We took part in the Stop Climate Chaos mass lobby yesterday. Around 500 people registered to lobby their MSPs for greater climate action and hundreds showed up to speak to their MSPs

The circular economy, and along with it repair and reuse, could be slipping down the UK-wide political agenda. We have signed a joint letter, co-ordinated by @therestartproject.org, to Emma Reynolds, new DEFRA minister, reflecting our support for policies put forward in the #RepairReuseDeclaration.

This week the world gathers in Geneva to agree the Global Plastics Treaty. We've signed a Friends of the Earth Scotland letter to the First Minister calling for more ambition on plastics. It's a whole year since the Circular Economy Act was passed - action is needed now. aprs.scot/what-we-sa...

A Battery Storage facility on a Green Belt site near to the famous Cochno Stone in Faifley has been given the go ahead. We objected to the development which has been heavily opposed locally and will impact on an important array of Neolithic cup and ring marked rocks. aprs.scot/cochno

We haven't been moping about since Galloway National Park was cancelled - we dived straight into working on the National Park section of the Natural Environment Bill. It's been a great opportunity to look at the process of designation and possible changes in future. aprs.scot/news/still...

Welcome to our new Office Manager and Administrator Laura MacLeod - we are so delighted to have her on the team. Nina Sobecka retired at the end of June after 13 years with us but she is continuing a volunteer on the Oral History project, so she will still be around! aprs.scot/news/welco...

We are starting a new research project on energy - especially looking at the volume of planning applications for battery storage as so much is appearing on Green Belt sites. We have two amazing volunteers working on it - look out for the report in September! aprs.scot/news/energ...

This week an updated Landscape Charter, has been published by The Scottish Landscape Alliance. The document, endorse by Scottish Government, a vision of how Scotland’s communities, land managers and public bodies can contribute to enhancing Scotland’s landscapes. aprs.scot/news/updat...

Governments always seem to prioritise the benefit of landowners and big business rather than the people who voted for them. God knows national parks aren't perfect, but they're better than the free-for-all that blights the outdoors elsewhere. Actual APRS report here - aprs.scot/news/how-mis...

This is powerful analysis from @kat-jones.bsky.social of @aprscotland.bsky.social. If national parks are to be a mainstay of how we protect nature, enhance access and provide lasting community benefit (and I firmly believe they are) then a bolder approach is needed. aprs.scot/news/misinfo...

How misinformation brought down a National Park. APRS Director @kat-jones writes in The Herald about the vested interests that brought down the proposed Galloway National Park and why this is a sobering lesson for all environmental campaigners. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/hol...

@aprscotland.bsky.social Director Kat Jones on the campaign that banjaxed a Galloway National Park and another poorly conducted consultation by the Scottish Government: #Galloway #ScottishEnvironment 🌱 #LandManagement

How misinformation brought down Scotland's next National Park Analysis shows misinformation had an impact on decision making, and the Park was scrapped, despite Government knowledge that most of the arguments being used against the National Park had no basis in evidence. aprs.scot/news/how-mis...

Galloway Park proposal brought down by an opaquely funded misinformation campaign & a decision making process that relied on weighing the responses on a scale rather than considering their merits - excellent from @kat-jones.bsky.social at @aprscotland.bsky.social aprs.scot/news/misinfo...

How can we use lobbying laws to challenge the influence of big businesses and wealthy individuals in politics? Join our webinar to hear about how our lobbying laws work and discuss whether they need to be strengthened to prevent corruption. 🗓️ 02/07, 3.30-5pm 🎟️ Book: www.ercs.scot/news/lobbyin...

@georgemonbiot.bsky.social with the axing of the Galloway National Park yesterday, you may be interested in this analysis of the anti-campaign's tactics. It might go someway to explaining how something like this could happen, and how it can happen to other campaigns. aprs.scot/news/environ...

"The news that Galloway is no longer under consideration to be Scotland’s next National Park should send a chill down the spine of everyone campaigning to make the world a better place." Our reactions to the axing of the planned Galloway National Park yesterday aprs.scot/press-releas...

We made the front page of the Herald! Full story is on STV website news.stv.tv/politics/min...

The Scottish Government will make an announcement on a Galloway and Ayrshire National Park on Thursday. We, along with our friends in Galloway and are calling on the Cabinet Secretary to designate the Park without delay. aprs.scot/press-rele...

Will you be out and about in the hills this summer and do you love maps? We want to find out what the locations pictured in a 1936 APRS Booklet look like today. Can you help find and photograph them? aprs.scot/news/do-you-... @christownsend.bsky.social @mtn-trng-scotland.bsky.social

It's the last chance to have your donation to APRS doubled! Thank you to so many people who have helped us raise £13,000 so far. Please help us reach our target of £20,000 by the deadline of 12 noon! donate.biggive.org/c...

Are you going out and about in the hills this summer and can track down what any of the places from this 1936 booklet from our Archive look like today? Send us your photos and we'll put them on our webpage. aprs.scot/news/do-yo...

