Employees from Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline have come together to pack 1,200 hygiene and baby kits filled with essential items for donation to Big House Multibank, supporting people in need across Fife.
The Big House Multibank was co-founded by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Amazon UK in 2022.
The Multibank is a community donations hub, offering support for families experiencing poverty across the region. It gives surplus essentials like clothes, hygiene products, school uniforms and bedding donated by businesses like Amazon directly to those in need.
The products are distributed via the Big House Multibank to charity groups and care professionals who give them directly to people in need, when they need them.
A team of volunteers assembled baby care kits and hygiene and toiletry kits packed with essential items for newborns and infants and every day essentials – supporting families who are struggling to afford the basics. Each kit provides new parents with the supplies they need during those critical early weeks, offering practical help and reassurance that their community cares.
These events, including a litter picking event around the city, took place alongside further kitting events in Amazon buildings across the UK during the month of May – Amazon’s Global Month of Volunteering.
Global Month of Volunteering is an initiative that aims to help the communities where Amazon employees live and work. In May, thousands of Amazon employees volunteer alongside their colleagues, adding to the company’s efforts to support its local communities throughout the year.
Finlay Talbot, is an employee at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline and took part in the packing event. He said: “Volunteering for Big House Multibank with my teammates this month meant a lot to me.
“It says something about a workplace when it puts its people and resources behind causes that matter, and being given paid time off to take part made a real difference. It let me show up for my community in a way that would be hard to manage on my own time.
“Doing it shoulder-to-shoulder with my colleagues made it even more rewarding.”
Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates.
Amazon co-founded The Big House Multibank in Fife with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support families in need. The Multibank network has now donated more than 12 million surplus goods to over 800,000 families across Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester, London, Tees Valley and Birmingham.
This year, the Multibank will send 1 million orders to families across the UK.
Amazon has supported more than one million students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.
Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose.
Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.
Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to celebrate Open Farm Sunday’s 20th anniversary at events across England, Scotland and Wales. The day was marked by a significant increase in host farms opening their gates for the first time.
Established in 2006 by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), Open Farm Sunday has grown into one of British farming’s biggest public engagement success stories. This year, initial estimates indicate that almost 200,000 visitors were welcomed onto participating farms to learn more about food, farming and the environment.
A total of 283 farmers registered OFS events, with a quarter taking part as first-time hosts. Farmers were supported by volunteers, sponsors and the wider industry, giving visitors of all ages an opportunity to experience nature-friendly farming firsthand.
Open Farm Sunday manager, Annabel Shackleton, says this milestone year showed the continued value of these events: “Open Farm Sunday continues to capture the public’s imagination, and they are so grateful for the chance to step beyond the farm gate and connect with the people that produce their food.
“This year’s 20th anniversary has been a wonderful reminder of the pride, care and commitment that backs up British farming. We are enormously grateful to every farmer, volunteer, sponsor and supporter who helped make the day possible.
“There is a huge appetite among the public to learn more about farming with nature in a fun and engaging way, and the high standards our industry works to. Being able to create that connection between the consumers, their food and the farmers who work tirelessly to produce it has always been key.”
New research commissioned by LEAF ahead of this year’s event shone a light on the importance the public places on farming practices that prioritise both food production and the environment.
The survey of more than 2,000 people revealed that 93% believe it is important for the UK to maintain a strong level of food production capacity in an increasingly uncertain world, while 89% agree that protecting nature on farms, including healthy soils, flood defences, and biodiversity, is essential for long-term food production.
Mrs Shackleton adds: “These results show why Open Farm Sunday matters. It gives farmers the space to show how they care for soils, wildlife, water and the wider countryside, and a chance to have important conversations in a positive, engaging and practical way.”
Over the past 20 years, Open Farm Sunday has welcomed more than 3.65 million people onto farms, and Mrs Shackleton thanked the ‘army of volunteers and sponsors’ who helped on farms up and down the country to ensure it was an industry success.
Cambridgeshire farmer Michael Sly MBE, who runs the biggest single Open Farm Sunday event and has hosted more than 120,000 visitors over the past 20 years, believes the bonds it builds between farmers and their local communities are vital.
