Tag: environment

Festival venue takes bold step towards greener Fringe

Sustainable souvenir scheme tackles single-use cup waste

FRINGE-GOERS picking up a drink at one of the capital’s busiest venues are being asked to make a small change with a big impact – as part of a bold new drive to reduce waste and support charitable causes.

In a new initiative Surgeons Quarter, the commercial arm of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, has introduced a £2 reusable cup policy, replacing throwaway plastic with souvenir-style cups that support good causes.

Customers pay a one-time £2 charge for a reusable cup, which is theirs to keep. When returning for another drink, they’ll receive a fresh, clean replacement cup at no extra cost.

Surgeons Quarter has a longstanding reputation for leading with innovation through environmental initiatives and investing heavily in the wellbeing of its staff.

Ten Hill Place Hotel, part of the Surgeons Quarter portfolio, was first awarded a Green Tourism Gold Award in 2008 and has proudly retained this accolade for 17 consecutive years.

One of the hotel’s many sustainable efforts has been the removal of single-use plastic bottles from guest bedrooms. It’s a change which has saved over 100,000 bottles to date. In their place, guests are gifted Scottish wildflower seed packets to take home, encouraging biodiversity in their own gardens and extending memories of their stay at the hotel.

Other green initiatives have included a £20,000 investment for installation of EV charging stations at the hotel, as well as a £60,000 investment in new staff members uniforms made from

recycled plastic bottles with each uniform preventing 45 bottles from reaching landfills or oceans.

But sustainability is only part of the picture. Surgeons Quarter also goes above and beyond for its team.

Recognised by the Living Wage Foundation (LWF), it ensures all staff, regardless of age, are paid above the LWF Living Wage. In addition, all employees contribute at least 12% of their salary toward their pension, with 7.5% of that contributed by the employer, more than double the required minimum.

Scott Mitchell, Managing Director at Surgeons Quarter said: “We’re always looking at how we can help improve the planet, improve the guest experience and also improve the working environment for our team.

“That’s why we continually invest in initiatives prioritising long-term sustainability and staff wellbeing. We believe these aspects go hand in hand.”

The reusable cup policy reflects this commitment. Surgeons Quarter invested over £20,000 in the upfront cost of the cups, making the £2 charge fair and necessary, so it can continue running operations that pay staff fairly, reduce environmental impact and maintain the support for its local charity partners.

Scott added: “This step is a part of a wider commitment to doing what’s right, even when it costs more. That’s why we’re asking the public to support the reusable cup chaange as it helps us improve standards across the board.”

Some of the reusable and dishwasher safe cups feature the striking silhouette of the iconic Playfair Hall, while others are branded with the logos of theSpaceUK, which hosts the largest and most diverse programme at the Festival Fringe, and Surgeons Quarter itself.

The variety of designs provides visitors with eye-catching tangible reminders of their Festival experience as well as supporting the drive to reduce single-use waste.

Scott said: “After testing the concept in 2024, we’ve streamlined the system and are excited to launch the full initiative.

“We’re trying to shift the mindset. Rather than something disposable, we want people to see these as souvenirs that do good.

“We know some will be resistant to change but when it’s a minimal cost for an item that supports local and global causes, we hope people will get on board.’’

A portion of proceeds from cup sales will support three key causes: carbon offsetting initiatives through Ecologi; a special Supper Soirée hosted by Surgeons Quarter in support of Cyrenians, the homelessness charity tackling isolation and homelessness; and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh’s global efforts to improve patient outcomes around the world.

Under the new guidelines, festivalgoers are welcome to bring their own clean reusable cups for wine, spirits, bottled beer and soft drinks only — provided the cup is visibly clean.

However, if the cup is not SQ-branded, it is your responsibility to ensure it is hygienic, as staff are unable to wash or handle personal cups. Single-use plastic cups, including supermarket-style cups, will not be accepted.

Scott added: “This isn’t about jumping on a trend. It’s a long-term commitment to reducing our footprint and boosting our social impact.

“A single-use plastic cup has an impact of 0.07kg CO2e, and a reusable equivalent has an impact of 0.0084kg CO2e per use. Every cup that isn’t thrown away is a small win for the environment and every cup that helps someone in need makes that win even sweeter.”

