Tag: environment

Big Butterfly Count 2020 launches today

 Has nature helped you through the last few months? It’s time to return the favour says Chris Packham

Chris Packham and wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation are launching this year’s Big Butterfly Count today as a chance for the public to give a gift back to nature this summer.

As so many of us have sought comfort, inspiration and hope through spending time in nature during the difficult last few months of lockdown, participating in the Big Butterfly Count is an easy way for us to do something positive to give back and help conserve nature for future generations.

The fine weather of spring 2020 has seen the earliest average emergences of butterflies for the last 20 years and Butterfly Conservation has received thousands of extra enquiries about butterfly and moth sightings made by an ever more nature-loving public.

This year’s Big Butterfly Count, Butterfly Conservation’s annual citizen science event which saw over 113,000 members of the public take part last year, is ready for its biggest year yet. The UK-wide survey simply asks you to spend 15 minutes in an outdoor space counting the amount and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) you see.

There were 11,057 counts submitted in Scotland for the Big Butterfly Count last year with overwhelmingly abundant numbers of Painted Lady butterflies spotted, up 7,541% (141,649 spotted) from the previous year, while Green-veined White and Small Copper butterflies saw declines of 56% and 60% respectively.

Chris Packham says: “While so many of us have had a bit more time to appreciate the nature on our doorsteps during the lockdown period, and learning about the natural world has been a mindful distraction from uncertainty, this is a real chance to do something positive and contribute to conserving nature.

“Butterflies and moths are key indicators of the health of our environment and anyone can help contribute to our understanding of these incredible creatures by taking part in in the Big Butterfly Count.

“The sightings you submit will be used to map and measure populations and the geographic spread of species across the UK. We’re asking everyone who have been given a helping hand from nature this year to return the favour.”

Dr Zoë Randle, Senior Surveys Officer at Butterfly Conservation said: “We’re excited to find out the results from the Big Butterfly Count this year. The very sunny spring weather meant that almost all butterfly species have emerged early this summer, so we’re hoping for some interesting data. As our weather patterns change it’s more important than ever for us to be able capture this information.

“We’ve seen an incredible amount of interest from people who have been out and about in their gardens and local areas spotting butterflies for the first time. From children learning about the lifecycle of a butterfly from a caterpillar found in their own back gardens to adults who have spotted a fluttering Red Admiral while exercising outside instead of at the gym.

“Nature has really shown its true value to us this year, but it is still under threat. Now, more than ever, we must all do our little bit to protect it.”

Steve Guy, Outdoor Category Director, B&Q said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Big Butterfly Count once again. We’re encouraging all B&Q customers to get counting and to create butterfly friendly outdoor spaces.

“Attracting butterflies is simple if you have plenty of nectar to offer them. Plant as many of their favourite flowers – such as Lavender, Delphinium and Salvia – as you can in a sunny, sheltered spot. And you don’t need a big outdoor space – a window box or hanging basket with the right nectar giving plants can make you popular with butterflies.”

David Forbes Nixon, chairman of the DFN Foundation, said: “We are excited to be the official co-sponsor of the Big Butterfly Count from 2020 to 2023 and look forward to working with Butterfly Conservation to identify trends in species that will help us plan how to protect butterflies from extinction.”

“The recent pandemic has brought into even greater focus the need for us to protect the environment and connect with nature in a positive and meaningful way. We now have a huge opportunity to build on this momentum and engage with people of all ages across the country on the importance of butterfly conservation, helping to improve our whole environment for wildlife and enrich the lives of people now and in the future.”

The Big Butterfly Count is open to everyone, from ages from 3 to 103, and provides a real contribution to science and our understanding of butterfly and moth populations in the UK, a key indicator of the health of our environment, including the effects of climate change. 

Simply visit Bigbutterflycount.org to find out more or download the free Big Butterfly Count app to enter your findings.

My Beach Your Beach campaign relaunched at Portobello

Environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful, has kicked off its “My Beach, Your Beach” campaign for the third year at Portobello Beach.

Every summer since 2018 the campaign has worked to raise awareness of bathing water quality and the role that people can play, whether on the beach or at home, to protect the sand and sea at Portobello. From feeding gulls to leaving litter and dog mess behind, seemingly simple habits can cause pollution and put both water quality and beach experience at risk.

In previous years, the campaign has been successful in significantly reducing the incidence of litter and dog fouling – with a 55% reduction in litter between the first and second year of the campaign.

My Beach Your Beach will continue to raise awareness of the potential impact on water quality by dog fouling and encouraging gulls by feeding and leaving litter. In addition, this year, My Beach Your Beach aims to ensure that beaches are not negatively impacted by increased use by locals and visitors alike as lockdown eases.

