Tag: pencaitland

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Events News

Rare plant sale set for this Saturday

Long time amateur garden enthusiast and writer Sheila Averbuch is holding her second ever plant sale this weekend in aid of rare disease research.

The sale takes place this Saturday from 10am to 1pm in the garden of Mercat Cottage - access the garden via the drive next to the bus stop taking the left path.
The sale takes place this Saturday from 10am to 1pm in the garden of Mercat Cottage – access the garden via the drive next to the bus stop taking the left path.
Also a gardening blogger under the moniker ‘The Stopwatch Gardener’ (www.stopwatchgardener.com), Sheila is holding the sale just outside Edinburgh in her own garden at Mercat Cottage in Pencaitland (opposite the Spar Shop) this Saturday, May 24th between 10am and 1pm, offering plants from some of Britain’s favourite nurseries.

Following the success of the first Rare Plants for Rare Disease Research fundraiser in 2012, the event on 24 May will again dedicate all profits to the Advocacy for Neuroacanthocytosis Patients (www.naadvocacy.org). The Advocacy is a registered charity which sponsors research into this extremely rare neurological disorder, which may one day shed light on other neuro-degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s.

As Sheila explains, “Like other families affected by rare disease, my friends Ginger and Glenn Irvine are helping fund their own research into the ultra-rare disease that affects their daughter Alex. Plant enthusiasts are often keen collectors of rarities, and I thought a sale of unusual plants would be a good way to raise funds and awareness. Coming at the end of Chelsea week, the sale is a great way to celebrate the season and support an important cause.”

Tea, Coffee & chat

There will also be a selection of home baking and hot drinks on offer whilst visitors take the weight off their feet. All the baking on offer comes from the generous support of local volunteers.

Macplants, Binny Plants, Beth Chatto Gardens, Crug Farm, David Austin Roses and Kevock Gardens support

Donations of plants have already been received from both internationally renowned plants growers as well as strong local support and Frank Kirwan of Humbie Dean, the organiser of East Lothian Garden Trail.


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Events News

Pencaitland Annual School Fayre returns 31st May

Pencaitland Primary School’s PTA is planning for plenty of fun activities at this year’s annual Spring Fayre which takes place on the 31st of May between 1pm and 4pm so make sure you make a date in your diary.

As with past years, anyone getting their faces painted or simply wanting a photo keyring, can pose for a snap and they will be able to collect the their personalised keyring(s) from school reception a few days later.
As with past years, anyone getting their faces painted or simply wanting a photo keyring, can pose for a snap and they will be able to collect the their personalised keyring(s) from school reception a few days later.
Organisers are expecting a fun filled event full of games, science, bouncy castles, cycle smoothies and much more. This year the kids are organising their own games challenge as well as crafts. Volunteer slots (see below) are for 1.5 hours each so you will have time to enjoy the afternoon even if you do give a little help on the day. Volunteers can contact the PTA via email PPSPTA1@gmail.com.

As in previous years the PTA would be grateful for any of the following:

Donations: Used Books and toys, tombola items, lucky dip items. Please contact Charlotte on 01875 340987 for uplift, take early donations to 26 Vinefields or from the 26th May, bring donations directly to the school office.

Baking: As much as you can make for the Cafe and Cake stall!

Your time: Setting up, clearing away, manning the stalls.

Your money!: Selling raffle tickets. Donations for raffle prizes please contact PPSPTA1@gmail.com.

So pop on down on the day and enjoy the activities, food and fun, whilst helping to raise much needed funds for PTA support of the school.

Past years at the PTA Spring Fayre

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Events News

Pencaitland’s 2014 Litter Pick starts 2pm on 11th May

Pencaitland’s regular community Litter Pick is set to take place on Sunday the 11th May from 2pm.

As with previous years the action kicks off from 2pm in Pencaitland’s Trevelyan Hall. Groups or families turning up will be given litter pickers and bags before heading off to various parts of, not only Pencaitland, but hopefully some of the other areas covered by the Community Council. We’re particularly keen to have groups or families who want to cover Glenkinchie or New Winton this year.