Are you going out and about this spring and can help us find these locations from an APRS publication from 1935? What do they look like today? aprs.scot/news/do-yo...

We're excited to be part of The Big Give again this year where all donations to APRS are doubled. It starts on 22 March so please do consider giving to us - the page goes live this time next week www.aprs.scot/BigGive

The Biosphere strongly support a new National Park in Galloway and are encouraging local people to respond to the consultation

Online survey: An opportunity to express your views on the benefits that could come from creating a 3rd National Park in Scotland (Galloway & South Ayrshire). An opportunity to create a shared vision for land, coast, nature and people. ⬇️ newnationalparkgalloway.commonplace.is/en-GB/propos...

💚 Happy Valentine's! 💚 Today is the last day that you can show the love for a Galloway National Park by responding to the official consultation. The short consultation is really easy to take part in, and you only need to answer the questions you want to. www.smartsurvey.co.u... 1/3

Episode one ✅

Just a reminder that this is on NOW! I'm on at 8pm and I will be asking: are we being gaslit on ecology by the planning system? 🤔

A message from our friends at Galloway National Park Association as D&G Council goes to a vote on support for the National park. "Conservative councillors from Galloway have declared that they support proposals for a new National Park. 1/7

The public consultation on the proposed #GallowayNationalPark closes on 14/02 and we have published the GSA Biosphere Partnership's response in full on our website. We encourage everyone who lives/works in the proposed area to take part in the survey too. www.gsabiosphere.org.uk/gsa-biospher...

Really useful reply from @squirreltower.bsky.social here ....

"Are we being gaslit? The role communities can play in holding developers to account." Quite a provocative title for Kiera Chapman's talk at our webinar this evening! Come and hear her, and two other speakers at 7pm www.eventbrite.co.uk... [email protected] 1/3

Otter on the River Add by IslandAdd Bridge, Argyll

I've just finished my response to the Galloway National Park consultation. There's a short survey so it's really simple to fill in. You can do it here. www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/nationalpa... Or if you want a bit of guidance you can go to the APRS website here. aprs.scot/news/have-yo...

Getting the word out on how important it is for folks to respond to the consultation on a National Park for Galloway before the Valentine's Day deadline. www.dng24.co.uk/show-love-fo...

If you haven't yet read this yet please have a look and share. Dumfries and Galloway Council meet to vote on the proposal on 5th February and these tactics are being used against other environmental and progressive campaigns.

"Planning Conditions and Enforcement: how conditions work and can help nature" We have just confirmed our three speakers fantastic speakers for our joint webinar with @plandemoc.bsky.social on Wednesday 7pm. You can register here and read more in the thread ... 1/5 www.eventbrite.co.uk...

Job Opportunity: An ESRC-funded research project with Sheffield University that asks 'are new planning policies to protect biodiversity improving outcomes for biodiversity on the ground?' jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Research... jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Research...

Nature & Planning Webinar Wed 5th Feb 7-8.30pm Planning Conditions & Enforcement How do they work for Nature? Speakers Kiera Chaman Oxford Uni Stuart Bence Nature Scot Ed Swales Enforcement Officer Cairngorms NP www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/planning-c... @aprscotland.bsky.social @scotlink.bsky.social

I'm doing a webinar! Can't wait to speak to everyone about this (and gather some ideas about how we put it right!)

It's time for our final webinar in our series on Planning and Biodiversity, with Planning Democracy. Join us on 5th February 7pm to hear about the importance of Conditions and Enforcement in Planning for protecting nature and wildlife, and how communities can be involved. www.eventbrite.co.uk...

Mark Gibson OBE backs new National Park in Dumfries and Galloway 🌿

This is absolutely phenomenal, and is highly recommended to anyone trying to make Scotland an even slightly nicer place at a policy level. bsky.app/profile/aprs...

An interesting tale about how PR/lobbying has been used against environmental projects in Scotland. It's time we investigated campaigns on behalf of sprawl housing, airports and those trying to abolish planning across the UK.

How an opaquely-funded PR company is skewing the debate about a new national park in Scotland and why it is so important for you to have your say. aprs.scot/news/environ...

SG consultation's on a National Park for Galloway is live until the 14th, and the thoughts of my former employers @aprscotland.bsky.social on it are here, including the niche questions I hadn't given much thought to (I really want it to cover the Solway too) Please fill in! aprs.scot/resources/re...

The next (and last) of our Winter webinar series is coming up - it's on Planning Conditions and Enforcement and you can register here! aprs.scot/nature-net... Date for the diary too - 22nd March for our in-person gathering to round off the series. Location TBC, but will be in central belt

📢NEW REPORT CALLS FOR POWERS ON ENVIRONMENT TO BE HANDED BACK TO DEVOLVED GOVERNMENTS 📢 Today we have published a new report calling for urgent changes to the Internal Market Act. Read more in STV News: news.stv.tv/politics/war...