This month 30 colleagues from Dobbies Central Support Office, based in Lasswade, completed a 25-mile fundraising walk to raise money for its national charity partner, Alzheimer’s Research UK, raising £4,150 and counting, from generous supporters.
The participants walked the almost marathon distance from Dobbies’ Edinburgh store, through Dalkeith Country Park to the mouth of the River Esk at Musselburgh, then joined the John Muir Way along the coast to North Berwick. They began the walk at 7:30am and completed it by 5pm, taking in plenty of places with historical interest and beautiful views.
Dobbies launched its partnership with the UK’s leading dementia research charity in March 2025 as part of its 160-year celebrations.
The partnership grew from gardening being a positive activity for brain health, which in turn can help reduce the risk of dementia. As part of this, Dobbies is supporting the charity’s Think Brain Health campaign to inspire people to keep their brains healthy through garden living.
Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer[1] and right now, almost one million people in the UK are living with it, putting precious memories and lives at risk. As well as increasing awareness of dementia, this partnership is raising vital funds for a cure through colleague and customer activity.
Laura Adamson, Head of PR, Communications and Events at Dobbies, who
took part in the walk, is feeling proud of what the team has achieved.
Laura said:“Our team has come together to do something really special to raise money for a meaningful cause and partnership that is close to so many of our colleagues and customers.
“The team has quite literally gone the extra mile to show their support for Alzheimer’s Research UK, raising vital funds to support research to find a cure for dementia.
“We would like to say a massive thank you to all our supporters who have been so generous in their donations and we are looking forward to our next fundraiser, Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Walk For A Cure, which takes place on Sunday 20 July at Holyrood Park.”
Paul Glazier, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “From all of us at Alzheimer’s Research UK, a huge congratulations to the Dobbies Central Support Office team for going the distance to raise funds for dementia research. Walking a combined 750 miles is no mean feat.
“It’s team spirit and efforts like this that highlight why we’re proud to have Dobbies standing with us.
If nothing changes, one in two of us will be directly affected by dementia – either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both. Alzheimer’s Research UK exists to change this, we exist for a cure, and with the support of everyone at Dobbies, we won’t stop until we end the heartbreak it causes.”
For more information about the partnership with Dobbies Garden Centres and Alzheimer’s Research UK, visit | Dobbies Garden Centres.
[1] * Incorporates new Northern Ireland mortality data (released 21 November 2024). Figure calculated using the leading cause of death grouping developed by the World Health Organisation and adopted by the reporting bodies in each of the four nations. Data sources from Office for National Statistics (England and Wales), National Records of Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
Thursday (19 June 2025) marked the first day of the Royal Highland Show weekend with over 50,000 people in attendance.
David Tennant, Head of Show, said;“We have had a wonderful start to the Show with over 50,000 people in attendance who have enjoyed sampling food and drinks from Scotland’s leading suppliers, listened to bagpipes and live music and watched leading agricultural displays.What’s more the sun has shone!
“We’re on track to sell out tickets for Friday and Saturday and with another warm and sunny few days expected, we’re encouraging those coming along to keep cool.
“We have refillable water stations across the Show, so please bring along your water bottles in you can.
We also have lots of ice cream and cold drinks to be enjoyed across the site and our Countryside area is perfect for families looking to keep little ones cool and entertained.
“We hope you enjoy the Show if it’s on your agenda this weekend!”
Last week, Councillors agreed at Education, Children and Families Committee that the Scottish Government guidance on school uniform will apply to all City of Edinburgh Council schools.
In line with the decision, schools in the city should not require branded school items as a compulsory part of their uniform policy. Uniform policies should be flexible and include plain and non-branded uniform items that match school colours. Blazers and branded items of uniform will no longer be compulsory, encouraged or promoted by schools.
Schools in Edinburgh will continue to have uniforms but parents and carers will have wider choice on where they choose to purchase school uniform items and on how much they wish to spend.
