Protect our wildlife 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Today, @scotlink.bsky.social's Nature Champions are dressed as Scottish animals, including our very own wildcat costume. The campaigners are demonstrating outside the Scottish parliament as MSPs debate the Natural Environment Bill 🗳️

What is a roost? Here are some bat roost facts: 🪹 Bats do not make nests, but choose various places throughout the year to shelter, live and sleep in. 🦇 Where bats choose to roost varies between species and the time of the year. 📍 They don't stay in the same roost the whole year.

Climate and nature groups will be marching together at the #ScotlandDemandsBetter march in Edinburgh on 25 October. Details below!

Welcome home, Greenland White-fronted Geese! These red-listed geese breed in Greenland and make a 2000-mile journey back to the UK and Ireland each year in autumn/winter. Discover more: www.scotlink.org/species/gree... Championed by Jackie Baillie MSP + @rspbscotland.bsky.social 📸 Ian Fulton

Right now just 5% of Scotland’s farm funding directly supports nature-friendly farming. That’s nowhere near enough. Ahead of next year’s elections call on party leaders to commit to investing in a future where wildlife and farmers thrive 🚜 🐦🐝 Take action now: action.rspb.org.uk/page/174887/...

We 💚 the spherical beauty & temporary nature of #SeedHeads, especially this Meadow Goat’s Beard (or Meadow Salsify) about which poet Abraham Cowley (1618-1667) wrote, “The goat’s beard, which each morn abroad doth peep But shuts its flowers at noon and goes to sleep.” #WildFlowerHour

Happy hump(back) day! 🐋 A suitably cetaceous fact for today: #DYK humpback whales have the largest forelimbs in the animal kingdom, leading to their scientific name 'Megaptera', meaning 'giant winged'. 🧐 #NatureChmpioned by @jamiegreeneuk.bsky.social Learn more: www.scotlink.org/species/hump...

Do you want to make your neighbourhood better for wildlife? Join us in Glasgow for a friendly, informal workshop, open to anyone who wants to organise action for nature in their community. The workshop will run on 16 September at 10am and 2 October at 7pm. Sign up - bit.ly/3UGTQqp

The wait is almost over. 🦅 RETURN - the breathtaking story of how the White-tailed Eagle was brought back from extinction - premieres this Friday 29th August on our YouTube channel. Fifty years in the making... Who's ready? youtu.be/i_A7_E6vIwQ?...

Championing wildcats 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 We're seeking parliamentary support to save wildcats in Scotland, from attending events like @naturechampions.bsky.social's Parliamentary reception, to hosting MSPs at @highlandwpark.bsky.social. Our policy brief ➡️ savingwildcats.org.uk/media/fl1fhv3w/policy-brief_3.pdf 💼

I was delighted to finally meet the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) conservation teams on site. Their passion and deep care for our precious species really came through — and their work is nothing short of vital. #HighlandsAndIslands #ScottishGreens

We were thrilled to take part in Scotland’s first ever Snorkel Festival recently. From guided snorkel sessions to fascinating talks, there was so much going on. Our own Elouise Dalziel and Rachel Faichnie were both in attendance and tell us more in our latest blog 👇 buff.ly/ls6wFq7

It's World Whale and Dolphin Day! 🐳 Did you know that Scotland's seas are home to a variety of different whales, dolphins and porpoises, including some of the biggest on Earth? Take our short quiz to discover more about these incredible creatures! ⬇️ forms.office.com/e/7qp0mi0Lq4

A moment of appreciation for one of nature’s architects! The red-tailed mason bee sometimes nest in empty snail shells. They then cover it in grass and twigs to protect it against predators. Isn’t nature amazing? #Bee #Nature

The Noctule Bat is usually one of the first bats to appear in the evening, with calls just audible to the human ear. In summer, these ginger-golden bats roost in trees with holes made by woodpeckers, rot, or splits. #NatureChampioned by Miles Briggs MSP with @batconservation.bsky.social

🦇 Discover the magic of summer nights in your garden, where bats take to the sky at dusk. Our gardens are vital for providing food and shelter to these fascinating creatures as their habitats dwindle: www.bats.org.uk/advice/garde...

