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Home , Clovenstone, Craigmillar, Dumbiedykes, Little France, Pilrig

Welcome to our December newsletter. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our supporters and volunteers over the past year which has enabled us to deliver so many successful projects. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

In this newsletter...

This edition of the newsletter will cover recent activity from

 Tree Time  Outdoor Learning Programme  Park Outdoor Activities  Partnership Award with Carr Gomm  Walking Activities  Out & About in  Healthy Lifestyle Activities  Castle Park  Mains Tree Planting  Shale Trail Community Engagement

Tree Time

Tree Time is running a Christmas Campaign in local publications to help promote the initiative so people can help look after 's trees for our future generations. A donation can make an ideal Christmas gift where you will receive a personalised donation certificate. Donate here

Thank you to Elspeth and Sheila who donated and planted a cherry tree in Braidburn Valley Park. It was part of the Cherry Trefoil replacement project which initially involved 5000 girl guides planting up 400 cherry trees in 1935.

We also recently planted 7 new trees in Henderson Gardens as part of the greenspace improvement project.

Outdoor Learning Programmme

The latest activity of our outdoor learning programme has taken place at West Pilton Park by two P6 classes from Forthview primary school who helped prepare the ground for planting up bluebells.

Well done to the outdoor learning class at Primary School for planting loads of snowdrop bulbs in Curriemuirend Park today. Great effort and we didn't even feel the cold! Looking forward to seeing them flower in February.

This project is supported by Scottish Natural Heritage to help encourage young people to learn about their local greenspaces. See here to find out more.

Pilrig Park Outdoor Activities

We have delivered the final sessions with Pilrig Park School. It was great working with them over the past 10 weeks. Delighted that the pupils benefited from participating in the programme, they were very engaged and enthusiastic about the activities each week.

Partnership Award with Carr Gomm

We have been recognised for our partnership working with Carr Comm on the community garden project at St Stephens Court. It involved the improvement of a disused greenspace in the grounds of the facility which helps look after young people with mental health difficulties. They enjoyed learning about how to look after their local environment.

We attended an award ceremony at their AGM in Edinburgh. "Thank you again for the amazing job yourself and your team have done with transforming the courtyard, it truly is an amazing space. Thank you for attending the ceremony on Friday." Service Manager.

Branching Out

Our last day of Branching Out with Crisis at had fairly miserable weather but didn't stop us being outdoors and cooking on a fire today. Homemade oatcakes were on the menu as well as tattie scones, baked bananas with chocolate, and marshmallows too! They have also maintained the willow dome Wells O' Wearie by cutting back some that have overgrown.

It was our final session in Park before the celebration day with our group with Carr Gomm. We made some wonderful willow platters and then enjoyed some energising Tai Chi.

These programmes have been funded by Scottish Forestry and NHS to help people improve their well being through outdoor activities.

Walking for Health Activities

Our walking group from had a brilliant walk exploring around Harrison Park. They went along to North Club for refreshments and had a look at the Grove community garden.

"Since I started taking part in the walks, I have become physically fitter, more energized and feel happier. I benefit from walking and talking with different people. I am grateful to Kim & Ruth for the lovely areas they take us walking, the way they encourage us, and the tasty & beneficial refreshments they organize for us"

The group met up recently to make wreaths at our offices for a festive activity.

This project has been funded by Paths for All as part of their health walk programmes to help encourage people to lead healthy active lives. See more

Out & About starts in Dumbiedykes

The Dumbiedykes Out & About healthy lifestyle project was launched at the networking event at The Crannie. It was great to see a fantastic turnout with over 35 people from local organisations bringing brilliant energy. Thanks to everyone for coming along and making it such a worthwhile event.

The project has been funded by Edinburgh & Health Foundation and the Neighbourhood grant. There is a community event planned for the 17th January which will involve taster sessions so please get in touch with Kim if you would like to get involved.

Healthy Lifestyles

ELGT were approached through the Edinburgh Community Health Forum to present our Out & About project to master students at The . It was a great opportunity to spend the morning at The Usher Institute. We got great feedback and received several offers of volunteering.

