Insight from the magazine
Ten things to know about the Edinburgh Festival Fringe …
This year it takes place 7th to 31st August. The largest arts festival in the world, it is made up of thousands of arts and cultural events which together attract the same number of people as a World Cup.
This year, it will feature a total of 3,649 distinct shows and 53,884 individual performances across 258 venues. It would take months to see everything.
Each year, the influx of performers, crew members, and attendees roughly doubles the city’s population to about a million. Almost anywhere becomes a venue; traditional theatres, concert halls, pubs, churches, shipping containers and even moving buses.
The Festival began in 1947, in the wake of WW2, to celebrate European cultural life and to heal divisions. Nowadays, it serves as a launchpad for global stars – including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emma Thompson, and Rowan Atkinson.
The Fringe was an accident – born when eight theatre companies, who had not been invited to the Festival, still decided to come along anyway, and stage their performances on the edge of the festival.
There is not just one summer festival in Edinburgh: as well as the International and Fringe Festival, Edinburgh also hosts the Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
(Extracted from Parish Pump)
Feed the birds – but thoughtfully
If you enjoy feeding the birds, you are not alone. Up to 60% of all households in the UK regularly feed their wild birds, according to surveys from UK Pet Food. It all adds up to an estimated £250 million in sales annually, with roughly 150,000 tonnes of seed being sold.
When feeding wild birds, here are five mistakes to avoid:
Not keeping the feeders clean. This can spread disease. The RSPB advises cleaning bird feeders once a week with a mild soap such as washing-up liquid. Do it outside, using brushes that you keep for this job alone.
Leaving too much food out. It attracts rodents. Instead, the RSPB advises that little and often is best. But keep an eye on those feeders and keep them topped up. When birds are nest-building and raising broods, they need a lot of energy. Feed peanuts in a rigid mesh feeder, so that large piece of nut cannot choke baby birds. Avoid putting out fat in hot weather – it can go rancid.
Feeding bread. This can lead to malnutrition. Bread is high in carbohydrates, while garden birds require a protein-rich and high-calorie diet. A chick with a stomach full of bread can freeze to death overnight. Ideally, feed a combination of mealworms, seeds, sunflower hearts, dried fruit, peanuts and fat.
Forgetting to provide water. Birds need to drink and bathe daily, especially in hot weather. Change the water every day and keep the basin clean.
Putting feeders in the wrong place. Place your feeders near to shrubs, trees and bushes, to provide cover. Blackbirds and robins are ground feeders, whereas tits and sparrows prefer to feed from hanging stations. Using an array of feeders will attract a wide range of birds.
Extracted from Parish Pump
