Barnton magazine
Editor: Christopher Cowdy
Publisher: EHDirect Ltd
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Distribution: 5,000 - 10,000 homes
Email: christopher@ehdirect.co.uk
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Post: 49 Warrender Park Road, EH9 1EU
Blackhall and Barnton magazines are published by EHDirect Ltd.
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If you have been paying attention you will know I am running an initiative to donate £5,000 to local charities, split between the Barnton/ Blackhall area and the Duddingston/Portobello area. The geography being the catchments for the 4 local magazines I publish. Having run the first initiative in 2013 there were breaks for COVID and when I was elected as a Councillor to City of Edinburgh Council so I hope this may be the start of a more regular annual feature. It launched in the January and February issues where I asked readers to spread the word amongst local charities so they could apply by the 15th February deadline.
That done, the March and April issues focus on introducing the applicant charities to readers who have the chance to vote for the one
they feel most deserving. My plan is that this information will help me decide which I will then donate to.
I suspect not all will receive something from me but each local charity receives a Full Page in this issue, and the next, as a way of promoting and raising awareness. Readers may then decide to donate directly themselves.
If you do want to get in touch with any of the charities but can’t find contact details in the magazine, or online, just email me and I will provide contact details.
For now, I urge you to read more on Page 6 and then take some time to familiarise yourself with each of the charities before letting me know which you think I should prioritise.
Christopher Cowdy Editor
EDITORIAL CONTENT
christopher@ehdirect.co.uk
£5,000forlocal charitiesofyour choice
We had a great response to our promise to donate to local charities. With the addition of Giftaid from the UK Government there is £5,000 available in total. The first part of the initiative was to ask readers to get the word out and encourage local charities to apply. By the closing date on 15th Feb we had 16 applications, 5 through our Barnton and Blackhall magazines, 9 on the other side of the city through the Duddingston and Portobello magazines, and a further 2 lying outside the catchment of all 4 magazines.
Over the next 2 months we are asking for readers to vote for which they think should get donations. On 15th April we will be counting the votes for each charity to decide how the money should be allocated before announcing in the May and June issues.
As the response was so good we have decided to dedicate this and the next issue of Blackhall magazine to the charities from this catchment so have dispensed with our regular Features in favour of a dedicated page to each of the charities that have applied.
We ask you to work your way through the magazine and take time to read about each one. They all offer a great local service and deserve our attention.
So now we want to hear from
you.
Votes should either be emailed to: christopher@ehdirect.co.uk or posted to:
Christopher Cowdy, 49 Warrender Park Road, EH9 1EU
Blackhall Playgroup would like to apply for the EHDirect grant to upgrade our current resources, purchase musical toys and expressive arts for our children and a sensory play area to support the engagement and growth of all children but particularly our neurodiverse children.
Background
Blackhall Playgroup is a local charity that has been running with staff and a volunteer parent committee since 1980. We provide a nurturing and playful environment for children between the ages of 2 to 4 years of age. We support local families with their child's important first introduction into a social setting away from the child's parent or carer.
We have welcomed families from all cultures over those years and have even supported a Ukrainian family settling into the country by offering their child a free space so that they could feel welcomed and get to know other families. We not only support the
child's first steps away from the parents, but also the parents and grandparents along the way too as they venture on this important journey.
Our Proposal
Upgrading Current Resources
The equipment we currently have, in particular our art tables are not fit for purpose. They are old (bought in 2012) and do not have the versatility required for our children to use as well as benefit the space we have, using our equipment for multiple purposes. Having new equipment would allow us to use the space for art in a way that would benefit the children. They could have the ability to make their own choice as to what they wanted to do if everything was available to them at their height.
We would propose purchasing tables to use for our Art station, we would purchase tables at the right height for our children to use and be wheelable or easily transfera-
ble so other community members can use the space.
New Purchases for Play Space
One area which we have not been able to invest in was child expression through music. We would use the grant to purchase musical instruments suitable for 2/3-yearolds eg. Maracas, egg shakers, drums etc that would help the children express themselves musically and increase our resources for imaginative play opportunities.
As we have a wide variety of cultures, we recognise the need to celebrate different cultural events, for example Diwali, Chinese New Year, St. Andrew's day. We would like to purchase resources specifically for art and music for 'expressive arts' and to help all the children share their cultural expression. Due to the increase of neurodiverse children attending our setting, we need to create a sensory space with low lighting and calming toys suitable for their needs. To go alongside that, different toys that could be used in the multifunctional water tray could be purchased to help encourage children to use the water tray in indigent ways and explore different textures.