In recent years the cost of school uniform has steadily increased and for some families, uniform costs, especially for higher priced branded and embroidered items, represent a significant impact on household budgets. Schools are expected to do all that they can to limit school clothing costs for families.
In line with this new guidance, parents or carers should not be directed to specialist suppliers to purchase branded items.
Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convener said: “We are committed to tackling poverty and inequality in our schools and it is clear that the cost of school uniform items has, for some, created a barrier to school education. One of the ways we are addressing this is by removing the need for parents and carers to be compelled to spend more money than is necessary on school uniform.
“The Scottish Government guidance makes clear the rationale behind the new approach to school uniforms. It is the right thing to do make changes that will have a positive financial impact on families by reducing the cost of the school day, while also creating a more inclusive school environment and promoting sustainability.
“I am pleased that members of the Education, Children and Families Committee have agreed this positive step forward which is focused on supporting all pupils to come to school feeling comfortable, confident and ready to learn.”
Against a backdrop of unprecedented cuts to social security for disabled people and on the day of the first reading of the welfare reform bill, representatives of community food organisations from across UK called for urgent steps towards an Essentials Guarantee to ensure Universal Credit is fit for purpose:
For the first time ever, more than 700 representatives – including people experiencing severe hardship, volunteers at local food banks and representatives from community food organisations – stood shoulder-to-shoulder to create an historic lobby at Westminster on Wednesday (18th June) as part of the Guarantee our Essentials campaign.
Among the prominent figures at the event was comedian, TV personality and Trussell supporter Nish Kumar who joined calls for a stronger social security system that ensures everyone can afford the essentials, like food.
Right now, more than 9.3 million people – including more than three million children – are facing hunger and hardship across the UK. In response, leading anti-poverty organisations including Trussell, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Independent Food Aid Network, Feeding Britain, Salvation Army and Your Local Pantry united in London to urge the UK government to take immediate action.
People from across the four nations of the UK came to meet their constituent MP, speak out against the levels of severe hardship they are seeing in their local area, and ask policymakers to play their part in delivering urgent and meaningful change to our social security system.
Representatives are calling for steps towards an Essentials Guarantee which would ensure Universal Credit is fit for purpose, helping to prevent people from having to use a food bank.
This means moving closer to a guarantee that the basic rate of Universal Credit provides enough to ensure people are at least able to afford the essentials we all need to get by, such as food and bills.
Alongside the lobby, Trussell organised a panel discussion with people experiencing severe hardship and a session hosted by Nish Kumar.
The event took place on the same day the UK government published its draft welfare reform bill, and millions of the UK public nervously wait to hear how MPs will vote on £7 billion worth of cruel cuts to disabled people’s social security payments. These cuts will push 440,000 more people in disabled households into severe hardship, according to Trussell research.
Shockingly, three in four people who come to food banks in the Trussell community are disabled or live with someone who is, as disability payments for too many people already fall short of covering the essentials, like food and heating.
Too many people are falling behind on bills, are becoming trapped in debt, and having to live in cold, damp homes.
Trussell says this is not right, and the majority of the UK public agrees that social security payments for disabled people should be enough to cover at least the essentials.
Representatives at the lobby told more than 150 MPs these levels of severe hardship can and must change for the better. They urged them to play their part and join Trussell, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), and more than 100 charities, in calling on the UK government to create an Essentials Guarantee.
Steps towards achieving this include implementing a ‘full boost’ to Universal Credit, raising it by £5 a week after inflation from April 2026, not April 2029, as planned.
They also called for their MP to back bringing in an initial low-level protected minimum floor in Universal Credit to limit all deductions from social security payments including the benefit cap, to make the government’s new Fair Repayment Rate truly effective.
Campaigners reiterated that whatever happens, we need Universal Credit to be there for all of us when we need it and urged that their MPs cannot ignore the shockingly high levels of severe hardship in our communities. Crucially, they highlighted the opportunity to create some positive changes, such as the boost, to help people as much as possible.
