The Edinburgh Reporter June 2021

5
Mark F Gibson
Treasure Trove
on Castle St
Shop manager
Louise Oliver
SCIENNES PRIMARY School played a vital role
in launching Clean Air Day in Scotland which
takes place on 17 June, when they were joined
by the Rt Hon Lord Provost of the City of
Edinburgh, Frank Ross.
Primary six Junior Road Safety Officers
(JRSO’s) Eilidh Mowbray, Amy Yang, Rory
Smith and a group of Primary Seven pupils
unfurled a Clean Air Day Scotland banner
outside the Sciennes Road school. There is now
colourful bunting made by the pupils
decorating the permanent planters outside
the school and the pupils received a Clean Air
Day colouring book with drawings produced
by Scottish art students on the theme of
air pollution and environment.
The school is already well known for its
environmental values as it has a "school street"
outside where the road is closed at the beginning
and end of the school day. They are also known
for their encouragement to pupils to travel to
school by walking or cycling with the School
Bike Bus.
On 17 June, Scots are encouraged to walk or
cycle, rather than use the car, particularly on the
school run or for other shorter trips to schools
and supermarkets. The campaign encourages
people to consider walking or cycling less
polluted side streets after research found this
could reduce a child’s exposure to air pollution
FROM OCTOBER everyone across the
UK will be invited to “Plant a tree for
the Jubilee” in The Queen’s Green
Canopy initiative.
HRH The Prince of Wales, as patron
of the campaign, planted the first tree
in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
This initiative was chosen as
throughout her reign The Queen has
planted more than 1,500 trees all over
the world and has spoken alongside Sir
David Attenborough of the importance
of trees in the Earth’s future.
The project will create a network of
individual or specimen trees, with
avenues, copses or woodlands planted
in honour of HM The Queen’s 70
Pupils adding a sheen
to Clean Air Day
It’s a Clean Air Day
Provost joins Sciennes pupils to launch new pollution initiative
by 30%. Clean Air Day campaigners also want
people to consider the purchase of an Ultra-Low
Emission Vehicle (ULEV) ahead of the ban on
new petrol, diesel cars and van sales from 2030.
Sciennes Primary School’s headteacher
Andrew Hunter said: “Sciennes Primary School
has supported Clean Air Day for many years and
our involvement has helped our pupils learn
about air pollution and how it can affect health.
The campaign supports our promotion of the
benefits of active travel and care for the
environment.”
For more information please visit:
www.cleanairday.org.uk/scotland
Royal platinum planting
year-long reign, including plans for
planting in Edinburgh. Existing
woodland will be dedicated to the
project with commemorative plaques
to preserve forests for the future in the
Queen’s name.
The trees will benefit everyone in
the years which follow and will
rekindle the sense of community that
happened in particular over this last
twelve months.
The initiative is an independent
project led by an executive team along
with the charity Cool Earth.
To find out more, please visit:
www.queensgreencanopy.org
THE TREASURE TROVE is a complete
gem of a shop situated in Castle Street.
A true Aladdin’s Cave, filled with an
array of beautifully handcrafted goods,
delicate Shetland wool baby shawls,
exquisite smocked dresses or Fair Isle
knits, woodwork, knitwear, baking and
fabulous soft toys are just a few of its
many treasures.
Previously known as The Royal
Edinburgh Repository and Self Aid Society,
this unique charity traces its roots as far
back as 1882. It was set up by forwardthinking
women philanthropists to help
“gentlewomen” who had fallen on hard
times, gain an independent livelihood by
using traditional skills, such as sewing and
knitting. To this day the ethos of the charity
largely remains the same.
Late last year, The Treasure Trove
launched online, embracing the everchanging
face of retail and is now available
to the wider world 365 days a year through
the website.
The makers, or Members as they are
known, come from all over the UK, from as
far north as Shetland down to the south
west of England. Anyone who thinks they
have the “skills to help pay their bills” can
apply to become a member by ringing the
shop manager, Louise Oliver on 0131 220
1187 to obtain an application form. The
process is simple – return a completed
application form together with two
samples of work and if the Society’s criteria
are met (in terms of personal needs and
skills), you become a member. You are
given a unique personal number, under
which all your items are sold. Members set
their own prices and The Treasure Trove
deducts just 10% from the sale price
towards administrative costs.
What makes The Treasure Trove even
more special is that when members are no
longer able to produce work, help is
available through the Benevolent Fund,
which provides a twice-yearly payment
dependent on individual need. The shop
staff keep in regular contact with all
members to help combat loneliness, which
is all too common.
Coffee mornings and outings are
also arranged.
The Treasure Trove look forward to
welcoming you in person or online
very soon.
For more information please visit:
www.treasuretrove-edinburgh.com