Thanks to THAT'S TV and Rachel Kinnear for making available our chair's interview on the EROSION EMERGENCY on 24 September. There was a follow-up interview yesterday (10 November).

The annual harvest for Michael Fabricant’s hair has just begun in Gloucestershire today.

VOLUNTEERS still needed: FYI @spurtle.bsky.social @ntbcc.bsky.social @edinburghminute.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @scotsman.com @scotnational.bsky.social @stv.news @edinburghwh.bsky.social @turvill.bsky.social @smcarthurreports.bsky.social

Can we please have another Labour Party? This one seems to be broken.

Socialism is what they called public power. Socialism is what they called social security. Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations. Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people. —Harry Truman, 1952

Swifts have declined 70% since 1994. They fly from Africa to breed here, only to find we've blocked their nest sites. A £35 swift brick nest box was proposed for all new buildings. The construction industry lobbied Labour to block it. Biodiversity sustains life. Labour sustains economic power.

INQUIRER / Sarah McArthur on "What went so right on Bonfire Night?" open.substack.com/pub/edinburg...

Tomorrow's front page 📰 Ceasefire violations are 'repeated and deliberate'

Today three VOLUNTEERS did a test removal of GROUND IVY in Greenside, Calton Hill. We cleared about 50 square metres in two hours. Extensive surface roots — also huge amounts of buried tin, glass and plastic.

The Trust have been MAPPING CALTON HILL to show the balance between the historic centre of the hill with its buildings & monuments (surrounded by GRASSLANDS), and the outer slopes with their natural and semi-natural wildlife habitats (SCRUB, 'under-scrub' and WOODLAND). 1/

EXCLUSIVE: Lisa Nandy is facing calls to quit as Sport Secretary after police confirmed Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned from Villa Park this week because of 'significant levels of hooliganism' Nandy previously told Parliament the ban was based on fans being Israeli and Jewish

SMALL MERCIES? “It’s good there is an understanding about what is acceptable and what isn’t acceptable ... There is a desire ... to make sure the gardens is protected, and it doesn’t take so long to bring it back into public usage again.” Cllr Hal Osler edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...

Palestinian national footballer Mohammed Rashid, who has 48 caps for the Palestine national team, has questioned how Israeli teams can still be allowed to compete in world football considering 'its attacks aimed at wiping out Palestinian sports'

And then THERE WAS MUD. Unfortunately some areas on Calton Hill have deteriorated further in the past few days. These were until recently grassed. We hope this areas can be reinstated, but they are outside our current returfing project area.

Zoological Society repeats call for fireworks ban The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is renewing its call for a national ban on the public sale of fireworks, one year after the tragic death of their baby red panda, Roxie, at Edinburgh Zoo. Since launching its public campaign in 2024,…

FYI @spurtle.bsky.social @edinburghminute.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @edinburghlive.co.uk @scotsman.com @turvill.bsky.social @smcarthurreports.bsky.social @ntbcc.bsky.social @finlaymcf.bsky.social @cllrjomo.bsky.social @cllrcmiller.bsky.social @leftwing66.bsky.social

SIX POLICIES adopted by the Trust on 1 November. POLICY 1: "To Support sustainable VISITOR ACCESS that protects the hill’s unique character and heritage, and ensures it remains an attractive and rewarding destination, both for the sake of the hill itself and the wider tourism economy." 1/

New MEMBERSHIP FEE rates: Our Special Members’ Meeting agreed new fees. As of 1 November 2025, these are now fixed at £25 per individual per annum, £35 per household, with a concessionary rate of £15. Renewals at the new rate will begin on 1 January 2026.

***Recommended article on CITY CENTRE LIFE***: @ntbcc.bsky.social @edoldtowncoco.bsky.social @finlaymcf.bsky.social @cllrcmiller.bsky.social @cllrjomo.bsky.social @spurtle.bsky.social @edinburghwh.bsky.social @pgkeady.bsky.social @smcarthurreports.bsky.social

EDINBURGH CITY CENTRE LIFE: Another great article from Sarah McArthur @smcarthurreports.bsky.social and the Edinburgh Inquirer: "No other UK city of comparable size comes close." www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/its-simila...

EDINBURGH CITY CENTRE LIFE: Another great article from Sarah McArthur @smcarthurreports.bsky.social and the Edinburgh Inquirer: "No other UK city of comparable size comes close." www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/its-simila...

“Anyway we felt we needed to take any action within our power to address the situation. Fortunately the Café Calton and the Collective Gallery came on-side to help and we’ve now got a credible community project in operation.” CHCT Chair 3/

Calton Hill FIREWORK CONTROL ZONE (FCZ) came into operation on 31 October 2025 & will continue until 9 November. CHCT appreciate the clear signage from @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social. We hope the FCZ will ensure less litter, environmental damage, noise pollution & anti-social behaviour, as in 2024.

Many thanks to Liam Eunson and the MIDLOTHIAN VIEW for covering the Trust-led community action on the Erosion Emergency to restore 240 square metres of barren ground in front of the National Monument, Calton Hill. 1/ caltonhilltrust.org/midlothian-v...