Portobello Beach joins five others selected for the 2020 campaign, all of which have faced challenges in improving the quality of their bathing water as measured by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Research confirms the strong link between behaviour on the land and the cleanliness of the local seawater, so this year the campaign is more poignant than ever, as we see some of our favourite sites facing unprecedented pressures as more people holiday in Scotland, consume more single-use and take-away food and find services, such as toilets and bin provisions, limited.

Paul Wallace, Campaigns and Innovation Manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful said, “We are delighted to be bringing My Beach Your Beach, with a difference, back to Portobello Beach this year. 

At a time when we have all reconnected with our local spaces, and are starting to visit sites further away for leisure, we know that if the sun comes out our beaches could bear the brunt of a wave of anti-social behaviour.

“The 2020 campaign will take community engagement on-line and encourage those who live locally to get involved and celebrate their beach. But we will still be ensuring the campaign has a presence on the beach too – with the familiar campaign artwork appearing on bins and at key business locations.

“We’re calling for people who are #LuckyToLiveHere and love their local beach to get involved and celebrate what is on the doorstep – starting with a call out to share images and stories about the beach they love with us.”

In addition to old campaign favourites like the doggy ambassador competition and business support packs, new activities for 2020 will include surveys for local people to monitor the litter and dog fouling levels, a Young Reporters competition and educational resources that celebrate the beach. 

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “We’re pleased that My Beach, Your Beach will continue to focus on Portobello Beach this year.

“It’s wonderful that we have such a well-loved beach in the city, particularly in recent months, but as we’ve seen lately, the litter and dog fouling that result from its popularity are unacceptable. By involving local people in celebrating their waterfront, this campaign will help spread the word on the impact antisocial behaviour can have on water quality.”

The campaign, funded by the Scottish Government and supported by SEPA, is being led by Keep Scotland Beautiful to sit alongside its Upstream Battle and Clean Up Scotland campaigns and annual Beach Awards.

Find out more about how you can get involved and contribute to the campaign on your local beach at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/mybeachyourbeach  

Capital looks to green future

Ensuring Edinburgh’s future infrastructure and capital investments contribute to a green future is just one of the recommendations for a green recovery in a report by the Edinburgh Climate Commission.

  • Edinburgh Climate Commission calls on Scottish Government and City Leaders to commit to a green recovery for the future of the city and its people
  • Inaugural report makes 10 recommendations for ensuring a thriving, fair and sustainable Edinburgh that is resilient to future economic and public health shocks
  • The Edinburgh Climate Commission is the only independent climate commission in Scotland

The Commission’s inaugural report sets out 10 recommendations for Edinburgh’s green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and will be considered by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Policy and Sustainability Committee on Thursday 9 July.

Led by Chair Dr. Sam Gardner, the Commission is the only independent climate commission in Scotland and was created in February 2020 to accelerate the action on climate change in Edinburgh. It has 15 expert commissioners from a variety of sectors and backgrounds and has committed to a series of reports that will lead, inform and shape the ambition to be a Carbon Neutral City by 2030.

A working group, led by finance expert Commissioner Kaisie Rayner, has produced its first report ‘Forward Faster Together – Recommendations for A Green Economic Recovery in Edinburgh’ addressing the city’s compound emergencies: the global climate crisis and recovery from the global pandemic.

Dr Gardner is expected to call on the Council to commit to a green economic recovery, investing in net zero transport infrastructure; prioritising capital projects that deliver a greener, healthier city environment and investing in local economies with shorter supply chains that support local jobs and community wellbeing.

The Commission’s 10 recommendations call for:

  1. A joint commitment to Green Economic Recovery from Local and National Government  
  2. Public stimulus and organisational investment decisions should be conditional upon contributing to a greener future
  3. Redesign and invest in carbon neutral transport infrastructure
  4. A city-wide approach to energy efficiency and renewable heat
  5. Localise services, support and infrastructure to build community resilience
  6. Focus on wellbeing in natural and built environment investments
  7. Embrace new business practices to reimagine building assets and opportunities for the city
  8. Grow skills and knowledge to deliver a city green recovery and lead a global transition
  9. Develop low carbon sectors and business models to make the city globally competitive
  10. Become a global leader in sustainable investment

Edinburgh Climate Commission Chair, Dr. Sam Gardner, said: “COVID-19 has shown the power of common purpose; we must now seize the moment created by the devastating pandemic to tackle the climate emergency and secure a fairer more sustainable future for this City and its people.

