This section covers events not included elsewhere in the magazine, which are listed by category, then by date. All events will be listed, subject to space, provided thatdetails reach our otiices at least seven days belore publication. All submissions should be accompanied by a contact telephone number for our inionnatlon. Open Listings compiled by Sue Wilson.

FESTIVALS Saturday 1—Saturday 15

I Spring Fling '91

Edinburgh's community testival, with local and international performers, workshops, classes, galas and writing events. Fortull details and programme, contact the District Council Arts Outreach Team, 225 2424, ext 6665/6625. Theatre, music, dance, art and writing/books events are listed in appropriate sections.

Opening Gala Sat 1. West Princes Street Gardens. Noon—4pm. Free. Kite-making. juggling. clowns, dancing, stalls. street entertainers and more.

Making Sculpture for Waterloo Place Sat 1. Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 10am-5pm. (Also Mon 3—Thurs 6. 1-5pm). Free. Learn sculpture techniques with guidance from Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop. Part of a sculpture project for the wall niches on Waterloo Place.

Spring Fling Flower Show Sat l—Sun 2. Saughton Park. Balgreen Road. 10am—4pm. Free. Display and sale of plants from the City‘s nurseries.

Art Up the Amazon Sat 1, Royal Botanic Gardens, lnverleith Terrace. Contact: Marisa Main 552 7171 ext 454. 11am—3pm. £4 adult/£2 child/£10 family. Paintthe rainforest plants in the jungle planthouses.

Family Kite-Flying Festival Sun 9. Holyrood Park. 11am—5pm. Free. Help fill the sky with kites. Various other kite-making and llying events throughout the testivat; contact Arts Outreach (number above) orsee programme for details.

Awatinas Music Workshops Mon 10. Assembly Rooms, 54 George Street.

10am—4pm (continues Tue 10am—noon). £8 (£5). Bolivian musicians offer tuition in traditional South American instruments.

Saturday 1—Sunday 2

I Meadows Festival Around 250 stalls on the Meadows on Edinburgh, with clothes. antiques.

with a funfair, competitions, family events

and much more see appropriate sections for music and theatre events. For more information contact the Meadows Festival Association, 228 4543.

Fancy Dress Competition Sat 1. 1 lam. Prizes for all ages.

Happy Snaps Amateur Photography

Competition Photographs. any size. colour :

or B&W. taken during the festival. Entries to Tollcross Community Centre. Fountainbridge. Edinburgh by 30 June. Skateboarding Sat 1, 2pm. Tollcross Community Centre. Prizes.

Baseball Same Sun 2, 2pm. West Meadows. Hands-on instruction 12.30—2pm.

Fun Run Sun 2, 1 lam. Run around the Meadows (approx 1 mile).

Dee Atkinson at Napiers

Alternative medicine is gradually becoming respectable, with practitioners (some of them at least) working hard to shed their hippy reputation and move into the mainstream. A good example at this new protessionalism is Dee Atkinson, a herbalist who recently took over the running at Napiers Herbal Dispensary and Clinic in Edinburgh. When she arrived at the shop, she was ‘horriiied’ to tind the medicines on open shelves; under her direction they are now kept behind the counter and only sold on advice from the start. ‘I believe very strongly that all herbs are drugs, and should be treated as such,’ says Dee. ‘Nowadays there are tar too many things freely available which can be dangerous- not in themselves, but it they’re mixed with orthodox drugs you can set up problems. Also, people

otten misdiagnose themselves and buy ' the wrong medicine, which is why all

L the stati are being trained in medical

: herbalism.’

Dee, who grew up on an organic farm in South Wales, where ‘we used to

. make our own cough mixtures and so

on’, was tinally convinced oi the

. etticacy oi herbal remedies when she

5 saw her lather successfully treated

with herbs tor a stomach ulcer. She

; trained tor tour years with the School oi

bric-a-brac, home baking and crafts. along : Herba' methane and is a member 0'

the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. Since taking over Napiers, she has revitalised the manuiacturing side as well as the dispensary, making pills, linctuses, tinctures, ointments and massage oils on the premises, many using the original recipes tormulated by Duncan Napier, who established the shop in 1860. He would have gleaned his knowledge from a combination ot scientific technique and accumulated totk wisdom. ‘A lot was written down over time about the medicinal use of plants, going right back to the first century and even belore that-the earliest recorded example is 2500 BC,’ explains Dee. ‘Much of orthodox medicine originates irom the study and the history 01 plants as well -aspirin and Valium come from plants, as do lots oi other drugs.‘ Anxious to combat the notion that alternative medicine is invariably pricy, Dee is running a weekly tree clinic for people on low incomes (patients pay only ior any medicines prescribed) and there is also a range of other complementary therapies on otter irom gualitied practitioners. (Sue Wilson)

Napiers Herbal Dispensary and Clinic,

3 18 Bristo Place, Edinburgh, 220 3981. ; Consultations by appointment: tree ; clinic Wednesday alternoons.

