Month: April 2026

ARDEER: Anger as potential Site of Special Scientific Interest sand dunes are destroyed

Wildlife experts have been left devastated by the continued intentional destruction of dune habitat on the Ardeer Peninsula in Ayrshire by its landowners – despite the dunes being ear-marked as part of a potential Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Local community groups and national wildlife organisations called on Scottish Government agency NatureScot to designate the special habitats of the Ardeer Peninsula as part of a Garnock Estuary SSSI back in 2022, building on a long-running local campaign to protect its wildlife.

As it stands, much of the Ardeer Peninsula remains under threat from a Special Development Order dating back to 1953 which removes the requirements for planning permission that are needed almost anywhere else in Scotland. 

In a welcomed move, NatureScot has been reviewing the potential boundaries for a SSSI in recent years, a vital step towards protecting its mosaic of dunes, grassland, woodlands, scrub and wetlands

However, the local community has reported that despite NatureScot engaging with landowners about the potential designation, precious and irreplaceable sand dune habitat continues to be subject to sand extraction and further degradation through the dumping of soils, while large areas of biodiverse woodland have also been cleared.

Roger Hissett from the Ardeer Action Group said, “After more than a decade of campaigning by local naturalists it is tragic to see a developer determined to destroy the special and rare habitats and wildlife of this part of the Ardeer Peninsula. 

“It is so sad that this attitude still persists into the 21st century just when the area is being considered for protection for the benefit of future generations.” 

Rebecca Lewis, Buglife Scotland and Northern Ireland Manager said, “The Ardeer Peninsula has an important role to play in supporting the Scottish Government’s commitment to reversing biodiversity loss and NatureScot’s strategic goal of protecting 30% of Scotland’s land for nature by 2030.

“We are delighted that NatureScot agree that it is worthy of consideration for SSSI notification, but the ongoing activity is a blow to the integrity of this nationally important wildlife site- which has been called Scotland’s best site for bees.”

It is hoped that some of the damage that has taken place could be reversed with appropriate management and funding. The Garnock Estuary, which includes the Ardeer Peninsula in Stevenston and Garnock East in Irvine, is a unique mosaic of dunes, grassland, woodlands, scrub and wetlands.

Although it has been modified by the site’s complex industrial past, it remains an incomparable haven for wildlife, including species that have been lost across much of the landscape.

It is home to over 1,000 invertebrate species, including at least 99 of conservation concern and some found nowhere else in Scotland. The estuary is one of the most important breeding bird populations on the Lower Clyde coast and supports at least 46 rare plants, including endemic sub-species and those for which Scotland has an international responsibility.

PICTURES: IAIN HAMLIN

RoSPA: Take Action Today

Thousands of children each year end up in hospital through accidental poisoning. But in Take Action Today areas, emergency admissions for under-fives have dropped by almost 50% since 2013.

Take Action Today helps parents keep their young children safe from accidental poisoning through free safety resources, checklists and fact sheets.

Join the 1 million families who have benefited from Take Action Today – access free safety resources at www.rospa.com/home-safety/household-cleaning-products

#TakeActionToday

#HouseholdSafety

#HomeSafetyAdvice

Genetic mutation focus on new cancer study

Researchers search for way to stop bowel cancer growing

SCIENTISTS in Glasgow are launching a new Cancer Research UK-funded project to find a way to stop bowel cancer cells hijacking the body.

The team, based at the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in the city, will focus on a particular system inside the human body, called the Wnt pathway – a key messaging system controlling growth.

A specific genetic mutation can cause this system to tell cells to grow and produce new cancer cells out of control.

The cancer cells then hijack the pathway and prevent it from growing healthy cells, effectively starving the body of healthy growth.  This can eventually lead to the growth of tumours in the lining of the bowel.

Dr Nadia Nasreddin, researcher at the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Professor Sansom’s group, said: “We hope to find a way to help healthy cells fight the mutant cell colonisation of the bowel lining, by using drugs that can promote healthy cell growth.

“If we boost the Wnt pathway in normal cells, we can improve their health, restore their capacity to divide and produce new healthy cells, and reduce the ability of cancer cells to grow in the bowel.”

With funding of £357,759 from Cancer Research UK, the project will help tackle bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the UK.*

Treatment options for bowel cancer remain limited, particularly for patients who are diagnosed at later stages of the disease, making the search for new therapies vital. Scotland is disproportionately affected by the disease with around 4,000 people diagnosed each year. **

Bowel cancer is caused by changes in the DNA (called mutations) in important cells in the intestine called intestinal stem cells.