Emma Revie, chief executive at Trussell, said:“With more than 700 of us travelling to Westminster, we couldn’t send a more powerful and clear message to our MPs and to the UK government.
“We will not stand by while 9.3 million of us are facing hunger and hardship. People who have experienced severe hardship, people who work in food banks and from community organisations, as well as charity partners, have gathered from all over the UK, to call for a stronger social security system.
“The moment couldn’t be more crucial. Our event comes as we wait to hear whether MPs are going to vote to cut disabled people’s social security by £7 billion.
“It’s time for the UK government to act , and take steps towards creating an Essentials Guarantee to ensure Universal Credit is fit for purpose and protects everyone that needs it.”
Nish Kumar, comedian and Trussell supporter, said:“It’s been incredible to join so many people coming together with one voice to speak out against the rising tide of hunger and hardship in the UK.
“This collective action shows that change is possible when we stand together and call for a future where everyone can afford life’s essentials.
“I’ve seen the incredible work that food banks do to support people facing hardship, but charities cannot and should not bear the brunt of an inadequate social security system that should be there to support us. We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, yet millions of people are struggling to make ends meet.
“We know the most important solution to ending the need for food banks – it’s about ensuring people have enough money in their pockets to put food on the table. This is a political choice, and our government has the power to end it.”
Jacob Forman, director at Epping Forest Foodbank, said: “On the same day the UK government formally introduced a new bill in Parliament proposing significant cuts to support for disabled people, I was proud to stand alongside food banks in the Trussell community to demand better.Better for everyone who has been forced to use a food bank, and better for everyone who may be forced to in the future.
We know the UK public supports a future without food banks, and it’s one of the promises that this government was elected on.
“We have not asked our MPs for the impossible. Instead, we have shared our vast experiences to highlight the actions that can genuinely change the life circumstances of the people we see every day for the better.
“As politicians sit on their benches, I hope our words resonate with them and encourage them push for a stronger social security system that ensures everyone can afford the essentials.”
Jen Coleman, from Black Country Foodbank, a member of the Independent Food Aid Network, said: “Across the whole of the UK, a vast network of charitable food aid providers are united in their calls for the same fundamental changes to our broken social security system.
“Above all, everyone should be able to afford the essentials and a labyrinth of food banks and food pantries shouldn’t be needed to pick up the pieces.”
On 3rd July, MPs will vote on a Bill that could push 440,000 disabled people into severe hardship. There’s still time to contact your MP and urge them to vote against these devastating cuts.
An Edinburgh resident delivered hundreds of handmade stars crafted from empty crisp packets to the Scottish Parliament yesterday [19 June] to demand more action on recycling.
Jenny Kerr, a maths and learning support teacher, made the stars to remind all MSPs that, as the global plastic crisis worsens, Scotland must do more to manage problem plastics like crisp packets. This comes as global negotiations to end plastic pollution as due to be concluded this summer
Jenny has made each of the stars herself. She started making stars out of paper over 40 years ago when a Danish friend taught her how to make the traditional Scandinavian Christmas decoration. Last year, Jenny switched to making the stars out of crisp packets after learning more about plastic waste.
Crisp packets are a type of soft plastic, which is much more difficult and expensive to recycle than other materials. Soft plastics make up over a quarter of post-consumer packaging waste in the UK, but only 7% is recycled.
In August 2025, international negotiations will take place on the final version of a Global Plastics Treaty to end plastic pollution. Plastic contributes to climate breakdown, it harmful to human health and damages wildlife.
Without a treaty, the harms of plastics will escalate, as plastic production is expected to double by 2040.
The UK is part of the high ambition coalition, a group of over 100 countries fighting for a strong treaty. Last year, the First Minister, John Swinney MSP, stated that the Scottish Government fully supported the Global Plastics Treaty.
However, measures required to end Scotland’s dependency on plastics, such as investment in reuse and banning the burning of plastic waste, have not be acted on by the Scottish Government.