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @tesswhitemsp.bsky.social is the new #NatureChampion for the Black Grouse! Tess will be working with @scotlink.bsky.social member @rspbscotland.bsky.social to champion these iconic birds in the Scottish Parliament. 👇 www.scotlink.org/species/blac... 📸 Andy Hay/RSPB

"The current session has seen MSPs climb mountains in search of bees, wade across rivers for endangered mussels, attend night-time bat surveys and even abseil from trees in support of Scotland’s extraordinary species and habitats!" Read our latest blog: www.scotlink.org/celebrating-...

What mingles in the marsh? A whole world of incredible species! 👀 This coastal habitat is vital for both nature and climate. But it's disappearing at an alarming rate. We can turn the tide by taking action to protect the natural world - on land and at sea! 🌊 #Nature #Climate #Wildlife

📣 Today is the LAST DAY to nominate your favourite 'culturally important' tree to be UK tree of the Year 2025! 👇

It's Swift Awareness Week! Swifts are our most aerial of birds, spending nearly all of their time on the wing! Although widespread, swift numbers have declined rapidly, with as many as 65% lost between 1995 and 2015. Join a Swift event near you! rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...

Cross-party politicians celebrated #ScotlandsRainforest in Holyrood yesterday ahead of a new report by @asrainforest.bsky.social‬ outlining progress partners have made towards restoring Scotland’s temperate rainforest, one of the country’s rarest & most threatened habitats. Report 👉 bit.ly/3GaLfZc

Almost two thirds of Scotland’s seabird species have declined over the last 20 years, with eight including the Arctic tern, kittiwake and black-headed gull declining by more than 50%. Scotland's seabirds are internationally important and they need our protection. www.nature.scot/seabird-numb...

Last week, we were delighted to present awards to Nature Champions to celebrate some of their fantastic work so far over this parliament. 🏆 Many congratulations to all the nominees and winners! @willierennie.bsky.social @cgrahamemsp.bsky.social @ariane-burgess.bsky.social @monicalennon.bsky.social

Yesterday LINK members came together with MSPs to celebrate the Nature Champions initiative! The event was a great chance to connect and pay recognition to the fantastic work our MSP Nature Champions and members do to bring a voice for nature into the Scottish parliament.

Stand Up for Nature! Scotland’s nature is struggling, but the Natural Environment Bill could be a turning point. We need to show MSPs that nature matters to Scotland’s people. 📆Thursday 12 June 🕒12:30-2pm 📍Scottish parliament Join the demo: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stand-up-f...

"We’ve organised the Stand Up for Nature demonstration outside the Scottish parliament to show MSPs that people want restoring nature to be a priority." Read more about next week's #ScotlandLovesNature demo outside the Scottish parliament in Deadline News: www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2025/06/04/e...

Sunday marked the inaugural 'International Wild Salmon Day' - a day to highlight the threats that wild salmon face and the solutions to safeguard them. 🐟 Edward Mountain MSP, Champion for the Atlantic Salmon, lodged a motion to recognise this important cause: www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-...

Happy #WorldBeeDay 🐝 Did you know there are more than 115 species of bee in Scotland? Last week we took a group of MSP Nature Champions for a special bee visit hosted by @stir.ac.uk and joined by @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social and Buglife Scotland. Read our blog: www.scotlink.org/bee-inspired...

Huge thanks to @rozmccallmsp.bsky.social‬ @patrickharvie.bsky.social, Evelyn Tweed, Graham Simpson, @markruskell.bsky.social, and to @scotlink.bsky.social‬, Buglife and @stir.ac.uk for supporting wild bees and biodiversity. Read the manifesto here: www.bumblebeeconservation.org/a-manifesto-...

Delighted to host Scottish @NatureChampions MSPs at #UofStirling on Friday to mark #WorldBeeDay 🌍🐝 We went on a wild bee safari, explored cutting-edge bumblebee research, and discussed our #BumblebeeManifesto - a call to action for policymakers to help wild bees thrive.

What a great day learning about bumblebees - thank you to everyone for coming along to find out more, and how we can all take action 🐝

Do you want to learn how to run a bat walk? Join our online course in June; taking place over two evenings on 23 and 30 June at 6:30pm: www.bats.org.uk/our-work/tra... We will walk you through the entire process, from planning and preparing your event to running the bat walk itself!