Edinburgh must plot a path to recovery that delivers new jobs, builds resilience and attracts investment. A green recovery does this and gives meaning to the phrase ‘build back better’; it kick-starts the much-needed acceleration to a net zero city by 2030 while improving our health and resilience to future shocks.”

A green economic recovery is in the best interests of the whole city.”

Commissioner, Kaisie Rayner, said: “Throughout this pandemic we have acted together to protect our families, our communities and have placed the highest value on our collective wellbeing.

“As we emerge from lockdown, millions of pounds are expected to be spent on our city’s recovery and it is imperative that every penny is spent wisely, delivering an economic recovery that benefits us all.

“The climate emergency hasn’t gone away and while our response to COVID 19 has seen a temporary drop in emissions it is clearly not how we need to tackle climate change. We need a planned response that has a sustained impact and puts people’s wellbeing at its heart.

“This report recommends a way forward that will position Edinburgh as a fair and sustainable economic leader in the low carbon global economies of the future and we must make the right choices now so that we create a City worth living in for ourselves and for the generations that will follow us.”

Edinburgh Climate Commission Vice Chair and Council Leader, Cllr. Adam McVey, said: The Edinburgh Climate Commission was formed out of a necessity to tackle climate change in Edinburgh as an urgent priority. 

“I am very appreciative of the immense work and effort that has gone into the creation of this report by the other Commissioners and the support from the Edinburgh Centre of Carbon Innovation and the University of Edinburgh.

“It has become clear that if we are to rebuild Edinburgh as a city of the future, then a green recovery is our only option. I welcome the Commission’s recommendations and I’m committed to making sure that these are central drivers within our post-Covid plans, both short term and long term, to deliver our 2030 carbon target.”

The Edinburgh Climate Commission is part of the Place-based Climate Action Network (PCAN), which works to translate climate policy into action ‘on the ground’.

Supported by the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) and local partners, the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation and the University of Edinburgh, PCAN brings together the research community and decision makers across the private, public and third sectors through city-based climate commissions, in a network that is expanding across the UK.

Become a Bee Buddy

Wake up to Nature: 9 tips to become a bee buddy

Honeybees are wonders of nature. You may see them buzzing happily from flower to flower at this time of year — but that’s just one pollination pitstop, as honeybees can cover an impressive three miles in one trip foraging for sticky nectar!

Their hard work doesn’t stop there; a strong colony of around 60,000 bees will travel the equivalent distance from earth to the moon every day!1

In turn, honeybees are responsible for pollinating a third of the fruit and vegetables we consume. They produce delicious honey for us to enjoy too, as the UK’s favourite honey brand Rowse knows only too well!

In fact, different flowers produce very distinct flavours, some light and citrussy, others rich and earthy — but all utterly delicious! In their lifetime, 12 honeybees will produce a teaspoon of yummy honey for us to drizzle, spread and ultimately enjoy. Their collective impact on the environment and food production shouldn’t be underestimated.

Sadly however, the UK’s remarkable honeybees have been in long term decline. So, Rowse is passionately spearheading positive change for the bees through Hives for Lives, a program of vital initiatives that protects the bees and improves livelihoods through beekeeping.

The good news is, we can all play a vital role in protecting and saving this incredible species with the following handy hints and tips on how to feed the bees this summer and become a Bee Buddy:

  1. Plant flowering plants from early spring through to winter. Make sure you have loads of different types; that way they’ll be in bloom throughout the seasons and the bees won’t go hungry. Here’s a handy list to tell you which plants will flower at different times of the year
  2. Bees don’t like having to fly too far, so plant different varieties of plants close together
  3. Some plants are more effective than others at attracting bees to your garden, so choose the bright flowers like lavender and borage, or tasty pollen herbs like thyme and marjoram
  4. Bees like plants with varying heights, so planting trees, shrubs and larger plants will help
  5. You don’t need to just plant in your garden – these will work just as well on your patio, window box or even hanging baskets
  6. Bees love weeds! A lawn full of clover and dandelions is a haven for bees, so let a patch of your lawn grow or raise the notches on the mower to lift the cutting blade a few centimetres
  7. Be wild! Some of a bee’s favourite nectar sources can be found in natural hedgerows and areas of wild plants or flowers, including bramble and ivy. Planting patches of these will not only help bumble bees, solitary bees and other pollinators, but will also help create the environments in which berries and seeds are produced, and which other wildlife also depend on
  8. Bees need water, so make sure there is somewhere in your garden for them to drink from. They’re only small so a plate or a small bowl is ideal
  9. If you see a tired or struggling bee, give them a one-off boost with some sugary water. Mix two tablespoons of white sugar and one tablespoon of water, put some of the mixture on the spoon with the bee and it should soon have a drink and become energised to take flight!

