The Edinburgh Reporter June 2021

7
Walk together for Maggie’s
Lost loved ones
remembered in
charity walk
Rob Flett with his sons and wife
Moira who died last year
Locals want to
keep toilets open
THE PUBLIC TOILETS in Colinton are at risk
of closure. Meanwhile Colinton Community
Council (CCC) continue their campaign for the
council to keep the facility open, although
the council has said it is not a realistic
possibility. CCC say that they need much
more information if they are to enter
discussions about a possible community
asset transfer.
CCC Chair, Tom McDonald, wrote to
Transport Convener, Cllr Lesley Macinnes: “It
would be sensible to have at minimum the
value of the property as recorded in the
council’s books, a full legal description, and
an open market valuation.”
A NEW FUNDRAISER for
Maggie's Edinburgh, the centre
based at the Western General
Hospital which supports people
living with cancer, will involve a
short walk on 12 and 13 June.
It is hoped that those taking
part will walk a 5K route which
means something to them, or
which will remind them of
someone they have lost.
Maggie’s Centre visitor,
journalist Rob Flett, will be
walking a 5km route with his sons
Jamie and Euan to remember his
wife and Jamie and Euan’s mum,
Moira, who died last year.
“The boys and I will be
taking part in Together We
Walk in celebration of Moira’s
life and to thank Maggie’s for
all their support.
“We were so lucky the day after
of Moira’s diagnosis, a nurse at
the Oncology department
advised us to go to Maggie’s, it
made the prospect of Moira’s final
months less scary.”
Maggie's Centres are named
after Maggie Jencks, who lived
with cancer for two years. She
was determined that she would
not lose the joy of living in the
fear of dying. She believed in
information and using strategies
to reduce stress and support
patients psychologically, all
delivered in a relaxed setting.
First Corstorphine
residents welcomed
to new giraffe house
By STEPHEN RAFFERTY
WOBURN SAFARI PARK’S loss is the Royal
Zoological Society of Scotland’s gain after five
male giraffes took up residence in Edinburgh for
the first time in a decade and a half.
The world’s tallest species are becoming
accustomed to the green pastures of
Corstorphine Hill as the latest big attraction to
pull in visitors to Edinburgh Zoo in a newly
built £2.8 million giraffe house.
The zoo has partnered with the Giraffe
Conservation Foundation (GCF) and
Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky to
bring giraffes back Edinburgh and will support
vital work to protect the species in the wild.
Jonathan Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at
Edinburgh Zoo, said: “It is incredible to
welcome giraffes back to Edinburgh Zoo and we
are so excited to start introducing them to our
charity’s members, patrons and visitors after
they have settled in.
“Numbers of giraffes in the wild have
declined by almost 30% since the 1980s due to
habitat loss and poaching, so this is a really
important opportunity for us to raise awareness
A tower of
giraffes take up
residence in
Edinburgh
and support the Giraffe Conservation
Foundation’s work to save the species.
“Our brand-new giraffe house has been
designed with high level walkways which
means visitors will be able to meet these
wonderful creatures face-to-face, giving them
an amazing opportunity to connect with nature
and be inspired to join us in protecting them
from extinction.”
Julian Fennessy, co-founder of GCF, said:
Head and shoulders above the rest
“There are only about 117,000 giraffe remaining
in all of Africa. Their numbers have dropped by
almost 30% in the last three decades. As this
decline has happened largely unnoticed, it is
now time that we draw more attention to this
silent extinction.
“Zoos play an important role in sharing this
message and the new giraffe herd at Edinburgh
Zoo can play a vital role in raising awareness and
funds for the plight of their wild cousins in Africa.”
THREE NOT-SO-TALL
EDINBURGH ZOO
GIRAFFE TALES
• July 2002 – The first
Scots-born giraffe Sapphire
arrives, delivered by proud
mother Jade.
• Oct 2003 – Sapphire stops
eating due to a fractured jaw.
Vets considered putting her
down but veterinary surgeon
Professor Paddy Dixon
performs keyhole surgery,
usually used on horses, to
save Sapphire’s life.
• Oct 2004 – Sapphire moves
to Foto Wildlife Park in
Ireland and goes on to
become a mother to at least
six surviving calves.
Thomas Moradpour, President and Chief
Executive of The Glenmorangie Company, said:
“These amazing animals are under threat of a
silent extinction, which is why we are proud to
be official partners of giraffe conservation at
Edinburgh Zoo, and to support the work of GCF
in the wild. Through this global partnership, we
hope to raise awareness of the plight of the
giraffe, and ensure these wonderful creatures
remain part of our world.”