“We started with 12 people attending in 2006 and now host around 10,000 visitors. Over the years, it has become a community event that the village has really got behind.
“Other farmers come and volunteer their time to help and engage with the public, and that ability for the farmers to work together relates back to normal farming as well. There’s so much we can learn from each other, and Open Farm Sunday highlights that on every level.”
LEAF extends its thanks to Open Farm Sunday’s sponsors, farmers, volunteers and wider industry supporters who helped host events across Britain, as well as the hundreds of thousands of visitors who attended.
Next year’s Open Farm Sunday will take place on 13 June 2027.
Communities across Scotland came together to celebrate Community Rail Week 2026, organised by Community Rail Network and sponsored by Rail Delivery Group, showcasing how local railways, stations and volunteers are creating more inclusive, accessible and connected communities through the theme of ‘Journeys for All’, says Community Rail Network.
Community rail brings people, railways and communities together. It’s a grassroots movement made up of community rail partnerships, station volunteer groups and local organisations working with the rail industry to improve stations, build confidence in train travel, promote sustainable journeys and help rail better serve local people.
This year’s national campaign, led by the Community Rail Network and sponsored by the Rail Delivery Group, ran from 1–7 June under the theme ‘Journeys for All’. The week engaged over 13,000 people through events and activities across Britain, with a wider campaign reaching millions online.
Coinciding with Volunteers’ Week, it shone a spotlight on the thousands of volunteers and community rail teams who work year-round to tackle isolation, improve wellbeing, support sustainable travel and connect communities with their local railways.
Highlights included:
Highland Main Line, Borders Railway and 6VT Youth Community Rail Partnerships joining forces at Edinburgh Waverley to deliver a vibrant community rail showcase, highlighting local initiatives and inspiring greater awareness and uptake of sustainable travel across diverse audiences.
Friends of Newton Station, supported by Rail 74 Community Rail Partnership and CAF Rail Services, leading a community gardening day to transform and enhance the station environment, strengthening local pride, encouraging volunteering and creating a more welcoming gateway for passengers.
6VT Youth Community Rail Partnership leading a “Try the Train” experience for over 30 local school children, building confidence in using rail and opening up new opportunities for independent, sustainable travel.
Community Rail Network chief executive Jools Townsend said:”Community Rail Week 2026 demonstrated the incredible impact that community rail has in bringing people together and making rail travel more accessible, welcoming and relevant to people’s lives.
“Through this year’s ‘Journeys for All’ theme, community rail partnerships and volunteers showcased how local railways can help tackle isolation, build confidence, improve wellbeing and connect people to opportunities.”
6VT Youth CRP operations manager Fiona Horne said:“We’re incredibly proud to have taken part in Community Rail Week as part of this national campaign, celebrating the people and partnerships that make our railways so much more than a means of transport.
“It highlights how community rail can bring people together, support inclusion, create memorable experiences and help ensure everyone feels welcome and confident travelling by train.”
Community rail continues to thrive across Scotland, where partnerships and volunteers work alongside train operators, local authorities, charities and community groups to improve station environments, promote sustainable travel and ensure railways remain accessible and welcoming for all.
Across Scotland, nine community rail partnerships and around 210 station volunteer groups deliver a range of activities designed to encourage sustainable travel, celebrate local heritage and ensure rail remains at the heart of community life.
Taking over Modern Two from 1 August, Gwen John: Strange Beauties is the first major exhibition in Scotland devoted to the pioneering painter. Featuring rarely seen drawings and watercolours – many on show for the first time – it offers fresh insight into her quiet yet determined artistic vision. Tickets are on sale now from the National Galleries of Scotland website, with free tickets for under 18s. This exhibition is not to be missed!
Gwen John’s Young Woman with a Coral Necklace (1910-1920) will go on public display for the first time since 1964, especially for this exhibition in the Scottish capital. The striking painting once belonged to the Scottish artist and Gwen John scholar, Mary Edmond Taubman, who became fascinated with Gwen John’s work as a student while studying at Edinburgh College of Art in the early 1950s.
