Tag: environment

Work gets under way in Saughton Park

A major project to restore Edinburgh’s historic Saughton Park got under way this week with the official start of a year-long programme of work. The milestone sees the culmination of five years’ effort to establish the park’s £5.2m redevelopment, which has been made possible thanks to £3.8 million of Heritage Lottery Funding. Continue reading Work gets under way in Saughton Park

“Going to be great for us all”: latest 20mph zones go live tomorrow

The rollout of 20mph speed limits across the capital continues with phase three of the scheme being introduced in North West and West Edinburgh tomorrow (see map). Continue reading “Going to be great for us all”: latest 20mph zones go live tomorrow

Wardie Bay Beachwatch this Saturday

It’s Wardie Bay Beachwatch #6 this coming Saturday and the team is growing nicely (writes KAREN BATES). We have the promise of a deposit return scheme thanks to every last soul who played a part in pushing for that welcome announcement. Let’s keep going and begin to focus on the life on our beaches, not the waste. Continue reading Wardie Bay Beachwatch this Saturday

Getting it fixed first time: new plan to improve city’s roads

A plan to improve the way the Council carries out road repairs is set to go before councillors this week. A report on the Roads Services Improvement Plan, which will be considered by the Transport and Environment Committee on Thursday, states that: “the Council needs to maintain a high-quality road network to ensure the safety of road users, to ensure road users can freely travel around our network and to protect the overall appearance of Edinburgh as a city”.  

Continue reading Getting it fixed first time: new plan to improve city’s roads

Boost for Scotland’s bees and butterflies

Ten-year plan to stop decline of pollinating insects

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A new strategy has been launched to make Scotland a more pollinator friendly place by protecting indigenous bee and butterfly populations.

Since 1980 the number of pollinating insects in Scotland – honey bees, bumble bees, the solitary bee, butterflies and hoverflies – have declined by an estimated 51%, leading to fears of a negative impact on agriculture, food security, the economy and human health.

The Pollinator Strategy calls for:

  • the restoration and creation of flower rich habitats,
  • greater use of green urban infrastructures, such as roof top gardens
  • the development and use of pollinator friendly pest control
  • new research into the impact of climate change on bee and butterfly numbers

Speaking at The Hidden Gardens in Glasgow, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham (pictured above) said: “Scotland’s biodiversity is one of our key assets, and the contribution the humble bumble bee and other pollinators make to this wonderful environment should not be underestimated. That is why we are committed to making Scotland a more pollinator friendly place.

“Pressures like land use change, pesticides, pollution, disease and climate change are threatening these life-giving insects, so we must act now to protect the pollinators and in turn safeguard our environment, our food and in turn our health.”

Scottish Natural Heritage has led the development of the Pollinator Strategy working closely with a range of environmental and land management organisations.

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SNH chairman Mike Cantlay said: “Growing evidence shows our native bees and insects that carry out pollination are facing tough times. Pollination is crucial for our environment – and, therefore, our own health, wealth and wellbeing.

“This strategy, a key part of the Scottish Biodiversity 2020 route map, sets out what needs to be done to ensure these bees and insects survive and thrive for generations to come, contributing to healthy ecosystems and landscapes in our country. We look forward to continuing this important work with our partners to strengthen the resilience of our native pollinator species.”