Breaking news

A free conference is being run next week for North Edinburgh parents wanting advice on how to speak to their children about alcohol.

Local experts and staff from youth agencies will talk about young people's use of alcohol. They will outline the services they have to offer when there are booze-related problems. There will be a chance to learn from other parents' experiences, and to gain the skills and information necessary to deal with alcohol issues at home.

The Water of Leith Conservation Trust today released its new Plan for public consultation.

An important document, it is aimed mainly at organisations which manage the river, but will be of interest to many others who live by or enjoy this 'silver thread in a ribbon of green'.

The draft can be downloaded from our Extras page. Associated maps showing Environmental assets adjacent to the river, and Management issues, can be downloaded from the Trust's own website at: www.waterofleith.org.uk.

Well, that was all very pleasant.

A whole weekend with Broughton temperatures reaching the mid-70s (24º C), sunny skies full of plump and contented clouds, acres of exposed pink anatomy, and thousands of BBQs billowing burnt sausage and salmonella smells over the washing.

Eight S6 students and three members of staff from Drummond CHS will visit their partner schools in Muthambi, Kenya, in June. They have been raising funds and collecting resources for the last two years [Issue 155+], but from 22 June–1 July all the hard work and planning will finally become reality. Sixth-former Jemma Craig explains.

Leith Neighbourhood Partnership are delighted at the take-up so far for their Energy Planning Training day on Sat. 5 June (Breaking news, 11.5.10).

However, they're keen to point out that the event is not aimed exclusively at objectors to the proposed Biomass Plant in Leith. That proposal will serve simply as a very topical case-study for anyone interested in the energy planning system (run by the Scottish Government rather than local authorities). Those in favour of the Biomass Plant or entirely indifferent to it will be equally welcome.

This exquisite painting is one of the centrepieces in Union Gallery’s May exhibition of mainly watercolour paintings by Edinburgh-based artist Jenny Matthews (Extras 1.5.10).

Burung Jawa (meaning Javanese bird) was influenced by the artist’s four-year domicile in Indonesia, and features some of her collection of Indonesian fabrics.

Her trademark flower pieces are inspired by her Edinburgh College of Art teacher Elizabeth Blackadder, and her contemplative wanderings in the Highlands. Collectors of Jenny’s work include the novelist Ian Rankin.

A local source informs Spurtle of 'yet another' crime in Broughton.

On Eildon Street, a resident recently left a garden door open for a few minutes. Someone came in, took her handbag, wallet, diary and keys. They later returned and tried the keys in the frontdoor, but were disturbed. They came back for a third try, but this time the residents were waiting and got a good description of the thief for the police.

The mostly unloved ruin at the end of Bellevue Road has finally gone.

However, as reported in Breaking news (4.5.10), the building's demolition leaves a bitter-sweet gap in this part of Broughton's rough-and-ready architectural toothscape.

Broughton Primary School (pictured in the background, right) now proposes to cultivate the site, but Spurtle will cover 'highly controversial' counter-proposals in Issue 183.

The rare sight of a blooming 'White Dove tree' (Davidia involucrata) has attracted knowledgeable local enthusiasts' attention in the Royal Botanic Garden.

This particular specimen – spotted and photographed for Spurtle by Nina Vivanco – is situated at the eastern end, immediately before and to the left of the 2002 bridge over a stream feeding into the pond.

The tree is a native of Central and Western China. Its name stems from the conspicuous white bracts around the flower head which, when fluttering in the wind, could optimistically be said to resemble a dove.

Calum Cashley – the 4th-placed, SNP candidate in the General Election – today contacted Spurtle with his reaction.

'I won! By far the best description from the Spurtle hustings – "Suited and tied, like a bear at a wedding"!

'I congratulate Mark Lazarowicz on his victory, and most candidates on fighting a clean campaign. I was disappointed to see the Lib Dem campaign telling lies about others – especially the lie about Mark being involved in the MPs' expenses scandal when he had actually been cleared. Anyone that desperate to be elected shouldn't be trusted with our votes.