Jenny said: “Since embarking on a project to raise money for a local charity by making 1000 stars out of crisp packets this year, I have been almost overwhelmed by donations of empty packets from friends and colleagues, keen to find a use for this waste material.
“People have been shocked to learn that, despite claims by the manufacturers on the packets, crisp packets are not currently recyclable in Scotland.
“We have an addiction to the convenience of these snacks, and the waste must be dealt with. I hope these stars will encourage our MSPs to consider this serious global issue, ahead of international discussions to finalise a Global Plastics Treaty in August, and prioritise taking action in Scotland.”
Kim Pratt, Senior Circular Economy Campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland said: “Companies are choosing to sell products like crisps in non-recyclable plastic. This cheap packaging boosts corporate profits but it’s terrible for the planet. Very little plastic packaging is ever recycled.
“The best way of dealing with soft plastics is not to make them in the first place. This approach requires meaningful government commitment to a future with less plastic. We urgently need these companies to stop producing so much plastic and find safe and sustainable alternatives where necessary.”
There are no soft plastic recycling facilities in Scotland. In 2023, a soft plastics recycling plant, co-owned by Morrisons and built with £470,000 investment from the Scottish Government, was opened in Fife but was forced to close only a few months later.
This means all the soft plastic rubbish collected in Scotland must be landfilled, burned or exported. Much of it ends up as litter or dumped in the ocean where it breaks down to microplastics.
Scientific studies are increasingly linking microplastics to an array of health impacts including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, auto-immune conditions and neuro-degenerative diseases.
It’s going to be a hot couple of days, so whilst enjoying the weather, make sure you keep yourself well by:
Staying hydrated
Wearing sun cream and protective clothing
Sticking to the shade during peak heat hours
Check on elderly relatives/neighbours
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde issues sun and warm weather health advice
Members of the public are being encouraged to stay safe in the sun as the current warm weather is expected to continue into this weekend.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) advised people to ensure they are protected from the sun, and to take care when barbecuing to prevent food poisoning.
It also highlighted the importance of getting the right care in the right place if help is needed for a health concern.
Common health conditions during nicer weather can include sunburn, food poisoning, bites and stings.
NHSGGC also highlighted the importance of keeping items like over-the-counter medicines, a first aid kit and an ice pack at home to help manage minor cuts, bruises, sprains and strains.
NHSGGC is asking people to consider the following:
Sunburn and sunstroke – Always cover up in the sun to protect yourself and your family from burns and heat exhaustion. This includes wearing a high-factor sunscreen and appropriate clothing and spending time in the shade.
Food poisoning – Barbecuing can lead to food poisoning if it is not done correctly. Ensure meat is cooked thoroughly and evenly, and keep cooked and raw food separate.
Medicines – Make sure you have over-the-counter medicines at home for common illnesses including paracetamol or ibuprofen, remedies for bites and stings and antihistamines for allergies.
First aid – Keep a first aid kit in your home with plasters, bandages and antiseptic wipes for cuts, and an ice pack for minor strains or sprains.
For those requiring support or medical treatment for non-life-threatening conditions, there is a range of services available to help, and NHSGGC continues to ask people to ‘think ABC’ before attending A&E:
Ask yourself: Do I need to go out? For information on keeping yourself well and treating minor illnesses and injuries from home, visit the NHS Inform website or download the NHS24 app.
Be aware: There is help for many conditions right on your doorstep. Your local GP, pharmacy, dentist or optician offer a range of services. This could include directing you to a Minor Injuries Unit or arranging an appointment for you with NHSGGC’s Virtual A&E Flow Navigation Centre.
Call 111: If it’s urgent, or you’re not sure, call NHS24 on 111. They’ll make sure you get the help you need.
If you think your condition or injury is very urgent or life-threatening, you should call 999 or go to A&E immediately.
Dr Emilia Crighton, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Director of Public Health, said:“This is a great time to get outside and enjoy warmer weather and longer days with friends and family.
“Please enjoy the good weather safely by covering up when in the sun, staying hydrated and making sure food is properly cooked if barbecued”.
