Tag: environment

Rodents no more: South Georgia declared rodent-free

World’s largest rodent eradication project a success

  • The UK Overseas Territory of South Georgia is officially declared free of rodents for the first time since humans arrived on the island over 200 years ago
  • Scottish-based charity the South Georgia Heritage Trust and its USA counterpart the Friends of South Georgia Island raised £10 million to finance the Habitat Restoration Project to eradicate invasive rodents
  • Covering 108,723 hectares (1087 km2), the Habitat Restoration Project is more than eight times larger than any other rodent eradication area ever tackled anywhere in the world
  • Three rodent detection dogs covered a total of 2420km, with their two female dog handlers walking 1608km, searching for signs of rats and mice as part of a comprehensive monitoring survey

Continue reading Rodents no more: South Georgia declared rodent-free

Local rail fund is just the ticket for Lothian, say Greens

Lothian could be on track to win a share of a new £2 million Local Rail Development Fund set up during the Scottish Greens’ negotiations with the Scottish Government over the 2018-19 budget. Continue reading Local rail fund is just the ticket for Lothian, say Greens

UK launches new research and innovation hub to tackle scourge of plastic in our seas and oceans

A new global hub will bring together scientific and technical expertise to share latest thinking on sustainable alternatives to plastic and stopping plastic entering oceans.

  • UK’s world-leading researchers to collaborate with peers from Canada, India and other Commonwealth countries to tackle this global challenge
  • new global hub will bring together scientific and technical expertise to share the latest thinking on creating sustainable alternatives to plastic and stopping plastic entering oceans
  • high-profile names Unilever and Waitrose are backing the hub financially
  • British Plastics Federation and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation are among the top names that have given their support

The UK, working with other Commonwealth countries, will launch a research and innovation hub for experts to develop solutions to stop plastic waste from entering our oceans and find environmentally-friendly alternatives to plastic. Continue reading UK launches new research and innovation hub to tackle scourge of plastic in our seas and oceans

Three thousand people have their say on Trams to Newhaven

“Of course, no final decision on taking trams to Newhaven, or not, will be made until much later in the year”

Trams to Newhaven consultation event at Leith Community Education Centre
Consultation event at Leith Community Education Centre, 12 April 2018

More than three thousand people have shared their views in a six-week long consultation about plans for taking trams to Newhaven. Edinburgh citizens either attended one of the information events, sent in their comments by email or completed the consultation online on the Council’s Consultation Hub. Continue reading Three thousand people have their say on Trams to Newhaven

Action Earth: encouraging active and healthy communities

The Action Earth campaign, run by national charity Volunteering Matters, launched its 2018 grant giving scheme at Castlemilk Park in Glasgow last week. The campaign, which is funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, offers easy to access grants of up to £500 for environmental improvements across Scotland. Continue reading Action Earth: encouraging active and healthy communities

Feeding 1000 bellies, not bins, across Leith!

There’s an old expression that ‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch’ Well, think again! Environmental charity Changeworks is hosting a free lunch on Sunday 6 May 2018 made from food that would otherwise have gone to waste. Continue reading Feeding 1000 bellies, not bins, across Leith!