Rainforest projects are to benefit from more than £3 million funding to protect biodiversity and build ecosystem resilience to climate change.
The funding will be used to help save Scotland’s temperate rainforest – made up of native woodlands found on the west coast, where consistent levels of rainfall and relatively mild, year-round temperatures provide the right conditions for some of the world’s rarest mosses, liverworts and lichens – from the effects of the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
This year 1,350 hectares of priority rainforest habitat will benefit from funding to:
remove rhododendron, a non-native invasive species that robs plants of nutrients, moisture and light, to give other plants space to grow
restore plantations on ancient woodland sites
prevent damage to young trees and ground vegetation through deer management
Announcing the funding during Scotland’s Climate Week, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “Scotland is home to its own temperate rainforest boasting a variety of rare species and habitats, and we are already delivering work to protect and expand this precious environment. We have some of the best remaining rainforest sites in Europe.
“Forestry Land Scotland are already carrying out immense work within the rainforest zone and have restored more than 2,654 hectares since 2023, and this additional funding of more than £3 million will help us to go further faster.
“Rainforests can capture up to one million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year so protecting them is essential to help us reach net zero emissions by 2045 and, crucially, tackle biodiversity loss.”
As the colder months approach, Aldi is reminding shoppers in Edinburgh of the most essential items to donate to foodbanks via its in-store donation points.
A list of priority items has been created based on the demands of foodbanks, charities and community groups across the UK and includes everything from tinned food to cereals and cleaning products.
According to community giving platform Neighbourly, who works with Aldi stores to redistribute customer food donations to good causes, the demand for foodbanks can increase by nearly 30% over the colder months.
Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “We know autumn and winter are busy periods for foodbanks and organisations like Neighbourly who support those in need across the UK.
“We’re so grateful to all customers that have used our in-store donation points so far this year, and we hope this list of items will make it easy for shoppers to pick those that are most needed over the colder months.”
Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, added: “With many foodbanks and local charities facing increased demand in the months ahead, any extra support we can get will be vital.
“By highlighting the most needed items, we hope to make it easier for Aldi shoppers to support their local communities.”
£2.95 million awarded to harness academic ideas for commercial use
An anti-cancer drug that researchers believe may be up to 500 times more effective than current treatments is among 18 projects receiving pilot funding to develop innovative ideas into commercial success.
The £2.95 million Proof of Concept Fund will support the commercialisation of ground-breaking research across ten Scottish universities including the project targeting blood and solid cancers at the University of Edinburgh. The £125,000 awarded to the project will fund further studies, ensuring it meets industry standards.
The pilot Proof of Concept Fund is awarded to projects that address significant global challenges across a range of sectors including Life Sciences, Quantum, Photonics, Aerospace, AI and Fintech. Projects include:
A laser system which quickly detects aircraft engine faults
A non-invasive, radiation-free ultrasound to detect breast cancer
A more sustainable and healthier alternative to palm oil
Funding will enable researchers to demonstrate the feasibility of projects through developing prototypes, market exploration and achieving regulatory approvals to derisk new technologies and attract investment. The projects have significant and largely untapped economic opportunities, with potential wide-ranging societal benefits.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes saw demonstrations from three of the successful projects receiving funding during a visit to the University of Edinburgh Institute for Genetics and Cancer.
Ms Forbes said: “Our first National Innovation Week was a declaration of intent by the Scottish Government. Innovation must be our national endeavour and we are supporting it across all areas of society.
“Scotland’s world-class universities have the ideas and inventions to help tackle global problems and improve lives. This new Proof of Concept Fund and will help bridge the gap between theory and practice, translating research into real-world impact which in turn drives Scotland’s economic transformation.
“The successful projects that we are supporting are quite simply inspiring. They have the potential to be lifesaving and life changing.”
Professor David Argyle, Vice-Principal and Head of College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, said: “The transition from ground-breaking discovery to real-world application is one of the most critical stages in research.
“This funding is a welcome endorsement of the exceptional innovation underway across Scotland, supporting academics to achieve commercial success.
“At Edinburgh, the investment in pioneering cancer treatments, lab-grown tissue models and improved detection of aircraft faults shows how this work can hugely benefit people’s lives while also strengthening the economy.”
Short-term prisoners due for release within the next six months are to be released early under emergency proposals to tackle prison overcrowding, with stringent safeguards to protect public safety, if Parliament agrees.
The prison population has surged by more than 200 in the past three months and now stands at 8,363, one of the highest levels ever recorded. Following significant measures over the past two years to address unprecedented rises in prisoner numbers, Justice Secretary Angela Constance told MSPs further action is needed to ensure the sustained, safe and effective operation of prisons.
Subject to Parliament’s approval, this would mean:
Short-term prisoners serving under four years and within 180 days of their scheduled release eligible for emergency release.
Anyone serving a sentence for sexual offences or domestic abuse, and any registered sex offenders, excluded from the release plan.
