Konect Balerno February 2022 by Konect Magazines

FEBRUARY 2022

LOCAL WALK:

RECIPE:

P26

elcome to the February issue of Konect, the first one for this year.

We kick off the Charity of the Month feature this year with Blood Bikes Scotland. Run entirely by volunteers from our local communities, they operate throughout Edinburgh, the Lothians and beyond. With the NHS still very much under strain, Blood Bikes Scotland provide it with an incredibly valuable support service. See what they do in the feature on pages 8-9 and please consider a wee donation. They also periodically have collections at local supermarkets. The beginning of the year tends to be when we think about health and wellbeing, so in this issue too there are various health columns from local contributors and local businesses here to help you be the best version of you this year. The health and wellbeing section is on pages 10 - 19 With a short local walk to enjoy along with all our usual columns, I hope you find this issue inspirational, interesting and informative! As ever, let me know! Thanks for reading Konect and supporting local businesses and organisations.

All enquiries, E: editor@konect.scot M: 07854 492638 @KonectMagazines

THIS ISSUE Charity: Blood Bikes Scotland...........................8 Health & Wellbeing............................10 / 13 / 14

I love food: Cooking is dangerous................ 22 Wine tasting: Raising a glass...or a flute?.... 23 Recipe: Super-berry protein balls................. 26 Turning over a new leaf.................................... 28

Money Matters: Inflation back with a

vengeance........................................................... 32 Local Environment: The Elusive Water Rail... 42 Puzzles.................................................................. 43 Walk: A winter walk in Hermand Wood........ 44

COVER IMAGE: Blood Bikes Scotland (BBS): Supporting the NHS. See P8-9

The Dell Directory is delivered monthly to 5,500 homes in the Colinton, Craiglockhart and Kingsknowe areas. It is also available online: konect.scot/subscribe BALERNO | 3

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BLOOD BIKES SC TLAND “Behind every journey made on the bikes, there’s a patient – someone is waiting for a critical test result, medication, equipment or urgent medical notes.”

I’m in Balerno speaking with Phil Dodsworth, one of the Trustees of Blood Bikes Scotland (BBS). BBS is a voluntary organisation which supports the NHS by transporting, free of charge, blood and other test samples from wards to laboratories. They also deliver medication to patients’ homes, and support GPs, District Nurses, care homes and community hospitals with transport of small, urgent items.

“The bikes can get through traffic quickly – especially useful when the journey includes the by-pass during rush hours – so we can get pathology samples to labs quickly, or urgent medication to patients who need it,” explains Phil. While speed is of the essence for much of their work, the biggest benefit is cost avoidance for the NHS. By being on-call to provide urgent transport free of charge, BBS saves the NHS a significant amount of money that would otherwise be spent on their own drivers, external courier services and taxis. Blood Bikes Scotland cover the Lothians, Forth Valley, Borders, Fife and Tayside. Sister organisations support NHS Trusts elsewhere

in Scotland and the UK, and they all work together in relays when necessary to cover long distances. Recently, a sample had to be taken urgently from the new Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh to a specialist laboratory in Bristol. In awful weather just before Christmas, BBS, Dumfries & Galloway Blood Bikes, North West Blood Bikes, Staffs & Shropshire Blood Bikes and Severn Freewheelers EVS all worked in relay and delivered the sample in 7.5 hours.

Whilst not blue-light vehicles, the incredible value of the service provided by blood bikes is formally recognised in that, like the emergency services, they are exempt from road tax. During the height of the first lockdown in 2020, blood bikes continued to deliver vital PPE and Covid test samples, and BP included them in their free fuel provision along with police, fire and NHS vehicles. Many of us know what it’s like to be anxiously waiting for a Covid PCR test result, and in Fife the NHS is currently using BBS to transport the huge number of PCR tests they are carrying out - getting them to the laboratories, helping to keep results turnaround time as short as possible, and reducing pressure on the trust’s own transport hub. Other items needing transport include baby milk and, believe it or not, physical files of patient notes or x-rays urgently needed by medics. The fleet of 14 motorcycles is supplemented by three cars for transporting larger equipment – although they have been known to strap a walking frame to the back of a motorcycle on one occasion when it was urgently needed! Riders are out in all weather conditions, and the fleet of BMW bikes are modified to allow for ambitious load carrying, with panniers and a tray on most bikes. There are nine R1250RTs, two F750GSs and a couple of other bikes - including one Zero electric motorbike suitable for short fast runs.