TALKS & WORKSHOPS Saturday 1—Sunday 2

I Community Building Experience St Coime‘s Educational Centre. 20 lnverleith Terrace. Info and booking: Beth Cross 332 8965. 10am—5.30pm. £80 (concessions by arrangement). A workshop on techniques to help people work together more effectively.

I The Chakras Salisbury Centre, 2 Salisbury Road. Edinburgh. 667 5438. 10am—5pm. £40 (£30). Weekend workshop exploring the seven major energy centres through meditation and art work.

Thursday 6

r I Edinburgh Local History Class towel and

Esk Valley College, 24 Milton Road East. Edinburgh. Contact: Michael Turnbull

f 663 1951. 9.30am—noon (each Thursday to

27 June). £5 per day. An educational bus

tour around the city. I The Write Start Southside Community

; Centre, Nicholson Street. Edinburgh, 667 0484. 10am—noon. Free. Weekly creative writing group.

I New Age Breakthrough: an Evening With Sir George Trevelyan Langside Halls. Glasgow. Contact: Joyce 427 7263. 7.30pm. £4 (£2) (includes buffet).

Lecture. Indonesian dancing and gamelan music.

I introducing Pennaculture Stockbridgc Library. Hamilton Place, Edinburgh. Contact: 226 3066. A talk on this new approach to land use.

Saturday 8

I Vibrational Healing Salisbury Centre , 2 Salisbury Road, Edinburgh, 667 5438. 10am-5pm. £20 (£12). Working with the physical body and the ‘etheric body’.

I Saturday 8—Sunday 9

I Scottish School at Gardening Course Royal Botanic Garden. lnverleith Row. Contact: Rosemary Alexander 071 352 4347. £1 15 (includes coffee, tea, buffet lunch both days and dinner with speaker on Saturday evening). Two days ofexpert advice for amateur gardeners.

I The Glasgow Story Meet Hutcheson‘s Hall. Glasgow. Info and booking: NTS 5528391. 10.30am-5pm. £19.50(optiona1 extra day bus tour Mon 10, £9.50). A National Trust weekend course oftalks, walks and bus tours.

Wednesday 12

I Meditation and Buddhism Glasgow Buddhist Centre, 329 Sauchiehall Street, 333 0524. 7.30pm. £30 (£20). Start ofa four-week course.

OPEN EXTRA Friday 31

I Workers City Closing NightTransmission Gallery. 28 King Street,Trongate, Glasgow, 552 4813. 7.30pm. Free. The finale of the month-long alternative to Mayfest, with a slide documentary of events. live music. refreshments and dancing.

Saturday1 and Sunday 2

I The Bike Bus Meet Waverley Bridge. 8am. Info and advance tickets from Harry Henniker 229 6274. The bus and bike trailer travel to Metrose on Saturday and Selkirk on Sunday (£4 single/£6 day return). A weekend trip to Dumfries and Galloway is planned for 8—9 June; phone Sally on 229 3101 for info and booking.

Sunday2

I Jumping into June Firhili Basin, Forth and Clyde Canal. Glasgow. Contact: Muriel McMillan 332 9115 ext 11.2—5pm. Free. Family fun day with fairground rides, boat trips and lots more.

Sunday 9

I A Walk on the Wild Side Meet Lambhill ; Bridge. Forth and Clyde Canal. Glasgow. Contact: Muriel McMillan 332 9115 ext

1 l . 2pm. Free. See the variety of flora and

i fauna around Possil Marsh.

i I Garden Guide Royal Botanic Garden,

I lnverleith Terrace. Edinburgh. Contact: Jackie Roberts 552 7171 ext 455. Wed,

Thurs. Fri 11am and 3pm; Sat and Sun noon and 3pm throughout the summer. £2 (children 50p). Regular guided tours of the gardens and planthouses.

I World Wildlite Fund Sponsored Cycle Hide

Info and sponsor forms from WWF

Action.03i 449 5509. Fifty-mile circular ride on Sun 16 Jun from Stirlingthrough the Trossachs, with a ceilidh in the

evening.

The List31May—13June199163