Around Town
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THE BEST EVENTS, TALKS AND SPORT
3|! Planting for Wildlife Spring has sprung and it's time to get back into the garden. Learn how to tempt birds. butterflies and insects to set up home in your green space at this workshop. The Hidden Gardens, 25 Albert Drive, Glasgow, Thu 13 & 27 Apr.
* World Heritage Day Ever wondered about the history behind Dean Village or the monuments on Calton Hill’? This series of walks and talks delves into the people behind some of the capital's most famous sights and the ideas that influenced them. See ewht.org.uk for details. Various Venues, Edinburgh, Fri 14 Tue—78 Apr 3|! Miso Funky Fair Forget knitted egg warmers and lavender drawer fresheners. this contemporary craft fair will be brimming with knick-knacks from Miso Funky (pictured). Stella My Star and Hannah Zakari. Hillhead Library, Byres Road, Glasgow, Sat 22 Apr.
* Boxcar Racing First there was Boxwars. now comes its four-wheeled sibling. Make your own cardboard vehicle and prepare to race down Arthur's Seat for the wonderful prize of a raw potato (so losing might be a more attractive option). Vroom. vroom! Forest Cafe, 3 Bristo Place, Edinburgh, Sat 22 Apr
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The idea of snow all year round may be an environmentalist’s nightmare but it’s also a skier’s dream, discovers Rachael Street at XSCAPE BRAEHEAD.
‘ hen I was a lass. we had proper winters.‘ or so my granny used to tell me as a kid. while I sat yawning and desperately
praying she‘d forget her train ol‘ thought before another nostalgic tale began. But now that the reality of global warming is upon tls. I‘m starting to think that my elderly relative wasn‘t quite so dal‘t. Scientists are telling us that the polar ice caps are melting. the sea levels are rising and it’s quite clear that Scotland doesn‘t get nearly as much snow as it used to. You can drive l'or hours on the promise til a decent drop. only to return home disappointed when it has melted before you arrive.
So what is the solution'.’ (‘ut carbon emissions. eliminate greenhouse gasses and return to a simpler. more natural way ol‘ lil‘e'.’ Not if you‘re PY (ierbeau. In fact. to the saviour ol‘ the Millennium Dome. these
suggestions probably sound a bit passe. As (‘l{() of
Xscape Leisure. Mr (ierbeau's philosophy seems to run more along the lines of ‘il' the snowy mountains won‘t come to the people. then we‘ll just build our own on the outskirts ol‘ (ilasgow‘. And while I‘d never call myself a strident environmentalist. there does seem to be something inherently wrong about expending so much energy to ‘make‘ snow. (‘oating Xscape‘s 200m slope with line. l‘resh powder every day requires the service of lo snow guns tiring chilled water into the air to create l7()t) tons of the white stuff. which is then housed in the giant l'ree/er
that is the Snozone. This must use tip a hell of a lot ol‘
electricity and it would probably be an absolute scandal if it wasn't so much fun. Because from the moment I plonk myself down on the specially
cordoned off tobogganing area atop my glorilicd tea tray (apparently it’s a state of the art sledge but to me it‘s just a blue booster seat with handles). I am transported back to the gleel‘ul age ol‘ six.
As a novice I am advised to start my experience from hallway down the beginners‘ slope but alter my first taste ol' skidding through the snow with no concept of brakes or steering. I am right back tip at the top and begging to be given a ptish down. ()K. I fall oil a couple ol' times along the way. btit I‘m having so much l'un that couldn‘t care less and with so much padded clothing on it doesn‘t really matter anyway. I had arrived in jeans and daps but was soon kitted out in salopettes and a thick jacket (at a cost ol‘ £5 for both). although my moon boots (AKA snowboarding boots il‘ you‘re a pro) are included in the cost. Had I been a decent skier or boarder then I would have been allowed to run l'rce on the steep main slope. where snowy types swish about as il‘ they had been born with poles in their hands. In reality. you jast need to be competent in order to Use it. which means being able to Use the button “it. control your speed and direction. and perl‘orm linked turns.
But if the chilly -5(' temperature in the Sno/one isn't really your idea of a fun day out. you‘re in luck because this space age building is also home to a climbing wall. a skypark (that's a aerial assault course) and the quite l'rankly terrifying sounding l'androp. which involves jumping off a 15m high platl‘orm with only two Tans strapped to your back.
Xscape Braehead, Kings Inch Road, 0871 200 3222, xscape.co.uklsnowlbraehead
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