Taubman became the first person to conduct detailed academic research on the life and work of Gwen John, providing vital insight into what we know of her work today. Young Woman with a Coral Necklace was bought by Taubman from the artists estate, in 1968, and has been generously loaned to National Galleries Scotland by her family, in her memory.
Marking 150 years since the Welsh artist was born, Gwen John: Strange Beauties will offer a fresh new perspective on her exquisite work and lasting legacy. Experience over 200 oil paintings, watercolours, and rarely seen sketches and archive materials across two floors of Modern Two.
Explore Gwen John’s journey from Wales to Paris, where she developed her distinctive, contemplative style. Discover her intimate and meditative portraits, shaped by faith, French modernism and her life in the Parisian suburb of Meudon.
This exhibition will be the second stop of a global tour, following a critically acclaimed run at National Museum Cardiff earlier this year, including five stars from The Guardian and The Independent.
Born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire in 1876, Gwen John studied at the Slade School of Art in London, becoming one of the first generation of women to receive a formal art education, before moving to Paris in 1904 where she led a fiercely independent and creative life.
From becoming a muse and model to renowned French sculptor Auguste Rodin, to modelling for Swiss artist Ottilie Roederstein, Irish sculptor Nuala O’ Donel, German artist Ida Gerhardi and Finnish artist Hilda Flodin.
She later converted to Catholicism, marrying together her faith and her artwork. Gwen John described herself as ‘a seer of strange beauties’, casting herself as a visionary with the ability to see beyond surface appearances.
Her attentive way of looking at the world shaped her art, leading her to paint and draw the same subjects repeatedly, each time observing them in a new way. Today, Gwen John is considered an independent trailblazer, who quietly yet impactfully paved the way for many women artists of the future.
Alongside significant loans will be key works by Gwen John from Scotland’s national art collection. This includes A Young Nun (about 1915-1920) which is part of a series focusing on the convent of the Dominican Sisters of Charity at Meudon, near Paris. The tonal and quietly radiant Portrait of a Girl in Grey, (about 1918 – 1923) another from Scotland’s national art collection, depicting a woman praying, will also be on display.
The exhibition will also delve into Gwen John’s artistic practice, revealing new research about Gwen John’s painting materials and methods. John’s approach to her art was almost scientific, emphasising the importance of close observation and trying to see beyond the surface of things.
The methodical and unique approach she applied to colour theory comes into play too. Gwen John developed a secret coding system for the colour mixtures and tones she used in her paintings – a code which still hasn’t been cracked to this day!
She sought to use colour to create a sense of harmony in her work. From the early 1920s the rich and vibrant colours found in Gwen John’s watercolours appear in her oil paintings, in artworks such as the ‘mulberry dress’ series.”
Visitors can also find out about Gwen John’s life with a free to use audio guide and film created especially for the exhibition which discusses her artistic legacy. Archival materials such as the artist’s notebooks and sketchbooks will be also displayed in the Keiller Library in Modern Two, telling more of Gwen John’s story through objects personal to her.
Anne Lyden, Director-General at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “Independent, intellectually curious and visionary, Gwen John was an extraordinary painter.
“Her acutely observed and meditative paintings and vivid and evocative watercolours invite us to pause, look closely and discover the uncanny beauty of the world around us.
“We hope visitors to Modern Two this summer will enjoy discovering Gwen John’s world. The exhibition is an international collaboration between four museums and galleries and we are so grateful to the lenders, sponsors and exhibition partners whose generosity has made this celebration of Gwen John in Scotland possible.”
Jane Richardson, Chief Executive of Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, said: “Gwen John has always been in the shadow of others, but this major exhibition has put her firmly in the spotlight in what would have been her 150th year, offering an opportunity to explore her techniques, processes and inspirations.
“The response to the exhibition in Cardiff has been incredible and we are so proud to be collaborating with National Galleries of Scotland as well as with the Yale Center for British Art and the National Museum of Women in the Arts to celebrate this wonderful Welsh artist and to share her work with even more people.”
This exhibition has been developed by Amgueddfa Cymru in partnership with the National Galleries of Scotland, Yale Center for British Art, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington DC. Gwen John: Strange Beauties is yours to discover at National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two from 1 August 2026.