Prison governors given a veto on an eligible person’s release if they believe they pose an immediate risk to specific individuals or groups.
It is estimated that in the region of 440 prisoners could be released during the initial tranches in November and December.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “This is not an action I propose lightly. I am grateful to prison staff working tirelessly in difficult circumstances and want to ensure they and those who live in prisons are kept safe, so immediate action is now necessary.
“There will be strict safeguards in place to protect public safety, which is my paramount concern. The release will only apply to those serving short sentences under four years and due to be released within the next six months and will exclude those serving sentences for sexual offences or domestic abuse. There will also be a governor veto where they consider that a prisoner poses an immediate risk of harm to specific individuals or groups.
“I absolutely recognise that the early release of prisoners can be a cause for concern for victims. We will engage with victim support organisations to ensure that information on the change in release date is available to them.
“Scotland is not alone in the UK in having to deal with a high prison population, despite the continuing action we are taking to deal with an unprecedented rise in numbers. While there is no single reason, there has been a significant rise in long-term prisoners, continuing high numbers of sentences of under a year despite the presumption against, and an increase in sentence length. This has led to an increase in numbers that needs to be alleviated.”
Victims who have already signed up to the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS) will be told automatically by the Scottish Prison Service if there is a change to the date of release of the prisoner in their case.
Victims who are not signed up to the VNS can also contact the Scottish Prison Service directly to receive information or nominate Victim Support Scotland, Rape Crisis Scotland, ASSIST or Children First to receive information about prisoner release on their behalf.
Wider measures to deal with the rising prison population that continue to be taken include maximising capacity of the prison estate, some short-term prisoners being eligible for release when they reach 40% of sentence served and optimising the use of Home Detention Curfew.
In the longer term, an independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission is considering how imprisonment and community-based interventions are used, which will help inform further measures in order to establish a sustainable prison population.
Scotland’s first legally-binding targets to improve biodiversity must be accompanied by meaningful actions and reinforced by sufficient public resources, says Holyrood’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in a new report.
The Committee’s Stage 1 report on the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, sets out its recommendations as to how statutory targets should be set, monitored, reviewed and reported on.
In its report, the Committee also calls for a clear timetable for introducing the statutory targets and for clarity on how the Scottish Government would respond to instances where they are not achieved or are significantly off-track.
The Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill places a duty on Ministers to set the first legally-binding biodiversity targets in Scotland, recognising that previous non-statutory approaches have failed to halt nature decline.
The Bill also provides Scottish Ministers with powers to amend environmental impact assessment legislation and the habitats regulations; make changes to National Parks legislation to modernise how they are managed; and make detailed changes to wild deer legislation, to reduce the impacts of deer on Scotland’s natural environment.
Committee Convener Finlay Carson MSP said: “The rate of nature loss in Scotland over recent decades is deeply concerning and it’s clear that the current approach being taken to halt or reverse biodiversity declines has failed.
“Following our detailed scrutiny of this Bill, we support the introduction of statutory targets as a means of galvanising action on the societal-wide changes needed to improve biodiversity and tackle the nature emergency.
“But we are also clear that statutory targets will not have the success we want to see unless they are underpinned by action and investment, via both finance and expertise, to make sure their aspirations are delivered.”
Part 2 of the Bill gives Scottish Ministers powers to amend environmental impact assessment legislation and the habitats regulations. Following widespread concerns from stakeholders about the broad scope of the proposed powers and the lack of sufficient safeguards in place, there were mixed views within the Committee regarding whether Part 2 in its current form is required or whether it should be revised.
In relation to National Parks (Part 3), the Committee says it is in broad agreement with the proposals set out in the bill to make changes to National Parks legislation to modernise how they are managed. This includes public bodies taking account of National Park Plans and giving Scottish Ministers the power to set up a fixed penalty notice regime to enforce park byelaws.
On deer management (Part 4), the report agrees it would be helpful for NatureScot to have additional ‘intervention’ powers ‘in its toolkit’, to address nature degradation on land as a result of wild deer populations.
But the Committee was clear this should not be at the expense of voluntary deer management and called on the Scottish Government to make sure it “does not erode the trust and consensus that has been carefully built within the deer management sector in recent years”.
Furthermore, the Committee encourages the Scottish Government to continue to support the wild venison sector, especially by exploring opportunities to expand consumption through local supply chains and public procurement.
The Convener continued: “Notwithstanding the recommendations in our report about how some of the Bill’s provisions could be strengthened and improved, we support the general principles of this Bill.
“Having sought to hear from a diverse range of stakeholders throughout our inquiry, I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to consider and support our scrutiny.”
More or less trees, foxes or gulls? Get that grass cut or let the wildflowers grow? Is nature helping with your mental health, or helping kids let off steam? Are there ways we could help nature thrive more, or should we tarmac the lot?!
