This week, the rain has brought relief to the west and northwest of the country, but some levels of water scarcity are still being felt in large parts of Scotland, particularly in the east. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are asking that water users remain vigilant.
Although the 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 six – Wick, Helmsdale, Findhorn, Forth, Almond and Tweed – are at Alert. The Naver has seen some light relief and recovered to Early Warning.
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. With rainfall in the east still well below average for the year, river conditions could deteriorate quickly even without the presence of a heatwave.
With the rivers already stressed after months of below average rainfall and summer only just beginning even brief periods of rain over the summer often will not soak in properly or evenly enough to reverse the pressure. This means warmer temperatures, lower oxygen, and shrinking channels will 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: “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. We don’t wait until the situation reaches crisis point to act, and we don’t expect water users to either.
“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. If you hold an abstraction licence and you’re in an area of Moderate Scarcity, don’t be concerned if we get in touch.”
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
Real estate investor, developer and asset manager, Firethorn Trust, has reached a significant construction milestone at its purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development at Leith, Edinburgh, with a topping out ceremony marking completion of the site’s structural framework.
Located on Leith Walk, Firethorn’s six-storey asset will provide high quality accommodation for 230 student beds, alongside generous amenities including a fully equipped gym, student common room, cinema and modern study spaces.
Work commenced last summer, following Firethorn’s purchase of the site in February 2024, marking the first acquisition under its Living portfolio. The company has since expanded its footprint with additional PBSA assets in Hackney Wick and Stratford, plus a hotel development in central Dublin and the One Bessborough Gardens residential conversion in London.
With the structural frame now complete, Leith Walk is on track for completion in time for the 2026/27 academic year.
Paul Martin, Head of Development at Firethorn Trust, commented: “As the first asset within our Living portfolio, topping out at Leith Walk is a significant milestone for Firethorn, and a prime example of our ability to deliver buildings swiftly and to a high standard.
“Edinburgh has a growing student population and an urgent need for modern, quality accommodation, so we are very pleased with the pace at which works are progressing and look forward to bringing the site to completion over the next 12 months.”
Grier Edmead, Operations Director, Ogilvie Construction, said: “Today’s topping out marks the significant progress that we have made since breaking ground last year, and we look forward to handing over a first class building in 2026.
“This will be the fifteenth student accommodation facility that we have delivered in recent years using our extensive experience and expertise in the sector.”
What impact would a Commissioner for Older People have on Scotland? That is the question a Scottish Parliament committee is exploring as it considers proposals from Colin Smyth MSP.
The Commissioner for Older People (Scotland) Bill aims to give people over the age of 60 a representative who would be tasked with promoting and safeguarding their rights and interests.
Colin Smyth’s Bill proposes that the Commissioner would be responsible for promoting awareness and understanding of older people’s rights, reviewing law, policy and practice as it relates to older people and undertaking research on matters relating to older people.
The proposals share some similarities with the role of the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland, which was established by the Scottish Parliament following a Committee Bill in 2003.
The Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee has launched a call for views to find out what people think of the proposal. As part of its consideration, the Committee will also be reflecting on a recently published report that recommended against the creation of more commissioners.
Older people and carers are among the groups whose views the Committee would like to hear as it seeks views on the proposed Commissioner’s role and responsibilities, the age range covered by their remit and how to avoid any duplication with the work undertaken by other commissioners or public bodies.
The call for views is now open and will be open until Friday 12 September 2025. The Committee is then expected to hold public evidence sessions on the Bill towards the end of Autumn.
Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, said: “Over recent decades there has been significant growth in the number of older people living in Scotland, so, in our consideration of this Bill, we’re keen to understand whether having a Commissioner could help address the needs of an aging population.
“In opening this call for views we’d like to hear what older people think of the proposals. We’re also keen to hear the views of carers, Scotland’s third sector, public bodies and anyone with an interest in the proposal.
“Whether you think that a Commissioner would be a great idea or would like to propose another way that older people might have their views considered, we’re keen to hear from you.”
A man has been arrested in connection with a spate of shopliftings in the Southside.