This year's free prize draw, open to all under-16s taking part in the Litter Pick, is a Samsung ST72 16MP camera with 8GB card included.
This year’s free prize draw, open to all under-16s taking part in the Litter Pick, is a Samsung ST72 16MP camera with 8GB card included.
Then, once your area has been covered, pop on back to Trevelyan Hall with your haul of flotsam and jetsam where there will be refreshments and the opportunity for anyone under 16 to participate in our free Prize Draw for a fabulous compact Digital Camera. This year it’s a Samsung ST72 digital camera and it comes with an 8GB memory card so you’re ready to go.

For 2014’s Litter Pick we are working with Clean Up Scotland, part of the charity Keep Scotland Beautiful. We’ll also be handing out tabards to make everyone stand out as they seek out the oddest item of rubbish.

Last year we had a great selection of litter oddities including a truck mud guard, four car hubs, signs, clothes, shoes and many many cans, bottles and crisp packets. Let’s see if we can find even more unusual stuff this time round.

At the 2013 event more than 50 people came along and helped make the Litter Pick a great success. This year we want to beat 2013’s numbers, so make a date in your diary and come help make your community a place we can all be proud of…

Bring your Camera

If you have a camera please grab some photos during your Litter Pick and email them to us at website@pencaitland.org where we will then feature them on the website.

Some snaps from last year’s event



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Call for local groups to seek help from Pencaitland Community Council

Each year Pencaitland Community Council seeks to give financial help towards the work of local groups. If you run, or know those running, a local community organisation read on to find out how to apply.

Pencaitland Scouts were just one of eight local community groups to benefit from Community Council support in 2013.
Pencaitland Scouts were just one of eight local community groups to benefit from Community Council support in 2013.
Each year Pencaitland’s Community Council seeks to make available funds to help support the efforts of local groups working for and with members, young and old, of the local community around Pencaitland, New Winton and Glenkinchie. Typically these are only small sums of money as the Community Council itself receives very limited funding support from East Lothian Council.

Last year the Community Council was able to award between £100 and £200 to eight different groups active in the area. Examples of past support include funds to New Winton and Boggs Holdings for maintenance of local community halls, cash towards books for Pencaitland Parish Church, money to assist the local Rainbows Pack and many other beneficiaries over the years.

If you work with a local group in the community, to be considered for funding support we ask for the following:

  • What does your group do in the community?
  • How much do you require?
  • What will the funds you are seeking be used for?

Whilst we cannot guarantee that the Community Council will be able to meet funding requests, we will do our best to allocate what we do have as fairly as possible.

How to Apply


The Community Council will consider all requests it receives before the 15th of February. Please email your funding request to chair@pencaitland.org or, if you would like to discuss it first you can contact any of the Community Council members or call the Chair Ralph Averbuch on 01875 340 641.


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Pencaitland PTA & Playgroup launch 2014 Fun Run

A regular fixture in the annual calendar, Pencaitland Primary School’s PTA and the local Playgroup are holding a 10K & 5K fun run on Saturday 26th April.

The warm up begins... a small section of the crowd that developed into a flash mob of Zumba fans during the 2013 Fun Run
The warm up begins… a small section of the crowd that developed into a flash mob of Zumba fans during the 2013 Fun Run. Click for entry forms and map.
All are welcome to take part with something for everyone. For the more committed runners there is the 10 kilometre circuit. There are also options of both 5K and 3.5K along with a family oriented 10K cycle. The Pencaitland Fun Run offers a unique opportunity to run off-road through some of East Lothian’s most beautiful countryside and Winton House estate.

All proceeds go to two of the village’s locally registered charities — Pencaitland Primary School Parent and Teachers Association and Pencaitland Playgroup.

How to enter

Entries can be made online right now for both the 10K and 5K routes through www.entrycentral.com. Entries for the Junior 5k, family 3.5K and 10K cycle route can be made to Pencaitland Primary school office in paper format. Even if you’re a late starter, the organisers will be accepting entries right up to the day of the race.

On the day all participants will need to register which starts from 1pm in the school Hall. There will also be a warm up Zumba session from 1.45pm on the day with the first of the races heading off from 2pm. Numbers will be issued at registration and the organisers are keen to ensure those taking part write their emergency contact details on the reverse. St Andrews Ambulance will be on site to help with any accidents or incidents during the day’s activities.