These cells maintain the intestine’s lining by constantly dividing to replace old or worn-out cells with healthy new ones. These cells live within a specific environment, characterised by high activity of the Wnt pathway.

Eighty per cent of colon cancer cases are caused by mutations in a particular gene which is responsible for controlling the Wnt pathway environment and can be inherited.

When this mutation occurs, it creates a very high Wnt environment which results in the cell’s dividing and producing new cells faster than normal.

It also produces a molecule that deprives normal cells of their Wnt environment causing normal intestinal stem cells to stop dividing and producing new ones.

This results in mutant cells in the lining of the intestine that, over time, replace the normal cells eventually forming into a tumour.

The team will test four different molecules to determine which best supports the health of normal intestinal stem cells in mouse models.

Researchers will further develop any which show a clear benefit to survival into drugs for human use.

Science engagement lead at Cancer Research UK, Sam Godfrey, said: “We are delighted to fund this exciting research project which looks at the beginnings of cancer and seeks ways to prevent it developing.

“Harnessing our own body’s power to support healthy growth and halt the excessive growth which results in tumours could lead to the kind of breakthrough which transforms the way we see, and treat, bowel cancer.”

Bowel cancer kills 16,800 people in the UK (1,700 in Scotland) every year and is increasingly being diagnosed in younger people.*

A recent study by the American Cancer Society published in The Lancet Oncology showed early-onset bowel cancer rates in adults aged 25-49 are rising in 27 of 50 countries studied and are rising faster in young women in Scotland and England than in young men.**

Fet Lor’s back: Boxing on What’s New Wednesdays

Our clubs are back this week, with an exciting new addition to our What’s New Wednesday!

We will be running a 4-week boxing programme in partnership with BLAST Boxing at Fetlor for P6+.

To sign up, please fill in the link below:

https://forms.gle/74PgHF2u3nj6sma76

TONIGHT: Last chance to register to vote in Holyrood Elections

Time is running out for voters to register to have their say in the Scottish Parliament election on Thursday 7 May, with the deadline for registrations at 11.59pm TONIGHT. 

Registering takes minutes and can be done online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. All voters need is a name, address, and National Insurance number. 

Those who are already registered will have received a poll card, which tells them where and when to vote. 

Cahir Hughes, Acting Head of the Electoral Commission Scotland, said: “We want everyone to be able to have their say in this election, but first they need to be registered to vote.  

“If you’re voting for the first time, have moved house, or changed any of your details, it’s especially important that you register online before the deadline tonight. 

“It takes just five minutes and all you need is your name, address, and National Insurance number. You can do it now at gov.uk/register-to-vote. 

“If you want to vote by post or by proxy, you still have time to apply, but you’ll need to be registered to vote first. Anyone not registered in time won’t be able to vote on Thursday 7 May. 

“Once you’re registered, the deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5.00pm on Tuesday 21 April and the deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5.00pm on Tuesday 28 April.” 

Looking Ahead to Carers Week

CARERS TRUST are proud to be supporting #CarersWeek 2026!

This year’s theme is Building Carer Friendly Communities and from 8-14 June we’ll explore how to build communities that make a real and lasting difference to the lives of carers.

http://carersweek.org

Well earned award for the Dreadnought pub in Leith

The Dreadnought was recently declared Edinburgh Pub of the Year by members of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland Branch of CAMRA – the Campaign for Real Ale.

During the previous year, CAMRA members had been visiting pubs and scoring their beer – making  an assessment of  how well it had been kept and served, submitting their scores online. 

In February, members met to consider a short-list of the highest scoring pubs. This had been compiled  using an algorithm that takes account of the number of people scoring, the number of visits the scores related to, as well as the scores themselves.  The pubs on the short list were  those which  consistently offered well kept beer. By secret ballot, members then voted for their Pub of the Year, in the 3 areas the Branch covers – Edinburgh, the Lothians outside Edinburgh, and the Borders.

The photograph (TOP) shows pub landlord, Toby Saltonstall, on 15 April, being presented with a framed commemorative certificate by Chris Miller, Branch Chair, at a gathering in the pub.

The presentation was greeted by much applause, from the crowd of regular patrons who had assembled to celebrate this special event.

The pub has been runner-up on a number of occasions, so this win was not entirely a surprise!

ScottishPower illuminates Edinburgh Castle to mark extension of support for Women’s Football in Scotland

Edinburgh Castle became a shining tribute to Scotland’s female footballers on Saturday night, with striking images of players of all ages and stages projected onto the iconic landmark to mark ScottishPower signing up to support the women’s game for another three years.