Surgeons Quarter promotes, sells, and manages all commercial activities held within the RCSEd campus.

These include facilities for conferences, meetings, private events, parties, and weddings, as well as its own four-star hotel, Ten Hill Place, Café 1505, and SQ Travel.

To find out more about Surgeons Quarter, visit: 

https://www.surgeonsquarter.com/festival-fringe-2025/

ECCAN: Free Ticket giveaway for A Citizen’s Assembly

Ready to explore what people power means in the face of nature breakdown? We’re giving away tickets to a powerful and FREE Fringe show, “A Citizen’s Assembly“!

This ECCAN outing is an opportunity to:

➡ Engage with a unique theatrical experience that puts you at the heart of the climate conversation.

➡Meet new people

➡ Discover what’s possible when we come together.

“A Citizen’s Assembly” is an immersive experience where we are the citizens, grappling with the climate emergency: What are we doing? What are we not doing?

What more could and should we be doing? Be prepared to join the debate and be part of the story!

How to claim your free ticket:

➡ Be a member of ECCAN (it’s free to join!).

➡ Email edinburgh@eccan.scot

Tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so get in touch soon!

🧷 Check link in our bio for more info

#giveaway

#edinburghfringe

#freeticket

#edinburghcommunity

Scotland’s Water: Calls for apology following ‘inaccurate comments’

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT WANTS WESTMINSTER RETRACTION

Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin has written to Steve Reed calling for a retraction of comments regarding the quality of water in Scotland.

The text of Ms Martin’s letter in full:

To: Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed MP

From: Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, Gillian Martin

Dear Steve,

Independent Water Commission

I am writing following the publication of the final report from the Independent Water Commission led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, and to request that you retract inaccurate and misleading comments regarding the quality of water in Scotland.

The Commission’s report notes that 66% of Scotland’s water bodies are of good ecological status as compared with 16.1% in England and 29.9% in Wales. Whilst we of course need to be careful how these figures are used, as they are not calculated on the same basis, it is clear that Scotland has a higher performance.

The report correctly points out that this is, in part, due to population density. However, it is also worth reflecting that much of the improvement is due to significant investment in the water industry to reduce pollution driven by Scottish Water and SEPA and efforts made by SEPA to address pollution from other sources such as agriculture.

I was therefore extremely disappointed to hear you make inaccurate and misleading comments regarding performance in Scotland and to dismiss out of hand the value of public ownership of a key asset like water.

During a Channel 4 News interview last night, when asked about public ownership, you stated:

“In any case, it is not guaranteed to work…and we know that from looking north of the border where, in Scotland, they have a nationalised water company but pollution levels in Scotland are worse than they are in England.”

Leaving aside my slight confusion at a Minister in the United Kingdom government referring to Scotland as ‘they’, I cannot understand how you could make such an inaccurate comment when the very report that you were on the programme to discuss clearly states the opposite.

Your comments sought also to undermine the idea of public ownership in the minds of voters, yet this is clearly what the people of Scotland continue to want. Indeed, it is the very fact of that public ownership and control which has allowed us to keep water bills lower for people, compared to what people with privatised water supplies in England have to pay.

While there is clearly more to do, 87% of Scotland’s entire water environment is assessed by SEPA as having a ‘high’ or ‘good’ classification for water quality – up from 82% in 2014. That is also, in part, due to water being a publicly owned asset, allowing for investment without shareholder returns or the pressure to make profits.

I am therefore asking that you acknowledge that your comments were inaccurate, that you apologise publicly for making them and seek to correct them.

The Commission’s report makes a number of recommendations which may have cross-UK impacts or opportunities which I would welcome further engagement across the four Nations.

I hope this can be done in an attitude of mutual understanding about the collective challenges we face – but also with a clear understanding of what delivers the best outcomes for the public.