As a result of proactive inquiries conducted by the Retail Crime Taskforce, the 34-year-old was traced to an address in Buccleuch Street on Tuesday (24 June).
It was then established that he was in breach of bail conditions imposed following his release from prison in the Greater Manchester area.
He has been recalled to prison and will be reported for a total of 18 offences that took place at various Sainsbury’s convenience stores.
Inspector David Duthie said: “This was a terrific piece of investigative work by members of the Edinburgh Retail Crime Taskforce and as a result we’ve detected a significant number of shoplifting crimes that were reported within the Southside.
“I want to make it clear to anyone committing retail crime offences throughout the city that their actions will not be tolerated and whether it’s local policing resources, or members of the Taskforce, we’ll continue to gather evidence and bring you to justice.
“We will also continue to support the city’s retailers in enhancing their own security and crime prevention measures as we strive to reduce the number of retail crime incidents occurring.”
R100 delivers more than 27,000 faster, ultra-reliable connections in a year
The Scottish Government has surpassed it’s commitment to deliver gigabit-capable broadband connections to 20,000 homes and businesses last year.
A record 27,000 premises were equipped with faster broadband in 2024-25 through the Scottish Government’s Reaching 100% (R100) programme, exceeding a Programme for Government commitment by more than a third.
Connections have been made right across the country, from the Killantringan Lighthouse in Dumfries and Galloway to Stornoway in the Western Isles and Baltasound on Shetland.
The R100 contracts, being delivered by Openreach, have now enabled more than 80,000 faster broadband connections across the country, with 80% of all R100 contract build to take place in rural areas.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead visited Loch Katrine in the Trossachs to hear how access to faster broadband speeds is helping transform opportunities for local businesses.
He said: “Fast, reliable broadband is a fundamental building block for economic growth. The Scottish Government’s R100 programme is one of the most ambitious and complex digital infrastructure programmes in Europe, rolling out connections in some of the most challenging locations in the country to help businesses and communities prosper.
“Despite telecommunications being reserved to the UK Government, our commitment to the R100 programme illustrates this government’s commitment to delivering the digital connectivity people and businesses need to succeed.
“Exceeding our 2024-25 delivery target was helped by record Scottish Government funding and an ongoing partnership with Openreach maximising the opportunities to deliver fast broadband to even more homes and businesses.”
CEO and Lead Trustee of the Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust, James Fraser said: ”The impact of the introduction of fibre cable connections at Loch Katrine has been transformative for many aspects of our core business and our tenants. With an increasing trend to digital bookings for cruises, eco lodges, cycle hire and meals out, having high speed digital connections is critical to the success of our business and other businesses on the lochside.
“Previously our digital speeds were very poor leading to customer dissatisfaction, loss of bookings and customer complaints, particularly from guests staying overnight in our eco lodges or in campervans in our car parks. With the higher speeds now available there has been a marked improvement in digital services with increased customer satisfaction levels.”
Openreach Partnership Director for Scotland, Robert Thorburn, said: ”It’s brilliant to see businesses like the Steamship Sir Walter Scott benefitting from full fibre.
“We’re committed to making sure that the hardest-to-reach homes and businesses in Scotland are connected to the latest generation of broadband technology, giving them access to the same fast, reliable services available in our cities.
“While building new full fibre networks in rural areas throws up many challenges, our engineers have the skills and experience to overcome these and deserve an enormous amount of credit for their work.
“We’re proud of the role we’ve played, working alongside the Scottish Government, in hitting this significant milestone – but we know that our work isn’t done yet, and we’ll continue to connect communities across the country.”
The commitment to connect over 20,000 premises to gigabit capable broadband in areas of market failure by March 2025, through delivery of three regional, multi-year contracts with Openreach is set out in the Programme for Government 2024-25: Serving Scotland
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
OPENING TODAY Monkeys: Our Primate Family 28 Jun – 30 Nov
See some of the rarest and most endangered primates on Earth in Monkeys: Our Primate Family at the National Museum of Scotland. This exhibition explores the remarkable lives of our primate relatives and demonstrates how they have adapted to survive in different habitats. The exhibition brings together more than 50 species of monkeys, apes, lemurs and lorises.