From the Castle Esplanade, players, coaches and parents gathered at dusk as the historic fortress was illuminated with projected footage showcasing the journeys of young players developing into emerging professionals alongside existing stars and professional players, bringing to life what is increasingly possible through ScottishPower’s continued support.

The projection marks the extension of ScottishPower’s exclusive Principal Partnership with Scottish Women’s Football (SWF) and the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL), first announced back in 2023 as the biggest single investment in Scottish women’s football.

The leading green energy company also confirmed it will continue to sponsor the Scottish Youth Challenge Cups at all three age groups, SWF’s National & Regional league cups and is again backing the fast-growing Scottish Women’s Highlands and Islands League and Cup.

Over the next three years, ScottishPower will continue to actively support both the SWF and the SWPL as they accelerate the growth of the women’s game, all the way from grassroots to elite up and down the country.

Keith Anderson, ScottishPower Chief Executive, said: “At ScottishPower, we’re committed to equality of opportunity, and over the past three years our partnership with Scottish Women’s Football and the Scottish Women’s Premier League has shown just how powerful the right support can be for girls and women across Scotland.

“We’re proud to back the elite end of the game, but just as importantly, to help strengthen the entire pathway – from grassroots and youth football right through to the highest level.

“Together, we’ve focused on making a real, practical impact, from providing kit and boots to girls across the country to supporting development in areas like the Highlands and Islands that can too often be overlooked.

“Renewing our support for another three years is a clear statement of our intent. We’re in this for the long term, committed to building momentum and helping women’s football in Scotland reach its full potential.”

Aileen Campbell, CEO at Scottish Women’s Football, added: “ScottishPower’s continued commitment is a hugely important vote of confidence in the women’s and girls’ game across the country.

“This partnership has already helped us strengthen the foundations of football in communities, supporting participation, improving the player pathway, and creating more opportunities for girls to stay in the sport and progress, whatever their starting point.

“The continuation of support for our National and Regional cups, the Youth Challenge Cups and the Highlands and Islands League and Cup is especially significant, because it reaches players and volunteers at every level. We’re proud of what has been achieved so far, and we’re excited to keep building real momentum over the next three years.”

Fiona McIntyre, Managing Director of Scottish Women’s Premier League, said: “This renewal is a powerful statement about the future of women’s football in Scotland.

“The SWPL has been on a clear journey of growth in standards, visibility and ambition, and having a long-term principal partner like ScottishPower enables our clubs and players to keep driving progress both on and off the pitch.

“Crucially, it also strengthens the connection between the top of the game and the grassroots and youth pathway, ensuring young players across Scotland can see a clear and achievable future in football.

“We’re immensely grateful for ScottishPower’s continued belief in what women’s football can become and the positive impact it can have on communities nationwide.”

ScottishPower is at the heart of communities across the country, whether it’s through the thousands of green jobs being created, the renewable power it generates or the secure, stable electricity it supplies –keeping the lights on from power to plug.

This landmark football partnership aligns with parent company, Iberdrola, which has been promoting equality through sport since 2016, through competitions and federations in Spain and Brazil.

Outside the UK, it supports more than 100 competitions, 32 of them as Iberdrola leagues, reaching an estimated 600,000 female athletes.

See you at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre’s Monday Morning Café!

Looking for a relaxed way to start the week? Pop into our Monday Café from 9–11am at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.

We’ll have hot drinks, breakfast rolls, and plenty of good chat.

Our cafe is free with a pay-what-you-want option – all donations go towards the centre.

Mandelson scandal: ‘Absolutely furious’ Starmer set to face MPs

‘AH DIDNAE KEN’ IS PM’s DEFENCE

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will address the Commons this afternoon as questions mount over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States.

Oppostion leaders have all called for his resignation and there is growing disquiet among his own backbenchers over Starmer’s decision to appoint Mandelson – a man who had previously been forced to resign TWICE for dishonesty and whose links to disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein were in the public domain.

Despite Mandelson’s controversial background, Starmer appointed the lobbyist to a senior diplomatic post only to dismiss him in September when more Epstein revelations came to light.

Starmer is now claiming he was unaware that Mandelson failed security vetting and that, had he known, he would not have appointed the disgraced peer. The vetting process actually took place after the announcement of Mandelson’s appointment.

Exactly what Starmer knew, and when, may just become a little clearer this afternoon. ‘Furious’ Starmer will doubtless come out fighting, and Cabinet colleagues have been circling the wagons to protect their leader, but whether Westminster will believe the Prime Minister’s version of events is another matter.

The Mandelson affair is another self-inflicted wound, and an unwelcome distraction for a government facing elections across the country in just three weeks time.