The more habitats you have in your garden, the more insects and bees you can attract and the more you’ll be doing to play a part and help nature to boost our natural resources.

Who knows, maybe you’ll even want to become a bee farmer some day!

Greens: Edinburgh must act now to protect cyclists and pedestrians

Scottish Greens Lothian MSP Alison Johnstone has lent her support to a grassroots campaign calling for urgent action to protect cyclists and pedestrians after a spate of accidents, including the deaths of a three-year-old boy and an NHS nurse in recent days.

Hundreds gathered to reclaim a road in Edinburgh today in a vigil for the deaths, which come after years of campaigning to protect cyclists and pedestrians in the capital.

Alison Johnstone said: “I fully support the many Edinburgh residents who have gathered today to demand that enough is enough. Yesterday a man was killed while he was cycling to work, and the day before a three-year-old boy was killed on a pavement. There have also been other cases of accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians this week. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.

“It’s not good enough to just offer condolences. In 2012 I called for capital road safety summit and raised these concerns at Scottish Government’s road safety group with many of the people campaigning today, and I can’t believe eight years later we’re still mourning cyclists killed on our streets.

“We need to see urgent action on the ground to make streets safer for people walking and cycling.

“If we cannot afford basic safety for people merely cycling to work or walking on a pavement we fail a basic test of leadership. Edinburgh needs to drastically cut traffic, like most normal historic European cities have done.”

Vehicle registrations plummet 94% as pandemic takes hold

Vehicle registrations fell by an estimated 94% in April, and 85% in May, compared to the same months last year, according to figures released today by the Department for Transport.

The quarterly Vehicle Licensing Statistics reported 599,000 vehicles were registered in the first quarter of this year, a 30% fall from the first quarter of 2019, resulting in a drop in the total number of licenced vehicles on Britain’s roads – only the second decline in the total number of vehicles on the road since the end of the Second World War.

The figures revealed an 82% decrease in registrations in the last week of March, coinciding with the UK lockdown coming into force and vehicle dealerships and showrooms being required to close, which removed the main method by which new vehicles are sold.

This was followed by 12,340 vehicle registrations in April and 37,100 in May, representing annual drops of 94% and 85% respectively.

However, the number of newly registered ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) shot up to 33,700, an increase of 113% on last year. In contrast, new diesel cars fell by 45% and petrol cars sales were down by 34%.

Responding to the government’s newly published data Greg Wilson, founder of leading car insurance comparison website, Quotezone.co.uk, says: “It’s not a surprise to learn that the lockdown has had a significant impact on vehicles sales, but the scale of that impact is truly staggering, particularly at the height of the lockdown in April and May.

“It’s also significant that the total number of vehicles on the road fell in the first quarter – the first time that number has fallen since 1991, and only the second time since the end of the Second World War. This is likely to be due to a combination of fewer new vehicles being registered as the lockdown was introduced, and some motorists deciding to SORN their vehicles if they weren’t likely to need them during lockdown.

“It’s also interesting to note the sharp rise in ULEV registrations – given that many electric cars are able to be delivered directly to the buyer, it’s possible this trend was partly driven by the lockdown as well.”

www.quotezone.co.uk

New electric scooter and electric bike store opens on Wednesday

Micromobility developing as Scottish Govt. plans electric scooter trials

  • 17 jobs secured by the Somerset-based business
  • Local retail, repair and servicing facilities
  • Stores managed and staffed by local people
  • Wide range of top brands of ebikes, escooters and accessories

On Wednesday (24 June), the Somerset-based firm Pure Electric will be opening new stores in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

This is part of an ambitious growth program with 9 other stores opening across the UK in the space of a few days, with European growth plans also being developed.

Peter Kimberley, Chief Executive of Pure Electric: “Our ambition is to be the largest e-bike and escooter retailer in Europe. We’ve got a fantastic team and demand is growing every day. Opening these stores is an important milestone for us.”

The business is the brainchild of former Hargreaves Lansdown pensions director Adam Norris, who launched his escooter business in 2018, before diversifying the company into e-bikes as well this year.

Norris recently handed over the role of CEO to Peter Kimberley but continues to work in the business full time, focusing on its growth strategy, its customer engagement and developing corporate partnerships, including Cycle to Work. 

The store openings

The stores have been taken over from the Cycle Republic brand, which was owned by Halfords and which was being closed down. The stores are employing local colleagues who are all former Cycle Republic employees; they will offer a full range of retail, repair and servicing facilities. Pure Electric’s stores will stock a wide range of e-bikes, escooters and accessories from leading manufacturers. 