From horse and cart deliveries in Bridge of Allan to a twenty-first century tram in Scotland’s capital, Graham’s Family Dairy is celebrating more than 80 years of family heritage with the launch of a newly wrapped Edinburgh tram ahead of this year’s Royal Highland Show.
The tram, which is now running across the capital in Graham’s Family Dairy branding, will transport passengers directly to the Royal Highland Show and other big events this summer. It marks the latest chapter in the story of the family dairy business that began with just 12 cows and doorstep milk deliveries in the 1930s.
Today, Graham’s Family Dairy has grown into Scotland’s largest independent dairy, producing more than 70 different products and flavours across its range and delivering dairy products from Shetland to the Isle of Wight, as well as exporting to destinations like Dubai, Hong Kong and the Bahamas.
While the business has evolved dramatically over the decades, the new tram campaign celebrates the same family values and farming heritage that remain at the core of the company today.
At the heart of the campaign is Graham’s Family Dairy’s Chairman, Dr Robert Graham – who at 85 years old has built an unlikely following and string of viral videos on TikTok by educating a younger audience on all things agriculture.
Carol, Dr Robert, Jean and Robert Graham in front of the Grahams Family Dairy farm house in Bridge of Allen, Stirling.
Dr Robert Graham, Chairman at Graham’s Family Dairy said: “When I was growing up, the business was built around local milk rounds and knowing every customer personally.
“Everything was done by hand, and deliveries went out by horse and cart from Bridge of Allan. To now see Graham’s Family Dairy travelling through Scotland’s capital on a tram really shows how far the business has come over the generations – what I’m even prouder of though is that we’ve kept that family feel engrained in everything we do.
“Back then we were simply producing milk from a small herd of cows. Today, we make everything from milk and cream to cottage cheese, kefir, butter, yoghurt and protein products. Every one of those products represents another step in the journey of the business and another example of how we’ve adapted to what customers are looking for while staying true to our farming heritage.
“What makes this year’s Royal Highland Show that bit more exciting for us is the opportunity to showcase the whole Graham’s Family Dairy range in one place. From the milk and cream that built the business to newer products like cottage cheese and our protein range, it tells the story of how we’ve grown from a small family dairy into the business we are today.”
Carol, Robert and Dr Robert Graham on the Grahams Family Dairy farm in Bridge of Allen, Stirling.
Starting with just 12 cows, Graham’s Family Dairy now has approximately 170 vehicles at its disposal supplying retailers, cafes and customers across the UK, while continuing to invest in Scottish producers, innovation and traditional dairy farming.
Graham’s Family Dairy has grown through three generations and today 70% of households in Scotland and 30% of the UK’s households buy Graham’s Family Dairy products, making them Scotland’s No.1 dairy brand.
To find out more about Graham’s Family Dairy, please visit:
Veterans Scotland has hailed its Armed Forces Champion Gathering event as a major success after bringing together representatives from local authorities, public bodies, the Armed Forces community, and the Scottish and UK Governments to reinforce partnership working in support of the Armed Forces Covenant.
The event, held at the Stirling Court Hotel and attended by over 120 invited guests, provided a national platform for organisations across Scotland to share good practice, strengthen collaboration and discuss how services can continue to improve support for veterans, serving personnel, reservists and military families.
Delegates took part in discussions on the latest updates on the Armed Forces Covenant extension, gaining insight into the lived experiences of the Armed Forces and Veterans community in relation to health, education and housing and learned from peers about how the Covenant duty is being delivered on the ground in communities across Scotland.
The Gathering also highlighted successful partnership initiatives already taking place across Scotland and showcased the importance of coordinated working between local authorities, public bodies and the Scottish Government in supporting the Armed Forces community.
Veterans Scotland has a broad footprint across Scotland, recognising veterans not as a group in need of support but as a national asset whose skills, experience and values are actively harnessed to deliver wider government priorities, including economic growth, the Plan for Change, and strengthened defence and resilience.
Emma Watson Mack, Executive Chair at Veterans Scotland, said: “Our Gathering event was designed as a day to inform, connect and inspire those delivering the Armed Forces Covenant in practice.