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Volunteer riders, controllers and everyone involved provides the service completely free of charge. Operating in shifts 7 days a week, including public holidays, in 2021 they received 9881 requests for transport, and saved the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds in fees – money that can be used directly for frontline services instead. The monthly overhead for the charity of running the bikes 365 days a year (tyres, insurance, fuel, maintenance and repairs) is around £4,500. The service is entirely dependent on donations from the public and corporate sponsors, so they are grateful for every single donation. You can raise money for Blood Bikes Scotland while shopping online, completely free of charge to you – see the sidebox for details. Phil was once called on to take a teddy bear to a distraught little girl in the Sick Kids who had left it behind and was unable to settle. Teddy promptly arrived by motorcycle (which was on its way anyway with other jobs for the hospital) to a happy little girl and great relief of parents and nurses. There are some things whose value you just can’t measure.

GIVE AS YOU LIVE – free and easy way to raise money

Shop with a huge number of retailers via Give as You Live, and a percentage of your purchase value is donated to BBS. Please see www.giveasyoulive.com/join/ bloodbikesscotland

Direct donations are also welcome from the public and businesses. See ways to donate at bloodbikesscotland.co.uk/donate

VOLUNTEER! Volunteers are always welcome to join the current team of 120 motorcyclists covering the area including the Lothians, from Tayside to the Borders. Riders need an advanced riding qualification. Non-riding volunteers are also welcome; every shift needs a Controller, the point of contact between the NHS and the riders. Please contact BBS at the details above.

For more information see: www.bloodbikesscotland.co.uk Blood Bikes Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland, No. SC042970. This article was written by Helen-Jane Gisbourne after meeting Phil Dodsworth, a Trustee at Blood Bikes Scotland, in Edinburgh. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect magazines and lives in West Lothian with her family. @KonectMagazines

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HEALTH

This month we answer some key questions to explain what you can expect from the new NHS service, Pharmacy First. What issues can you help me with under this service, do I need an appointment and how much does it cost?

I and my trained team members can help you with minor health concerns, you do not need an appointment and there is no charge for the service. You will be asked for your name, date of birth and postcode, then you will be asked about your symptoms. This consultation can take place in one of our private consultation rooms. What sort of health concerns can you help me with under this service?

The service includes a broad range of health concerns including acne, cold sores, cystitis, earache, eczema, headlice, impetigo, mouth ulcers, sore throat, coughs and colds, threadworms, thrush, verrucas and warts. Do you only give advice or can you also give me medicines?

This will depend on the condition and what we think is most suitable for you. This may be some self-care for you to follow at home, or I, or one of the team, may give you appropriate nonprescription treatment, for which there will be no charge. Or, as a prescribing pharmacist, under Pharmacy First Plus I may be able to help you further with a prescribed medicine. If you give me a prescription medicine will my Doctor know about this? Yes, absolutely, I will set up a Patient Medication Record for you and write up a note of the concern we discussed and the outcome of that discussion including any medicines prescribed. Importantly, if I think that it is better for you to see your GP right away then I would refer you.

If you have any other queries about the service do please come and ask.

