BRAVO & THANK YOU to all our skilled, hard-working volunteers. We laid 240 square metres today (12 November 2025) in a great concerted effort. The turf came late — and the weather forecast was bad for tomorrow — but the job was completed just in time!

What a mission! Huge effort from @caltonhill.bsky.social, volunteers from around the city and council parks officers! Massive amount of ground reinstated in front of the National Monument 😎 Time for a hot bath!

Cause & Effect ☺️

Trust & partners now returfing 240 square metres: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for 12 and 13 November. Please write <[email protected]>. FYI @spurtle.bsky.social @edinburghminute.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @scotsman.com @scotnational.bsky.social @finlaymcf.bsky.social @cllrjomo.bsky.social

Have been so proud to support the Truat since it was a Friends Group… local people rolling their sleeves up to protect one of Edinburghs most iconic landmarks 😎

Hey @finlaymcf.bsky.social well done on what you said yesterday during the community centre review. It was helpful for you to be so clear about the concerns. Fingers crossed for the months ahead. Thomas

Looks great! A brilliant bit of citizen science. Naysayers said the barren ground would be forever so - it only took a bit of muscle and thinking to prove that wrong. Future looking bright for Calton Hill 💪

✍️I want to hear constituents’ views on use of the Edinburgh’s Tourism Visitor Levy. While it is great to see the City in festival full swing, Edinburgh residents’ priorities must come first. Get in touch at [email protected]

Huge thanks to City Centre Cleansing Teams for lending some muscle to the Tron Square residents Day of Action! The results are so impressive and speak for themselves. 🧼

Well The Spurtle knows what’s up! Really looking forward to seeing what can be achieved in our parks with the council looking to find Friends and Trusts Groups in recognition of their mammoth voluntary efforts! 🌳 🌲 🌷

This is a big day for me. It has been such a privilege helping Ginnie, Rod and Team Filmhouse since the awful day CMI went into liquidation. A herculean effort from all involved. Now we have to support it with our patronage! The doors - they did open!

I know for certain how Tommy Sheppard would have voted. Chris Murray MP, can disabled residents in Dumbiedykes, the Old Town and Tollcross count on you? www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

UPDATE! Lush….! 🌱

At Full Council I asked the Council Leader if she condoned arms testing in council parks and green spaces. (A move to ban this activity was blocked on 5th June). You’d think it would be an easy ‘no’ for Labour, but Lib Dem and Tory bedfellows make for some strange ‘principles’.

Today @ehyslop.bsky.social and I paid a visit to Oaklands. Special Schools are close to my heart as my wee brother was unable to go to mainstream. We are both fully committed to supporting these places of learning, mischief and fun.

Happy Father's Day! 👨‍👧‍👦💙 We want to give a huge shout out to all the amazing dads that we work with every day. 🙌 Today is a day to celebrate the impact you have made, through your love, your presence and the countless things you do for your children. Thank you for making a difference.

RETURF UPDATE: Nearly a month has passed and the grass is looking good — thanks to watering by @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social Rangers during the dry, hot days and then the subsequent rain. It still needs protection but so far so good. FYI @finlaymcf.bsky.social

The showers aren’t dampening spirits at The Meadows Festival! Happy 50th Birthday Meadows Fest - I look forward to it every year!

Add it to the list of similarly horrifying and devoid of principal decisions that have been taken by this Labour Lib Dem & Conservative horror show.

Public safety during Edinburgh’s festival period to be reviewed after Liverpool parade tragedy tinyurl.com/589s4fcy

🎉 Happy Volunteer Week! 🌳 My motion to look at financing ‘Friends of’ Groups & Trusts has passed unanimously. 🏛️ I’m a proud member of Calton Hill Conservation Trust and so very practically see the impact the volunteers have had. Here I am in action a few weeks ago 😂

Last week I joined a public meeting by @ThriveEdinburgh on proposed EIJB cuts to mental health services. After last year’s Third Sector cuts—now this? www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/edinburghs-mental-health-care-crisis-and-the-ijbs-failure-of-leadership-simita-kumar-5154204

Our next TRUST VOLUNTEERING DAY is on Friday 13 June at 14.00, starting at the PORTUGUESE CANNON. We will be painting over some low-level graffiti that has appeared and removing stickers etc. ALL WELCOME.

Next week I will meet with Historic Environment Scotland. Any thoughts on what your priorities would be for discussion? *yes I will raise Castle / Arthurs Seat rock fall and the consequent closure of Radical Road / West Princes St Gardens as I always do!

An impromptu free day due to a committee rescheduling didn’t last long! Put to work by @caltonhill.bsky.social combatting erosion in front of the National Monument 😎 👌

Motion passed 🙂

Today I have tabled a motion to re-establish an Edinburgh Suicide Prevention Group (there hasn’t been one for three years?), to commend the volunteers for their work at Samaritans and to ensure crisis signage is back in situ on the reopening of the North Bridge.

Scottish Government Programme for Government: ✅ Biggest increase in culture funding in the history of the Scottish Parliament ✅ Multi-year funding for culture sector ✅Boosting screen sector #PfG2025

Hey Folks, 🚨 I have created a site to check if you have an RTS utility meter (Radio Teleswitch Service). www.checkyourmeter.co.uk

Cllr Finlay McFarlane calls the AGM for the Old Town CC He said: “I encourage the wider community to engage with their work as I will promise to do everything I can as a City Councillor for the Old Town to help secure real change to improve the lives of residents in the Old Town”

🏰 As Returning Officer I have called Old Town Community Council’s inaugural community council for Tuesday 13th May at 6.30pm at The Crannie on Cranston Street. 🏰 All Old Town residents welcome. I look forward to working with the enthusiastic new members and those returning in the coming years.

We did it - Edinburgh Old Town Community Council is SAVED! Thanks to all who came forward to be community councillors in the new term and to The Crannie for all the help coordinating efforts. I look forward to calling the first meeting! 🏰✨ theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/04/enou...

🌤️  Good morning Edinburgh. Today’s headlines: Cat & Dog Home cuts, discount tram plan, bid to save Old Town Community Council, Chappell Roan coming to town + Hidden Door event tonight ⏰ Ad-free local news: edinburghminute.substack.com/p/edinburgh-... 📸 Photo by @tomduffinphotos.bsky.social

#Lawnmarket .. yes 🚶👩‍🦽🚲 .. no 🚘 🙋‍♀️ DROP-IN Weds 9 April -> www.edinburgh.gov.uk/public-trans... @edi.bike @chdot.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @finlaymcf.bsky.social @cllrcmiller.bsky.social @harryjwilliams.bsky.social @johnrobson87.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @edcriticalmass.bsky.social

This morning I had a date with the Old Lady of Leven St! I know people are excited but I really can’t understate the scale of transformation and accessibility improvements are ASTOUNDING.

Smash hit - get tickets!

Fantastic turnout today at Tollcross Community Centre for my cost of living support event. Thanks to all organisations and constituents who came along.

TODAY Drop-in Cost of Living Support at Tollcross Community Centre, 10:30am till 1:30pm. All welcome!

Christina has for so long been my ultimate political role model, and a supportive and encouraging friend. I am heart broken to lose such a special kind of politician. She meant so much to so many. I hope Scotlands LGBT+ community will show up to honour her at this years pride.

The Old Town Needs You! 🫵 Nominations to join @edoldtowncoco.bsky.social have re-opened until 4pm on 17th April. If you live in the area and want to get involved in local democracy - the time is now! Pop into The Crannie on Cranston St for forms or DM me for a phone call to find out more.

🗓️Monday: Cost of Living support event for constituents to get support on energy, housing, health and social care, bills, and more. 📍Tollcross Community centre ☕️Refreshments available 👇All constituents welcome, details below

Confirmed - the Big Wheel will not be up earlier than its usual Christmas outing. Thanks all who engaged. 🎡

What a privilege to be a part of The Crannie Edinburgh 900 celebrations. I was invited to share my story in their “living library” which is such a beautiful tool for building empathy and understanding. Read more about the concept here: www.livinglibraries.uk

*Very* disappointing as I have had repeated assurances they would be in the ground by now. Will follow up to find out why previous assurances I received have not come to bear. Having to repeatedly chase small things like these makes my job as a busy city centre councillor even more challenging. 👎

Graffiti free Waverly Bridge this morning after I requested a clean-up last week. Graffiti can be trickier to get cleared if it’s on private buildings but please get in touch if I can help with areas of concern ☀️

I’m incredibly pleased to see the new public toilets in The Meadows begin construction, and I’m personally proud to have successfully pushed for these facilities to also include a Changing Places Facility for those with complex care needs. 🙂

Folks, I am not standing for anything other than the city centre residents I already have the honour of a lifetime to represent 🌟 Looking forward to the Holyrood campaign (and 🍿 ready for selection contests! 😈 🗳️)

Credit where it’s due… @Edinburgh_CC workers are doing a fine job renewing the setts at Lawnmarket. What an impressive improvement for pedestrians in the historic heart of the Old Town 👏