Blackhall Community Trust was set up almost ten years ago, with the stated aim of meeting community needs. After extensive community consultation, these needs were identified as:
• A small multi-purpose community space and new home for Blackhall Nursery Activities and opportunities for residents.
These are cited in our Articles of Association as our Objects:
• To advance community development within the Community, including urban regeneration;
• To advance education, including early years and community learning, for the benefit of the public;
To provide facilities for recreation, sport and other leisure activities for the health and wellbeing of the public.
Pre-COVID, we ran a monthly walking group, a monthly coffee morning and a book
club. The coffee morning has recently started up again on the first Thursday of each month, with residents invited to join us at Craigcrook Deli and Coffee Shop, to enjoy a warm welcome and to feel more connected to the community.
We would like to start up the walking group again too, as well as set up some new events and activities. We used to ask for a £1 donation to the Trust for each participant in the walking group so the walks were very low cost. They created a social opportunity, boosting health and wellbeing. At the time, I organised them as a volunteer, with walks all around Edinburgh.
However, I am now working fulltime and it is quite a responsibility to set up and lead the walks!
We are seeking funding to pay for someone to manage the admin and to lead the walking
group, as well as set up additional events and activities. We know there is interest in the walking group and we would consult residents on other possible interests and activities. There would be fundraising potential for us too, as well as social opportunities for all ages, in setting up occasional events.
We very much hope Blackhall Community Trust can be considered for this grant. It would be a real boost and enable us to continue to fulfil our Objects on behalf of local residents.
About our charity:
The overall purpose of our charity is the advancement of education. We strive to achieve this by engagement in activities which support and advance the education of pupils attending Clermiston Primary school and nursery. Our school currently has approximately 500 pupils and the nursery has capacity for 40 pre-school children each year. The children who attend are from Clermiston which has a very diverse and mixed demographic.
Amount requested: £1,800
Project requiring funding: Clermiston Primary Nursery
School requires replacement playground equipment.
Details:
Recently, Clermiston Primary Nursery has had to dispose of their external wooden play equipment due to reaching the end of its life. Most of the play equipment was made out of natural, sustainable materials such as wood which has rotted in the Scottish weather and become unsafe after several years of continuous use. The nursery are looking to purchase wooden play equipment to enhance the learning experiences of the children and encourage imaginative
outdoor play for many years to come.
Any support you are able to offer will be greatly appreciated and make the outdoor play area an exciting environment for the children to learn and grow.
What the charity does
2025 celebrates PEP’s 36th of working in and with the local EH4 community around Pilton, Muirhouse, Granton, law and SIlverknowes
We support with people 55 years and over and younger vulnerable adults with mental health issues and learning difficulties
We provide opportunities for social inclusion and companionship. We arrange outings and visits for our groups.
We can be the link between our clients’ needs and the right social provision and professional support
We provide day care clubs making sure all our members
have a hot cooked meal as part of their day with us
We also operate a small fleet of wheelchair accessible minibuses – these we use to provide transport to and from homes to clubs for our own members but also for several other local charity organisations
What the money would be used for
We are asking for £500 towards our planned summer programme of activities and trips for all our members
which we would love to run for the month of July.
We want to be able to take them into the local countryside, visiting local historic attractions, have picnics by the beach and enjoy an afternoon cream tea on the forth
So that we can make some lasting memories and new companions for our members
We plan to have 2 outings each week and any financial contributions would support the transport costs, entrance fees and lunches
Lewis Leap was created to honour the life and spirit of our son Lewis Johnson. Lewis was one of the kindest, most generous, and happy kids we knew, but of course, we are biased.
Tragically, Lewis was only 13 years old when he died suddenly on a family holiday. The impact of this on our family and friends was overwhelming and we struggled to process what had happened and why it had happened to us. We reached out for help, but got the same response time after time"you must process the grief first before we can help you". Unbelievably, this meant that most/all bereavement services would not help us for 12 months (6 months to process the grief plus at least 6 months waiting list). At this point we couldn't imagine getting through a few hours.
Which is why our vision for
Lewis Leap is to offer early support to local families who have suddenly and traumatically lost a parent, child or sibling. This will come to life as a partnership with Cruse Scotland to expand their existing service to include support for family members, collectively and individually, in the early stages of grief.
Our main sources of fundraising are two annual events, the Lewis Leap Dog Show, which is held in Cammo each August, a fabulous community day out with lots of chat and laughter. And Lewis Leap Christmas Wreath Making Kits, which has grown into a staple in many locals' diaries, with groups getting together to create their Christmas masterpieces.