“For those who do require support over this period, we want people to be aware that there are many services available to them other than emergency departments.
“By using NHS 24’s digital resources and through 111, people who need care can be seen by the most appropriate staff in the most appropriate setting.
“We ask everyone to think ABC before A&E. This will ensure you get the right care in the right place, will help reduce waiting times, and free up capacity for those who need it most.”
£2.5 million investment to drive change across Scotland
A Disability Equality Plan launched today, backed by £2.5 million investment, will improve the lives of disabled people across Scotland and put their experiences and concerns at the heart of policymaking.
The funding, an increase of £2 million, recognises the significant challenges and barriers disabled people continue to face.
The plan reflects a government-wide commitment to ensure that the voices and experiences of disabled people are considered from the beginning.
Key actions include:
improved mental health support tailored to disabled people
expanded access to advice and support services
training for policymakers and leaders to build understanding of the issues facing disabled people
an annual Cabinet Takeover, giving disabled people a direct platform to speak to Ministers
Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said: “Disabled people are facing unprecedented hardship, deepening poverty and increasing social isolation. Years of austerity, the cost of living crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic have not helped and services need to be equipped to respond to these challenges.
“I am firmly opposed to the UK Government’s proposed reforms to social security and deeply concerned about the effects they will have on disabled people, people with long-term health conditions and unpaid carers.
“The UK Government’s own analysis estimates these will push a further 250,000 people across the UK, including 50,000 children, into poverty.
“We will not mirror these changes. We are committed to safeguarding our Adult Disability Payment and upholding the dignity and rights of disabled people.
“Our approach is rooted in dignity, fairness and respect – not austerity- and the UK Government should follow our lead and protect the social security safety system, rather than dismantling it.
“Scotland is showing that a better way is possible. The increased funding for the plan I am announcing today will build on our human rights-based approach to strengthen vital support and services for disabled people.
“I want to thank all the organisations that have worked tirelessly to help shape this plan. Their insight and leadership have laid the foundation for lasting change.
We are committed to working with disabled people and their organisations, upholding the principle of ‘nothing about us, without us’. I am confident that Scotland can become a country where disabled people truly thrive.”
Chief Executive Officer of Glasgow Disability Alliance Tressa Burke said: “This funding from the Scottish Government is a win for the collective action of disabled people and our allies.
“We are grateful to everyone who took part in our campaign Disabled People Demand Justice and commend the Scottish Government for responding positively.
“But it is a small step, when we need big leaps; poverty and inequality experienced by disabled people remain at unacceptable levels, and we need both the Scottish Government and the UK Government to urgently invest in disabled peoples’ lives to deliver dignity and justice.”
Chief Executive Officer of Inclusion Scotland Heather Fisken said: “This plan and related actions are a welcome step forward, but these will only be successful if it is properly resourced and if it there is accountability of delivery.
“We want this accountability to be led by disabled peoples’ organisations and disabled people themselves – genuine partnership between our organisations and the Scottish Government requires honesty and scrutiny, and that will be our focus going forward.”
Chief Executive Officer of Disability Equality Scotland Lyn Pornaro said: “This shows the power of disabled peoples’ campaigning, and is a step in the right direction, but our campaigning work to deliver justice for disabled people will continue.
“This includes making sure that both the Scottish Government and the UK Government deliver dignity, security, and human rights for disabled people – that requires investing in our communities and including services- not cutting the support we rely on.”
Small Edinburgh charities struggling with rising costs and loss of income are being encouraged to apply to the council for emergency support.
Brought forward by councillors as part of an urgent package of support for the city’s third sector, the £275,000 funding pot aims to support local organisations working to prevent and tackle poverty across Edinburgh.
Small and medium-sized charities based in the city will be able to apply for Phase two of the council’s Third Sector Resilience Fund until applications close at 1pm on Friday 4 July. Grants of up to £10,000 will be made available to support charities between September and March.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said:“With funding becoming ever scarcer and more people struggling with the cost of living, we can see that many local charities are in a difficult position. We need to find a better way forward for this sector that brings so much good, and our latest funding package is part of the urgent support we’re putting in place.