Monkey Business 28 & 29 Jun and 19 & 26 Jul 10:30-16:00 Grand Gallery Free, drop-in
This summer, celebrate the opening of our new exhibition Monkeys: Our Primate Family with activities for all the family. Join us for four days of monkeying around with fun, family activities for all ages.
Grab a seat at our craft tables, get hands-on with fascinating objects and more. Then discover the world of primates in our new exhibition, Monkeys: Our Primate Family.
Morning Curator Tour: Monkeys: Our Primate Family 13 & 15 Aug 09:15-10:00 Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 £15, £13 Members & Concessions
Join us before normal opening hours to explore this special exhibition with its curator, Dr Andrew Kitchener. The tour will bring you face to face with some of the rarest and most endangered primate species on Earth. Explore their remarkable lives and discover how primates have adapted to survive in different habitats.
BSL Tour of Monkeys: Our Primate Family 14 Aug 15:00-16:00 Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 £10
Join BSL guide Babs Brown for a guided tour of our exhibition, Monkeys: Our Primate Family.
The tour will last approximately one hour with the chance to explore the exhibition independently afterwards. This event is aimed at D/deaf community BSL visitors, and is most suitable for those ages 14+.
Audio Descriptive Tour: Monkeys: Our Primate Family 3 September Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3 17:30-19:00
Join our tour guide for an audio descriptive tour of Monkeys: Our Primate Family, with accompanying sensory resources and a chance to explore the exhibition after hours.
This tour is aimed at blind, partially sighted and visually impaired visitors. It is most suitable for those ages 14+.
Spotlight On: Monkeys: Our Primate Family 7 October 14:00-15:00 Auditorium, Level 1 £3, £2 Members & concession
In this spotlight talk, exhibition curator Dr Andrew Kitchener will share his insights into the making of the exhibition and discuss the cutting-edge primate research taking place at the National Museums Collections Centre.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Cold War Scotland Until 4 Jan 2026 10:00 – 17:00 Special Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 Free
Scotland’s unique geography and topography provided a useful base for Allied military preparations and research during the Cold War, a 40-year nuclear stand-off between the USA and the Soviet Union following the end of the Second World War.
Cold War Scotland is an output of Materialising the Cold War, a collaborative research project between National Museums Scotland and the University of Stirling. The project explores how the Cold War heritage is represented and how museums can adapt to tell this story in future. The exhibition will explore both the visible and invisible legacies of the war in Scotland.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Relaxed Morning 6 Jul & 3 Aug 10:00-12:00 (quiet space open until 12:30) Free admission, drop-in
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum.
This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with autistic children; autistic young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore some areas of the museum without noisy interactives and videos to give a more relaxed environment.
Exciting, hands-on sensory play sessions for children with additional support needs. Families with children with additional support needs and disabilities are invited to join our programme of sensory play sessions. Explore the museum’s collections, get creative and meet other families. Sensory Sunday sessions are relaxed, fun hands-on, and respond to the needs of the families participating. You are welcome to come and go at any point during a session.
Summer Family Fun 7 Jul-1 Aug 10:30-15:30 Free, drop-in
Join us on Mondays and Fridays for a range of exciting, drop-in activities for the whole family. Each week, we will be exploring a new theme – from Scottish stories to around-the-world adventures, there will be something new to discover.
Museum Late: Festival Ceilidh 1 & 8 Aug 19:30-22:30 Tickets from £24
Our sell out museum ceilidh makes its festival debut. Grab your pals for a night of reels and revelry and join the party in Scottish style. Set in the museum’s majestic Grand Gallery, all dances are suitable for beginners with no previous experience necessary – our caller will guide you through the steps on the night. Between dances enjoy drinks, food, activities and explore a selection of the museum galleries at night.
National Museum of Rural Life Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life 24 June 14:30-17:00 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Afternoon for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with neurodivergent children; neurodivergent young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
Nature Track Packs 28 Jun-31 Aug 10:00-17:00 Free with museum admission
Our free Nature Track Packs are great tools for children on the walk to the farm. Each Nature Track Pack contains fun ideas, activities and challenges to inspire and engage all of the senses.