“We’re thrilled with how many of our members and partner organisations attended. It not only showed such a strong commitment in supporting our veterans but also to share their experience and the crucial impact that Covenant has on so many Veterans and their families across Scotland.
“We heard some incredible insights that demonstrated lived experience and innovative approaches by local authority champions which we know will help inspire other organisations in the future. The Armed Forces Covenant is most effective when organisations work together, and this event has reinforced that shared commitment.”
Veterans Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “Though I have only been Veterans Minister for a short time, it is already clear to me that so much of what is done in aid of those veterans and service families who find themselves in need is underpinned by the passion, dedication and hard work of individuals across the country.
“I am grateful to Veterans Scotland for all their work, and for giving so many important voices the opportunity to come together at their Gathering in Stirling to share their knowledge and experiences.
“I remain committed to working with Veterans Scotland and all in the Armed Forces community to build on the significant progress that has been made in recent years, as we develop an action plan for veterans in Scotland that reflects the new Strategy for Veterans published last year.”
Cllr Maureen Chalmers, COSLA Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing said: “It was both a privilege and a timely opportunity to come together in support of the Armed Forces community at the Veterans Scotland Gathering. Events like this send a powerful message of our collective commitment to those who have served.
“It was also particularly valuable to hear about the practical ways councils and their partners are making the Armed Forces Covenant continue to make a difference in communities across Scotland. I very much hope that the discussions from the event and the collaboration will lead to stronger partnerships, improved services, and further tangible progress with the Covenant.
“Ultimately, the priority is to carry forward the energy from the event into practical improvement, so the Covenant continues to make a real difference to veterans and their families to ensure they feel supported, recognised and included.”
Lt Cdr (Ret’d) Susie Hamilton, Scottish Veterans Commissioner, said: “The Gathering was extremely impactful. It demonstrates the power of collaboration, the real world consequences of policy decisions, and the importance of listening directly to the serving and veteran community.”
Children in every part of the country to get access to enriching activities to beat isolation online and build connections in the real world
New benchmarks to give every school and college the tools to offer high-quality enrichment across arts, sport, nature, civic life and life skills
£132.5 million ‘Every Child Can’ programme will fund activities within school and in communities at weekends and in the holidays, ensuring enrichment is a common entitlement for all — not just those who can afford to pay
Every child, regardless of where they grow up or which school they attend, will benefit from enriching activities that build the skills, confidence and relationships they need for life and work thanks to government action announced today.
Greater access to opportunities in sport, creative activities, nature and the arts will be made available to children both in and out of school in order to halve the participation gap and reclaim childhood for all young people.
The drive to make sure all children are supported to develop new skills and explore their talents includes new benchmarks for schools and colleges published today. These will ensure schools and colleges have the practical tools and guidance to offer a wide range of opportunities across five categories: civic engagement; arts and culture; nature, outdoor and adventure; life and future skills including STEM, sport and physical activities.
Leading figures within these categories will soon be announced as ambassadors using their influence and expertise to inspire participation, raise awareness and help drive support for enriching opportunities for young people.
Activities could include music groups, engineering clubs, debating societies, football clubs and much more. These clear benchmarks will work in partnership with civil society and help schools and colleges develop inclusive, engaging enrichment offers that reflect the needs of their pupils and communities.
Ofsted will consider a school’s enrichment offer as part of how it assesses personal development, and parents will be able to see their local school’s offer through new ‘school profiles’ – a one stop shop with key information on a school’s offering.
This complements the government’s wider reforms to bring the national curriculum into the modern day, break down barriers to opportunity and better prepare young people for life and work in today’s world and beyond.
‘Every Child Can’, funded through the Dormant Assets Scheme, will deliver £132.5 million for new activities programmes delivered through schools, community programmes, weekend activities and holiday provision.
It is structured around the same five categories as the Enrichment Framework, ensuring a consistent approach to building skills and confidence wherever young people engage and removing the postcode lottery that has held children in underserved parts of the country back.
It responds directly to the State of the Nation survey of more than 14,000 young people, which found that despite being the most digitally connected generation, young people today face some of the highest levels of isolation globally.
They want safe spaces, trusted adults, better mental health support and greater access to enriching activities. However, access to these opportunities remains unequal, with too many children locked out because of where they live and what school or college they go to.