Gillian Martin

Edinburgh Permaculture Festival

Coming Up This Weekend 🙂 …

The Edinburgh Permaculture Festival Weekend 2025

🗓️ Friday 25 – Sunday 27 July 2025

Join us, all welcome, for an inspiring weekend of visits, tours, workshops, and connection celebrating the richness of permaculture across Edinburgh and beyond! …

This year includes:

—–

★ Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden (limited tickets left)

tour and visit, inc. forest garden + mushroom talks 😊

★ Redhall Walled Garden

group visit

★ East Neuk Seaweed (limited tickets left)

Coastal foraging workshop (inc. the intertidal zone + beach cook up lunch)

★ Bowhouse

Short visit

★ East Neuk Market Garden

Guided market garden tour with Connie + talk on Scotland The Bread (miller for 5 years)

★ Syd’s West Lothian 2 Acre Permaculture Small Holding (tickets going fast)

—–

From coast to countryside, walled garden to forest garden, come explore “Using the edges, value the margins” (#Permaculture Principle 11) as part of this year’s festival theme …

Details & Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/…/edinburgh-permaculture…

—–

Discover how small and larger places and spaces can grow big ideas and inspire

—–

#Edinburgh

#Permaculture

#EdinburghPermaculture

#EdinburghFestival

#EdinburghPermacultureFestival

#PermacultureFestival

UK Government pledge to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030

ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY TAKES ON ENGLAND’s WATER COMPANIES

Sewage pollution from water companies will be cut in half by the end of the decade, the Environment Secretary Steve Reed will pledge today. 

Our rivers, lakes and seas will be the cleanest since records began, meaning millions of families will benefit from cleaner beaches and rivers.  

For the first time the Government has made a pledge to cut sewage pollution with a clear target which they will be held accountable to, but campaigners say the Government’s pledge is ‘too little, too late’.

The Government, in partnership with investors, has secured funding to rebuild the entire water network to clean up our rivers. 

In one of the largest infrastructure projects in this country’s history, a record £104 billion is being invested to upgrade crumbling pipes and build new sewage treatment works cutting sewage pollution into rivers.  

Over the past year, the Government has introduced a package of measures to slash pollution levels. Bills are now ringfenced to force companies to invest in upgrades and over £100 million of water fines are being spent on local clean-up projects.  

The commitment comes as the Government vows “root and branch reform” to usher in a revolution in the water industry, ahead of the Independent Water Commission’s final report, which will be published tomorrow.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: “Families have watched their local rivers, coastlines and lakes suffer from record levels of pollution.

“My pledge to you: the Government will halve sewage pollution from water companies by the end of the decade.

“One of the largest infrastructure projects in England’s history will clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.” 

 The Government has already taken decisive action to clean up England’s waterways:

  • Record investment: with £104 billion to upgrade crumbling pipes and build sewage treatment works across the country.  
  • Ringfence customers’ bills for upgrades: customer bills earmarked for investment must now be spent on new sewage pipes and treatment works – not spent on shareholder payments or bonuses.  
  • Reinvesting company fines into local projects: with over £100million being invested into local clean-up projects in communities.  
  • Largest budget for water regulation: the Environment Agency received a record £189 million to fund hundreds of enforcement officers to inspect and prosecute polluting water companies. 
  • Polluter Pays: companies will now cover the cost of prosecutions and successful investigations into pollution incidents, enabling the regulator to hire more staff and pursue further enforcement activity.  
  • Banning wet wipes containing plastic in England: introducing legislation to reduce microplastics in our waters. 
  • The Water (Special Measures) Act: banned unfair bonuses for ten polluting water bosses this year and threatened prison sentences for law-breaking executives. 

This package of measures will slash storm overflow spills by 50% by 2030 and halve phosphorus from treated wastewater by 2028. 

Both contaminants choke our rivers, suffocate wildlife and destroy ecosystems. In 2024, sewage spilled into waterways for a record 3,614,428 hours.  

Pollution levels were a decisive factor in the Government launching the Independent Water Commission last October – the largest review of the sector since privatisation.     

Led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, the Commission’s final report will be published tomorrow with recommendations on regulation, strategic frameworks and support for consumers.

The Government will respond to the recommendations in Parliament on Monday.  