Useful Documents

Family Registration form 2014
10K & 5K Registration Form 2014
Route Map and Marshall Points 2014

Pictures from the 2013 Fun Run



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News

Winton Estate plans 2nd site tour for Pencaitland community

Last December Winton Estate took members of East Lothian Council and local community leaders from Pencaitland, New Winton and Ormiston on a site visit of the estate.

The primary role of that visit was to allow the Estate to demonstrate what it currently does to generate income and discuss ideas for ways it may be extended and diversified in the future.

Ideas included the potential to revive, reinstate and redevelop existing sites such as Winton Hill to more ambitious plans to potentially generate income from sand and gravel extraction on the Estate, which then leads to leisure opportunities in creating an artificial water reserve.

Community leaders generally were open to hearing more and left heartened by the Estate enthusiasm to engage with local opinion on its plans.

A tour for the whole community

Of course, the thoughts and views of the community are not simply those held by elected councillors from East Lothian Council nor those sitting on local Community Councils. So, in an effort to reach out to the widest possible audience potentially affected by any future developments, Winton Estate is holding a further tour on the 25th of January. Below is an open invitation from owner Francis Ogilvy made to any locals living in and around Pencaitland, Boggs Holdings and district.

Francis & Dorothy Ogilvy in the grounds of Winton House and Estate
Francis & Dorothy Ogilvy in the grounds of Winton House and Estate

Please come to the Pencaitland and Winton Bowling Club next Saturday, 25th January at 1.00pm for a soup and sandwiches lunch, followed by a brief tour of Winton Estate. We shall aim to return to the Clubhouse for further refreshments and a time of discussion.

The purpose of the tour is to hear what the local community would like the adjoining Winton Estate to do in the future. It is also to share some of the estate ideas we have and to see how a process of dialogue can be taken forward to develop ideas generally. The desire is to secure mutual benefit and plan for the long term of the village and the estate where practically possible. We have already held tours for members of the community and county councils as well as other officials at national and local levels. We are now seeking to consult directly with adjacent village communities. We have met in New Winton and two tours are taking place next Saturday with Ormiston in the morning and Pencaitland in the afternoon.

This is an early stage in a consultation exercise, intended to enable myself and a community planning colleague, Nick Wright the opportunity to listen to views from the community. I have my own ideas and I shall share some of these on the day, however they are not fixed or the whole process would be nullified from the outset. Even if you are unable to attend next week, it would be appreciated if you could pass this invitation on to anyone you may consider likely to be interested to come along. I should ask, however that my colleague, Audrey Stevenson be alerted for the sake of catering and transportation as numbers are limited. Her email address is audrey@wintonhouse.co.uk or a message can be left on the Winton phone 01875 340 222.

For transportation purposes there is a limit to how many spaces are available on the mini tour bus, so if you are interested in attending we recommend you get in touch early to secure a place.

Some facts about Winton Estate…

  • Winton Estate comprises 2,500 acres
  • Winton House is considered one of the most architecturally important buildings in the UK
  • The House is used to provide corporate and private hospitality
  • There are two self catering properties on the estate
  • It employs 34 people (half part-time) plus temporary seasonal staff
  • Farmland makes up two thirds of the estate
  • Managed woodland covers 850 acres including Saltoun Big Wood
  • 100 acres of farmland were converted back to broadleaf woodland
  • £1.25 million has been invested on the woods over the last ten years
  • There is 12 miles of pathway around the estate – The Winton Walks
  • There are 30 estate houses and cottages
  • A third of the estate houses are occupied by staff
  • Three fields next to the Tyne river on the estate contain high quality sand and gravel

 

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Pencaitland Scouts start 2014 with new venue

After the Christmas break the kids of both cub & beaver packs returned to their regular Thursday evening activities… with just one exception; a new venue.

Following a year using Trevelyan Hall, the scouts have now moved to Pencaitland Primary School’s gym hall.

Pencaitland Cubs are now based in Pencaitland Primary School Gym Hall for regular Thursday activities.
Pencaitland Cubs are now based in Pencaitland Primary School Gym Hall for regular Thursday activities.

Joining Pencaitland Scouts

Are you interested in having your child join the fun or even helping out yourself? Fill out the form below to join the Scouts in Pencaitland or, if you have problems viewing it, just click here.