Education Secretary Bridget Philipson said: “Every child should be able to enjoy sport and the creative arts, not just the lucky few.
“Whether it’s performing on stage, playing sport, exploring nature or getting involved in their community, these experiences build confidence, spark ambition and help young people discover what they are capable of.
“As the world around our children continues to move fast, investment is about making sure the childhood experiences we truly value can once again be for every young person, wherever they live.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “Every child deserves the chance to find their spark through great art, sport, music, dance or drama, because arts and culture belong to all of us – not just a privileged few. A child who loves the arts shouldn’t have to be born into the right postcode to pursue it.
“That is why we are rebuilding opportunity in the classroom and in communities and ensuring every young person has something to do, somewhere to go, and someone who cares through our National Youth Strategy: Youth Matters.
“For too long we have underinvested in generation with appalling consequences. Every child should have the chance to live a richer, larger life and we will ensure they do.”
This package forms part of the UK government’s commitment to restore lost childhood freedoms – investing in playgrounds, in music hubs, sports partnerships, youth services and youth spaces and support for families through measures including VAT relief on children’s activities this summer.
With children growing up in an increasingly fast-changing world the package is designed to protect and nurture childhood, ensuring young people are equipped with skills and confidence to achieve and thrive.
Participating in enrichment activities has been associated with higher attainment and a stronger sense of school belonging and wellbeing among children and young people.
According to EPI research, children who attended sport clubs during secondary school were more likely to be in education or employment as young adults, while those who participated in hobbies, arts and music clubs were significantly more likely to progress to higher education.
Today’s announcement builds on the UK government’s work to ensure young people have access to enriching and cultural activities including:
More than £500 million for an ambitious 10-year National Youth Strategy – co-designed with young people – to connect half a million more young people with a trusted adult outside their home and equip them with skills to boost their resilience and stay safe online.
Over £1 billion of investment in school sport over the next three years, including the new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, which will bring national sporting expertise into every primary and secondary school to tackle inactivity and ensure more young people have access to high-quality PE and sport. Alongside this, an additional £400 million will also be invested in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities in communities across the country
Inviting 400 schools in the most deprived areas of England to take part in the £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme, to support them to meet the benchmarks set out in the Enrichment Framework, helping them build a strong offer shaped by their own pupils.
Revitalising the curriculum to ensure young people are given the chance to experience the arts, while maintaining a strong academic core, removing school performance measures that constrain subject choice, and making sure GCSEs in arts subjects are fit for purpose.
The government is working with The National Lottery Community Fund to develop Every Child Can. Further details on the remaining funding, how each programme will work and how to apply to take part will be published in due course.
The Department for Education will work closely with schools, colleges and sector partners, including the Enrichment for All Coalition, to support implementation of the framework and understand its impact on children and young people.
This will help build a shared approach to ensuring high-quality enrichment opportunities can support attendance, engagement, wellbeing and achievement for all pupils.
13 sunshine destinations are now on sale from Edinburgh Airport for Winter 27/28
Over 300,000 seats available from Edinburgh Airport
Today’s announcement will be followed by further good news for Winter 27/28
UK consumer champion Jet2 has today announced the launch of its Winter Sun programme from Edinburgh Airport for Winter 2027/28, with more seats and choice on offer. The programme includes the airline and travel operator’s first full winter season of operations toEgypt’sSharm el-SheikhAirport.
As demand from holidaymakers looking to escape the long winter continues, the leading leisure airline and tour operator is once again giving customers what they want by putting over 300,000 seats on sale from Edinburgh Airport.
A choice of 13 winter sun destinations have gone on sale from Edinburgh Airport: TheCanary Islands (Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura), Spain (Alicante, Malaga), Balearics (Majorca), Portugal(Faro, Madeira), Turkey (Antalya), Cyprus (Paphos), Egypt (Sharm el-Sheikh), and Malta. During peak periods, the airline and tour operator will operate 40 weekly outbound flights.
The release of the programme comes in response to demand from holidaymakers looking to book ahead and enjoy some winter sunshine. It also makes Jet2 the first airline and tour operator to go on sale for Winter 27/28, giving customers and independent travel agents the opportunity to book their place in the sun for next winter early.
