The Edinburgh Reporter October 2022

99

Fifty years of Women’s Aid Edinburgh

Turning apples

into brandy

By STAFF REPORTER

HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY researchers

are tackling a core problem in Edinburgh,

and appeal for surplus apples for their

sustainable brandy project. Surplus apples

• usually destined to simply rot - are being
  turned into one of Britain’s favourite
  traditional tipples thanks to a unique
  partnership between researchers at
  Heriot-Watt University and the Inchcolm
  Distilling Company. The University’s
  International Centre for Brewing and
  Distilling (ICBD) teamed up with the
  company’s owner to turn the unwanted
  fruit into premium brandy. 
  It’s hoped the project will help to cut
  food waste in the capital and preserve
  the city’s apple trees. Traditional orchards
  bring biodiversity benefits, acting as
  gorging grounds for insects and creating
  habitats for birds and other species,
  encouraging and enhancing the
  ecosystem in Edinburgh.

GREENHOUSE GASES

Additionally, rotting apples generate

methane, one of the more potent

greenhouse gases contributing to global

warming.  It’s estimated several tonnes

of apples from trees in Edinburgh’s

private gardens and small orchards go

to waste each year. 

The researchers worked closely with the

distillers to identify the best strains of yeast

to mix with the different types of apples to

produce the brandy which will be called

Pochle, an old Scots’ word meaning “to take

a small amount of something without

exactly having permission”.

Jamie Wade, Researcher from ICBD said:

“In the distilling industry it is up to us to

explore ways to create industry-wide

practices focused on sustainability.

“For the Inchcolm Distilling Company,

we carried out rigorous tests to develop

the best blend. We tried a combination

of different yeasts to identify the best

production method possible so all

surplus apples can be used in the

distilling process.”

Chris Miles of Inchcolm Distilling

Company, said: “I started picking apples as

a kid when I’d nip into somebody’s garden

and pinch a wee pochle of them. Some

people see their apple trees as a problem

but I see them as a great opportunity -

waste not, want not.” 

“Repurposing waste from nature’s

garden is a key challenge for the drinks

industry. It’s great to develop a product

from apples that would otherwise be

wasted. And there’ll be plenty of variety as

the taste depends on the types of apples

donated. No two batches will be the same.”

Could Holyrood Park

look like this every day?

By CAR FREE HOLYROOD

EXCUSES ARE running out for Historic

Environment Scotland (HES) which continues to

allow private motor vehicle traffic through the

historic site and Site of Special Scientific Interest

(SSSI) Holyrood Park, as their own survey shows

widespread support for current and further

restrictions on car usage in the park.

Newly released findings from last year’s Traffic

Management Survey conducted by HES include

62% of respondents saying they “would like to

see further road closures for vehicles in Holyrood

Park”, while 73% agreed that “closing the road on

both Saturdays and Sundays has made the park a

more pleasant place to spend time”.

Drilling down into the results, it’s clear that

many of the nearly 4,000 respondents to the

survey live locally, with 70% saying they visited

the park at least weekly. The aspects of the park

most enjoyed by its users are those most

negatively impacted by the continued presence of

traffic through the park.

For example, 82% of respondents use the park

for “leisurely walking”, 71% for “[getting] some

fresh air and for mental wellbeing” and 47% for

“hiking, jogging or running’”.

All of these activities are negatively impacted

by the noise, pollution and danger posed by

motor vehicles.

Comments from people visiting the park with

children said they were particularly grateful for

traffic-free roads, one respondent saying that

roads being closed to vehicles “totally transforms

the experience of visiting the park for me and my

two children. It creates a safe and peaceful

environment where I don’t have to worry about

the danger of speeding cars”.

Many who replied highlighted the need to

make changes during the ongoing climate

emergency. One respondent said: “The climate

crisis demands we move away from private

vehicles rapidly. Any opportunity should be

taken especially where it creates a high-quality

active travel route with little to no investment.”

Regardless of their opinion about road

closures in the park, all respondents wanted the

park to be accessible for all. Some raised

concerns about how access could be achieved if

cars could not be used as mobility aids within the

park, however others suggested a number of

ways to open up accessibility, including for the

many visitors who don’t have access to a private

motor vehicle or family who could drive them

around the park.

Car Free Holyrood strongly believe that it’s

time for Historic Environment Scotland to act

upon these results by closing the park-roads to

through traffic and enabling access for those with

mobility needs through an Inclusive Access Hub.

Such a hub could provide access for all, including

those who don’t have a car, by providing mobility

scooters, wheelchair attachments, and other

mobility aids suitable for use in the park. We are

currently trying to work with HES to start a

Cycling Without Age Scotland chapter and

encourage them to overcome bureaucratic

hurdles so the community can start this trial and

open up a new way to experience the park on

trishaws piloted by volunteers.

Follow on Twitter: @carfreeholyrood

Sticking to the path

Survey results show clear support for a car free Holyrood Park

By STAFF REPORTER

EDINBURGH Women’s Aid,

which opened its first refuge in

1973 has unveiled plans for a

series of year-long events next

year to mark 50 years of

providing support for tens of

thousands of women and their

children who have experienced

domestic abuse. The events will

include a competition to design

a commemorative artwork and

that will be unveiled at an

exhibition in January.

Events planned throughout

the entire year will highlight and

pay tribute to those who have

provided support for women

and their families over the past

five decades. This has meant

giving women a safe place to

stay in a refuge, specialist

housing support, legal advice

and help securing employment.

The aim of the

commemorative artwork will

be to showcase how the

charity has evolved over the

years, the ongoing support

available to help keep victims

of domestic abuse safe and

forthcoming plans.

In addition to being launched

at the 50th anniversary

exhibition, the artwork will also

feature on the cover of the

charity’s printed and digital

Impact Report and various other

marketing materials, including

pull-up banners, leaflets, website

and social media. The winning

artist will also receive a prize

of £500.

Entries can be created in any

medium and should be

submitted with the entry form

available on EWA’s website,

http://www.edinwomensaid.co.uk by

1 November 2022.

Car Free Holyrood