Konect Balerno March 2021

MARCH 2021

COMMUNITY:

CURRIE

FEATURE:

LOCAL CHARITY:

THIS ISSUE

A

wonderful miniature world is being engineered at a site near Almondell Country Park, by the Edinburgh Society of Model Engineers. Learning about all the diverse, creative and inspiring things local people get up to is one of the best things about this job, and I loved the (sociallydistanced) visit to the site last month. There is far more to it than I could include in the article, and they are looking for people to be involved - see the article on pages 34 - 35 for details.

There are a couple of appeals from local organisations in this issue. The first is from Harmeny Education Trust who are doing wonderful things at their location on Mansfield Road in Balerno, see pages 8 - 9. Why not participate in the Virtual Kiltwalk in April to help raise money for them?

The other is the Currie Chieftains, who urgently need support for roof repairs at the clubhouse, which is a central piece of community infrastructure used by many groups, clubs and individuals locally. See page 22 and visit their funding page if you can chip in.

The clocks go forward on the 28th March, so we can look forward to some lighter evenings at last – it’s felt like a very long winter.

Thanks for reading Konect and supporting local businesses and organisations.

u can know yo Did you to receive each e subscribissue of Konect e here new Subscrib online? scribe b scot/su konect.

P22 Charity: Harmeny Education Trust.........................8 Ask Your Pharmacist: Visit our Community Pharmacy family this Spring!.................................10 Health: Plantar fasciitis – a real pain in the heel!.................................................................................16 Wine Tasting: Indulgent Mother’s Day...............18 Community: Currie Rugby Club appeal............22 Money Matters: Invest today, thank yourself tomorrow.......................................................25 Turning Over a New Leaf........................................28 The New Normal: Clean up your act!.................32 Feature: Engineering a Miniature World............34 Local Environment: Tails of the unexpected....36

Konect is delivered monthly to homes in Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton and Ratho. It is also available online: konect.scot/subscribe

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Rebuilding lives, reshaping futures – Harmeny’s Learning for Life Appeal At the beginning of this year, local children’s charity Harmeny Education Trust was delighted to receive planning permission to build a new Learning Hub within its grounds on the edge of Balerno village.

“The Hub is going to be more than just a building”, says Harmeny CEO Neil Squires. “It will be pivotal in helping more children and young people overcome adversity and discover their potential. It will help us increase our capacity and reach.”

community where children aged 5-14, impacted by trauma and adverse experiences, find the space to live, learn and grow.

lasting relationships with more young people and over longer periods of time.”

Logan’s future was bleak. Without the right support, he wouldn’t receive the same chances as other young people to engage with education, training and work. Moreover, every transition, every new relationship, was a source of anxiety.

After arriving at Harmeny, even moving from his small family-style cottage to class each day could trigger feelings of fear.

The Hub’s flexible learning spaces, surrounded by woods and landscaped grounds, will mean Harmeny can extend its support up to the age of Over £1million has been raised towards the 18. At the moment, that’s just not possible. Young £1.95m needed to make this new Learning people can’t stay at Harmeny over the age of 14 Hub a reality and Harmeny – the very time when they need is determined to complete its continuity and adults who believe fundraising appeal by the end of in them. As a result, they can this year to ensure that the new Harmeny offered become incredibly anxious about facilities are ready for July 2022. what’s going to happen to them. me the best But to ensure that can happen, Harmeny needs your support. chance in life. It Take Logan*, for example. When staff at Harmeny first met Logan, taught me how to he’d been abused by his stepREBUILDING LIVES, father and neglected by his RESHAPING FUTURES be happy mother. He was overwhelmed by “Building positive relationships his feelings and didn’t know how is where we begin at Harmeny”, to express them. Living in care, says Neil. “But we need to build a he had moved foster home and school ten times. new building, too – one designed with teenagers All this by the time he was eight. in mind. A better building will enable us to shape Tucked into the foothills of the Pentlands, Harmeny is a special place. It is home to a A flexible space geared towards creative learning

The knowledge that, at 14-years old, Logan is going to have to move away from somewhere he has – over time – learned to feel safe and secure, is hard for him to take. It’s simply too early for him to move on.

The new Learning Hub will allow Logan to continue living and learning at Harmeny,

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preventing yet another traumatic and stressful move. The facilities will mean Logan can access a skills-based secondary education programmes designed around his needs and interests. He will have more time to recover from the trauma he experienced in his early life. Together with other young people like him, Logan will have the time so many of us take for granted, to discover his strengths, increase his employability and grow towards his potential.

