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Canonmills Haugh or Loch may have been drained in 1847, but old habits die hard.

The hollow in which King George V Park and The Yard now nestle was formed in the last Ice Age, and, whether caused by natural or human influences, has been apt to fill up with water ever since.

Today, after what seems like weeks of continuous rain, the path connecting the Rodney Street Tunnel to Logan Street has flooded yet again.

After yesterday's article, we thought we should mention that a notable feature of the new Picardy Place is that sitters are encouraged to face outwards, in quiet contemplation of the traffic.

Perhaps this says all we need to know about the interests and priorities of Fantasy Island's designers.

The state of Edinburgh’s public realm in general and Picardy Place in particular have come in for a lot of criticism lately.

As an experiment, we wondered whether a mix of sunshine, poetic perspective and positive thinking might change the way we feel about Broughton's newly created Fantasy Island.

See what you think.

In August this year, locals petitioned councillors about what they say is disruptive over-use of East London Street by HGVs and Lothian Buses. In response, officials have now compiled a report to go before the Transport & Environment Committee on 12 October.

GEORGE STREET MAY GET GREENER

Built-heritage hard nuts and bark-hugging philarborists have compromised over proposals to improve and beautify George Street.

Until recently, architectural purists had argued for retaining the First New Town’s strict punctuation of hard design sentences with leafy full stops. Environmentally minded urbanists wanted softer sentences instead, with semi-colons to improve air quality, provide shade, and boost physical/mental wellbeing.

Friends of Hopetoun Crescent Garden will host a Community Day on Sunday 18 June (11am–1pm) as part of the Great Big Green Week.

Activities include:

If you’re looking for an inspiring afternoon out in Edinburgh on 25 June, why not join the hosts of the open gardens of Stockbridge (and surrounds) and have a bogle at their plots full of plants?

Under the Scotland’s Gardens Scheme umbrella, from 12 noon until 4.30 pm, a trail of eight private city gardens will tempt visitors to explore the New Town, Stockbridge and Canonmills area, where the owners will be on hand to answer questions and receive compliments!

CHARLIE ELLIS WANDERS BESIDE THE WATER OF LEITH

The relationship between art and nature is evident on the Water of Leith. This is expressed most obviously through Anthony Gormley’s figures but also in the ‘accidental’ art forged by the surge of late December, which saw torrents of water cascade through the river's gorges and under its bridges.

The Cockburn Association, Edinburgh’s oldest heritage watchdog, has launched a Manifesto for the City in advance of next month’s Local Government Elections. You can read it in full HERE.

The 4-page document stresses a need to rebuild trust between citizens and elected representatives.

It calls for: