A+E

03/06/2026

Inchcolm Ark - Register now to participate! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inchcolm-ark-tickets-1986789357451

Join artists, musicians and local communities for Inchcolm Ark - a one-off living artwork on Inchcolm Island exploring rising sea levels and climate change through collective performance, sound and movement.

🗓️ Tuesday 9th June | 04:45 - 08:00pm / Meet: Maid of Forth, South Queensferry

Supported by A+E (Artist as Advocate) and Edinburgh Communities Climate Action Network.

More info here: https://www.eccan.scot/events-list/inchcolm-ark-a-living-artwork-on-inchcolm-island

21/05/2026

Good to read this 'review' of the Active Travel, Active Hope event from a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church's Net Zero Carbon Team. Thanks to all the walkers!

Iain Johnstone recently attended the Active Travel, Active Hope event at St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, taking part in a relay around the perimeter of the cathedral.

18/05/2026

Join A+E and Julian Caldecott on the 13th June, 7-9.30pm, to hear more about the proposed Peace with Nature Scottish Constitution and how this framework can help us think with and respond to the climate and ecological crisis. Includes Alette Willis as respondent and YOU if you'd like to join the dialogue. Please do!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-traquair-dialogues-making-peace-with-nature-tickets-1989822531757

With St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh

Making Peace with Nature - our first public dialogue; taking inspiration from the Phoebe Anna Traquair murals in the Cathedral's Song School

28/04/2026

We have a new series of Work that Reconnects coming up in June: 5 sessions on a Monday evening, 6.30-9pm. For more info and to read what previous participants said, see below. Feel free to share the link with others who may be interested!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-that-reconnects-a-series-of-5-workshops-tickets-1349813120379

With St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, Chris Booth, Jane Lewis

An inspiring and engaging group process supporting regenerative culture and active hope

04/02/2026

The Plants are our Teachers 2026 workshop programme is now open for bookings! This year's focus is on learning from the plants that nourish us. Artist Sarah Gittins will be joined by ecologist, nature guide and forager Ian Edwards, and auther, storyteller and student of herbology Alette Willis in a series of hands-on art and plant learning workshops. Workshops are suited to beginners as well as more experienced artists, all you need is an openness to experiment, learn and engage with the adventure of plant-inspired practice! See the attached poster for the full programme and https://artandecology.earth/plants-are-our-teachers-current-programme for additional details and how to book.

16/01/2026

Sedum Roof Rain Shelter - building project

19th-22nd and 26th-29th January, 10am-4pm (drop-in)

Join A+E and the St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh gardening group to lay the foundations and build a sedum roof rain shelter for the community garden.

Learn new skills, enjoy good company and contribute to the Cathedral's regenerative vision - a commons for the city and the wider climate justice movement.

No skills necessary. Everyone is welcome.

Drop-in or contact A+E for more info. (You can also email jb4change[at]gmail.com.)

Images: building the compost bays and enjoying the leaves ...

15/12/2025

Reposting this message because the original message has been removed from Edinburgh West End Residents & Businesses time line. Hopefully it will be reinstated soon.

Important notice about vandalism in the West End. Please read this post all the way through. Tree planting at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh got off to a good start last week, with various volunteer groups of adults and young people replanting scottish heritage variety apple trees on the south lawn. Funding for the trees was gifted by local residents and the cathedral community, in response to previous vandalism of apple trees planted in 2024. Sadly, a similar act of vandalism has taken place sometime between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. We are aware that the vast majority of local residents and visitors to the Cathedral are respectul users of the grounds who also support the wider biodiversity enhancements currently taking place. We ask that anyone with information about this recent vandalism contact St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh or message A+E directly. If, by chance, the person vandalising the trees is reading this post, we encourage you to make contact and discuss any issues you may have so we can resolve this situation immediately. A direct approach will not result in criminal charges. Failing that, other measures will need to be taken. The Cathedral grounds are there for everyone to enjoy. Lets enjoy them together.

11/11/2025

Community garden volunteers needed!

Join our small but dedicated community of volunteers as we transform the grounds of St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh into a 'commons for the city'. Includes further development of our West End Community Garden (including building work and laying of paths), orchard and soft fruit planting, weeding, and general maintenance and care. This is an opportunity to learn new skills, meet people, and enjoy the outdoors. It's also an opportunity to give back to nature!

Drop-in gardening sessions take place every Thursday from 10am-1pm. We also have additional volunteer opportunities on Wed and Thur by arrangement.

Sign-up now or find out more by sending an email to Jonathan Baxter at jb4change[at]gmail.com or call 07954123543.

07/11/2025

Advance notice! Sunday 23rd Nov, Orchard Planting event, 1pm-3.30pm.

Join members of St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh and the wider community in this family friendly tree planting event. With 14 free-standing heritage apple trees to plant on the south lawn there's something for everyone to do. We also have 15 cordon apple trees to plant in the community garden (if we get that far). Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing. Teas/coffees and apple juice provided. Home baking welcome! Meeting point: South lawn/South door.

Thanks to generous support from members of St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh and the wider community. Planting organised by A+E, the cathedral's art and ecology programme.

19/08/2025

We got off to a good start yesterday morning with our / banner making and batik workshops. It was lovely to talk through the ideas and explore unexpected connections. Join us - A+E - today, Thursday and Friday: 10am-1pm and 2-4.30pm in the Chapter House/A+E project space at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh. Thanks to Sandy, Helen, Jon and Margaret for their creativity and enthusiasm and to our other exhibition visitors (some of whom will be returning to make a batik pennant today)!