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Pencaitland road works set to close A6093 in January

Due to planned works to extend a gas main to Glenkinchie and upgrade the road surface, the A6093 at the Tyne Bridge will be closed.

The A6093 at the Tyne Bridge will be closed to road traffic (but open to pedestrians) from January 20th to February 10th.
The A6093 at the Tyne Bridge will be closed to road traffic (but open to pedestrians) from January 20th to February 10th.
Carried out by contractor Fulcrum, information began to emerge earlier this week with the appearance of signs at the eastern entrance to the village explaining some of the details to motorists. The most significant disruption occurs between the 20th of January and 10th of February when the Tyne Bridge will be closed to road traffic but, crucially, it will remain open for pedestrians, cyclists and anyone using a pram or wheelchair.

Outside the actual road closure dates, roads works begin on the 6th of January and are expected to finish by the end of February with most delays expected during rush hour, as work on other parts of the A6093 through Pencaitland will use temporary traffic signals.

Today the Community Council received a more detailed breakdown of what is set to happen and when from Bill Laird, the Road Network Officer at East Lothian Council, which we are reproducing below.

The closure will be from Lempockwells Road at the west end eastwards to the west side of the entrance to Pencaitland Parish Church / Old Pencaitland House where the carriageway widens sufficient for the use of traffic signals.

During the closure the residents of the lodge house of the estate and Dovecot Way will still have access .

Pedestrian access will be unrestricted.

The contractor will also take the opportunity to carry out works at the junction with Lempockwells Road in preparation for the remainder of their programme – this will ensure that they are clear of this junction when the other works commence.

Works are likely to commence in the village week commencing 6th January – under standard 2-way traffic control but with a suspension of parking – Main Road – (Church to crossroads), then after the closure week commencing 10th February on Lempockwells Road (Main Road to Huntlaw Road) and Huntlaw Road (Lempockwells Road to railway bridge at No 45)

EL Road Services will surface the closed section of road week commencing 3rd February – 1 week only this is part of our capital programme of surfacing works and we are taking the opportunity of the road closure to complete the works and reduce the impact on the residents of the village. At this time the works will NOT include anything other than surfacing of the carriageway and re-applied road markings.

Apart from reinstating any excavations Fulcrum will not be undertaking any works on our behalf.

The contractor has also been asked to produce a letter to be issued directly to those properties adjacent to the streets listed and to supply a copy to me so that I can pass it on to you. They have also agreed to consult with the community council, school and bus companies – advance warning signs are already in place.

Where possible I want to make sure that as many people are aware of the works and effect it will have on their daily travel.

Bill Laird

The Community Council has also been contacted by contractors Fulcrum. The company’s Project Manager for this work, John McLuskey, is keen to hear from anyone with specific questions about the planned works which he will endeavour to answer. John can be contacted via email.

Please remember to share this information with any neighbours and friends living locally, to ensure that as many people as possible are aware of the expected disruption in advance.


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Police advise caution over spate of opportunist thefts

At last week’s Community Council meeting the issue of break-ins was raised with attending Police reps.

A number of bikes have been taken from properties around Fa'side. There have also been break-ins with valuables stolen.
A number of bikes have been taken from properties around Fa’side. There have also been break-ins with valuables stolen.
The Community Council understands that there has been a spate of opportunistic break-ins across the ward. From what can be gathered it is believed that these recent crimes can be attributed to an individual known to the Police.

Fortunately, it is important to emphasise that crime of any kind is almost a non-issue in this part of East Lothian.

The modus operandi of this current perpetrator is to take advantage of unlocked car or home doors, taking anything of value.

More recently a number of people have reported their bikes being stolen and we have fresh accounts of people discovering that valuables or cash have been taken from their homes whilst they slept. According to Police the person behind this activity takes full advantage of the fact that many houses are simply left unlocked.

The advice is simple. Do lock garages, car doors and most importantly your home’s doors and windows at all times.

If you have recently lost anything valuable please report this to the local Police. You can email the Fa’side community police here.


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Pencaitland 1st Scouts hold Beavers investiture ceremony in Trevelyan Hall

The latest intake of kids to the Beaver Scouts took place on Thursday the 5th December in Pencaitland’s Trevelyan Hall.

If you don’t see all 18 photos below you can view them here.