People who live, work or play along Edinburgh’s 27km shoreline are invited to get up close and excite the senses with sounds, smells, and sights of years gone by at two forthcoming events in Portobello. The Edinburgh Shoreline project was launched in March 2018 to reconnect Edinburgh citizens with their coastline. The developers, Karen Chambers, Elspeth Wills and Leonie Alexander were passionate about raising Edinburgh’s profile as a coastal city.

Over the last year the project, headed-up by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) and its partners at Edinburgh Living Landscape (ELL), has been busy with a wide range of activities, getting everyone in the community involved, from scientists and conservationists to knitters, felters and choir singers

Now is your chance to be a part of it. The Edinburgh Shoreline project and Scottish Storytelling Centre have organised two special events, inspired by residents’ memories of Edinburgh’s coast… When there was a wide range of jobs, shops and places for children to play.

Sounds and Smells of Edinburgh’s Coast hosted by Jan Bee Brown in Bellfield Church Portobello on 12^th February at 6.30pm will dive into the memories triggered by past scents or sounds.

Did you try to get the whiff of fish boxes off your best clothes before your parents found out what you had been doing? Do you remember the lovely smell of kippers or the chocolate aroma from Duncan’s, the paraffin from Wilson’s Ironmongers or the strange, sulphur smell? Do you remember the sound of the oystercatchers? Did the cacophony from the rookery in Granton Dell drive your mother mad?  Did different noises mark out different times of day? Was it all noisier? How long has the accordion man being playing tunes on Portobello promenade? What are today’s sounds and smells?

Come along with the family, share and rediscover connections to sounds and smells of Edinburgh’s coast. Bring items related to a piece of tarred rope, an old bicycle bell, a snatch of song,  an accordion, a lemon and a bottle of whisky  But please, no dead fish!

All welcome, although spaces are limited so booking is essential

Coming soon, What Did You Call It?, hosted by Tim Porteus, will be a fun evening of discovery and discussion based around the names Edinburgh inhabitants had for places and people. How many of these have survived? Are there any new ones? Who remembers where the Cinder Mire was, or knows where the Penny Bap Stone has been moved to? Did you and your friends make cleeks to catch partans? And who was the Toffee Cup woman? Please bring along any photos or mementos you would like to share. Dates and times to be confirmed.

ENDS

For further information, interviews or images, please contact Heather Williamson on 0131 248 2942 or Shauna Hay on 0131 248 2900

EDITOR’S NOTES

Edinburgh Shoreline Project is an exciting, new, community centered initiative celebrating the city’s 27km coastline. They are rediscovering history, plant and animal life and inspiring people to explore their coast and take responsibility for its future health.