Around these two events, we also do walks, cycles, runs, etc. We are lucky enough to have great family and friends
who volunteer to help at our events.
If you'd like to know more, visit www.lewisleap.com We are also on Facebook and Instagram.
Here is a summary of some of the main articles reported by a range of media outlets online and that relate to our local area for Barnton, Davidsons Mains, Cramond, Cammo and Clermiston I have also added some of my own pieces of interest.
Storm Éowyn seems a distant event but I did see an article in Edinburgh Reporter that significant trees around private schools Cargifield and Fettes came down causing local disruption.
Trips to Cramond helped inspire Liam Cavanagh to embark on a Perth to Perth challenge travelling from Scotland to Australia. The 20,000km trip took 2 and a half months.
RNLI Queensferry lifeboat had its 1st outing of 2025 to Cramond Island when a group of 3 found themselves cut off by the tide, read on EdinburghLive.co.uk. Not an uncommon event the RNLI statement said: “If planning a visit to Cramond Island, we
advise you to check the safe crossing times which can be found on our website, by texting CRAMOND to 84100 and on signage at the beginning of the causeway.”
The North Edinburgh News included an article about the opening of the new Maybury Primary school. 25 children were the first intake at the new school with total capacity of 630 primary and 128 nursery pupils. The next group of children will join in August. The new primary school is part of the Maybury Community Hub and is the first school in Edinburgh to share a campus with a medical practice.
A former supermarket on the
outskirts of Edinburgh is set to be transformed into a huge new Herringbone restaurant according to EdinburghLive. Hospitality giant Buzzworks has revealed plans for the new venue on Whitehouse Road, Barnton, boasting a central bar area and outdoor terrace with heaters and dogfriendly seating
Residents at an Edinburgh care homes celebrated the opening of a new pub aimed at enhancing community and wellbeing among its members.
The pub at Cramond Residence was officially opened by former Scotland rugby international Andy Irvine, who joined residents to mark the occasion. This new addition reflects the care home's commitment to providing outstanding facilities for its residents.HolyroodPR
The number of homes under Edinburgh Airport’s flightpath eligible for free loft insulation to reduce the impact of aircraft noise would quadruple under a proposed expansion of the scheme, The Scotsman has learned. Residents of 991 properties near the ends of the runway, including in Cramond to the east, could also claim free single glazing and half the cost of double glazing.
Cramond Angling Association, who have a beat of around nine miles from Newbridge to the Estuary at Cramond, hosted their annual season launch. Secretary Jo Arndt made the ceremonial first cast near the Cramond Waterfall in the absence of chairman Adam Cross and members and friends who were there sank a welcome dram to celebrate.
30 things to do
Every month we publish a selection of things to do in the local area. This is usually found as a result of an online search and we may not have had time to verify all details are correct but we try to set out a good spread of interesting activities and local organisations. So if you see
Cramond Kirk Hall
The 2025 Jumble Sale
1st March
As the new year begins and thoughts perhaps turn to spring cleaning, please put a note in your diary.
Further details will be available in February but please note we are unable to take electrical items due to PAT testing requirements.
For more info visit: www.cramondkirk.org.uk
Lauriston Agroecology farm
Tree care volunteering
14th March, 13:00 - 15:30
Saplings at the farm need human helping hands over their first few years – weeding, mulching and securing tree guards to prevent them from being nibbled makes all the difference. They are doing well thanks to volunteering sessions like these ones.
Please register on Volunteer Signup to join www.lauristonfarm.scot
something of interest and want to join in, please do some of your own research and contact the organisation in plenty of time to make sure the event is still on and the details are accurate.
Modern One Art Stomps
Sat 1st March, 10:30 - noon
Feel good art-making for families with children aged 2-5. These sessions are based on the five ways for wellbeing; Connect, Take notice, Be active, Keep learning and Give. They are packed full of tips and tricks to help your family get the most from a visit to the gallery - and have fun together.
We'll be outside as much as possible, weather permitting! So, pack your wellies and get ready for some seasonal art stomping!
The Munro Community Centre Open Day
Sat 22nd March, 11:00 - 14;00
The Centre is run by a Committee of volunteers and our Manager Rachel. Go along and find out about all the events that take place here for all ages - Hall hire for children's parties, Drop in for coffee and chat on Tuesday mornings, or find the ideal place to run a class of your own. All welcome.