In addition, the new Hub will allow Harmeny to deliver new secondary day education programmes to young people living in the wider Edinburgh area. Working in partnership with local schools, colleges and business, Harmeny will help more young people to gain the skills and confidence they need to move on to positive destinations such as employment, apprenticeships, college or university.

“Building positive relationships is where we start”

HARMENY NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT Harmeny is calling upon your support to help make the Learning Hub a reality, and one great place to start is this year’s Virtual Kiltwalk. Can you support the Learning for Life Appeal by participating in the event, which takes place on 23rd-25th April?

You can take on any Kiltwalk-inspired challenge you wish – a walk, a cycle, jumping on a trampoline, or even a family scavenger hunt!

Plus, your sponsorship will be boosted by at least 50% – making your friends’ generosity and your efforts go that bit further for Harmeny.

You can get more information about the Virtual Kiltwalk and other ways to get involved with the appeal from www.harmeny.org.uk/appeal or by calling Alison Acosta on 0131 449 3938.

Your support will help reshape the futures of many young people, both locally and nationally, who otherwise may never be given the opportunity to reach their full potential.

“Harmeny offered me the best chance in life.

It taught me how to be happy” (Former pupil) New Harmeny Learning Hub – an architect’s impression

*Names of children have been changed to maintain confidentiality and images are not associated with the stories used.

This article was contributed by Harmeny Education Trust, Harmeny School, Mansfield Road, Balerno, EH14 7JY. Registered Scottish Charity No. SC024256. @KonectMagazines

BALERNO | 9

ASK YOUR PHARMACIST

Come and visit our Community Pharmacy family this Spring!

Spring is in the air! It’s been a tough winter but the friendly and experienced pharmacy team at Lindsay & Gilmour are looking forward to keeping your health on track this Spring.

We have recently added the popular community pharmacy in Balerno to our expanding family, meaning we can offer even more specialist health and medicine advice where and when you need it.

With the introduction of the NHS Scotland Pharmacy First service at all of Lindsay & Gilmour’s central Edinburgh branches, our patients now have access to advice and treatment for minor illnesses and common health complaints without the need for a GP appointment. And, crucially, this all takes place on your local high street under the care of your community pharmacist.

And we believe Lindsay & Gilmour has the very best in the business!

All of our pharmacies are now open six days a week, and the Pharmacy First service is available out with traditional business or GP practice opening times.

Remember to keep an eye on our website for any changes to our opening hours over Easter.

We know you may be busy searching for the Easter Bunny’s treats but don’t forget to keep stocked up on medicines and other health supplies over the Spring break. Our free online app makes is quick and easy to order and track repeat prescriptions at the touch of a button. You can also benefit from free delivery.

Please note: Our pharmacy opening hours are NOT affected by the current government restrictions. You will find details of our opening hours here lindsayandgilmour.co.uk/location Your nearest branch and Pharmacists: 536 Lanark Road, Juniper Green 0131 453 3130 2 Pentland View Court, Currie 0131 449 2707 24 Main Street, Balerno 0131 449 5477 10 | BALERNO

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HEALTH

As lockdown has limited our choices for exercise, more of us are walking or running as we cannot get to the gym, swim, or play team sports. We physios have noticed an increase in people calling us for advice on heel pain and the two are connected – a sudden change in our activity levels can cause problems with our Plantar Fascia.

WHAT IS THE PLANTAR FASCIA? - The plantar fascia is the dense fibrous membrane that spans the underside of the foot from the calcaneus, or heel bone, to the toes. This structure is in three sections and helps to support the arches of the foot and provide dynamic shock absorption when we walk and run.

WHY CAN IT CAUSE PAIN? - Plantar fasciitis is the name given to the condition where the plantar fascia is painful. Research into the pathology of this condition has found that the tissues of the plantar fascia degenerate but are not always inflamed. This means that the pain felt comes from microtears within the fibrous membrane across the sole of the foot.

This problem affects one in ten of us at some point in our life. The two most common groups to be affected are people who run or jog regularly or adults aged 40 - 60. It usually affects one heel at a time but up to about a third of people with heel pain can have both affected. Heel pain usually builds up gradually and gets worse over time. It can be worst first thing in the morning making the first few steps of the day particularly painful. It will ease with activity, but be more noticeable again after a period of rest or sitting down.