“Many of the city’s small, local charities are helping those with the greatest need and I urge them to apply quickly.
“Meanwhile, we’ve asked the Edinburgh Partnership to conduct a review of how it supports and works with third sector organisations across the city, to ultimately to find long-term solutions for funding for the sector in future years.”
An information event for interested charities will be held by EVOC at 1pm on 24 June on how to apply for the fund.
An online consultation is also available to take part in, seeking ideas for making collaboration between Edinburgh’s public and third sectors simpler and more stable.
The National Galleries of Scotland’s unmissable summer exhibition, Resistance, opens this weekend, Saturday 21 June.
Conceived by acclaimed artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen the exhibition takes over the whole of Modern Two. Explore how acts of resistance have shaped life in the UK, and the powerful role of photography in documenting and driving change. Tickets are on sale now.
Plus, on the first Monday of every month during the exhibition, visitors will be able to pay what they wish, starting from just £2.
Presenting around 200 photographs from a century of activism, Resistance gives a voice to the stories and images from history which have been buried in UK archives until now.
Throughout the exhibition McQueen amplifies underrepresented voices to present a compelling exploration of overlooked histories, shedding light on the forgotten stories that have helped define the course of Britain’s history.
Resistance tours to Modern Two from Turner Contemporary, Margate.
This exhibition will bring together works by renowned photographers such as Vanley Burke, John Deakin, Fay Godwin, Edith Tudor-Hart, David Hurn, Tish Murtha, Humphrey Spender, and Paul Trevor, alongside lesser-known photographers who documented these powerful stories.
Drawing photographs from various archives, collections and image libraries, McQueen has deliberately focused on moments captured before digital cameras became commonplace.
Spanning both floors of Modern Two, Resistance spans from the radical suffrage movement in 1903 to the largest-ever protest in Britain’s history—the Anti-Iraq War Protest in 2003.
The exhibition will also highlight lesser-known events including the hunger marches of the 1930s where thousands of protesters from Scotland and across Britain marched to London, protesting unemployment and poverty. As well as the Blind March of 1920, a pivotal moment in the fight for disability rights.
Visitors will encounter poignant images from demonstrations against environmental destruction, anti-nuclear campaigns and actions advocating for peace.
The exhibition will trace the evolution of environmental movements and highlight a shift from single-issue demonstrations to broader anti-capitalist efforts that paved the way for today’s climate change action.
Including powerful photographs from the 1000-mile march from Faslane Naval Base to Greenham Common in protest against American nuclear weapons being stationed in the UK in 1983.
From Janine Wiedel’s photographs capturing life at Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp to Andrew Testa’s striking depictions of the 1996 protests against the proposed Newbury Bypass in Berkshire, England, Resistance will serve as a testament to the empowering impact of collective action.
It will explore the intersections between movements such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Women’s Liberation Movement, where protests against Section 28 of the Local Government Act brought the LGBTQ+ community together. Connecting historic struggles, the exhibition will also examine the fight against fascism in the 1930s and 1940s.
The exhibition will underscore the ongoing struggle against racism, showing how grassroots movements have consistently confronted oppression throughout history.
A pivotal moment was the Black People’s Day of Action on 2 March 1981, following the house fire at 439 New Cross Road in South East London, that claimed 13 lives.
The photographs that captured the protest powerfully depict this landmark for Britain’s civil rights movement.
Paul Trevor’s series on the Bengali community will further illustrate how the emerging concept of community photography became a form of activism, amplifying the voices of marginalised groups.
Steve McQueen said: “Within the 5 years of developing the exhibition and book with the Turner Contemporary team, it has been an ambition for Resistance to travel to Scotland to be shared with audiences there.
“Resistance explores how people have challenged the status quo—a mission that feels especially urgent in today’s political climate.”
