Life on the canal continues to be busy and vibrant and there is great anticipation in the air due to the forthcoming Edinburgh Festival and Fringe which will bring an abundance of visitors to the city. The recent completion of the upgraded towpath from the Falkirk Wheel site to Edinburgh , has opened opportunities for communities from outwith the city boundaries to access the city centre via the canal towpath. These upgrades have increased the usage of the towpath as an active travel network helping: connecting canalside communities; increasing physical fitness of local residents; giving access to the built natural and cultural heritage of the canal to all ages and abilities.
Volunteers on the Canal
Adobe have been out again helping with the maintenance and upkeep of the Edinburgh canalside. A total of 13 people participated in theses volunteer days and participated in a range of tasks including; sanding and oiling benches, painting bollards and gates, weeding and planting native wildflowers.
Canal Shed
New members are always welcome, with stories or skills to share and an open mind and heart to meet new people, try their hand at new activities, and be active in their local canalside community.
In July:
- We welcomed a group of young people who were on an exchange visit from the USA. They greatly enjoyed their tour of Polwarth Church – and of course Dawn and Nathalie’s cakes – and lent a willing hand (or rather 42 hands in all!) to the gardens and other useful tasks.
- We had a special visit from Sam Adderley of Re-Union Canal Boats, who told us about some exciting volunteering and training opportunities based on the canal.
- We also had a session with Tom Gold, who as well as being an amazing outdoor educator and bushcraft survival expert, is also a trainee life coach. Who gave us a short talk on what Life Coaching is all about, and will do some taster one-to-one sessions with those who would like to take up this opportunity.
- Also joining us were some volunteers from the Edinburgh office of CGI IT, who are keen to see what we get up to and lend a hand on the canal.
Canal Shed will be closed on Wed 26 July and 2 August.
We now have two new members of our staff who have joined our team in the last few weeks: Lisa Snedden – Canal cultural heritage officer and Claire Martin – Community Engagement Officer, Both will be working with the Edinburgh communities to ensure that the built natural and cultural heritage on the Edinburgh union Canal will be maintained.