The full Winter 27/28 Winter Sun programme from Edinburgh Airport is as follows:
Tenerife (up to 7 weekly services)
Lanzarote (up to 5 weekly services)
Gran Canaria (up to 3 weekly services)
Fuerteventura (up to 3 weekly services)
Malaga (up to 3 weekly services)
Alicante (up to 5 weekly services)
Antalya (up to 3 weekly services)
Faro (up to 2 weekly services)
Majorca (up to 3 weekly services)
Madeira (up to 2 weekly services)
Paphos (weekly services)
Sharm el-Sheikh (weekly services)
Malta (up to 2 weekly services)
Over the coming weeks, the airline and tour operator will also reveal further programme details for Winter 27/28.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, said: “Our winter sun programme for 2027/28 is on sale nice and early from Edinburgh Airport, and we are very pleased to be giving customers and independent travel agents such fantastic choice and flexibility.
“This exciting new programme opens up the best winter sun hotspots to local holidaymakers and, as always, we have designed it in direct response to the demand for our award-winning flights and holidays so we know how popular it will be.
“We are not done yet, with even more exciting announcements about our Winter 27/28 programme coming soon!”
Stephanie Wear, Chief Commercial Officer at Edinburgh Airport said: “With this summer already mapped out, now’s the perfect time to start planning next year’s getaway and explore the range of sunshine destinations on offer for Winter 27/28.
“It’s an ideal time to swap Scotland’s grey skies and drizzle for a few weeks of guaranteed sunshine so it’s fantastic to see Jet2 launching such an extensive programme for passengers to enjoy.”
If you are an independent travel agent and are interested in learning more about how you could benefit from working in partnership with Jet2holidays, please visit the company’s dedicated trade site: trade.jet2holidays.com
As Edinburgh Zoo celebrates 110 years, recently retired keeper Karen Stiven shares her favourite memories and encourages the public to add their own stories to the archive
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is inviting members of the public to share their memories of Edinburgh Zoo as part of its 110th anniversary celebrations, helping to preserve the stories that have made the zoo a cherished part of Scottish life since it first opened in 1913.
Among them is Karen Stiven, who has recently retired after 45 years at RZSS. Joining the zoo in 1981, Karen dedicated her career to caring for a number of animals from birds to hoofstock and became one of the zoo’s longest-serving keepers.
Now retired from her role as Experienced Keeper, Karen has witnessed decades of change at Edinburgh Zoo. One of her fondest memories is hand-rearing a young hippo, Cleo, a challenge that involved sleepless nights and round the clock care. Seeing the calf grow and thrive made all the hard work worthwhile and remains one of Karen’s most treasured memories.
Karen believes preserving the zoo’s history is just as important as creating new memories for future generations. She said: “Having these archives is a huge achievement.
“They allow people to look back and see where everything started, how much has changed and how far we’ve come.
“The stories are incredibly important and I hope people continue adding their own memories so future generations can do the same for many years to come.”
The appeal comes as RZSS continues to uncover and preserve stories from across its history. While archive collections contain official records and photographs, the charity says some of the most valuable insights come from the personal memories of people who have visited, worked at or supported Edinburgh Zoo over the years.
David Field, CEO of RZSS, said: “Karen’s story is a wonderful example of the memories that make Edinburgh Zoo so special. After 45 years of dedication, she has been part of countless moments that have shaped the zoo’s history.
“Karen’s story is just one of thousands and for 110 years, Edinburgh Zoo has played a part in the lives of people across Scotland and beyond.
“We know there are an abundance of family photographs, favourite animal encounters, school trip memories and personal stories waiting to be shared, and we would love to hear them. Every memory helps us build a clearer picture of our past and preserve it for future generations.”
Members of the public can share photographs, souvenirs and other memorabilia with the team as part of Memories Week running from 13 – 21 June, helping ensure the next chapter of Edinburgh Zoo’s story is recorded alongside the first 110 years.
Peacock voted Britain’s Favourite Butterfly in first-ever poll
THE nation has spoken and crowned the Peacock Britain’s Favourite Butterfly in a landmark poll. Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has revealed that the colourful Peacock has beaten off fierce competition from a colourful cast of species to take the top spot as Britain’s Favourite Butterfly.
