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Linlithgow is preparing for its Beautiful Scotland juding day.
On 9 August, 21 highly experienced judges will visit the town. During the judging, each community will be assessed on: horticultural achievement (eg the design, quality and standard of maintenance of horticultural displays); sustainable development and biodiversity initiatives (such as projects to conserve energy, protect wildlife and habitats, the promotion of green transport, initiatives for waste minimisation, recycling, re-use and composting); environmental quality (for example the absence of litter, dog fouling, graffiti, fly-posting and weeds); and community involvement.
Tourism group launches its own currency
A tourism group operating in Linlithgow has come up with a novel way of attracting visitors.
Scotland's Heartland, which is made up of businesses in the Linlithgow and Falkirk area, has launched its very own currency.
Included in a short break for two, the £75 worth of vouchers can be used in exchange for a number of activities in the area, including hiring mountain bikes, trips on the canal and rounds of golf.
And any unused vouchers will be transformed into cash and given to the Waterways Trust Scotland, a charity that helps disadvantaged children, and the Strathcarron Hospice, near Falkirk.
Local businesses involved include Houston House in Uphall, Kingsfield Golf centre, Linlithgow Union Canal Society and voluntary group Pride and Passion, Linlithgow.
Ronnie Bamberry, chairman of Scotland's Heartland, said: Falkirk and Linlithgow have huge potential and we want to encourage as many people as possible to come here to enjoy the very best the area has to offer."
Ronnie is pictured with Tourism Minister Jim Mather and Councillor Martyn Day.
Going to great heights for charity appeal
It's looking for volunteers to take part in a charity abseil at the shopping centre in aid of, charity of the year, Bosom Buds of Scotland, run by Mags and Kate Fenwick, from Linlithgow.
The 70ft abseil from the roof of The Centre will take place on Saturday 11 September, from 10am - 7pm to raise funds for the West Lothian-based cancer charity.
Volunteers from the charity and from the management team at The Centre and a team of nurses from St John's Oncology unit, as well as Miss West Lothian contestants, have already come forward to offer their support.
But there is room for as many as 750 people to take part during the course of the day.
Jennifer Bruce, Marketing Manager at The Centre, said: "Our charity abseil is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the shopping centre from a totally different perspective."
Bosom Buds of Scotland was registered in November and is run by Mags and Kate, and a committee of friends based around West Lothian. Kate (24) was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and regularly attended St John's Oncology Unit in Livingston for her treatment.
- For more information on the abseil event, log onto www.shopthecentre.co.uk (new window) or www.bosombudsofscotland.org (new window)
Summer coaching in the community at Linlithgow
Livingston FC's popular Coaching in the Community programme will be running several courses during the summer school break.
- From Monday 12 to Friday 16 July, and Monday 2 to Friday 6 August, coaching will take place at Livingston's field turf
- From Monday 19 to Friday 23 July, coaching will take place at Broxburn A89 park. From Monday 26 to Friday 30 July, coaching will take place at Linlithgow Leisure Centre from 2 to 3.30pm
- From Monday 9 to Friday 13 August, coaching will take place at Uphall King George V park.
Everyone who completes the course will receive a match ticket for a game at Livingston's Almondvale Stadium and a photo with the 3rd Division trophy. To book a place, e-mail leigh.robertson@livingstonfc.co.uk or phone 01506 403341.
Summer activities at library
Linlithgow library is holding a range of summer activities aimed at youger users.
These include:
- week beginning 12 July - Animal Masks
- week beginning 19 July - Suncatchers
- week beginning 26 July - Sammy Snail
- week beginning 2 August - Ladybird
- week beginning 9 August - Summer Spiral
Scotch hop at Linlithgow Palace
Linlithgow Scotch Hop 2010 takes place on Wednesdays 14, 21 and 28 July and 4 and 11 August.
July events start at 7.30pm and August events at 7.15pm.
Beating the retreat takes place on 4 August only at 10.30pm and features the Linlithgow and District Pipe Band and the Linlithgow Reed Band.
Tickets are available at the door and cost £7.50 for adults and £5 for concessions. Season tickets are available for £22 for adults and £15 for concessions. Youngsters under the age of 12 are admitted free.