WHAT FACTORS CAUSE IT? - Cumulative stress to the plantar fascia causes microtrauma 16 | BALERNO

– the plantar fascia becomes damaged and thickened. Certain factors will contribute to this process and these factors all affect your biomechanics, affecting the way your feet function. These include:• Limited ankle movement

- tight calf muscles - stiff ankle joint

• Inappropriate - poor support for foot - poor shock absorption footwear • Prolonged standing / walking at work

Of these, reduced ankle movement may be the most important risk factor as 70% of patients with plantar fasciitis are found to have a stiff ankle or tight calf muscles.

WHAT TREATMENTS HELP? - Ice packs can help with managing pain. Local massage can provide dynamic stretching to help the plantar fascia regain normal flexibility. This can be as simple as sitting and rolling a chilled can from the fridge under the sole of your foot for several minutes twice a day, or a tennis ball or rolling pin. Any factors contributing to the development of plantar fasciitis should be identified and corrected such as stretches for the calf muscles, a change to footwear or the provision of special in-soles called orthotics to help your foot function correctly.

Your GP, local Physiotherapist or Podiatrist can provide advice to get you back on your feet comfortably – heel pain doesn’t need to stop you in your tracks!

The health column is contributed by McNaughton Physiogrange, Edinburgh www.physiogrange.co.uk @KonectMagazines

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BALERNO | 17

WINE TASTING

MARCO PORELLO, BIRBET, A SWEET TREAT Instead of flowers, I’m treating my mum to something a little different this year for Mother’s Day, Sunday 14th March.

I am arranging delivery of a box of dark chocolate truffles paired with a gorgeous bottle of red wine.

Now, my mum isn’t a red wine drinker so at first glance my selection may seem strange!

My wine choice is Marco Porello Birbét.

Birbét is a fizzy red wine that should be served chilled. Beautifully aromatic, this wine is full to the brim with ripe raspberry flavours, lively wild strawberry notes and the delicate sparkle or ‘mousse’ really pleases the palate.

Serve in a Champagne flute and paired with a rich, dark chocolate torte or truffle, this treat is one to savour. I think my mum is really going to love this combination and legend has it, this wine is fit for a Queen!

Apparently, both Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony presented Cleopatra with this particular style of wine as proof of their love.

Produced in Roero in the Piedmonte region of Italy, Marco Porello’s Birbét is made from the Brachetto grape. Once harvested, the Brachetto grape is pressed and the grape juice (must) undergoes partial fermentation.

This Parzialmente Fermentato method produces a fresh, fruity, sweet and delicate wine with a vibrant ruby colour. A wine very different to the usual red wines we pair with savoury foods. The sweetness of the Birbét wine makes it the perfect accompaniment to a rich, dark chocolate torte or truffle.

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The monthly wine tasting column is contributed by Joanne Frette. Joanne lives in Juniper Green with her 3 children. She is a Sommelier Wine & Spirit Specialist who runs Swirl Sip Socialise, an online wine tasting business which connects friends and family across the UK. 18 | BALERNO

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BALERNO | 19

in getting these down to around £20,000 but it is still a cost the club cannot fund alone at this time.

So, the club has turned to its grass roots community for help.

ROOF APPEAL In the year when Currie Chieftains had planned to be staging its 50th Anniversary celebrations, the club found itself with drastically reduced income due to Covid-19 lockdowns and with a major clubhouse roof repair to fund.

As well as being used to accommodate visiting teams and their supporters, the clubhouse is used by many local groups for weekly keep-fit sessions, meetings and other events as well as being a popular and affordable venue for family celebrations.

The repairs to the roof are vital and there is no option to wait for a post-COVID period when things will have returned to ‘normal’.

Damage to the roof means the toilet facilities and other parts of the building are badly affected and the condition will continue to deteriorate until proper repairs are carried out. We have done everything we can to reduce the repair costs and have succeeded

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Perhaps you are a current member or even a past member with happy memories of the club and the people you met there? You may be a local resident who has enjoyed the use of the clubhouse for many different types of occasion? Or you may simply be someone with a strong sense of community who is keen to help ensure this valuable community asset remains available to those who need it.

Whatever your personal reason, your support by way of donation of any size will be greatly appreciated and mean a lot to our members and the wider community. Thank you.