• excellent prescription services, with collection services from the pharmacy, 24/7 collection point or, for those who can’t leave their home, free delivery service • first class information, advice and education on health matters We offer a full range of health services including: • the treatment of minor ailments, through the new NHS Pharmacy First Plus service • management of your regular medicines • free repeat prescription collection service, from your GP

Juliette

This article was contributed by Juliette Paton, Superintendent Pharmacist, Colinton Village Pharmacy. More details can be found in the NHS booklet: Pharmacy First Scotland: Advice, Treatment, Referral, available in the pharmacy or online at www.gov.scot/publications/nhspharmacy-first-scotland-information-patients/documents/ 10 | BALERNO

At Colinton Village Pharmacy we understand the importance of providing:

Find us: Colinton Village Pharmacy, 46a Bridge Road, Colinton T: 0131 441 2352 W: colintonpharmacy.co.uk Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 9am-1pm & 2pm-5:45pm Sat: 9am-1pm

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As a Seasonal Yoga teacher, I try to bring my life (and classes) into alignment with the rhythms of nature. Sometimes this means stepping slightly outside what our culture dictates! Whilst many may have spent the last month or so striving to slim down, increase exercise commitments and become more productive (Happy New Year!); I won’t be ready to ease out of winter hibernation until spring starts, mid-March. My biggest goal during this time is to get a few extra hours of sleep each week, and find moments of stillness throughout the day. During my winter classes, students often express relief to step into a space that feels truly restorative, when the rest of the world is asking them to “take it to the max.” So, if your new year resolutions fell flat, be kind to yourself. You can try again in the spring, when nature itself invites us to grow and expand, a time when we are naturally inclined towards forward-planning and goal-setting. Cat-Cow (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana) This pair of postures can be done seated, standing (with hands on thighs), or on all fours in a tabletop position. (Really listen to your body and don’t do anything that feels uncomfortable). • Exhaling, round through the back from tailbone to the crown of the head, tucking the chin in to the chest • Inhaling, arch through the back from tailbone to crown • Repeat x5 - 10, breathing slowly and deeply

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Top tips or successful weight loss If weight loss is one of your goals for 2022, here are some top tips from Slimming World – and it’s about mindset and lifestyle as much as about food! DON’T GO HUNGRY To lose weight you have to eat less, right? Well, not always. The kind of food you’re eating is much more important than the volume. Swapping high calorie, unsatisfying foods for foods that are lower in calories and more bulky, so they fill you up for longer, is key to losing weight in a way that’s easy to live with.

IT’S OK TO WALK BEFORE YOU RUN! If it’s your goal to get fitter, just making a commitment to moving more all adds up. Many people make the mistake of joining a gym, overdoing it in week one and quickly giving up, thinking ‘exercise isn’t for me’. Finding an enjoyable, achievable, and sustainable way of getting active will really help. BE KIND TO YOURSELF We all start January with great intentions, but it’s all too easy to go off track. It’s what you do next that matters most – and the most important thing is not to beat yourself up about it. SET A GOAL It’s hard to achieve a goal if you don’t clearly set it out in the first place! When thinking about your dream weight, don’t be afraid to be ambitious. In fact, Slimming World research found that slimmers who set ambitious targets lose twice as much weight as those who try to be ‘realistic’. DON’T OPT FOR A QUICK FIX It’s no secret that many people find losing weight far easier than keeping it off long-term. To avoid becoming trapped in a yo-yo diet cycle, it’s important to approach weight loss as a permanent change to your lifestyle – and focus on developing new healthy habits that are sustainable for life, as well as getting support to make those changes. STRIKE A BALANCE An all-or-nothing approach is rarely effective when it comes to weight loss. Restricting yourself when it comes to food and drink might work in the shortterm, but pretty soon you’ll be fed up, hungry and giving up completely. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO IT ALONE Studies show that embarking on your weight loss journey alongside other slimmers brings more success than going it alone – sharing tips and advice, as well as the ups and downs, and celebrating success together. To find your nearest Slimming World group please visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk/nearest-group-search 14 | BALERNO

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I  FOOD

How much of your day has to do with food? Thinking about it, buying it, preparing it, fretting about the fats or carbs in it, savouring it, dealing with leftovers, daydreaming about more food … I realised a long time ago that I was fairly consumed with what I consumed! Some people eat to survive. For others, like me, thoughts of breakfast get us out of bed in the morning!