Admission prices include tea and shortbread.
Sign of the times in Linlithgow
Linlithgow is to become Scotland's first deaf-aware town.
The project has been developed by Donaldson's, Scotland national school for deaf children, which is located in the town.
People involved with tourists attractions and those shops and businesses dealing with the public will learn basic sign language.
Visitors get on their bikes
With so much to see in the historic town, Kingsfield Golf Centre is now offering mountain bike hire.
One man who knows the benefit of taking in the town's tourist attraction by bike rather than car is Ronnie Bamberry.
For he's just taken advantage of the hire scheme to get on a bike for the first time in 35 years.
Blind Dogs to headline at Folk Festival
This year's Linlithgow Folk festival takes place from 8 to 12 September.
Scottish band Old Blind Dogs has been booked as the headline act for the Saturday concert.
The festival will also comprise the usual sessions, workshops, bluegrass concert, indoor and outdoor stages, music at the Union Canal basin including the musical cruises and children's programmes.
Fuller details are available at the website: http://www.linlithgowfolk.com/ (new window)
Day trip turns into a spot of business for Carlien
Carlien Dujardin came to West Lothian for a day's visit.
But she liked it so much, she decided to stay for good.
A year on, Carlien, who is half-Dutch and half South African, has set up a business in Linlithgow Bridge, specialising in handmade cakes, desserts and breads.
With help from Business Gateway West Lothian, Carlien was able to find suitable premises at Mill Road industrial estate.
Carlien originally came to West Lothian to visit Linlithgow Palace. But she spotted a job advertised at the Epulum Restaurant in Linlithgow. And having spent her life in top hotels and restaurants in South Africa, Restaurant owner Michael Bennett spotted her potential and offered her the job. Now Michael is Carlien's business partner in Patisserie Dujardin.
"I worked in similar operations before," said Carlien, "we are starting with a limited range of products and if they do well, we will move on from there.
"It's small steps."
So far, business seems to be booming, with Patisserie Dujardin now supplying a variety of cafes, coffees shops and delicatessens as far afield as Glasgow.
But Carlien is still mindful of her local customers and has a table selling her continental cakes and pies at the Epulum Restaurant every week as well as the monthly farmers' market in Linlithgow.
Slow food look for volunteers
Slow Food Linlithgow is looking for volunteers to help for a couple of hours at the Linlithgow Farmers market.
The group will be printing the recipes for the food they have on supply at each farmers market.
Roads closed for resurfacing
The C6 at Philpstoun will close from the railway bridge to the junction with the B8046 between 26 July and 31 August for carriageway resurfacing.
An alternative vehicular route will be available via the B8046, A904, C5 and C6.
The C16 at rural Linlithgow will close from the railway bridge to the junction with the A803 between 28 June and 7 August for carriageway patching and resurfacing.
An alternative vehicular route will be available via the A803, A904, C5 and C6.
Pedestrians are not affected in either closure.
Classic rally planned for town
Linlithgow Classic Car Group is planning to hold a classic car rally through the town in September.
The group has now launched its own website at www.linlithgowclassics.co.uk (new window)
They can be found at the Farmers Market at Linlithgow Cross on the last Saturday of every month.
The group collects for charity at its events and donates the money raised to Linlithgow Young People's Project (LYPP).
Parking suspension on High Street
Parking will be suspended on Linlithgow High Street until Monday 30 August, between the junction with Lion Well Wynd and the roundabout at High Port.
The suspension is required to allow the safe replacement of footway surfaces.
No traffic diversions are needed, and walkways and signage will be provided to create pedestrian diversions.
Website that's hub of the local community
A community website has a single point of access to everything that Linlithgow has to offer.
Linlithgow Web www.linlithgow.com (new window) was developed by Pride and Passion Linlithgow, part of a national initiative.
It is essentially a 'portal' that links to many other websites containing details about Linlithgow.
Linlithgow Web is managed and maintained by local people who care about the town and who want visitors to get the most out of their visit and locals to get the most out of their town.
You can contact Pride and Passion Linlithgow either through the website, or by contacting the secretary, Ken Richardson, at 07770-266379.
