The Edinburgh Reporter February 2024

6

Storm damage at

the Botanics

UK Covid-19 Inquiry - Every Story Matters

By GEORGE MAIR

STORMS ISHA and Jocelyn caused

thousands of pounds worth of damage

at Scotland’s most famous botanical

gardens as they were hit by the highest

wind speeds since recording began, it can

be revealed.

Staff at the Royal Botanic Garden

Edinburgh (RBGE) in the capital and its

three regional sites are still assessing the

full cost of repairs after the storms struck

this week.

In Edinburgh, Storm Isha blew over a

large birch, while around 20 glasshouse

panes were smashed, polycarbonate

panels were blown out and a polytunnel in

a plant nursery was damaged as winds hit

70mph -- the highest since recording

started in 2019.

During Storm Jocelyn, a cypress tree was

lost after its large footplate was lifted from

the ground, while multiple branches and

debris were strewn across the Garden.

Glasshouses will remain closed to

horticultural and scientific staff at the

Edinburgh site until repairs are completed

by specialist roof access contractors.

SITE-WIDE DAMAGE

Raoul Curtis-Machin, RBGE’s Director of

Horticulture and Visitor Experience, said:

“We are still clearing up the mess from

Storms Isha and Jocelyn, and whilst we

were fortunate to avoid any catastrophic

losses over the last week, there was still

noteworthy damage across four sites of

the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

“Despite having names like naughty

children, these storms have multiple

impacts on our Gardens with our teams

diverted from essential winter projects and

maintenance work to clear dangerous

debris scattered across our sites.

“We also lost valuable revenue from the

closure of the Edinburgh Garden -- revenue

that goes towards ongoing research into

conservation and biodiversity loss, garden

maintenance and upgrades.

“Our Gardens at Benmore, Logan and

Dawyck escaped this fate as they have not

yet reopened for the new season.

“Although there are always storms in

Scotland in winter, it does feel like they are

happening more frequently. The rainfall is

definitely getting more extreme, and the

teams on the ground feel like they’re

barely getting a breather between one

storm and the next.

“As the climate emergency deepens,

we expect to experience storms such as

Isha and Jocelyn more often and in

different seasons.”

NEWS

By STAFF REPORTER

RAIDERS OF THE LOST Ark favourite Paul
Freeman and Joseph Marcell, best known for
playing wise-cracking butler Geoffrey in The
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, will join Star Wars
legend (and Local Hero legend) Denis Lawson,
Star Trek star David Ajala and the Eighth
Doctor Who, Paul McGann at the convention
at the O2 Academy in Edinburgh this month.
The event aimed at die hard science fiction
fans is a major fundraiser for the charity and
event founder Keith Armour received a British
Empire Medal in the 2024 New Year Honours
in recognition of his work.
Laura Campbell, Head of Community
Fundraising and Retail at CHAS said: “We’re so
excited to be announcing our full line-up for
our ninth Capital Sci-Fi Con and will continue
to make further exciting prop announcements
on our Facebook page in the run up to the

event. We hope to see as many fans as possible

over the course of the weekend to help us

raise vital funds to support children with

life-shortening conditions and their families

across Scotland.”

The Con brings together figures and fans

from the world of film and television, comic

book writers and artists, traders as well as fun

movie set props and attracts thousands of

visitors from all over Scotland with all profits

going directly to CHAS.

Other confirmed special guests include

Star Wars Trilogy star Arti Shah plus the

Con’s loyal ambassadors James Mackenzie,

aka ‘Raven’ and Star Wars legends, Jimmy Vee

and Angus MacInnes.

Photo props at this year’s event include a

Tardis, Scooby Doo Mystery Machine and a

host of other exciting exhibits from Harry

Potter and Jurassic Park.

Fun interactive attractions include a Nerf

Shooting Gallery and a Robot Wars exhibition

plus glitter and horror face painting.

To buy tickets for Capital Sci-Fi Con 2024 which

is taking place on 17 and 18 February click here:

http://www.capitalscificon.com/tickets

Reach for

the stars

The 9th Capital Sci-Fi Con which will raise

funds for Children’s Hospital Across

Scotland (CHAS) has a line up of

truly galactic guests

PROFESSOR JASON Leitch,

CBE, was one of those who gave

written and oral evidence at the

UK Covid-19 Inquiry when it sat

in Edinburgh for three weeks.

Amid the noise over government

ministers deleting WhatsApp

messages, the inquiry focused

on core political and

administrative governance and

decision-making. It included the

initial response, devolved

government decision making,

political and civil service

performance as well as the

effectiveness of relationships

with the UK government and

local and voluntary sectors.

The inquiry also wants to hear

from members of the public with

their stories.

Every Story Matters will

provide evidence about the

human impact of the pandemic

on people in the UK. It provides

an opportunity for those affected

by the pandemic to share their

experiences online without the

formality of giving evidence or

attending a public hearing.

A spokesperson said: “While

we can’t change the past, by

sharing your experience with the

UK Covid-19 Inquiry, you can

help us to understand and assess

what happened to you during

the pandemic. This will assist the

development of

recommendations that could

help future generations to come.”

Every Story Matters will remain

open throughout the Inquiry and

can be accessed on the inquiry

website: http://www.covid19.public-

inquiry.uk/every-story-matters

Professor

Jason Leitch, CBE

Denis Lawson as

Wedge Antilles

Paul McGann as the

eighth Doctor