michael Avril, Water Safety Lead for the RNLI in Scotland, says: ‘With the expected nice weather and afternoon tides, we’re strongly encouraging everyone planning to visit Cramond to check the safe crossing times before heading out to Cramond and return back to the mainland with adequate time to avoid being caught out by the tide.’

‘We’re seeing more and more people needing our support when visiting Cramond Island. We’ve encountered people stuck on the island due to being cut off by the tide, and even had to rescue people who have attempted to walk back and been caught out by the high tide.’

Queensferry RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1967, with the new station built in 2012. Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, David Smart, says: ‘We want everyone to enjoy themselves this easter, which includes visiting nearby Cramond, without having to be rescued by the RNLI and caught in difficulty.

‘Planning your day and timings will save you from being caught out by the tides and needing our assistance. However, accidents happen, and it is important that you are able to call for help if you need it. If you find yourself or spot others in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard straight away.

‘Stay calm and don’t try and wade through the water as this could be dangerous.’

To check the safest times to cross, text CRAMOND to 81400 or check the clearly displayed signage before crossing the causeway.

The RNLI is sharing this vital safety messages after new research with Bangor University reveals gaps in tidal knowledge that has led to 15% of British and Irish residents – 10 million people – in danger of being cut off by the tide.*

To find out more, visit: RNLI research with Bangor University reveals gaps in tidal knowledge | RNLI

Words Fail Me, by Edinburgh author Frances McKendrick is published tomorrow.

WORDS FAIL ME By Frances McKendrick A therapist’s job is to listen, not to get involved. Unless…

A gripping page-turner about angst, abuse and vicarious revenge A startlingly accomplished debut from a school counsellor turned novelist at the cutting edge of the adolescent mental health epidemic.

Moving, entertaining and revelatory, Words Fail Me is a gripping page-turner, with a compelling mystery at its core and a hair-raising climax, which also shines a revealing light on contemporary adolescent agonies. Frances McKendrick is a psychotherapist and writer living in Edinburgh with her husband and two children. 

She won the Isobel Lodge Award for her short fiction, which has also been shortlisted for the Bath Short Story Award and the Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize. Words Fail Me is her first novel.  

 ‘A dark and startling tale of righteous vengeance’ Val McDermid

‘Complex, timely and full of compassion’ Ian Rankin ‘Brilliant’ Ruth Padel

PAPERBACK * £9.99 * ISBN: 9781785634178 

Eve, a restaurant in the heart of the capital, has begun a new Italian dining experience, with a concept created by its head chef who was born and raised in Rome. 

The venue, entered by the Cowgate entrance of Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, has embarked on a new chapter with a menu filled with a handpicked list of classic dishes “just like Nonna used to make”.
 
All featuring authentic Italian ingredients, dishes include the signature “Eve carbonara”, an indulgent dish made for sharing and promising to “leave diners wanting more”.
 
The new concept is the brainchild of the restaurant’s Head Chef Giulio Morroni, who was taught to cook by his family, including his grandmother – his nonna, in Italian – in Rome.

He refined his own skills by attending a cookery-focused school in the Italian capital from the age of 13 to 18, and boosted his passion with his travels around Italian eateries and later, in prestigious chef positions. 

Chef Giulio arrived in Scotland in 2009, with his now wife, and the following year joined Virgin Hotels, at its stylish Edinburgh location, which had embarked on a soft launch earlier that year.

The culinary expert, who has led kitchens at various high-end names in Scottish hospitality, put together the new menu for Eve.

Debuted with an inspiring and colourful launch event, the new menu marks a more focused concept for the vibrant restaurant that previously offered a global range of dishes. 

Diners are transported on a journey spanning the regions of Italy, with ingredients including Gorgonzola cheese from the north of the Mediterranean country to Njuda from Calabria in the South.

The chef said: “I am extremely excited to be launching this menu that connects my native Italy with my adopted home of Scotland.

“Becoming a chef just happened – it’s not just a job for me, it’s a passion. I am so happy and proud to be able to share this with you.

“I’m so happy, I can bring my food to Cowgate. I really love this menu, it tastes like home. I’m so proud.”
 
Pasta at Eve will be made fresh on the premises, including homemade ravioli with ricotta, lemon zest, chives, and butter sauce.

Chef Giulio said: “When I was about six, Nonna used to make ravioli, and it was the meal on Sunday that brought the family together.”

The Eve carbonara, made with mafaldine (curly ribbon) pasta, guanciale (pork cheek), pecorino, and egg yolk, and designed to share, also has strong sentimental attachment for the chef.

He said: “Eve will be cooking with the traditional three ingredients — just like my Nonna used to make — and the only way to do it, in my opinion. It’s the signature dish we have on Sunday, all together.

“In Rome, pasta carbonara is like a religion. It’s just what we do.”
Other proudly Roman dishes on the menu include roast pork belly, slow cooked with rosemary, fennel seeds, and garlic.

Chef Giulio says: “It reminds me of my childhood, and Mamma and Nonna cooking in the kitchen.”

Among dessert options is tiramisu served in a moka pot, another example of the chef’s signature twists on classic dishes.

Learning the art of a perfect tiramisu is one of the restaurant’s fun group classes on offer, also including pasta-making and cheese-tasting.
 
https://eveedinburgh.com/

A remote park and ride used by NHS workers after parking relaxations at Edinburgh hospitals were withdrawn has had nine new CCTV cameras installed after concern about their safety.

Incidents involving gatherings of youths, antisocial behaviour and car racing, sparked concern about Sheriffhall Park and Ride’s ‘vulnerable users’.

A meeting of Midlothian Council last week heard that problems including poor lighting, non functioning CCTV coverage and an increase in youth disorder at the site had made it a priority site for an upgrade in the county’s camera coverage.

A report to councillors said that NHS Lothian had relaxed parking enforcement at its Edinburgh hospitals during the pandemic but reimposed them in 2022 meaning only staff with permits could park there leaving thousands of workers needing an alternative way to get there.

Health chiefs run chartered buses to the park and ride at Sheriffhall for staff but it had seen a high number using the site.

The report said the change in parking rules had resulted in a “high volume of staff being displaced and forced to utilise Sheriffhall park and ride.”

It added:  “Through winter 2023/24, councillor and Police Scotland concerns
were raised with regards vulnerable user groups utilising the park and
ride, poor lighting, non-functioning CCTV and a significant uplift in antisocial behaviour particularly by youths in modified cars.”

Two years ago video footage emerged on social media site Tik Tok of car enthusiasts gathering at the park and ride at night, speeding their vehicles around the large car park while watched by crowds of people.

The park and ride was regularly promoted on social media as a venue for car meets sparking anger among locals and those using it for travel,

Improvements at the park and ride include the installation of speed bumps, improved LED lighting and the installation of nine new CCTV units.

Councillor Colin Cassidy said the investment would be welcomed by the public  adding: “Especially at Sheriffhall, it is a very deserted area and a lot of people use it at night coming off duty from the hospital so it will hopefully give them a little comfort to know that there is an eye watching over them.”

And Councillor Stephen Curran said local concerns about antisocial behaviour at the park and ride would be reduced by the additional security.

He said: “I am a  huge advocate for CCTV and the upgrade to the systems is welcomed. I was at Danderhall Community Council and it has been very welcome news there that we have managed to get cameras installed at Sheriffhall park and ride.

“We have a huge youth problem there with antisocial behaviour and vehicles, particularly in terms of noise that goes on until 2 or 3 in the morning. I have absolutely no doubt it makes that place safer and less intimidating at night.”

NHS Lothian restricts staff parking at its Edinburgh hospitals to permit holders only after 11.30am but it is estimated only 1800 of the estimated 8000 people working at the sites have been issued with the permits.

Health chiefs said, at the time, the restrictions were needed to manage the parking spaces available at their campuses safely.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

Police Scotland are sharing a missing person appeal issued by colleagues in Nottinghamshire.

Officers there are concerned for the safety of Joe Yexley and urgently want to hear from anyone who has seen him.

