The Edinburgh Reporter October 2025

77

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson

Artist Calum Carr

Look out for

Zombies

GET YOUR CHILDREN away from

screens this half term. Learn with

the Chemistry Department at

George Watson's College exactly

what they might need to survive a

zombie apocalypse.

This week long interactive camp

will get them ready for the ultimate

survival challenge, training those

smart enough to sign up, in ways to

escape the undead.

Over five action-packed days,

campers will master vital skills to

stay safe when under siege, create

protective equipment.... (nobody

wants to get bitten), learn how to

cook and preserve food and set up

communication channels with other

survivors.

The goal is to survive to the end

of the week when there will be a

heart-pounding zombie escape

room where all the newly learned

skills will be put to the test.

This is not just a camp - it’s also a

chance to earn a British Science

Association Crest Award which is

Reimagining the

Balgreen Tunnel

By GEORGE MAIR

A PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL in Edinburgh, once

filled with graffiti, has been transformed into a

stunning painted nature trail thanks to a

community including primary schoolchildren

and thousands of pounds of donations.

The colourful mural has transformed the

Balgreen Tunnel from a “scary” walkway into a

“fantasy world” of animals and plants found in

the nearby Saughton Park.

The 46 metres long tunnel runs under the

rail and tram tracks crossing Balgreen Road

and is on the way to Saughton Park but the

space has been blighted by graffiti tags for

years.

A group of local people began fundraising

last year in a bid to create a special mural on its

walls.

More than 150 people have now contributed

a total of £5,000 towards the project, which has

involved professional street artists and ideas

and inspiration from children at nearby

Balgreen Primary School.

The arched surface - all 276m sq - is now

filled with dozens of giant colourful spray

painted flora and fauna including otters, ducks,

foxes, herons, hedgehogs, frogs, rabbits,

badgers, birds, bees, beetles and butterflies.

All of the plants and creatures can be found

in Saughton Park and in the Water of Leith,

which runs through the green space.

Artist Calum Carr, who started painting in

July following a number of other successful

projects around the country, said: “The

Balgreen Tunnel has always been covered in

graffiti and tags, and it was scary to walk

through for some people.

“Children in the local primary school came up

with ideas for what the mural should show and

we came up with wildlife from Saughton Park.

“There has been overwhelming positivity to

the project, which is designed to be fun but

also educational for the kids.

“So many people have stopped to say how

much they love the mural and it’s been lovely

to see children walking through with their

parents, calling out the names of the animals

and flowers.

“It’s been a very humbling experience. We

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

for LeithChooses, the participatory

budgeting fund which awards

money to local community projects

in the wider Leith area.

Organisations can apply for up to

£5,000 for a project that “enhances

well-being for Leithers” and

applications will be put to the

public vote on 24 January at Leith

Community Centre, Kirkgate at the

LeithChooses Community Vote Day. 

This year 11 new projects were

funded, including a new children’s

running group, summer holiday

workshops for children and

parents, tea dances for seniors, a

playground mural and a

multicultural celebration day.

LeithChooses Chair, Councillor

Susan Rae, said: “Many

organisations from Leith have

benefited from our participatory

budget fund in the past, and we are

excited to see what innovative

projects Leith groups come up with

this time, on the theme of

‘well-being in Leith’.  LeithChooses

is entering its 15th year and we

never fail to be impressed by the

enthusiasm and resilience of

Leithers.” 

Cllr Jack Caldwell, who is also in

the Steering Group, said: “We are

really excited to see what ideas

come forward.

"From Newhaven to

Broughton, Constitution Street to

Hillside, LeithChooses has funded

many groups and activities and

this year should be no different."

Applications close on 22 October.

leithchooses.net/applications-

for-leithchooses-2025-26-are-

now-open.

Get ready for Leith Chooses

want this to be a landmark that generations of

people can enjoy and be proud of.”

The Balgreen Tunnel Project applied for

grant funding, with an additional £

raised in a crowdfunding campaign and

further fundraising ongoing to create a

maintenance fund.

It is hoped that the artwork will build

community spirit and develop a sense of

ownership among people in the area.

Calum, 44, has spent over eight weeks

completing the work alongside fellow artist

Dallas Henderson Smith.

He added: “I really wanted to take advantage

of the fact the tunnel is completely curved and

arched so there are animals and flowers

wrapped around the entire ceiling and over the

other side.

“I want people to step into a fantasy world

for the short time they are walking through the

tunnel.

“It’s so important, especially in the times we

are living in, to boost positivity in our

communities and for people to feel together

and not alone.”

evidence that camp graduates are

ready for anything.

Chemistry teacher Rebecca More

from George Watson's College who

will lead the camp, is excited to “share

our passion for STEM in a fun and

seasonally apt way” and open the

school’s doors to all young people.

NOT A ZOMBIE FAN?

TRY A MULTISPORT CAMP!

If zombies aren’t your thing, their

popular Multisport Camp is also

running. Led by The Galleon’s

brilliant team, these camps offer a

week of fun, physical activities

giving the chance to try new sports,

learn new skills and make new

friends. Campers will get to try

sports like hockey, netball,

badminton and lacrosse as well as

lots of team games that are suitable

for all ages and abilities.

The holiday camps are open to all

children from Edinburgh and

beyond, offering a variety of

enriching experiences that focus on

learning new skills and making new

friends in a fun, nurturing

environment.

How To Survive a Zombie

Apocalypse: 13 – 17 October

Multisport Camps: 13 – Friday 17

and 20 – 24 October

http://www.gwc.org.uk/holiday-camps

George Watson's College