Information from Sandy Baptie – ELC:

Wild birds can carry several diseases that are infectious to people, so do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you find.

If you find a single dead bird of prey, gull or wildfowl species (particularly wild geese, wild ducks, swans), or find five or more birds of any other species in the same location and at the same time, please report these incidents to Defra’s national telephone helpline (03459 33 55 77 – please select option 7).

 How should dead wild birds found on private property be disposed of?

If birds do not require reporting to the GB Dead Wild Bird Helpline, follow this advice for their disposal.

Disposal in household or municipal waste refuse:

• If possible, wear disposable protective gloves when picking up and handling dead wild birds (if disposable gloves are not available, a plastic bag can be used as a make-shift glove). When the dead bird has been picked up, the bag can be turned back on itself and tied. It should then be placed in a second plastic bag, tied and disposed of in the normal household waste (lidded bin outside).
• Place the dead bird in a suitable plastic bag, preferably leak proof. Care should be taken not to contaminate the outside of the bag.
• Tie the bag and place it in a second plastic bag.
• Remove gloves by turning them inside out and then place them in the second plastic bag. Tie the bag and dispose of it in the normal household refuse bin.

Burial:

• The dead bird can be buried, but not in a plastic bag.
• The depth of the burial hole must be sufficient to prevent animals scavenging and gaining access to it – at least 60cm deep is advised.
• Location must not be near any watercourses, or likely to contaminate local water supplies.

If you find a deceased raptor/corvid that you believe to be the victim of wildlife crime, do not touch the bird. This will help preserve any evidence of a potential crime scene. Also, the dead bird may contain poisons that can be absorbed into the skin or contaminate the environment. Please contact the police on 101 and ask if the matter can be referred to a Wildlife Crime Officer. There is more information on the Police Scotland website Alternatively, the incident can be reported anonymously to CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

Report an injured animal to the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) in Scotland. Phone: 03000 999 999 – information about call charges is available.

Further information is available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu/pages/dead-or-sick-wild-birds-what-to-do/

Please see the poster, below, for information about chair yoga classes:

Chair Yoga Poster

£7 per concert (plus £1.50 booking fee)

The Brunton’s concert hall may be silent at the moment, but musicians are not. Large online audiences have been accessing concerts by terrific musicians and we invite you to beat the lockdown blues with our series of uplifting lunchtime concerts, to watch at home, presented in partnership with Royal Conservatoire Scotland and Lammermuir Festival.

The concerts will be available for streaming at home from 1pm on each date and will be viewable for 2 weeks. Concerts are programmed with support from the Scottish Government’s Performing Arts Venue Relief Fund through Creative Scotland.

PIANO RHYTHMS – Maurizio Reyes, piano

Irresistible musical rhythms with Bach’s Suites, Bartok’s folk music and Granados’s musical fireworks.

Tue 23 Feb from 1pm

PRODIGIES GROW UP – Resol String Quartet      

Deeply romantic and hypnotic music from Mozart, Mendelssohn and Glass.

Date: Tue 2 Mar from 1pm

THE MAGIC OF MENDELSSOHN

Abigail Young – violin, Balazs Renczes – cello, Graeme McNaught – piano             

Lovely melodies, virtuoso brilliance and fabulous folk / traditional arrangements in this intoxicating programme from Weiner, Mendelssohn and Myst.

Tue 23 Mar from 1pm

Book at www.thebrunton.co.uk / 0131 653 5245

Following the success of The Brunton’s online pantomime Rapunzel, The Brunton Theatre Trust is keen to continue offering you a chance to enjoy cultural experiences from home, whilst the venue remains unable to open. A spokesperson for the Theatre Trust said:

“Arts and culture experiences play an important role in our wellbeing. Sadly The Brunton is currently unable to welcome people in to the building, so we very much want to provide these classical concerts as a way to digitally connect with people during this lockdown. We hope these concerts will provide an oasis of calm and escape in the middle of the day.”

As The Brunton currently remains closed, the Trust are continuing to appeal for donors to help support them to survive, thrive and continue to bring a programme of arts and entertainment to East Lothian and beyond. Donations can be made via The Brunton’s website www.thebrunton.co.uk .

Do you know of any East Lothian businesses or self-employed people who have not yet qualified for any COVID-19-related support grant funding?

Please make them aware that East Lothian Council’s Discretionary Fund is now open for applications, with a closing date of 5pm on Monday 8^th February – so it’s very important that applications are submitted quickly.

More details are in the news release issued yesterday. The application form will be on our dedicated business support web page – which also contains other really useful information on grants, loans & other financial support for businesses at this time.