He was reported missing from the Rainworth area having last been seen on Monday the 7th April 2025 at approximately 12:25hrs.

Mr Yexley is described as six feet three inches tall, of stocky build, with short brown hair now shaven and a goatee beard.

He has a number of distinctive tattoos inclusive of an anchor on his forehead and a dining chair on his cheek, amongst others and was last seen wearing a black tracksuit with a gold logo.

He has links to Mansfield town centre.

Previously he has travelled to Scotland, Bristol, Lincoln, Manchester and Humberside whilst missing.

If you have seen Mr Yexley or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident 0246_07042025.

The City of Edinburgh Council’s Community Grants Fund with pots of funding up to £5,000 available is open for applications.

This is a pot of money which is designed to “empower communities and support grassroots initiatives”. The applicants must be a constituted group and the money will be made available to help community based activities. There are 13 funds corresponding to the various parts of Edinburgh.

All applications will be reviewed by a panel. The council is also inviting applications now to join the panel reviewing the applications.

There is a lot of guidance and advice available on the council website where the previous successful applicants are also listed.

The deadline is 30 June 2025.

An ambitious three-year project to improve GP and primary care services will be launched in West Lothian later this year. 

A report to the local Integration Joint Board, which oversees care in the community, outlined plans to improve the inequalities which exist across the county in primary provision. 

The strategy plans to enhance preventative care, and to develop better access to primary care including GP and MDT teams.  

But the Board is in no doubt that financial pressures as well as external economics dog the path ahead for both the council, NHS and the work the Board itself is responsible for. 

The plan is the first long term proposal for primary care in West Lothian. It builds upon work already done to develop multi-disciplinary care teams (MDT) to assist GP practices with services including community nurses, physiotherapy as well as other services including dentistry and podiatry. 

The difficulty in getting appointments at GP practices has been a growing complaint across West Lothian, with frequent community objections to planning applications for more housing. 

The IJB has acknowledged that there is an imbalance between poorer provision in the west of the county than in the east. 

In spite of this East Calder’s medical practice has long been recognised as a pressure point. It has a patient list which has far outgrown the practice and the centre’s buildings in a poor state of repair with not enough space to accommodate   GP and associated MDT services. 

In his report to the Board Neil Ferguson, the General Manager for Primary Care and Community Services, acknowledged the risks. 

He said: “Risks to the sustainability of primary care could lead to reduced access to services for citizens, and deterioration of the health of the local population.  

“Collapse of an individual practice would fall to the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to provide services which poses a significant financial risk in addition to significant challenge to service delivery.” 

Another big potential challenge to the plan is finding staff to do the work. Recruitment, and retention of primary care staff is already difficult.  The plan suggests ongoing training and professional career development and to support staff well-being through mental health resources and flexible working arrangements to encourage retention. 

It also suggests more partnership working with the Third Sector and voluntary roles. 

The three-year plan is linked to the IJB strategy of improving health inequalities, a “Home First” approach to treatment, and enabling high quality care, support and treatment. 

Informal engagement has taken place with West Lothian’s GP practices, Health and Social Care Partnership Community teams and Acute NHS Lothian representatives, The Local Medical Committee and Primary Care Contracts Organisation representatives have also been consulted.  

The proposals also seek to ensure efficient use of health care premises by focusing on maximising clinical space and the use of remote working and assisting NHS Lothian to manage expansion and to reduce waiting times for primary care appointments. 

Board members generally welcomed the proposals but highlighted concerns that initial consultation times were short, given that the plans are set to come to the IJB for approval before the summer and fully fledged proposals are supposed to be in place by later this year. 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake Scottish cast members recreate moments from this well known dance production in costume in Inverleith Park.

Swan Lake is on at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh from Tuesday 8th – Saturday 12th April before visiting His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen from Wednesday 28th – Saturday 31st and Theatre Royal Glasgow Tuesday 3rd – Saturday 7th June.

https://www.capitaltheatres.com/whats-on/all-shows/matthew-bournes-swan-lake/2341