3
New Mexico to the New Town
By DONALD TURVILL LOCAL
DEMOCRACY REPORTER
EDINBURGH BOWLING
GREENS will be turned into
allotments and community gardens
amid the ongoing shortage of
growing space in the city.
Edinburgh Leisure first returned
two underused greens to the
council’s ownership, and now,
following engagement with the
public on re-purposing the spaces at
both Victoria Park and St
Margaret’s Park new plans will
“breathe life into these historically
important spaces”.
A survey showed “strong
support” for the redesigns,
including social gathering areas and
sensory gardens alongside the space
to plant fruit and vegetables.
More than 6,000 people are on
Edinburgh Council’s allotment
waiting list with years long queues.
A consultation was conducted
about Corstorphine’s St Margaret’s
Park bowling green. The most
popular ideas are introducing
“urban growing areas, natural play
space, a garden, and nature-friendly
interventions”.
A separate engagement process
on the disused green at Victoria
Park supported creating allotments
so that locals can “cultivate their
own fruits, vegetables, and flowers”,
but with the caveat that individual
growing spaces should be “balanced
with community gardens to benefit
a broader range of residents and
ensure inclusivity”.
Revamping the Leith park’s
bowling green could also include a
café, provision for public toilets,
and community space, with updates
to include a community growing
area, multi-use gathering space with
sensory planting, seating, and
swales to address flooding.
The council is exploring two
other unused greens –at Prestonfield and Regent Road,
saying that bowling greens “have
held a special place in the heart of
Edinburgh’s communities for
generations”.
“They have been centres for
socialising, friendly competition,
and a reflection of the city’s rich
heritage.
“As we look to the future, we see
these spaces changing so that they
meet the needs of our present
population and planet. We aim to
create spaces that welcome people
of all ages and interests.
“From revitalised greens for
leisurely games on sunny afternoons
to modern pavilions hosting
community events and educational
programs, the potential for these
spaces is as vast as the history they
h o l d .”New lease of
life for bowling
greens
ARTIST KEN WOLVERTON from
Madrid in New Mexico visited
Whigham’s at the West End recently
to catch up with old friends - and
the mural he created around half a
century ago. He painted the mural
at Henderson’s on Hanover Street,
simply walking in and telling the
Henderson family they needed apainting featuring local people. He
worked in exchange for a little cash
and many meals in the vegetarian
restaurant set up by Janet
Henderson using the produce from
the family farm in the 60s. The
photo shows Phil Croal, Ken,
Nicholas Henderson (owner of
Whighams where the mural is nowon the wall), John Sampson and
Peter Henderson. The friends all
feature in the painting along with
former MSP Robin Harper, and
comedian Rikki Fulton and actress
Una McLean. Peter believes the
inspiration for the painting was a
Rubens work of King Herod’s
birthday feast.Victoria Park