Tractor Tots 7 Jul 10:30 or 13:30 blocks £20 per child for block of 3, £15 per Member child for block of 3 Ages 0-4
Running in blocks of three Friday morning sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for our younger visitors, introducing them to the museum and farm, and bringing it to life through interactive creative play. Each session will take place in a different location at the museum and working farm, and will feature handling objects from our learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside.
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF Open Weekends only, 10:00–16:00
Awesome Bricks 14 & 15 Jun 10:00-17:00 Tickets from £13.50, book in advance to save
Our hands-on celebration of LEGO returns to the National Museum of Flight. Join us for a weekend packed full of LEGO brick fun, with lots to see and do for all ages. Get a close-up view of incredible LEGO constructions, including an interactive train set. You can also make your own unique creations in our brick build zone.
Second World War Puzzle Room 7 Jul-15 Aug 12:00-15:00 Free with museum admission
Work together as a family in our puzzle room and see if you can come up with the answers. Only by solving four different challenges will you know if you’ve got what it takes to decipher codes, diffuse a bomb and work out flight paths.
360 Fest 6 Sept 10:00-17:00 Tickets from £13.50, book in advance to save
Go full circle at our big family event at the National Museum of Flight. You’ll be on a roll this September with our all round family fun event. From stunt shows and pedal-powered activities to interactive sessions and STEM science, there’s something to set everyone’s head spinning.
Conservation Hangar Talks Until 29 Mar 2026 14:00-15:00 Free and available as an add-on to your general admission ticket. Booking required.
Join a member of our Visitor Experience team for a behind-the-scenes look in our Conservation hangar on a free daily talk at 14:00. Find out about objects from the collection that aren’t normally on display and have the chance to see conservators at work.
THREE days free story telling and art workshop for 9 to 12 year olds to learn more about climate change with Joana.
This is a great opportunity to learn new illustration and story-making skills using a variety of techniques from an industry professional and have the opportunity to have their art exhibited and a chance to learn more about some of the science behind eco-anxiety!
By producing their own illustration and story, children will get chance to be part of the Scottish international storytelling Festival!!
At Stockbridge Library on Thursday 10th, 17th and 24th July from 10.30 to 1 pm.
From guided relaxation to cooking, knitting, chatting or even try yoga for the first time! Some DROP IN, some you need to BOOK – get in touch on 0131 551 1671 or email us hello@pchp.org.uk
The Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is seeking views on the Scottish Government’s mental health spending for 2026-27, as part of its pre-budget scrutiny.
The Committee is considering the effectiveness of current spending and whether investment is aligned with the right priorities.
In 2023-24, mental health services received £1.5 billion in funding—equivalent to 9% of total NHS expenditure. The Committee is now seeking views on whether this level of investment is appropriate, how spending decisions are made, and the extent to which preventative approaches are being supported.
The Committee is particularly interested in:
The adequacy and transparency of current mental health spending;
Evidence of preventative investment in mental health;
Whether national priorities—such as CAMHS, suicide prevention, and community-based support— are the right priorities for mental health investment and to what extent these priorities are reflected in mental health service delivery.
The Committee’s scrutiny takes place ahead of the publication of the Scottish Budget, expected later this year, and aims to inform Scottish Government’s spending decisions while they are still in development.
Speaking as the call for views was launched, Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said:“It’s vital people dealing with mental health issues are able to access appropriate and effective care, support and treatment.
“That’s why we are scrutinising the funding for these services and ensuring any money spent is going to the right places to help people get the support they need.
“Through this call for views, we want to hear from individuals, professionals and organisations about what’s working, what’s not, and where investment should be focused for the greatest benefit.
“Your insights will help us hold the Government to account and ensure that mental health services are properly resourced and effectively delivered.”
Come join us TODAY – Saturday, 28th June – at the Edinburgh Meadows, where we will be hosting a stall and a Climate Listening Circle for the Edinburgh Climate Festival!
Come along to find out more about our work, Greenlight funding and everything we have planned for the summer ahead!
Come along to find out more about our work, Greenlight funding and everything we have planned for the summer ahead!