University of Dundee exhibitions

There are two new exhibitions at the University of Dundee.

In the Lamb Gallery, the exhibition “Botanical Conversations” features highlights from the University’s amazing Herbarium collection, stunning botanical teaching charts and beautiful works of art inspired by plants. It describes the history of botany teaching at the University and also showcases some fascinating projects being carried out both here and at the James Hutton Institute.

Meanwhile, in the Tower Foyer Gallery, “Exploring our own Backyard” has been put together by the University of Dundee Botanic Garden and highlights the current project to revamp the Garden’s native plants area. 

This is the jewel in the Garden’s crown and is still unusual in botanic gardens, which traditionally showed little interest in their natives. Dundee’s garden is young, founded in 1971, and it was committed from the start to telling the story of Scottish plants and their ecology.
This exhibition also celebrates the work of William Gardiner, a working man from Dundee who became a distinguished botanist in the first half of the nineteenth century, and was the first to compile a flora of the local area, unique examples of which will be on display.

Exploring our own Backyard runs until 17th March and Botanical Conversations ends on 31st March. 

Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.30am to 7pm;  Saturday 1pm to 5pm.   Full exhibition details are available here.


Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL – WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD – WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 22 JANUARY 2018

A85 Riverside Drive – prohibition of right turn from westbound lane of Riverside Drive into Riverside approach and prohibition of right turn from Riverside Approach in to Riverside Drive for one week for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

City Road (at Tullideph Road) – lane restrictions on Thursday 25 January for smart meter antenna works.

Nethergate (West Marketgait to Park Place) – closed on Sunday 28 January for crane lifting works.

Perth Road (at Invergowrie Drive) – off peak temporary traffic lights on Tuesday 23 January for Scottish Water ironwork repair.

Riverside Drive at Dundee Railway Station – eastbound nearside lane closure from Monday 22 January for 7 weeks for footway works.


Flooding work at Riverside – an update #dundeewestend

Residents contacted me recently following reports that the completion of the work to improve the flood defences on Riverside Drive was possibly going to be delayed by passing trains causing vibration that was stopping the cement from setting properly.

To get clarification of the extent of the issue, I contacted the City Engineer who has made clear to me that this is “a minor localised construction issue” and adds :

“At this particular location the traffic is currently running on the temporary lane and there is slight dip in the road and when traffic travels over this, some vibration can be felt through the carriageway.    Slow-setting traditional lime mortars are being used to construct the wall and the vibration was causing some minor localised issues with the mortar.     No additional shoring or special engineering measures were required to overcome this, merely ensuring the mortar had sufficiently cured prior to adding subsequent courses of stone.
Overall, this section of work is slightly behind programme but nothing to do with this, mainly due to the Contractors resources, outputs and adverse weather.     Just to reiterate this was a minor issue that has nothing to do with trains travelling above.    For information, it is anticipated that the traffic management will be removed from Riverside Drive by the end of January 2018.”


Getting things done – West Marketgait #dundeewestend

I recently received complaints from residents about the slippy state of the pavement in West Marketgait near the junction with Hawkhill – see photo – caused by leaves.

I have reported this to the council’s Neighbourhood Services seeking these being cleaned up – along with similar complaints in other streets such as Roseangle.


Friends of Wighton event

From Sheena Wellington :

Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library.    Tomorrow – Saturday 20th January, 11am (doors open 10.30am) – Admission £5, tea/coffee available for small donation

Cappuccino Concert with Simon Kempston, singer songwriter and guitarist

Simon Kempston is an Edinburgh based award-winning singer-songwriter and leading acoustic fingerstyle guitarist composing and performing original and contemporary acoustic music.    Though he is a Dundee lad, Simon’s busy schedule rarely allows time for him to perform in his native city so we are especially thrilled to welcome him to the Wighton!

Simon’s original, distinctive guitar playing is founded upon a complex, finger-picking style which technically reveals his classical training yet is steeped in the history of the folk, blues and celtic traditions and is complemented by Simon’s rich, powerful and compelling clipped vocal style.

Simon has performed at many of the major venues, folk/blues clubs and festivals in Scotland, the UK and regularly tours the length & breadth of Europe. He has also performed live on BBC Radio Stations across the UK, as well as other local and specialist music radio stations.