DELIGHTED to add that the Collective Gallery in the City Observatory have now joined the project and are contributing another 60 square metres of turf to bring us to a total of 240m2 or double the test returfing we did in May this year. Many thanks to @collective-edin.bsky.social.

"ORKNEY islands council has joined with SHETLAND and ... WESTERN ISLES... to urge the Scottish government to legislate for a POINT of ENTRY LEVY added to fares charged by cruise operators, ferry companies and the islands airline Loganair." 1/ theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

I would class Labour as a right of centre capitalist party nowadays.

Wales generally has a left of centre political identity. This is how Caerphilly voted. Reform may win a lot of seats in Wales, but it will be so hard for them to ever form a Government as most ppl don't agree with them. This is why proportional systems are so much better.

Unfortunately it hasn't lasted long, the graffiti is returning.

VOI. A success? Gradually there are more of the pink bikes on the street. Any negative reports? Any negative impressions? Can we say the rollout is already a success?

COMMUNITY ACTION to combat the EROSION EMERGENCY: Calton Hill Conservation Trust and the Café Calton have bought 180 square metres of turf for laying in front of the National Monument on 12 November. 12 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED on 12 NOVEMBER. Write <[email protected]>.

“The smoke and fine particles released by WOOD-BURNING STOVES can worsen asthma symptoms, trigger attacks, and contribute to long-term respiratory issues, consequences that are entirely preventable with cleaner heating choices.” Dr Whitehouse www.theguardian.com/environment/...

“The footfall on CALTON HILL is unreal … We do need to have an extra special look at how we’re maintaining it, and NOT JUST ACCEPTING EROSION AS A FACT. We need some heavy machinery from parks to undo the decades of people stamping it into a dustbowl.” “ Cllr F McFarlane @finlaymcf.bsky.social 2/

BUILDEDINBURGH substack featured the trust yesterday — and the EROSION EMERGENCY. Thanks. However please note our next LITTER PICKUP is on Saturday 18 October (NOT 11 October). buildedinburgh.substack.com/p/in-the-new...

Unfortunately the PORTALOOS located on Regent Walk continue to be a target for VANDALISM. The only vandals in 2024 were the seagulls, but from spring 2025 we've had a series of incidents.

Many THANKS to everyone who came to our 12th Litter Pickup today. Not a lot of rubbish in the open on the top of the hill, so we concentrated on old deposits of glass, tins and plastics in less accessible places. There are still huge quantities of these, but we are making progress removing it.

Bank of Scotland HQ, Edinburgh, 7pm Friday night.

Is ELM ROW being taken over cars? Why is there so much parking on the pavement? Is it always like this? @leithcentralcc @NTBCC @theSpurtle

Anyone who's tried climbing #Arthur'sSeat in the rain or finding a patch of grass on #CaltonHill in the summer knows- we have an #erosion problem. But just how big is the issue? www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/are-the-ca... #Edinburgh @caltonhill.bsky.social @holledge.bsky.social

DELIGHTED to see this notice has now been cleaned up! We hope this will be followed by removal of graffiti all along the walls of Jacob's Ladder, but at least this is a start. @edinburghwh.bsky.social

12th LITTER PICKUP: Saturday, 18 October 2025, 10.00 from outside the City Observatory/Collective. Lasting 90 minutes. Equipment & refreshments provided. All welcome — members and NON-MEMBERS. Please bring gloves. Let us know you are coming — via <[email protected]>.

“You described Reform and other parties across Europe today as among the 'right wing equivalents of the fascists in the 1930s'. Why?” “Because that’s what they are” @vicderbyshire.bsky.social asks Lord Heseltine about remarks he made at Conservative Party Conference. #Newsnight

VOI GANGS? "The new Voi bikes in Edinburgh already being used by gangs to get around and attempt to steal bikes. A masked gang attempted to steal my bike ..." Presumably the gangs don't give VOI their credit card numbers. How does this work? www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...

STV NEWS on EROSION EMERGENCY at @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social Culture and Communities Committee ‘Action needed to fight erosion on Calton Hill amid fears over 'managed decline'. 1/ news.stv.tv/east-central...

HERAS FENCING REMOVED. Delighted to report the test returfing/reseeding area done in May is at last reopened to the public. The grass is looking good and we hope it remains in good condition through the winter. We'll be monitoring it. @finlaymcf.bsky.social

BREAKING: Heroic police officers save public from this terrifying terrorist who was holding a sign the government doesn’t like x

they're so brave, aren't they? x www.normalisland.co.uk/p/worlds-mos...

Most people in Britain know there are two sides to consider on this conflict & most want peace and security for both. But the initial surge of sympathy for Israel after Oct 7th 2023 shrunk very significantly over time as the military assault on Gaza went on yougov.co.uk/internationa...

Fuck. Ing. Hell.

From DEPUTATION to MOTION: The Council responded positively yesterday (2 October 2025) to the CALTON HILL EROSION EMERGENCY deputation. Here is the final text from the Edinburgh Council Culture and Communities Committee.