Environment Secretary Steve Reed’s pledge is based on:   

  • A 50% reduction in spills from storm overflows – an outlet from the public sewer that spills both sewage and rainwater into the environment – by 2030. 
  • A 50% reduction in the amount of phosphorus from water company treated wastewater entering our waterways by the end of January 2028. 
  • Work with devolved governments to ban wet wipes containing plastic across the UK. We will go further to tackle the issues caused by unflushables to reduce plastic and microplastic pollution, particularly in our waters. 
  • Continued work on pre-pipe measures, such as sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) which help to reduce pressure on the sewerage system.     
  • The start of trials by water companies of nature-based solutions, such as constructed wetlands, to investigate if they can be used in the treatment process to reduce harm. 

Edinburgh International Festival To Be First Charity on Net Zero Pathway 

2025 FESTIVAL PROGRAMME RUNS FROM 1–24 AUGUST 2025

eif.co.uk / @edintfest

  • Edinburgh International Festival has become the first charity and the first arts organisation in the UK to achieve the British Standards Institute’s (BSI) Net Zero Pathway verification, highlighting its commitment to genuine emissions reductions
  • Operational progress includes a 56% reduction in electricity and 26% in gas emissions at The Hub,42% reduction in general waste through sustainable concessions and 58% reduction in printed paper since 2023, with a switch to freesheets and leaner print runs.
  • Progress in artistic programme includes the development of an artist residency model for touring orchestras, putting climate-themed works on stage and a sustainable approach to building locally for large-scale productions.  

Edinburgh International Festival is the first charity, and the first arts organisation, in the UK to achieve the British Standards Institute’s (BSI) Net Zero Pathway verification, as part of its commitment to sustainable practice. 

This achievement underpins the International Festival’s commitment to Net Zero by 2045, in all its activity, from delivering year-round work with workshops, community engagement projects, and support for emerging artists, to an August festival programme that features world-class performers from the worlds of dance, opera, music and theatre.  
 
Aligning with BSI’s Net Zero Pathway’s ISO 14064-1 (for greenhouse gas reporting) and IWA 42:2022 (for strategic planning), the Festival has set a clear roadmap to reach Net Zero emissions. A three phased plan involves reaching Net Zero for gas, electricity and staff hired vehicles by 2030, waste, water, coach travel, printed materials and commuting by 2035 and freight, hotels and staff travel by 2045. 
 
Unlike other approaches that rely on offsetting, the BSI Net Zero Pathway prioritises actual emissions reductions, ensuring that organisations are making genuine progress towards Net Zero. Its robust science-based approach is based on international standards, evaluating an organisation’s carbon footprint and reduction targets to ensure credibility.  

The BSI certification builds upon several initiatives from the International Festival to embrace new models of working with artists, audiences and employees to reduce carbon impact.

This includes reducing gas and electricity usage at The Hub, the Festival’s HQ on the Royal Mile, by 26% and 56% respectively, as well as appointing a full-time Environmental Sustainability Manager.

In 2023, the International Festival was proud to achieve the Green Tourism Silver Award, providing third-party verification that the Festival upholds globally recognised sustainability standards. 

In 2024, the number of printed programmes was reduced, and coupled with a switch to freesheets across most events, printed paper amounts reduced by 14% compared to 2023’s output. This year, fewer printed brochures and a new highlights leaflet will see a 38% reduction in printed pages from 2024, a 58% reduction since 2023. 

Terry Roberts, Edinburgh International Festival Sustainability Manager, said: “Our journey to net zero is an ongoing process, and we are actively seeking new ways and partners to reduce our environmental impact.

“The BSI certification provides a structure to achieving our ambitions, allowing us to understand where we are and what we need to do progress.

“We know this will be difficult and we can’t achieve anything alone, but by working together with our artists, suppliers, partners, audiences and the wider community, we are confident we can play our part in creating meaningful change. ” 

Matt Page, Senior Vice President, Assurance Services EMEA, said: “Achieving meaningful emissions reduction is a key priority for many in the cultural sector, but turning that ambition into action is a real achievement. The Edinburgh International Festival should be congratulated for this demonstration of leadership and action.

 “BSI’s Net Zero Pathway is an independent process designed to build credibility around an organization’s journey and ultimately build societal confidence in the progress being made.