Cooking is dangerous

I’ve been cooking since I was 10 years old, so I’ve experienced most kitchen accidents.

I’ve burnt myself on hot pans, steam, and boiling water. I’ve cut myself with knives, choppers, and broken glass in the washing up bowl. I’ve handled chilies … and then rubbed my eyes. I’ve been clobbered by items falling out of a cupboard, and I’ve raised my head, forgetting I was under an open cupboard door. But my most traumatic kitchen memory is not of a cut, burn or even a bash. Rather it was a ferocious attack by a corkscrew as I attempted to make coq au vin.

Friends were coming to dinner and I was rushing to get the meal ready. Our children were 10 and 7 at the time, and I’d fed them before getting started on the coq au vin. So I was hurrying, trying desperately to make up for lost time. The chicken was in the pan, cooking nicely and I’d come to the ‘add red wine’ bit. We had one of those corkscrews that looks like a man doing jumping jacks. I screwed it into the cork, and somehow in my haste, I trapped one of my fingers in the device. It pinched my skin and hung on fiercely. I was attached to a corkscrew that was attached to a bottle of wine!

I called my husband for help. Startled to see my predicament, he realised that in order 22 | BALERNO

to free me he needed to turn the top of the corkscrew either to the right or to the left. He made the wrong choice, and I screamed like a woman in labour. My eldest child ran into the room, glared at her Dad, and said, “What have you done to my mother?!” Somewhat distraught, my husband said he would get something from his toolbox that would help. My imagination ran wild. I didn’t want to wait to see what he brought back. I had to try turning the corkscrew again! I turned it slightly. It didn’t hurt, so I kept turning in that direction. When my husband reappeared, I was free! I was holding my hand under the cold water tap when the guests arrived. My skin wasn’t broken, but there was a small white ridge on the injured finger. Like a tiny mountain. I explained to them what had happened and that I was glad we didn’t have to ask them to babysit so my husband could drive me -- attached to a corkscrew, attached to a bottle of red wine – to the emergency room. Dinner was a bit late.

I FOOD 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

WINE TASTING

Did you pop open a bottle or two of bubbly to celebrate Christmas or to welcome the New Year? We celebrated with a chilled bottle of Pol Roger ‘Pure’ Extra Brut non-vintage Champagne. A delicious treat and slightly different to the Brut Champagne I usually enjoy. Champagne producers add a little ‘dosage’ sugar solution to Brut Champagne and while the resultant wines are not considered sweet, the ‘Pure’ label indicates this wine has zero additional sugar solution added and is therefore ‘Extra Brut’ or extra dry. This results in an austere, refined, crisp, structured wine with a dry finish and pronounced acidity. The ‘mousse’ or bubble, was delicate yet persistent and made the Champagne refreshing and clean. The wine tasted beautiful! A bit like biting into a crisp Granny Smith apple.

A glass of Champagne served in gorgeous, elegant flutes showcases the bubbles and the colour of the wine. However, if I am appraising or critiquing a wine to give a professional opinion, I will use an ISO standard wine tasting glass. You may not believe it, but the shape, size and type of glass used can greatly influence how a wine smells or tastes! For example, the curve of the glass can shape how wine enters the mouth or may prevent an aroma rising from the glass. Industry standard tasting glasses are used by professional tasters around the world to taste all types of still sparkling and dessert wines regardless of price. So the cheapest to the most expensive wines in the world are judged on a level playing field.