Donate online at www.gofundme.com/f/ chieftains-clubhouse-urgent-roof-repairappeal

Club Board member and campaign leader Gavin McMurray said, ‘We are hugely appreciative of all those who have generously supported the project, so far. We are committed to achieving the objective of restoring the roof, so the clubhouse will remain available to the club and community for many years to come’.

This article was contributed by the Currie Chieftains.

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BILL REID & SON

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MONEY MATTERS

INVEST TODAY, THANK YOURSELF TOMORROW From a tax point of view March is the most important month as it offers many tax opportunities which if not taken will be lost.

Independent Tax Planning: Where one spouse pays a lower rate of tax it can be tax beneficial to transfer investments to the lower tax paying spouse to save income tax. Even better, if one spouse is a non-tax payer and the other is a basic tax payer then the non-tax payer can transfer 10% of their personal allowance to their spouse.

Tax Efficient Investments: With the current relatively high rates of income tax and capital gains tax, it is important for people to invest in the most tax efficient way. Everyone 16 years old and over can take out an Individual

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Savings Account (ISA). This is one of the best methods of investing and saving with freedom from income tax and capital gains tax, but to still have access to your money.

For this tax year the annual ISA allowance is £20,000. In addition, you can now transfer from an investment ISA to a cash ISA and vice versa. If you do not use your ISA allowance it cannot be carried forward to a future tax year. Unfortunately, interest rates are at an all-time low and hence a cash ISA may not be appropriate at this time.

Pensions: If you pay tax at 40%, any pension contribution will attract tax relief at 40% i.e. if you put in £60 the government will add another £40 giving you a 67% return. Even for a basic tax payer the government will add £10 for every £40 you contribute, a return of 25%. Nowhere else can you get a guaranteed return rate at this level.

The Money Matters column is contributed by Personal Money Management. This month’s article is by Dr Peter M Marshall.

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BALERNO | 27

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Part 2: Reuse Reusing what we already have is even better than recycling. We need to reduce the amount that we dispose of, particularly with regards to plastic.

So, before throwing something out, stop and ask yourself whether it can be reused.

Firstly, can you find another use for the item?

Glass jars make great storage options in the kitchen cupboard, especially for dried fruit, herbs and spices. They can also be used for your homemade jams, pickles or chutneys.

Plastic take-away containers are useful for storing leftovers in the fridge or freezer.

T-shirts that have had their day can be cut up and used as cleaning cloths. Chipped favourite mugs make great pen holders and old bowls could be new plant pots.

Secondly, if you won’t use it, would someone else? Remember, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure! We have a thriving online marketplace in the local area for preloved items – try the JCB Kids stuff for sale/free/ wanted on Facebook to rehome clothes, toys and books that your children have outgrown.

Furniture that you no longer want might be just what another person is looking for. Charity shops, jumble sales, carboot sales and school fairs all welcome your unwanted items (though sadly this market is currently on hold due to Covid-19) so if you have space in your attic or garage consider storing them until you find someone who would appreciate them.

Thirdly, consider whether broken, damaged or worn items can be repaired or ‘upcycled’.

Before disposing of an electrical item that has stopped working, find out whether it can be repaired. Learn to mend holes in clothes, replace buttons or even give your item a complete make-over by dyeing or embroidering it. If sewing isn’t your specialty, would someone you know be able to help? Might a tired, old piece of furniture be transformed with a lick of paint or varnish? This would not only help the planet but save money too.

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Finally, and most importantly, when replacing things consider whether there is a longer lasting alternative for your next purchase.

Instead of buying water in a plastic bottle, invest in a reusable water bottle. Choose reusable straws made from bamboo or metal, cloth napkins and tablecloths, reusable shopping bags and coffee cups. Washable sandwich wraps, silicone lids or lunchboxes could replace cling film. There are more and more products on the market to choose from which can replace single use plastic items.

Each time you choose to reuse you’ll be making a small difference to our planet, and every little helps.

As I write this, it is National Nestbox Week so, if you do anything this month, add a bird box to your garden or outdoor space.

There is loads of information about which one to choose and where to put it online.