Topping the first-ever vote to find the nation’s champion, the garden favourite beat 59 other butterflies to claim the highly coveted title, in a vote that saw over 20,000 votes cast across the UK between 15 May – 7 June.
The top five was a rainbow of colour, with the Orange-tip coming a close second, Red Admiral third, Holly Blue in fourth, and the bright yellow Brimstone coming in fifth. But ultimately, the stunning Peacock, with its eye-catching and instantly recognisable beauty, stole the nation’s hearts.
Butterfly Conservation’s Head of Engagement, Kate Merry, said: “The response to Britain’s Favourite Butterfly has been absolutely wonderful, and we’re not surprised. It’s clear that people up and down the country love butterflies of all shapes, sizes and colours, and voted in their thousands for their favourites.
“The Peacock is a worthy winner, it’s a true showstopper and a species that I bet a lot of us picture when we think of butterflies. It’s been really special seeing people get so passionate about their favourites and throw their support behind them!
“Now we can’t wait to see how many Peacocks are spotted up and down the country in this summer’s Big Butterfly Count.”
The result comes at a critical moment for the UK’s butterflies. In 2024 Butterfly Conservation declared a butterfly emergency after numbers recorded during its Big Butterfly Count fell to their lowest ever.
Now the charity is calling on everyone, everywhere to take part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count between Friday 17 July – Sunday 9 August to help conservationists get an updated picture of how Britain’s most common butterflies are faring.
The winner – a showstopping garden icon
The Peacock, Britain’s official favourite, is an iconic butterfly. This showstopper is instantly recognisable with its striking colours and stand-out eye-spots, a remarkable evolutionary defence mechanism designed to ward off predators many times its own size.
It is a regular visitor to gardens and green spaces across the whole of the UK, particularly where patches of nettles can be found as they are its caterpillars’ favourite foodplant.
The top five – a rainbow of joy across the country
Completing the top five in the vote to find Britain’s Favourite Butterfly are four species that between them create a kaleidoscope of colours and show why Brits love butterflies so much.
In second place, the Orange-tip is a worthy runner up, with its glowing white wings and vivid tangerine tips in the males, this uplifting species is a sure sign of spring and that warmer summer days aren’t far away.
Taking third is the Red Admiral whose striking jet-black wings, bold red bands and white spotted tips make it one of the most iconic species in the UK. A long-distance migrant, it travels all the way from North Africa to flutter around UK gardens each year, although it is now commonly sticking around through the winter, a sign of our warming climate.
In fourth, the fairy-like Holly Blue, which counts British icons Dame Joanna Lumley and Geri-Halliwell Horner amongst its fans. Its powder-blue wings are a shimmering delight when spotted in gardens, this species has been steadily spreading northwards in recent decades, bringing its appealing beauty to gardens and hedgerows across more of the country than ever before.
And rounding out the top five, the Brimstone, whose sunshine-yellow wings may have given all butterflies their name – the original butter-coloured fly, whose appearance is often heralded as the first sign of spring.
The Peacock, Red Admiral, Holly Blue and Brimstone, along with 16 other butterflies and day-flying moths, can be recorded as part of this summer’s Big Butterfly Count in July and August.
Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count is the world’s largest butterfly survey, and this year it carries greater urgency than ever. Conservationists are hoping that a surge in public participation in 2026 will both improve the data picture and help galvanise support for butterfly-friendly habitats across the UK.
Kate Merry said:“Taking part in the Big Butterfly Count couldn’t be easier, simply spend 15 minutes in any outdoor space and count the butterflies and day-flying moths you see and submit your sightings to help build our interactive map.
“This information will help conservationists to see how some of our more-common species are faring, which in turn helps to build a wider picture of how all butterflies and moths are doing. It’s easy, fun for all the family, and a great excuse to get outside and experience the simple joy of spotting butterflies.”
This year’s Big Butterfly Count takes place from Friday 17 July – Sunday 9 August. Simply download the free app, spend 15 minutes in any sunny spot and record the number and types of butterflies spotted.