Got a story? WE LOVE TO CELEBRATE ALL THINGS LOCAL! If you or someone you know, has an interesting experience, an unusual job, does extraordinary charity work, has a crazy hobby..... get in touch via

editor@konect.scot and we may be able to share it. (You need to live and/or work in the Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton, or Ratho area to be featured in Konect)

The monthly wine tasting column is contributed by Joanne Frette. Joanne lives in Juniper Green with her husband and three children. For wine recommendations, reviews and details of future tasting events, please go to swirlsipsocialise.com @KonectMagazines

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FOOD & DRINK

Super-Berry Protein Balls Perfect as an afternoon pick-me-up or when you fancy a sweet treat for adults and children alike. These are also a great energising boost before or after a workout. Make a batch and store them in the fridge or freezer.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted • 3 tbsp xylitol or 1–2 tsp granulated stevia • 220g nut butter (cashew, almond or peanut) • 4 tbsp coconut flour • 60g vegan vanilla or berry protein powder • 1 tsp acai or goji berry powder (optional) • 50g dried berries (cranberries, cherries etc.) • Desiccated coconut, to coat

Makes 20 balls

Preparation time: 10 mins, plus chilling

Cooking time: 2 mins

The perfect afternoon pick-me-up

Method:

1. Place the coconut oil and xylitol (or stevia) in a pan. Gently melt over a low heat, stirring to dissolve the sweetener. Allow to cool slightly, then tip into a food processor and add the nut butter. Process briefly until combined.

2. Add the coconut flour, protein powder and acai or goji berry powder (if using), and blend again to form a stiff dough. If it seems too wet add a little more coconut flour or protein powder. The mixture should be firm but soft. Add the dried berries and pulse briefly, just to break them up slightly. 3. Tip some desiccated coconut onto a plate. Take small spoonfuls of the mixture and shape into walnut-sized balls, then roll them in the coconut until coated on all sides.

4. Chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes to firm up before eating. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4-5 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

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TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. AND

REFILL!

Do you get frustrated about the amount of plastic packaging around your food? Are you always searching for products with less packaging? For those of us concerned about the impact of plastic on the environment, refill stations could be the answer.

Refill stations have become increasingly popular. Some independent stores, including McGill’s, the butcher in Currie, introduced them some time ago, and now supermarkets are starting to install them. Last weekend I was encouraged to discover Fill Your Own in Marks and Spencer’s at The Gyle Shopping Centre. I am most excited that my local Scotmid in Balerno has one set up, though it is not yet operational. Further afield, they can be found in Waitrose, Morrison’s and increasing numbers of independent food stores around Edinburgh. WHAT IS A REFILL STATION?

Generally, refill stations dispense dry goods such as rice, pasta, cereals, pulses and dried fruits. Most stores provide paper bags, though customers are encouraged to bring their own containers. As well as refilling food, increasing numbers of independent retailers refill household detergents such as washingup liquid or bathroom products like soap and shower gel. Refill stations are becoming popular thanks to an increased awareness of environmental issues. Supermarkets are realising that consumers are concerned about the environmental impact of single use plastics, particularly packaging, and many are now trialling refill stations in a small number of stores. 28 | BALERNO

WHY USE THEM?

Supermarkets are responsible for vast amounts of plastic packaging. Despite our best efforts, it can be difficult to buy everything we need without at least some products being wrapped in plastic. Sometimes this is necessary to keep food fresh, particularly items that travel long distances, but often it seems superfluous and wasteful. Sadly, most plastic wrapping is not recyclable and either ends up as landfill, as litter or clogging up our oceans and waterways. So, as well as ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’, we can now also refill in our efforts to reduce plastic pollution. Until recently, refill stations were often too far away to be practical for many shoppers. However, if their trials are successful and supermarkets embrace the concept, they should become more accessible for us all. For some, including myself, taking advantage of refill stations may require a change to current shopping habits. Maybe a monthly or fortnightly trip to the local refill station for pasta, rice and porridge oats? I’m not sure yet how I will make it work. But this is the case for many more sustainable practices – we need to make small changes to our lives to save our planet. So, this month, why not join me and give refilling a go. I’d love to hear about your own experiences, so please message me through Facebook if you’d like to share them. “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 Facebook www.facebook/anewleaf

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MONEY MATTERS

INFLATION BACK WITH A VENGEANCE The only benefit of having savings with a bank or building society or in a cash ISA is that the value of capital is guaranteed NOT to down. Unless of course the Institution you bank with goes bankrupt (check you are covered by the Government’s Compensation Scheme).