“Edinburgh International Festival’s commitment to science-based targets and meaningful emissions reductions sets a powerful example for how cultural institutions can help shape a more sustainable future, benefiting people and planet.” 

Across artist travel, the International Festival have used an artist residency model since 2023, offering a more sustainable model for presenting large-scale orchestras.

Inviting world-leading orchestras for an extended stay in Edinburgh, featuring multiple performances and moments of community engagement, reduces the environmental impact through scaled-back travel and increases the performers’ engagement with Edinburgh – its audiences in the concert halls, as well as its communities.

This year’s resident orchestras include NYO2, a youth orchestra from the United States making its European debut, the world-renowned London Symphony Orchestra; and NFM Leopoldinum, leading the Focus On Poland programme. 

The Festival also takes a sustainable approach to large-scale productions, as seen in this year’s European premiere of Orpheus and Eurydice, which brings together Australian and Scottish talent. By building the set locally and collaborating with Scottish ensembles like the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the production strengthens local and international artistic ties while significantly reducing emissions. 

Each year on stage, the International Festival seeks to challenge and inspire debate amongst audiences through platforming artists who explore climate change and justice in their artistic work.

This year’s programme features several works that delve into our human connection to the natural world, including Nederlands Dans Theater’s Figures in Extinction, Works and Days by Belgian theatre collective FC Bergman and William Kentridge and Handspring Puppet Company’s Faustus in Africa!.   

Other green initiatives the Festival is undertaking this year include an optimisation of web servers working with Supercool to a cloud-based set up that has resulted in an energy reduction of 2,866kWh, equating to 595.4kgCO2e, and the use of algae ink, a biodegradable and carbon-neutral product, in Festival-branded flags created by GH Digital.  

Beyond being the first arts organisation in the UK to be certified by BSI standards, the International Festival also plays a key role in leading the sector, collaborating with many organisations to share knowledge and experiences, and learn from colleagues.

The Festival are members of a number of sustainability groups and panels, including the Edinburgh Festival City Sustainability Working Group, Green Arts Initiative, Edinburgh Climate Compact and the European Sponsorship Association Sustainability Group.

The Festival also hosted a Sustainability in Practice event in 2025, welcoming an audience from across the worlds of culture and sustainability that included Creative Scotland, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Festivals Edinburgh and Scottish Ballet.

Looking ahead, the Festival is actively seeking partnerships with organisations that share its commitment to sustainability, with the aim of collaboratively achieving meaningful environmental goals.  

Tickets to world-class performances across a handpicked programme of music, theatre, opera and dance at the Edinburgh International Festival in August 2025 are available at www.eif.co.uk.  

For full information about the International Festival’s year-round work, visit https://www.eif.co.uk/social-impact.  

GreenFox Energy powers up Party at the Palace with Scotland’s first solar festival stage 

This summer, Party at the Palace is hitting a high note for the planet. Thanks to renewable energy pioneers GreenFox, the festival will host Scotland’s first solar-powered festival stage, the GreenFox Energy Breakthrough Stage, twinning clean energy and the joy of live music. 

Over 7,000 music lovers will head to Bonnytoun Farm in Linlithgow on Saturday, 2, and Sunday, 3 August and, for the first time, a large part of the festival will be sun-powered. 

The new solar setup will supply sound, lighting, and equipment using a combination of solar panels and battery storage. The battery will be fully charged with green energy generated in the days before the event. 

The system is expected to produce up to 100 kilowatt-hours of clean energy over the weekend. This is enough to power an average UK home for about 10 days and will prevent around 20 kilograms of CO₂ emissions. 

“Festivals are full of energy – and now we’re bringing the renewable kind too,” said Eddie Curran, co-founder of GreenFox Energy. 

“It’s brilliant to now be part of the action and help power a festival that’s such a big part of the local community.” 

In a world where most festivals still rely on diesel generators, the GreenFox initiative proves solar power is a viable, vibrant alternative and a great fit for a family-friendly, future-focused event like Party at the Palace. 

Eddie added, “It’s a small step with a big message: at Party at the Palace alone, switching to solar saves around 20 kg of CO₂ and that’s just one stage, at one festival. 