Escooter trials

The store openings coincide with Department for Transport (DfT) consultations to fast-track trials of escooters in towns across the UK.

In response to Covid-19 and the need to introduce transport alternatives to public transport and private cars, the DfT is inviting applications from any town across Britain to operate escooter trials over the next 12 months.

According to the National Transport Survey, 57% of all car journeys are for distances of less than 5 miles and nearly a quarter are under 2 miles.

With public transport compromised due to Covid-19 infection risks. E-bikes and escooters are the perfect alternative for many of these journeys. 

Growth plans

Pure Electric is already the UK’s leading e-mobility retailer. The firm is developing a network of stores across the UK, with more to follow. It is also set to open retail outlets across Europe, with stores planned in France and Spain. 

Store opening details

Edinburgh: 71 Morrison Street, EH3 8BU

Glasgow: 107 Bothwell Street, G2 6TS

Artisan launches new standards for sustainable homes development

Urban Regeneration Specialist Creates New Design Framework to Boost Low Carbon City Living

 

Niche homebuilder Artisan Real Estate has launched an ambitious new blueprint for sustainable development, responding to the changing requirements of local people and communities in a post-Covid world.

Smart, energy-efficient building design has been matched with an innovative approach to placemaking and community, introducing such creative concepts as green roofs, ‘edible’ gardens and green transport plans to sensitive city centre environments. 

Initially focusing on new homes’ projects in Edinburgh, the plan is geared to achieving low to zero carbon development – as well as creating a more open and landscaped environment to benefit general health and well-being.

Linking closely with the City of Edinburgh Council’s ‘Future Edinburgh’ strategy which aims to make the city carbon neutral within the next ten years, Artisan is now applying its radical design philosophy to two major developments in the city: Canonmills Garden to the north of the city centre and the recently acquired Rowanbank Gardens in the popular Corstorphine area and currently subject to a planning application.

“The challenges highlighted by the Covid 19 pandemic has accelerated the importance of changing the way we deliver new home development,” said Clive Wilding, Artisan’s Group Development Director.

“We are now very much going above and beyond the existing Council guidelines as outlined in its ‘Future Edinburgh’ strategy. As well as reducing urban sprawl by optimising the number of people living in well-designed, sustainable homes in low car-use locations well-served by public and ‘self-propelled’ transport, we are also envisaging what people want from their living environment, post-Covid 19.

“Significant emphasis is placed on the quality of internal space and light to create enjoyable home-working environments, whilst accessible gardens and landscaping promote health and well-being by making nature and well-designed outdoor space integral to the day-to-day living experience.”

Artisan’s Canonmills Garden development, scheduled for completion in early 2021, has pioneered the integration of low and zero carbon generating technology.

This includes a combined heat and power system helping to support building energy loads whilst charging electric vehicles, reducing both building and transport CO2 emissions.

This strategy, combined with well-designed green roof spaces and climate responsive building facades, helps improve and enhance environmental integration, natural light provision and the quality of indoor and outdoor air.

Similar development principles have been applied to the major planning application for 126 new homes at Artisan’s Rowanbank Gardens.

The former care-home site in Corstorphine is set to answer the Council’s requirement for well designed, high density living whilst providing spacious communal areas and well-established public transport links ensuring low car ownership.

The development is designed around a central courtyard garden providing nearly twice the level of open space recommended by council planning policy, filled with fruit trees and communal planting and growing beds.  Apartments are designed for open plan living with large windows giving views of the courtyard and the wider area, while green roofs ensure benefits of surface water retention, insulation and ecology.

Artisan is perhaps best known in Scotland for large-scale city regeneration projects like the award-winning New Waverley, which has transformed the heart of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town.

The developer is now applying the same values and philosophy which has guided the successful design and execution of New Waverley to its residential developments, setting it apart from other major homebuilders in Scotland.

“Remaining true to our urban regeneration credentials, at the heart of all Artisan’s developments is building a strong sense of place,” adds Clive Wilding.  

“We are specialising in niche urban developments in the most exciting parts of the city centre, creating a high-value premium product for a wide range of homebuyers, including young professionals, families and downsizers. 

“Artisan now has an opportunity in Scotland to set a new benchmark for high quality urban regeneration in sensitive city-centre environments – whether it be commercial, residential or mixed-use.

“Our track record in Edinburgh and in Scotland has given us a strong understanding of the importance of high quality placemaking, which is at the heart of all Artisan’s developments.”

For more information on Artisan’s developments in Scotland and the UK visit:

www.artisanrealestate.co.uk,

www.rowanbankgardens.com

www.canonmillsgarden.com