PROBLEM: However, each day you are losing the buying power of your money because you will be lucky if you are getting an interest rate of 0.5%. Unfortunately, the rate of inflation is over 5% at present which is the highest rate for the last thirty years. This is a fundamental problem and must be addressed. SOLUTION: You should consider transferring some or all of your cash ISA into an investment ISA at a risk level you are happy

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with. You should invest with a provider who allows you to invest in multi assets e.g. a proportion of your investments should be in Gilts, Bonds, Property And Equities to suit your risk profile. You should also ensure that the funds are run by a Fund Manager who specialises in that particular asset class because an individual manager would NOT be an expert in every asset class. BENEFITS OF AN INVESTMENT ISA: • • • • • •

0% Capital Gain Tax 0% tax on interest 0% tax on dividends Instant access to your money No need to declare on your tax return Inheritance ISA allowance – you can leave your ISA to your spouse without having to cash it in and lose ISA allowances built up over years of investing

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

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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

At the height of lockdown last winter, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I came across a gem of a reed bed only a few minutes walk from my house. How could I have walked past this gold mine so many times? There were stonechats, wrens, and a wellhidden snipe. One day I saw something move and couldn’t believe my eyes when I realised there was also a pair of very elusive water rail lurking in the reeds too. I think people thought I was mad as I sat in the snow, staring intently in to this reed bed for hours at a time. Lots of people stopped to ask what I was looking at, and only occasionally would the bird break from cover before quickly going in to hiding again. After it did, I explained to everyone just how elusive the water rail is and their appearance tends to attract quite the crowd, as was the case in Linlithgow at the same time. I was keeping it our little secret though, one for me and the locals to enjoy as winter progressed and nature therapy was helping us through lockdown. 42 | BALERNO

They’re nearly impossible to see in summer thanks to the cover provided by the reeds but I’ve been told the birds have made an appearance in the same place, which is very exciting. There’s every chance if you see a blonde female sitting by a reed bed in Bathgate with a camera, it’s probably me! 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

PUZZLES

FEBRUARY CROSSWORD

Currie H rticultural Society FLOWERS | FRUIT | VEGETABLES BAKING | CRAFTS Our Society is hoping this year to be able to have their Annual Show on the last Saturday of August. We are planning to extend the boundaries to include the possibility of more people entering produce and crafts for competition at the Show. To this end we would require to make alterations to our Constitution and wonder of the residents of Colinton, Ratho and Kirknewton would be interested in joining in.

^^^ Solution in the March edition of Konect ACROSS: 1. King’s title (7), 5. Herb (5), 8. Sprays water (9), 9. Curved line (3), 10. Sword (5), 12. Remote military camp (7), 13. Incendiary guns (13), 15. Highest noble rank (7), 17. Tests (5), 19. Concerned with the environment (3), 20. Raised area (9), 22. Give up (5), 23. Wandered (7). DOWN: 1. Disguises (5), 2. Glass container (3), 3. Genuine, honest (7), 4. Colourful small birds (13), 5. Hat (5), 6. e.g. EastEnders (4,5), 7. Finds (7), 11. Region in space (5,4), 13. Nervous (7), 14. Outside (4-3), 16. Fear (5), 18. Church council (5), 21. Climbing plant (3).