Would you be up for chatting about nature in Granton for an hour for a £10 voucher (for Morrisons or Granton Garden Bakery – your choice)?
We’ll be running focus groups: Tuesday 7th October: 10-11am or 11.30am-12.30, at Pilton Community Health Project, 73 Boswall Parkway. (tea/coffee and biscuits provided).
A planning application for the £69m retrofit of the two buildings, submitted by Collective Architecture, was approved by Development Management Sub-Committee on Wednesday (1 October).
Work will include substantial upgrades to ensure the two Category A listed buildings meet the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing – EESSH2. This is alongside wider improvements to bring the buildings in line with modern new-build standards.
The City of Edinburgh Council, in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, is leading the transformative retrofit programme, aiming to dramatically improve energy performance, reduce carbon emissions and enhance living standards for residents. This team brings together expertise in architecture, engineering, energy strategy, carbon analysis and landscape design.
Cables Wynd House and Linksview House were both built in Leith in the 1960s and together provide 310 homes, the majority of which are owned by the Council for social rent.
Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Lezley Marion Cameron said: “I am delighted that the necessary planning consent for our plans to upgrade Cables Wynd House and Linksview House to provide safe, energy efficient and high-quality homes for residents there has been granted, enabling these long-awaited works to get underway, hopefully at pace.
“I am also grateful to residents for their proactive and positive engagement with us to shape the Council’s £69 million commitment to improving Cables Wynd and Linksview House – from campaigning for investment in their homes to participating in the consultation process and providing invaluable insight and input into our design proposals.”
Carl Baker, Architect, Passivhaus Certified Designer, Collective Architecture, said:“We’re thrilled that our retrofit proposals for Cables Wynd House and Linksview House have been granted planning permission and listed building consent.
“These approvals represent a major milestone in the life of two of Edinburgh’s most iconic post-war housing developments, both Category A listed and celebrated for their bold architectural character and social significance.
“Our proposals reflect Collective Architecture’s distinctive approach to retrofit, which carefully balances ambitious improvements to energy performance with the sensitive conservation and celebration of these landmark buildings, situated at the heart of a conservation area.
“This success is the result of a truly collaborative effort across the project team, including the expertise of our in-house specialists at Collective Energy and Collective Conservation.
“We’re excited to move into the next phase of the project and look forward to transforming these historic flats into warm, safe, and resilient places to live, fit for today’s residents and generations to come.”
Amongst the improvements that will be made are:
Energy Efficiency Upgrades: Improved insulation, window replacements, and energy-efficient heating systems to meet EESSH2 standards.
Fire Safety Enhancements: Installation of sprinkler systems, smoke ventilation, a new fire-fighting lift, and improved fire compartmentalisation in communal areas. The removal of legacy bin chutes and inclusion of internal waste management facilities will also contribute to enhanced fire safety.
Resident Safety and Security: Upgraded internal and external lighting, a comprehensive review of CCTV systems, and improved access control throughout the buildings.
Landscape and Placemaking Improvements: The refurbishment project presents a unique opportunity to reimagine the outdoor environment surrounding both towers. Proposals include new play areas, external seating, wildflower meadows, sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS), and a full review of parking and waste facilities.
The project exemplifies how collaboration across disciplines can accelerate the decarbonisation of the built environment while delivering meaningful social impact.
Alongside the Council and Collective Architecture, the project team includes a wide range of expert organisations, with AtkinsRéalis as lead consultant and Collective Energy providing energy and sustainability consultation. Expertise in mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering is being provided by Blackwood Partnership, in structural engineering by Narro Associates and in landscaping by Urban Pioneers Landscape Architects.
The Council will continue to engage closely with residents throughout the design and construction process to make sure their needs are met.
We are excited to share a delicious community meal with you tomorrow. We do our best to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and often a delicious pudding. What’s on the menu tomorrow:
Roast pork with parsley sauce
Cauliflower cheese (v)
Herby vegetables
Spiced apple cake with custard
Please check the board or ask our volunteers about allergens. And just a heads-up, our food is served until it runs out! Do come along and enjoy. Thank you!
POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a serious crash involving a bus and a pedestrian.
The incident happened on Sunday, 28 September, 2025, at around 1.20am on Annandale Street, at the junction with Haddington Place.
An 81-year-old male pedestrian was involved in a collision with a bus as it travelled down Annandale Street.
The man was taken to hospital by the Scottish Ambulance Service where he remains receiving treatment. There were no other reported injuries.
Sergeant Louise Birrell said: “This crash happened in the early hours of Sunday morning and despite the late time, I’m asking anyone who may have saw what happened to come forward.
“The pedestrian had travelled on foot from the top of Leith Walk and I’d ask anyone who may have seen him, or captured the incident on a dash-cam device, to check your systems and provide anything of relevance as soon as possible.”
Those with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 and quote incident number 0302 of 28 September, 2025.