“If every festival across the UK did the same, we could save over 12.8 tonnes of emissions each year. It shows how small changes, delivered at scale, start to really add up.  

“This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to explore even more ways to make Party at the Palace a leader in sustainable, low-impact events in the future.” 

Now in its 11th year, Party at the Palace continues to grow and so does its commitment to doing things differently. 

“We’re always looking for ways to make the festival better, not just for the fans, but for the planet too,” said John Richardson, director of Party at the Palace. 

“We’re very much a family festival so it’s important to us to help create a better future for the next generation. We are passionate about leading by example, both through our work in the local community and encouraging people to make more eco-friendly choices.  

“That’s why bringing in solar power with GreenFox Energy is such a proud moment. It’s a simple idea to use the sun’s power to drive our second stage but one that shows small changes can make a big difference – and it’s fine to start with what is doable now, with the goal to build on it in the future.” 

Headliners for this year’s festival include Boney M and Squeeze, alongside a vibrant lineup on the GreenFox Energy Stage with standout performances from Laurie Wright, Forgetting the Future, and Pistol Daisys. 

Festival goers can also plug into the movement by showing their Party at the Palace ticket to get 15% off solar installations with GreenFox Energy*. 

For more information visit: Solar Energy Company UK | GreenFox Energy

Calling all wildlife lovers – UK Butterflies need you!

This year, we’re not just launching a survey — we’re launching a nationwide rescue mission, and we need everyone to get involved.

Last summer, Britain’s butterflies sent an urgent SOS through Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count.

The wildlife charity declared a Butterfly Emergency after results revealed a marked and deeply concerning decline in butterfly numbers, which were the lowest in the Count’s history.

The 2024 figures followed a pattern of long-term decline as butterflies struggle against a backdrop of habitat degradation, climate breakdown and pesticide use.

That’s why this year, we’re not just launching a survey — we’re launching a nationwide rescue mission, and we need everyone to get involved.

🧪 No lab coats. No science degrees. Just 15 minutes of your time.

Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count 2025 begins on Friday 18 July, and we’re calling on thousands of everyday heroes, from schoolkids to grandparents, dog walkers, hikers, even office workers on their lunch break, to take part.

Worryingly, 80% of butterflies have declined since the 1970s. These delicate icons of summer respond quickly to environmental change, making their decline a powerful warning sign of a planet in peril.

The good news? There is hope. With just 15 minutes of your time, you can help protect UK butterfly species for future generations.

🕵️ The mission?

Spend 15 minutes in any outdoor space and count the butterflies and day-flying moths you see and submit your sightings to help build our interactive map.

That’s it. One small action that contributes to a much bigger effort to help save butterfly species and the ecosystems they support.

“This is a chance to turn curiosity into conservation and make a real contribution to protecting butterflies in the UK for generations to come,” said Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation. “Butterflies are beautiful, yes — but they’re also incredibly important bioindicators. This means that as they continue to disappear, as they have over recent decades, it indicates something is going seriously wrong in our natural world. We need to heed that warning and take action before it’s too late.

“If we lose butterflies, we lose more than beauty — we lose balance in our ecosystems and that will have serious repercussions for wildlife in the UK. Taking part in the Big Butterfly Count only takes 15 minutes and it’s something everybody can do. If you do one thing for nature this year, get out for the Count this summer! – Every count really does make a difference.”

Whether you see a Red Admiral, a Common Blue, or an entire kaleidoscope of Meadow Browns, your sightings provide vital data that help scientists understand where butterflies are thriving, struggling, or shifting due to habitat loss or restoration.

And by taking part, you’re doing more than logging data — you’re standing up for nature. Your observations will help create a live map of UK biodiversity, visible in real-time through the Big Butterfly Count website and free app.

🌍 Why It Matters

With over 80% of UK butterfly species in decline, every single sighting counts.
Butterflies are early warning signs of environmental collapse — when they struggle, so do birds, bees, and entire ecosystems.

Together, we can reverse the trend by learning where and why butterflies are struggling and taking action to save them.

 What’s the problem?