SUDOKU

Our website is www.currieshow.org and there is the facility to let us know if this would be of interest to your communities before we have our next committee meeting on 7th March. JOB VACANCIES

vacancy

FACILITIES MANAGER, CURRIE COMMUNITY CENTRE

^^^ Sudoku solution on page 46

Ten hours per week, flexible. £15 per hour

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Email curriecommunitycentre@gmail.com by 14/2/2022.

wanted

CLEANER AT CURRIE COMMUNITY CENTRE

Initially 10 hours per week, negotiable. For more information email curriecommunitycentre@gmail.com as soon as possible. BALERNO | 43

Stepping out of my car and onto the wooden boardwalk, coated in white from last night’s light snowfall, feels like stepping onto a conveyor, leading into a realm of tranquillity. Quickly, I find myself amongst gnarled and lichen-encrusted birch, standing old and wise, like sentinels of a faery kingdom. A small flock of chaffinches alights in the branches above my head and carry out a cursory inspection of my progress.

After heading down the A70 away from town and taking the right turn for Harburn just before the windfarm, then turning left on the far side of the hamlet (signposted for the Dog’s Trust centre), the entrance to the wood could have been easily missed, marked only by a humble wooden sign and parking space for a few vehicles. This hidden gem lies within an otherwise unremarkable landscape of open farm fields and commercial conifer plantations, a mere stone’s throw from the bustle of the central belt. Despite the snow I am sure of foot on the boardwalk’s mesh covering, and grateful too for the elevation above saturated ground. In

44 | BALERNO

places the walkway bridges ditches and dark pools, whose still waters mirror the bare trunks and branches above, as if they are thrusting downward into a mysterious parallel underworld. In those short sections where I traverse snowcovered mud, the surface is partially frozen and I am pleasantly rewarded with a sensation not unlike stepping into the most delicious chocolate pudding, dusted in icing sugar. The forest floor is a jumble of fallen trees and branches, their wood now supporting a variety of bracket fungi, mosses and lichens. In summer, blaeberries will shine like dark pearls from the low brush and the foliage will resonate with the hum of hoverflies. For now, the bushy undergrowth has receded, and ragged stumps punctuate the carpet of frosted green and brown, some like peculiar creatures peering at me above the tufts. Forming a brief circuit which can be completed in around twenty-five minutes (although I recommend taking an hour) the walk skirts round to the far edge of the wood, the fields visible beyond. Here, tall scots pine are mixed in with the birch and on one of these I spot a treecreeper spiralling upwards, constantly probing the crevices of the bark with its slightly curved bill, before descending to start anew on an adjacent trunk. Another, more distant, movement in my peripheral vision grabs my attention and I turn to see a roe deer step nimbly and with caution on limbs like young willow stems. It regards me for a moment before bounding over the fence to melt into the vegetation beyond. Using a stile to follow suit I take the next section of path which runs parallel to a water channel where a copse of alder enjoy the saturated conditions. Further along there are beech too and, looking directly upwards into the branches of one of these, I am cheered by the site of foraging goldfinches

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- the smallest of all European birds, with a thin trill call like the flourish of a tiny violin. I watch as they dangle inverted from distal twigs, pecking amongst the few remaining husks of beech mast. To my right, a wren flits past and disappears, Alice-like, into a cavity in the root mass of a fallen tree. The final stretch of the walk is across the more open ground of a marsh-meadow, the afternoon winter sun casting a weak warmth upon my back. This reminds me that in a few short months this meadow will harbour an array of chest-high grasses and wildflowers together with a host of attendant invertebrates. As I contemplate the scene, a buzzard, with slow flaps of broad wings, rises from between clumps of compact rushes to perch in a tree by the road. By the time I make my return journey, the wind turbines have come to a standstill and the eastern horizon is a glowing seam of bright amber. Back home, on my map I struggle to pinpoint the wood. It’s tiny; the tree cover would fit easily within the area of one of the surrounding fields. Zooming out, it is quickly lost amongst the patchwork of

pasture, road and town. Yet, when I think of my walk, the life I witnessed, and its calming, restorative effect, the power of such spaces hits home. How wonderful it would be to have more places like Hermand Wood. Hermand Birchwood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, situated on a raised bog and is managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. For more information visit: www. scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/ reserve/hermand-birchwood This article was contributed by William Weir. William is a scientist and amateur writer/ photographer who lives locally. In his spare time he enjoys exploring the trails and wild spaces of West Lothian and the Pentland Hills.

