Great news, though my personal favourite is Edinburgh obviously.

Lyra is an amazing organisation that is transforming the lives of young people. It’s Scotland’s first and only performing arts venue specifically for children and teenagers. Take a minute to see how lives are being enriched and to have your spirits lifted at the same time. youtu.be/RQ5nW4PI97U?...

It’s the small victories sometimes. Two new bins at South Gilmerton arrived yesterday thanks to the cleansing staff at @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social and the Local Coop store is doing a daily clean up outside its shop. The park is cleaner and is kept clean by @pawsonplastic.bsky.social.

Apparently a ‘daily puffin’ is a thing. Not to be outdone here are two (and a bit). Such lovely things. #farneislands #bird #birds

Perfect snap! ❤️

The boys on their evening walk at South Gilmerton after having a haircut. A lovely walk and as always, litter (not pictured) collected at the park. Every dog walk is a litter pick. @pawsonplastic.

Great news. Too many lives are cut short by smoking. Way too many.

🌏🚭The Daily Dose via DW News 🌏🚭 Since 2000, the number of people using tobacco has dropped by 50% in Southeast Asia!

Sometimes even a familiar view can surprise you with its beauty. We are lucky. #edinburgh.

An autumn morning on The Tweed. #walkerburn.

A year ago in the fabulous Little France Park. #edinburgh #craigmillar

The Asters are thriving in the garden this year.

Fabulous news. I’ve seen way too many people diminished and their lives cut shot by smoking.

First Black Darter spotted at the ponds at the top of the Bold Burn near Glenbenna. Other dragonflies weren’t as cooperative. They boys enjoyed their time there too.

Good blog - the reality of tree planting and the importance of tree tubes. “The guards kept a ray of light above them, and led to the best survival rates for any parcel on the site.”

House! #birds

Lovely weekend walk with the boys near Glenbenna. Amazing colours and Brodie enjoyed his dip in the pond at the top of the track.

Perhaps my favourite butterfly encounter of the year. A Dark Green Fritillary at Damhead near Traquair. Stunning to see and this one I got framed!

In troubled times I find myself listening to this classic a lot more often. Here’s hoping for a lasting peace for Palestine and Israel - youtube.com/watch?v=Oy3L...

Feeling old. I launched the first Biodiversity Action Pan. I’ve also been able to enjoy seeing all the changes. Amazing to see the wildlife in Edinburgh these days.

Celebrating 25 years of Edinburgh Biodiversity Action at Holyrood Park this morning so great to hear about all the positive actions for nature in our city of the past quarter decade #Biodiversity #Edinburgh

Loved the colors in this shot. Remember to be kind to your local pollinators! We need them more than they need us. 💖 📸 Nikon D850 | Hisle Farm Park, Kentucky #photography #photographer #pollinators #insects #bugs #butterflies #nature #plants #🦋 #macro #nikon #digitalphotography #kentucky #butterfly

And there it is. We’re over the tipping point on renewables. Renewables overtake coal and the increase in energy demand. Genuinely historic and world changing - www.bbc.com/news/article...

Farne Islands memories. Great to get the opportunity to photograph Puffins, albeit without touching land due to bird flu. I must try and get back sometime. #birds #wildlife

Excellent story in today’s @scotsman.com. Aberdeenshire born Lord Mayor of London leads global investment summit for Scotland. Great news and hopefully a success. bit.ly/4o6eYmJ

Compulsive reading. We’re nearer the tipping point on renewables than ever, and China is on on around maximum coal. Great news for the climate and ultimately for energy costs.

Good news on sustainable energy, poverty and financial inclusivity. P.S. Great follow for regular dose of positive news.

"We're likely witnessing the moment when global appetite for oil finally starts to wane, driven not by scarcity but by changes in how the world consumes energy," writes TPN member @ianbremmer.com for @gzeromedia.com . www.gzeromedia.com/news/analysi...

Fabulous news. The Progress Network is the perfect antidote to doom scrolling. Excellent.

Good news.

Amazing progress. We’re closer than ever to the tipping point on renewables - ember-energy.org/latest-updat...

Brodie didn’t come back in after being let out into the garden last thing at the weekend. Searched high and low in the dark and no response when I called him. Eventually found him under the acer transfixed with a new friend. Retrieved to leave the hedgehog in peace.

Warning as creatures with 'painful sting' wash up on beaches #UnitedKingdm A warning has been issued following several sightings of Portugese man o' wars washed up on popular beaches. www.bbc.com/news/article...

How did Dr. Monarez go from being “a public health expert with unimpeachable scientific credentials” who had the “full confidence” of Secretary Kennedy into being a “liar” and “untrustworthy” in less than a month? She refused to rubber stamp his anti-vaccine recommendations.

Roe deer in bad light in the beautiful Blackford Glen. Most of the photos just didn’t come out. #wildlife #edinburgh

Good to see Edinburgh well below average. Tourism supports facilities that a city of half a million wouldn’t normally have. Not perfect, but in rude health.

Gee, I wonder why. www.404media.co/doj-deletes-...

Gilmerton Road has changed a bit, but still recognisable going past on the bus this morning. #Edinburgh

Always lovely to see Fleshmarket Close, though not necessarily nice to inhale there. Haven’t been in Jingling’s or the Halfway House for more years than I care to remember - and I wasn’t in today, but it’s somehow reassuring they’re still there. #edinburgh

Getting close to the tipping point on renewables. Amazing progress.

📈☀️The Daily Dose via @ember-energy.org 📈☀️ In the first six months of 2025, the world added 380 GW of new solar capacity, which is 64% higher than the year before.

Best kept secret in #Edinburgh. Lunch with an amazing view at Twenty in Princes Street. Fabulous food too!

Redshanks in Seaton Valley near the shore. Always lovely to see. #birds #bird #nature

Lovely walk along Seaton Valley at the weekend on a trip south. Left my camera behind, so just catching up after being reunited. Such a lovely place.

Excellent report and great work. Well worth a read.

Double Hedges Road. One childhood playground on the left and another on the right - this was way before then I hasten to add. There’s not much of the hedging on the left that’s survived. It might need renaming. #Edinburgh #Liberton #TheInch.

We're looking for your views on expanding our tram network from the north to the south of the city. The consultation runs from today (25 August) until 17 November.

What’s the story behind those dodgy gift shops on Princes Street in Edinburgh? Jim Waterson of @londoncentric.media investigates in bonus edition of the Minute: edinburghminute.substack.com/p/tax-evadin...

Craigmillar Castle from Stanedykehead. Taken over the summer when the fields were ablaze with poppies.

One of two new prints for the office. Can’t recommend Edinburgh Framing on Newington Road too highly. Great work and swiftly done.