Leila Riszko, Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at National Galleries of Scotland said: “We’re enormously proud to platform this compelling selection of works curated by Steve McQueen.
“This is an exciting opportunity to explore the power of photography in documenting the significant yet underrepresented stories of people who’ve helped shape the world we live in today.
“In these divisive times, many of the themes, moments and narratives highlighted in the exhibition continue to have resonance now.
“As a show about resilience, collective power, galvanising for positive change, and inspiring reaction, we hope that Resistance will stimulate discussion with our visitors and invite deeper reflection on those contemporary issues.”
Resistance is curated by Steve McQueen and Clarrie Wallis, with Emma Lewis. Political research is by Sarah Harrison. The exhibition is produced by Tessa Pierce, with assistance from Brittany Crombie. Organised by and originated at Turner Contemporary, Margate, and adapted for presentation at National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two.
A major new publication by Steve McQueen was also recently released to coincide with the exhibition. The book was compiled by Steve McQueen and edited by Clarrie Wallis and Sarah Harrison. It is published by Monument Books, a new imprint from Harper Collins.
Don’t let the recent weather fool you. Despite rain and thunderstorms in the last few days, large parts of Scotland remain at some level of water scarcity. With summer just beginning, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are warning that complacency is a real risk.
While rainfall in late May and early June brought localised relief, it has not reversed the underlying dry conditions. Eight river catchments – the Spey, Deveron, Ythan, Don, Dee, Esk, Firth of Tay and Tyne – remain at Moderate Scarcity, while a further seven – Wick, Helmsdale, Naver, Findhorn, Forth, Almond and Tweed – are at Alert.
SEPA started issuing warnings about the chance of water scarcity in March, after an exceptionally dry Autumn and Winter. Spring 2025 was the second driest in more than 100 years, and the driest since 1964 in parts of eastern Scotland.
Parts of the country have seen below-average rainfall for over a year, and even where recent rain has brought short-term improvement above-average rainfall is still needed for water scarcity levels to recover in some areas.
Since the weekend, rain has been concentrated in the northwest, promoting recovery to Normal Conditions in some areas. DRAT (Drought Risk Assessment Tool) stations have now also reset, including Helmsdale, which was at Significant last week.
Claire Tunaley, Senior Hydrologist – Water Resources Unit, SEPA said: “It won’t take a heatwave for river levels to fall again. With summer only just beginning, and rainfall in the east still well below average, conditions could deteriorate quickly.
“Rivers entered summer already stressed after months of below average rainfall, and the kind of brief periods of rain we can get over the summer often don’t soak in properly or evenly enough to reverse that.
“Less water in rivers means warmer temperatures, lower oxygen, and shrinking channels, all of which increase pressure on fish, aquatic life, and habitats.”
Scotland’s water scarcity levels are grounded in current data, not forecasts. SEPA’s team of specialists maintain and calibrate a national network of river flow stations — a science-led system that gives an accurate picture of pressures on our rivers, lochs, and water supplies.
Eilidh Johnston, SEPA’s Senior Manager in Water Industry and Rural Economy, said: “We don’t wait until the situation reaches crisis point to act, and we don’t expect water users to either.
“Many abstractors have already been planning ahead and taking steps to use water efficiently, especially in areas of Alert and Moderate scarcity.
“We’ve talked to over 400 licence holders across the last few months and welcome the steps that have been taken by farmers, distilleries, industry and others to use water efficiently. We urge them to continue to do that.”
“If you hold an abstraction licence and you’re in an area of Moderate Scarcity, don’t be concerned if we get in touch. We’re still contacting abstractors where rivers are low to ensure they have all the information they need to make decisions about their water use, and to make sure nothing comes as a surprise if further action becomes necessary.”
SEPA will continue to monitor conditions and publish weekly water scarcity reports to help businesses make informed decisions about their water use.
Access to the reports, and SEPA’s DRAT station information, is available at sepa.org.uk/waterscarcity