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BALERNO | 45

SOLUTIONS

SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE... SEASONAL, PREGNANCY, AND POST-NATAL YOGA CLASSES in your area with Linda Keys - My classes are genuinely inclusive of all bodies and levels of experience. They can support you in getting in harmony with the seasons, and help bring a sense of balance and connection. Please see my website for up-to-date class info, and use the contact form if you have any questions about beginning or returning to a yoga practice. www.lindalovesyoga.co.uk PILATES, YOGA, STRENGTH & FITNESS CLASSES - AT PRIME SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY & PILATES - Large timetable of classes for all abilities, led by instructors who use their expertise and care to support well-being and challenge fitness. Classes are held upstairs in our welcoming Pilates & Yoga studio and downstairs in our gym at 46a Bavelaw Road, Balerno. Please visit: www.primesportsphysio. co.uk to book classes. Email: hello@primesportsphysio.co.uk for more info. PiYo - Yoga + Pilates + Nonstop Movement = Stretch + Strengthen + Sweat! All in ONE workout!! All abilities welcome. Live! Classes - Tuesday 9am Balerno Scout Hall. Virtual! Classes (Zoom) - Monday & Wednesday 19:30. For further details see Facebook. com/HeidiMacdonaldFitness PARACISE - Low-intensity, gentle exercise class (45 min) with NO floor work. Suits those who find regular fitness classes too demanding, or those returning to exercise. Wednesday @ 10:45 in Balerno Scout Hall. For further 46 | BALERNO

SOLUTION TO DECEMBER CROSSWORD

details see Facebook.com/ HeidiMacdonaldFitness or email heidi.instructor@gmail.com

D O C K

BALERNO ART CLUB - This club suits children who thrive by being creative and individual. Online learning will focus on technique, pencil work and colour. Outdoor classes will be a visual appreciation of colour, depth and nature through pencil and other mixed media like watercolours. We encourage individuality and celebrating being your own true artist. First class is a FREE trial. E: balernoartclub@gmail.com T: 07591990020 Instagram: @annieandcarasonlineclasses

M A N U

BALERNO DANCE FITNESS - This class suits children who like to be active, whilst having fun. Online learning will focus on musicality and learning dance routines to your the children’s favourite music within the comfort of your own home. Outdoor Dance Fitness can enjoy the benefits of having more space outdoors in nature, whilst learning Dance Fitness routines together as a group. First class is a FREE trial. E: balernoartclub@gmail.com T: 07591990020 Instagram: @annieandcarasonlineclasses To include your Club or Class, please email details, up to 75 words, to editor@konect.scot Not-for-profit groups are FREE. There is a small charge for businesses. See www.konect.scot for information.

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ACROSS: 1. Dock, 3. Diamonds, 9. Execute, 10. Agree, 11. Manufactured, 14. Nap, 16. Crude, 17. You, 18. Nevertheless, 21 .Adapt, 22. Pattern, 23. Everyday, 24 Lyre. DOWN: 1. Dreaming, 2. Clean, 4. Ice, 5. Measurements, 6. Nursery, 7. Spew, 8. Sufficiently, 12. Count, 13. Nuisance, 15. Prepare, 19. Every, 20. Fake, 22. Pea.

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 43

Disclaimer: The publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage caused by error in the printing of an advertisement. We do not endorse any advertisers in this publication. All material is accepted for publication on the understanding it is copyright free. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher. Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd. Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6GU. Magazine Design: Alan Stewart t/a Universal Appeal M: 07729 911858 E: alan@universal-appeal.com

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