Butterflies are struggling because their habitat is being destroyed and the climate they thrive in is changing and becoming more unpredictable. 

Populations may also be declining as a result of pesticide use, both commercially and in gardens. Even insecticides and pesticides labelled “pollinator friendly” can harm butterflies and other pollinating insects.

Employing more nature friendly gardening methods, such as companion planting and allowing wild spaces to flourish within our gardens are two of the best ways to help butterflies thrive at home.

✅ How to Take Part

  1. Download the free Big Butterfly Count app or visit www.bigbutterflycount.org
  2. Between 18 July and 10 August, spend 15 minutes in any outdoor space and count the number and type of butterflies you see
  3. Log your sightings on the website or app and help protect UK wildlife for future generations

This summer, step outside, slow down, and reconnect with the natural world on your doorstep.

Become a citizen scientist. Be part of the comeback. Help bring butterflies and wild spaces across the UK back to life.

Protesters demand action on plastic pollution ahead of Treaty negotiations

  • Communities will unite on Saturday 19 July to take a stand against the Government’s inaction on plastic pollution 
  • Protests and beach cleans will be taking place across the UK as part of a National Day of Action organised by Surfers Against Sewage 

Campaigners and the community in Aberdeenshire and Edinburgh are rallying in a National Day of Action against plastic pollution this Saturday, 19 July.  

The Surfers Against Sewage “The People vs Plastic” campaign will see protestors descend on the UK’s beaches, city streets and everywhere in between to send a clear message: the government must act decisively  to tackle plastic pollution at its source, to position the UK as a global leader in the fight against single-use plastics. 

Locations and timings of protests in Scotland are as follows:  

·       Craws Nest, Stonehaven Beach, Aberdeenshire 10:00 

·       Hawes Pier, South Queensferry, 13:00 

The campaign aims to ramp up the pressure on Government ahead of the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, reconvening in Geneva from 5-14 August.

Earlier talks collapsed in South Korea, last year, with countries failing to agree on reducing plastic production.  Campaigners say that a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty is urgently needed to cut pollution at its source and protect blue spaces.     

Ahead of the National Day of Action, communities from coast to city will host grassroots events, from “Trash Mobs” in local schools to community-led cleans, building momentum for the nationwide protest.

Data will be collected during the community cleans, which will help Surfers Against Sewage map the true scale of plastic pollution, and name the brands and retailers most to blame. 

The public can get involved by heading to the Surfers Against Sewage website to find a local protest to join or show support during the Week of Action by getting involved with a local Plastic Free Community close to home. 

Communities and schools are at the forefront of Surfers Against Sewage’s campaign against plastic, with over 400 active Plastic Free Communities and over 3,000 Plastic Free Schools leading the way in the fight against plastic in their local area. So far in 2025, over 88,000 people have taken part in over 3,600 local cleans, collecting over 40,000kg of rubbish, as part of the charity’s Million Mile Clean initiative. 

Marion Montgomery, Surfers Against Sewage representative and Stonehaven Beach protest organiser said: “In Stonehaven, we’re organising ‘Save our Seas from Plastic’ protest along with a beach clean and sandcastle competition.

“We’re demanding real action against the producers of the huge amounts of plastic packaging which inevitably ends up polluting our ocean and coastlines. To avoid future carnage, we need tighter restrictions against ‘new’ things, like single use vapes, being put on sale to the public.” 

Surfers Against Sewage is calling on the UK Government to deliver on the goals of the Global Plastics Treaty immediately through joined up and ambitious national plans to end plastic pollution, including: 

·       Setting legally-binding targets to cut plastic pollution 

·       Implementing an effective circular economy centred on reuse and refill, including the implementation of a comprehensive Deposit Return Scheme and introduction of binding reuse targets 

·       Holding polluters to account by enforcing current laws and delivering Extended Producer Responsibility schemes that make polluters pay. 

Giles Bristow, Chief Executive at Surfers Against Sewage said: “Broken promises, stalled progress, surging pollution. We are drowning in the toxic tide of plastic that continues to rise.