See more on Page 28
2 of the Largest
Apt 11, 9 Barnton Avenue West 4 beds, 5 baths - Approx. 2,681 Sq.ft.
Braehead Road 10 beds, 9 baths - 5,615 Sq.ft.
2 of the smallest
Fla 23, 2 Barnton Ave West
1/2 bed, 2nd floor retirement flat - 791 sq.ft.
• Exclusive collection of 11 properties.
• Utility, shower rooms & master en-suites.
• Peaceful gardens with large trees, pathways plus leafy & mature grounds.
• Secure gated entry and video entry system.
Rettie
Fixed Price £1,500,000
· Detached Eco house
· Detached 1-bed garden lodge
· Double beds, all en-suite
· Private multi-car drive with remote gates
· Rear garden with lawn, patios, & planting
· Solar panels, Tripled-glazing, & Insulation
Cullerton’s Edinburgh Offers Over £1,595,000
Fixed price £162,995
Connell & Connell
Corbiehill Road
1 bed, upper flat
Offers Over £165,000 mov8
£160,000 - 29th June 2024
£70,000 - 15th May 2024
£1,756,000 - 9th Oct 2023
£1,650,000 - 23rd Jan 2024
Righmove.com produce maps showing some house prices and I count 7 in our distribution area that sold for over £1Mil in the last year (darkest brown circles) along with 8 that sold for less than £200,000 (lightest yellow circles) The remainder were all “mid level”.
Some of the properties on the market at the time of sending to print (according to Rightmove.com)
Term Dates
2025/26
Summer Term 3 (45 days): Tue 22nd AprilThur 26th June
Autumn Term 1 (86 days): Wed 13th AugFri 19th Dec
Spring Term 2 (58 days): Mon 5th Jan - Thur
2nd April
Total: 189
7th Apr - 21st Apr (11 days) 5th & 6th May (2 days)
19th May (1 day)
27th June - 12th Aug (33 days) 15th Sep (1 day)
13th - 17th Oct (5 days)
22nd Dec - 2nd Jan (10 days) 16th - 20th Feb (5 days)
Total: 68 days
Distribution of the Barnton magazine covers 5 Primary school and 4 High School catchments and I thought you might be interested in a brief overview. I have given contact details for each one including Phone number and addresses for websites, email, Twitter plus where they have a Facebook Page. There is a whole range of info available on their online Pages but let me know if you think any else specific should be mentioned here.
Davidsons Mains PS - 336 1184 DmainsPrimary.com admin@davidsonsmains.edin.sch.uk @MainsDavidson
Primary schools
Blackhall PS - 336 1023 BlackhallPrimary.co.uk admin@blackhall.edin.sch.uk @BlackhallPS
Clermiston PS - 336 3361 Clermiston.edin.sch.uk admin@clermiston.edin.sch.uk
Flora Stevenson PS - 332 1604
theFloraStevensonPrimary.com admin@florastevenson.edin.sch.uk
Royal High Primary PS - 669 3200
admin@royalhigh-pri.edin.sch.uk
St David’s RC PS - 332 3500
Stdavidsrc.com admin@st-davids.edin.sch.uk @saintdavidsrcps Private Facebook group
St Augustine’s RC HS - 334 6801
Staugustinesrchs.uk admin@st-augustines.edin.sch.uk @staugustineshs
Secondary schools
St Mary’s RC PS - 556 7128
St-marysrc-pri-edin.sch.uk admin@st-marysrc-pri.edin.sch.uk @stmarysedin Facebook
Royal HS - 336 2261
Royalhigh.wordpress.com admin@royalhigh.edin.sch.uk
@Royal_High_Sch
Broughton HS - 332 7805
St Thomas of Aquin’s RC HS - 229 8734
St-Thomas-of-aquins.org.uk admin@st-thomasaquins.edin.sch.uk @thomasofaquins
christopher@ehdirect.co.uk
Broughton.edin.sch.uk admin@broughton.edin.sch.uk
@BroHighOfficial
For years I presented puzzles from the MENSA but thought it was time for a bit of a change, so here is a selection of slightly different puzzles to tease your brain.
A sundial has the fewest moving parts of any timepiece. Which has the most?
In 1990, a person is 15 years old. In 1995, that same person is 10 years old. How can this be?
What makes this number unique: 8,549,176,320?
Last month’s answers:
Q1: 16 routes from home to school
Q2: The missing vowels are: e and a Q3: Eiffel Tower (I FELL TOWER)
Useful Numbers