Today we had a fantastic site visit in Stirling with a group of Nature Champion MSPs to learn all about how crucial bees are for our planet and lives! Many thanks go to the Nature Champions for their keen interest in this important topic, @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social, Buglife and @stir.ac.uk🐝

Know anyone aged 18-26 near #Aberdeen who is keen to get into walking, but just needs a friendly helping hand? Our Out There Award rolls in to the Granite City on 10 & 11 May. It offers young adults a FREE chance to enjoy walks, learn beginner skills & meet friendly like-minded people. Book NOW! 👇

The bluebells are out! 🪻 A carpet of blue flowers is one of the highlights of spring, but #DYK that these plants are also a strong indicator of ancient woodland, specifically those predating the 17th century? Discover more about these ancient habitats: www.scotlink.org/species/anci...

Happy World Whaup Day to MSP Nature Champion @jimfairliesnp.bsky.social! #WorldCurlewDay Find out more about these fantastic waders, the threats they're facing and the action needed to protect them: scotlink.org/species/curl...

Happy #WorldCurlewDay! Today we’re celebrating some good news for Curlews in Orkney, thanks to the work of the #OrkneyNativeWildlifeProject. After suffering large declines, Curlew numbers increased by 21%, between 2019 (the year the project began) and 2024. 📸: Ian Francis

#DYK that beavers are being brought back in the US to help tackle wildfires? 🔥 As well as creating habitats, improving water quality and alleviating flooding, their dams can create fireproof refuges! @scotsbeavers.bsky.social Watch the animation to see how: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAM9...

We recently met @Scotlink.bsky.social Riparian Woodland #NatureChampion Rachael Hamilton MSP and Borders MP counterpart John Lamont at Jacob's Well in Coldstream... the "First wood in Scotland". Great chat about the benefits of trees along rivers, burns and lochs. Find out more: buff.ly/Y06AyhC.

These sunny spring days offer the perfect opportunity to get outside and enjoy some fresh air. Earlier this month, Nature Champion for Paths @sandeshgulhane.bsky.social joined @ramblersscotland.bsky.social for a walk along the Kelvin to discuss the health benefits from walking/wheeling in nature.

Explore Loch Arkaig with your very own audio guide 🔊 Download the app before your visit, and listen to tales of the past, ancient folklore, and visions for the future - and it's narrated by local community members! 🌳 🧚 Download here: buff.ly/97dJ1C8

🦇 The #SunsetSurvey season has begun! Are you new wildlife surveys, want something to do with family and friends, or looking for a way to unwind at the end of the day? Try the National Bat Monitoring Programme's Sunset Survey! You can take part in three simple steps (see thread 👇)

Happy International Beaver Day! Eurasian Beavers are a keystone species that shape the environment by felling trees and damming streams, creating habitats like wetlands, ponds, grasslands, and more! 🦫 Nature Championed by @ariane-burgess.bsky.social! Read more: www.scotlink.org/species/eura...

Beyond her duties as an MSP and minister, Christina was also a voice for nature in the Scottish Parliament, as Nature Champion for the kingfisher with RSPB Scotland. We thank her for all her tireless work. 2/2

Scottish Environment LINK is very saddened to learn of the death of Christina McKelvie MSP. We send our sympathies to all her family, friends and colleagues. 1/2

Common Toads need you! 🐸 Get involved with your local @froglife.bsky.social Toad Patrol to help Scotland's toads reach their ancestral breeding ponds this spring. No experience needed, just enthusiasm! Find out more: froglife.org/what-we-do/t... 📸 Dave Kilbey

If your community has united to take action for nature in your local area, share your story, and enter our #NatureOfScotland Community Initiative award!🙌 We want to celebrate your innovative ideas and positive impact 👉 bit.ly/NatureofScotland

Congratulations to MSP Nature Champion of the Year 2024, @colinsmythmsp.bsky.social, who was presented with his award by Scottish Badgers on a visit last week. Colin has been the Badger champion since 2016 and he was a key advocate for the historic ban on snaring that was introduced last year. 🦡

If you want to learn how to ID the lichens, mosses and liverworts found in #ScotlandsRainforest then don't miss out on these fantastic events with Oliver Moore from @plantlifeuk.bsky.social!! 10 April & 9 October. More details https://buff.ly/4hPzLaM 📷 John MacPherson