“Enough is enough, so we are rising up too. As families pack their buckets and spades and the summer holidays begin, there’s no better time to shine a light on the plastics choking our shores. The UK remains one of the worst offenders for generating single-use waste that travels the globe, and our government is still dawdling on action. 

“We’re sick to death of plastic-pushing corporations fuelling this crisis while spinning greenwashing lies and pointing the finger at consumers. They churn out mountains of non-recyclable packaging, sabotage vital policies behind closed doors, and consistently miss every voluntary target. The Labour government pledged us a zero-waste future, we’re all ears, but we won’t settle for anything less. 

“That’s why, on Saturday 19 July we’re calling on Ocean Activists from Penzance to Porthcawl and everywhere in between to make their voices heard.

“Whether you’re clearing your favourite beach or marching through city streets, communities hold the power to drive change. With Global Plastics Treaty negotiations just around the corner, we must turn up the heat.

“Together, we can become a force impossible for leaders, and polluters, to ignore.” 

Protest locations and National Week of Action information can be found on the Surfers Against Sewage website.

Following the protest, the charity is encouraging people to sign a petition to put pressure on the Government to tackle the problem. For more information, visit the campaign web page here. 

SEPA: Scottish landfill rate at record low – but we still need to reduce waste and boost recycling

Scots are generating less waste than ever before and sending less to landfill.  

The Scottish Waste From All Sources 2023 Official Statistics, published today (15th July) by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), provide details on waste from Scottish households, businesses and public services.   

Scotland generated 9.55 million tonnes of waste in 2023 – a 7.5% decrease from 2022 and down 20.2% since 2011. This overall decline reflects a long-term trend towards better waste prevention and reuse across the country.  

The amount of waste sent to landfill fell to 1.81 million tonnes, down 21.1% from 2022 to the lowest figure recorded.

Scotland’s landfill rate now stands at 19%, down from over 50% in 2011, signalling significant progress in diverting waste away from landfill.  

At the same time the overall recycling rate has remained roughly the same (62.2% down 0.6 percentage points from 2022). 

The largest single waste category in 2023 was soils, at 2.76 million tonnes, followed by household and similar waste at 1.92 million tonnes. Encouragingly, household and similar waste generated by Scottish homes and businesses has fallen by 1.2 million tonnes since 2011. 

The statistics also highlight a continued rise in energy-from-waste incineration of Scottish waste, which increased by 20.2% in 2023 to 1.74 million tonnes, the highest level to date. This increase underscores the growing role of energy-from-waste facilities in managing residual waste – material that cannot currently be recycled or reused.  

David Harley, Acting Chief Officer – Regulation Business & Environment, said: “The statistics for 2023 show that the hard work of communities, councils and businesses is paying off. We’re generating less waste and sending less to landfill than ever before. But they also highlight the scale of the climate challenge still facing us. 

“While the figures show clear progress, they also highlight that we must focus on preventing waste in the first place and prioritising reuse and recycling over disposal. As long as non-recyclable waste is produced, energy recovery will remain part of Scotland’s waste hierarchy as a better alternative to landfill, but every tonne of waste avoided or recycled is better for the climate, for communities and for Scotland’s journey to net zero. 

“This annual data set gives Scotland an important opportunity to reflect. SEPA’s role is to provide the evidence to support informed decisions by policy makers, industry and local authorities.”  

Secretary for Climate Action Gillian Martin said: “I welcome these statistics from SEPA which show that the overall amount of waste generated in Scotland continues to fall faster than the previous target set, and is at its lowest ever level. 

“This highlights the significant, long-term progress we are making towards a circular economy in which fewer resources are wasted. This is not just good for the environment – it will also create new economic opportunities and green jobs here in Scotland. 

“The Circular Economy Act and Circular Economy and Waste Route Map, backed by our £70 million Recycling Improvement Fund, seek to cut waste, create consistent and easy to use waste services across Scotland, whilst driving sustainable resource use.” 

Scotland’s approach follows the waste hierarchy – prioritising prevention, then reuse, recycling and recovery, with landfill as a last resort. Much of the progress that has made over the past decade has been driven by policy changes, such as recycling services, duty of care requiring waste producers to separate materials for recycling and reduced residual bin collection frequency.