A new jogging group has started in park thanks to funding from the London Marathon Charitable Trust through Fields in Trust. It runs on a Wednesday at 10am and meet at Old Dalkeith Road.

Our Equal Access Health in Mind group had great fun spending a crisp cold morning planting bluebells at Woods.

The men’s cooking group at Inch House Community Centre which is run by Edinburgh Community Food enjoyed their session on making pasta sauce from scratch and learning ways to reduce our salt intake. They were shocked to learn how easily we can exceed our recommended salt intake for an adult.

Thank you to the womens' group at Inch House Community Centre for helping to plant over 400 crocus bulbs in the park.

We had a fabulous time at Valley Park Community Centre making wreaths. It was wonderful to introduce some new people to our project. We hope to see you at other activities soon. It was great to see so many local familes along.

Our week has been Festive packed with lots of action packed in too! We just loved our Silent Disco Seated Exercise class at Care Home, Neurological Wing with their lovely residents and the staff had a ball too!

New activities coming soon, including; physical activities, cooking sessions and environmental enhancements. Please check out our facebook page @outandabouted or sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date. Email [email protected]

Out & About's first newsletter is coming in Jan! A chance to reflect on impact of the work we have done and let you know about upcoming activities.

Upcoming healthy lifestyles events:

 Little France Beginners Jogging Group, 18th, 25th December, Wednesdays 10.00am to 11.00am. Meet at Old Dalkeith Road - Corner of Moredunvale Road.  Do you live at The Inch? Brand new free yoga starts on Monday 13 January for local residents Mondays 11.30-12.30 Inch House Community Centre Contact [email protected] for more info  Dumbiedykes healthy lifestyles project Community Health & Well-being event 1-3pm Friday 17 January. Venue TBA With physical activities and cooking sessions starting soon Email [email protected] or [email protected]

Craigmillar Castle Park

We had a fantastic time on our Winter Tree ID workshop with local families. The group learned how to identify lots of new tree species found in the park! Thanks to Scottish Forestry for organising Paul Chappells to come along and take such great photos.

Ben was recently asked to present at the Edinburgh Outdoor Learning Network (EOLN) event about Craigmillar Castle Park activities. It was well received and everyone enjoyed learning about the project.

To keep up to date on the activities in the park then go to the facebook page

Craigmillar events:

 Willow Wreath Making, Tuesday 17th Dec, 3pm to 5.00pm. Booking required through [email protected]

Colinton Mains bulb planting

Thanks to the P6 pupils from St Marks Primary and the 4/5 pupils from Colinton Primary who helped plant over 5,500 crocuses in Colinton Mains Park.

Some pupils said" That was great, we can't wait to see the flowers"

Thanks also to the 14 people from the local community who helped plant 900 daffodils.

This will all go towards the long term enviornmental improvement of the park thanks to funding from The Mushroom Trust.

Shale Trail Community Engagement

As part of the community engagement about the Shale Trail project we met up with pupils from Parkhead Primary in West Calder. One of the workshops lead by Heath Brown the Shale Trail Heritage Manager explored what the world would be like without electricity, no switches for lights and before Paraffin the use of tallow candles made from animal fats and olive oil lamps.

The teacher said" Our John Muir Group enjoyed an amazing afternoon with Heath & Kev from the Shale Trail. We learned a lot! Fat candles smell bad & lighting cotton wool with a flint is very tricky!! Great outdoor learning session"

Find out more here

Other events:

 Natural Festive Decorations Workshop & Litter Clearance, Harrison Park, Sunday 15th December, 10am to 2pm. Meet by the diagonal path at West Harrison Park.  Bulb Planting , Triangle Community Garden, Tuesday 17th December, 10am to 11am. Refreshments provided for volunteers at Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre.

Donate Online here Donate by text: To give £10 Text ELGT01 £10 to 70070 To give £4 Text ELGT01 £4 to 70070

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