See www.nestboxweek.com “Turning Over a New Leaf” is a new column contributed by Jo Johnson, a Balerno resident who aims to share her research and shopping choices each month for manageable steps to a greener life. (Artwork by Nikki Forrest of Memorybox Paintings) For more ideas, follow me on Instagram @anewleaf.balerno

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BALERNO | 29

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BRUSHSTROKES

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BALERNO | 31

THE NEW NORMAL

But before long the little bottles of hand gel were on shop shelves again and the pharmacist was selling tiny bottles of “the good stuff”, with a limit on the number you could buy. Like the rest of society, I began to clean my hands much more frequently, trying not to worry about damaging my skin.

Then shops began to supply sanitising stations for their customers, so we could clean our hands at the entrance. The best ones make use of a foot pump, or they automatically shoot out the gel. But many shops simply provide a hand pump bottle, meaning you touch the pump immediately after the person in front of you touches it. So go ahead and infect yourself – you can then quickly apply virus-killing gel!

I enter a shop, and sanitise my hands and the trolley handle. But then I walk round, alternately touching products, my phone (which contains my list) and the trolley handle.

So how “clean” are my hands when it comes time to pay?

Clean up your act!

Did you see the Facebook meme nominating a raccoon as the official mascot for coronavirus? This makes such good sense when you consider that 1) rearranging the letters in “raccoon” (and deleting one “c”) gives you the word “corona”; 2) this little animal looks like he’s wearing a mask; and 3) raccoons are known for regularly washing their hands!

How quickly did you adopt the habit of continually washing and sanitising your hands? I used to think that signs in public toilets saying “Now wash your hands” were patronising. But today’s signs go further, detailing a step-by-step approach to hand washing!

I didn’t start carrying anti-bacterial gel round with me at the start of the pandemic—partly because the shops sold out right away back in March 2020. And then I read that to be of any use the sanitiser had to be at least 70% alcohol and should sting slightly when applied. Yikes! That didn’t sound inviting.

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In the car I try to be scientific. I sanitise my hands before I remove my mask. But before I take off my mask, of course, I use an antibacterial wipe on my phone, car keys, and the steering wheel. Eventually the mask comes off and I can breathe freely. I drive home, thinking about how I will need to wipe down all of the products before putting them away. I shudder at the thought, realising this is why I refuse to do a big shop anymore. It’s just too much work.

I don’t tend to subscribe to conspiracy theories about the virus. But once, while visiting a public toilet, I saw a bottle of antibacterial hand cleanser that gave me cause for concern. The variety was “Sea Kelp”, which may sound harmless or even rather attractive. But say it quickly a few times. Sea Kelp, SeaKelp, Seak Elp, Seek ‘elp! Was that hand sanitiser trying to tell me something?

The New Normal is contributed by Suzanne Green. Suzanne, a freelance writer/editor, lives in Balerno and writes regularly for Konect. She is married to Andy and they have two adult daughters. @KonectMagazines

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BALERNO | 33

En

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ondell Model Alm eering Centr gin

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Andrew Newton, ESME member

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Engineering n i at ur e w o r

An extraordinary venue is gradually emerging out of what was an overgrown and neglected woodland near Pumpherston.

Acquired by the Edinburgh Society of Model Engineers in 2013, the 11-acre woodland site on Drumshoreland Road is destined to be one of the largest model engineering centres in Europe.

It’s a work in progress, but already you can see the vision taking shape: it’s a miniature wonderland with bridges, tunnels, stations, a water feature, over 2 kms of miniature gauge railway track, and much more.

The work party building a platform

And the Society members are keen for the local community to get involved in its creation and development. Perhaps you are entering retirement, between jobs, or a student with time on your hands. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get involved with a constructional project, to have fun, camaraderie and learn some new skills along the way.

This is the first time in the Society’s 127-year history that it has had its own permanent site to build tracks and features on, a place where members will be able to come to work on their engineering projects, run their steam trains and other vehicles. They are working hard to create a venue for all generations to enjoy their hobby.

Tracks into the woods 34 | BALERNO

But it’s much more than that. The site and the society is a rich resource that they want to share with the community for learning about engineering as well as other hobbies. @KonectMagazines

An Outdoor Leaning venue The Almondell Model Engineering Centre is available as an outdoor learning venue for schools, higher education, youth groups and industry.

There is free onsite car and coach parking and a 400 sqm Heritage Building for rainy days with toilets, kitchen, a large conference/ classroom with full audio-visual facilities, a training workshop and small meeting room.

We would love to hear from teachers, trainers or any organisations that would like to help us make use of our facilities to provide creative learning opportunities.

