Environment

Friends of Hopetoun Crescent Garden will host a Community Day on Sunday 18 June (11am–1pm) as part of the Great Big Green Week.

Activities include:

If you’re looking for an inspiring afternoon out in Edinburgh on 25 June, why not join the hosts of the open gardens of Stockbridge (and surrounds) and have a bogle at their plots full of plants?

Under the Scotland’s Gardens Scheme umbrella, from 12 noon until 4.30 pm, a trail of eight private city gardens will tempt visitors to explore the New Town, Stockbridge and Canonmills area, where the owners will be on hand to answer questions and receive compliments!

CHARLIE ELLIS WANDERS BESIDE THE WATER OF LEITH

The relationship between art and nature is evident on the Water of Leith. This is expressed most obviously through Anthony Gormley’s figures but also in the ‘accidental’ art forged by the surge of late December, which saw torrents of water cascade through the river's gorges and under its bridges.

The Cockburn Association, Edinburgh’s oldest heritage watchdog, has launched a Manifesto for the City in advance of next month’s Local Government Elections. You can read it in full HERE.

The 4-page document stresses a need to rebuild trust between citizens and elected representatives.

It calls for:

Spot of bother for the St James Quarter

Is the St James Quarter starting to rust?

Rather surprisingly, the answer may be yes. At least parts of it, if one local’s misgivings prove correct.

Antony Jack lives close to the Quarter’s St James Square, and has been a long-suffering observer of its progress over the years.

In recent weeks, since colder weather has set in, Jack has noticed the appearance of these reddish-brown spots on the steps of the Grand Stair.

LOCALS DISCUSS FUTURE USES

Twenty-eight people attended last night’s online meeting held by the Better Broughton group to discuss the future of Picardy Place.

Among them were three City Centre councillors: Karen Doran (vice-convener of the Transport & Environment Cmte), Joanna Mowat, and Claire Miller.

WET WEATHER AND DRY WIT: Redbraes and Brandon Terrace this afternoon.

GREEN SIDE:—Greenside Place, Calton Hill, St Mary's RC Cathedral.

Have you ever wondered about these paviours?

They skirt the northern and western sides of the inner footway outside Drummond Place Garden, and many examples have a peculiar blue-ish hue. The words read:

TEES SCORIA BRICK CO.

PATENT

One Joseph Wharton of Darlington patented a machine for making bricks, tiles, &c. from molten blast furnace slag (scoria) in 1877. They had the advantage of being tough, waterproof, and resistant to chemicals.

Much heavy traffic, including buses, has been diverted along Leopold Pl during Leith Walk tramworks. The resulting damage to the carriageway is causing troublesome vibration for residents.

Living at the border of both community council areas and Council wards, these locals have had trouble gaining the attention of officials.

Their homes are in Leith Walk ward, but the road outside is in the City Centre. Neither the Tram Team nor the Council’s Diversion Team have been keen to tackle the problem.