Sometimes it’s nice to escape the buzz and instead hear the buzz of bees, and tweetling of birds. If you wander down to the Seafield end of Leith Links, in the far corner just next to the bridge, you’ll find a peaceful community orchard free for all to visit. It’s maintained by Leith Community Growers, and they run gardening events too. linktr.ee/leithcommunitygrowers

An urban croft

Further along Leith Links you’ll find the Leith Community Croft. The charity Earth in Common run this urban croft, complete a wonderful café with plenty of space outdoors for wee uns to run about, or meetings to take place. You can see the veg beds where community groups and individuals grow their own produce (also for sale at the café). Get involved at growing food on a grassroots level, check out www.earth-in-common.org

Quirky planty delights

My favourite plant shop in Leith, and in fact Edinburgh, is the legendary Quirky’s. Well, Stuart is legendary to planty fans, and you can even take your empty decorative plant pots and he’ll find you a plant to fit. Really good prices, and a fab wee shop. Stuart is a font of horticultural knowledge, so go to 12 North Junction Street with questions and cash. He’s just off the Water of Leith and dog-friendly too.

There are a number of fancy indoor plant shops popping up, however I’ve not had any luck keeping their exotic specimens alive in my drafty tenement flat. I do love growing sunflowers from seed (you can do it on your windowsill) and then planting them out in unexpected places. A temporary tram planter outside of Woodland Creatures (now Satyr) was the first installation in 2021. Each year I’ve been growing sunflowers and planting them in random places. Some survive, some don’t, that’s life.

This year, we hope to have giant sunflowers in the Arthur Street planter. It’s a windy and exposed spot, so we’ll see if they do OK.

Leith parks ranked

Pilrig Park: with the benches on top of the wee hill and lovely views of big old trees. I love this park, so much that I was guest on an Edinburgh Outdoors podcast all about Pilrig Park. Listen online edinburghoutdoors.podbean.com

Leith Links: the home of golf and Leith Festival gala day on Saturday June 14. Soon, hopefully home to some public loos. Hallelujah!

Lochend Park: understated, under visited and with the reputation of being antisocial. It’s got a lovely loch with birds and a very shaggy heron that just stands there. Loch also features an occasional upturned supermarket trolley.

St Marks Park: stunning views of Auld Reekie from the park benches. A sunny hill for sunbathing, wild flowers, a wooded area with willow arches, a Gormley and the Water of Leith.

Calton Hill: The Friends of Calton Hill are reseeding the hill – it has become denuded, losing the grass to Instagrammers traipsing around seeking the perfect selfie. Will the turf ever thrive again?

Coalie Park: on the Water of Leith and new on the list, mainly as I’m curious to see what happens with the skate park, that leads me to…

Dalmeny Street Park: Dog park on one side, skaters on t’other. Featuring a big tree full of shoes. I don’t know why either.

Montgomery Street Park is lowest on the list as it confuses pug Coco. Is she allowed, is she not? Plus, the helter skelter is gone. Pah to health and safety!

Hens Teeth

Allotments are as rare as hens’ teeth, and the waiting list is growing. Edinburgh has one of the longest waitlists in the UK - about 50 years! However, the Council is building more plots (slowly) and if more people join the waiting list, hopefully the Council will understand the demand and act accordingly (one would hope). Federation of Edinburgh and District Allotments and Gardens Association is an umbrella organisation, that does what it says on the tin: Of interest too is the Caley (or Royal Caledonian Horticultural Association as it’s properly known) that hosts lectures and events.

The best way to get started is with a pot, some dirt and some seeds, combine, add water and pop on a sunny windowsill. It’s the perfect time to get growing, you can do it…

Let’s make Leith greener.

Bluesky: @tracygriffen

www.griffenfitness.com