Please contact Andrew Newton on 07981 756863 or email development@edinburgh-sme.org.uk Almondell Engineering Centre is a beautiful natural environmental setting, and ecology goes hand in hand with the engineering here. The woodland was very dense and unmanaged previously, and it has benefited from active management since the Society took over. Deer and other wildlife make their home here; there are wild areas for insects to flourish; they aim to put up bird boxes in the parts of the wooded area that the tracks do not go through; and they have created a pond which is a picturesque feature for the railway and will also encourage biodiversity over time.

Pretty much everything is made from recycled and repurposed material. That’s part of the genius of it. Between them, members and volunteers are bringing a huge amount of skill, experience, ingenuity and hard labour to forge this special venue.

Andrew rapidly learned bridge-building skills during the last lockdown @KonectMagazines

Exercise and share with us The lockdown during 2020 restricted development of the site and the Club are looking for new members and volunteers to push forward more activities. If you have an interest in model engineering or simply want to lend a hand, then get in touch. There is plenty to be involved in, from landscaping, surveying, ecology projects, and engineering.

Camaraderie and new skills thrown in!

Work parties take place on Thursdays and Saturdays starting at 10:00am.

To get involved please contact Andrew Newton on 07981 756863 or email development@edinburgh-sme.org.uk

The building, with an eco-friendly heating system, houses a training room, library, conference room and kitchen as well as the members’ workshop area. It is available for a nominal fee for organisations to hold AGMs or meetings, and they will be welcome to tour the site too.

There is something very joyful about a site being built not for profit but for the purpose of learning, playing, sharing knowledge and carrying on learning for a lifetime.

For more information and to get involved in any way, please visit: www.edinburgh-sme.org.uk development@edinburgh-sme.org.uk Andrew Newton - 07981 756863

Almondell Model Engineering Centre, Drumshoreland Muir, Drumshoreland Road, Broxburn, EH52 5PF This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after visiting the Almondell Engineering Centre.

Helen-Jane is the Editor of Konect magazines and lives in West Lothian with her family. The Centre is an outdoors venue operating in line with the Scottish Government’s current advice for controlling the virus. ESME is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC041019.

BALERNO | 35

LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

Tails of the unexpected You may have heard some loud screaming at night over the last couple of months, and wondered what all the racket is. Whilst there could be many reasons, the most likely culprit behind the noise is female foxes (vixens) making their presence known to any males (dog fox) in the area.

You’d be forgiven for thinking something much worse was going on, however the easiest explanation is that we’ve been in the peak of fox breeding season across December/January.

Recently I had one of those wildlife encounters, not far from where I stay, that nearly takes your breath away.

This fox was on the prowl for lunch, and using its excellent hearing listened for prey beneath the snow before an energetic pounce to claim the prize. It then continued along the path, straight towards me before slipping down the ditch just a few feet away, and coming out again to give me a good stare. Returning to the hunt (one vole does not a meal make)! it headed in the opposite direction, whilst I frantically waved at some people approaching to stop them in their tracks, 36 | BALERNO

though I’m sure they walked away with no idea why I was gesturing so enthusiastically.

You can plan to look for specific wildlife, but sometimes the ones you never even dreamed of turn out to be something which stays with you for days. Before the spring brings more cover and easier hiding places, always expect the unexpected when going out for a walk in winter.

This column is contributed by Clare Harte and Kate Stevenson, who grew up in Edinburgh and now live in West Lothian.

Together they run Scottish Sisters Photography and travel around the country to watch and photograph amazing wildlife and scenic landscapes. Follow them on Facebook @ScottishSistersPhotography @KonectMagazines

Claylands Cottage Cattery ...for contented cats

Established in May 2006, we provide first-class holiday accommodation for up to 35 feline guests.

Single and double cabins, as well as large cabins for families, each comprises an upper sleeping area (heated in winter) with an exercise run below.

A collection and drop-off service is available

Alexander Aitken Plastering 51 Dolphin Rd, Currie Call Sandy

07966 695595

Plaster work, rough casting, ceramic tiling & general maintenance

Fully licensed and insured

Proprietors: Pam and Bill Clark Phone: 0131 333 1636 Email: mail@claylandscottagecattery.co.uk Off Claylands Road, Newbridge, EH28 8LZ Conveniently situated near the airport.

www.claylandscottagecattery.co.uk

@KonectMagazines

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