Gail Halvorsen
@gailhalvorsen.bsky.social
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📥 65
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Principal, Halvorsen Architects Chair, SEDA Land (Scottish Ecological Design Association)
There's a groundswell to get children outside more. Let's discuss how.
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20 days ago
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It's incredible how fewer bugs and allergies children in outdoor nurseries pick up.
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about 1 month ago
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Unfortunately this culture of fear seems to be prevalent across the public sector.
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about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
3 months ago
Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust has acquired part of a commercial forest beside Loch Duich with a view to building an eco-village offering affordable housing, woodland crofts and business units. It hopes the development will attract young families to the area and help keep the local school open.
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West Highland community moving forward with eco-village plans
A community trust has bought land for affordable homes and woodland crofts at Loch Duich.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1d6x29pgrko
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
2 months ago
On International Women’s Day, SEDA Land thanks all the inspirational women who have helped us in the past year. Here are a few of them. Clockwise from top left: Bea Nichol, Megan MacInnes, Flora Fraser, Magdalena Blazusiak, Lucy Filby, Savannah Fishel, Sophie Cooke, Lorna Dawson, and Gloria Lo
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Fantastic line-up for the next SEDA Land event. This is a timely event given that local authorities across Scotland are becoming more open to the idea of outdoor learning.
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3 months ago
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
3 months ago
Now is the best time in decades for Scottish farmers to convert to nature-friendly practices, according to
@soilassocscot.bsky.social
co-director David McKay. by
@scotsman.com
rural affairs correspondent
@katharinehay.bsky.social
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'Best time in decades' for Scottish farmers to convert to organic
Recent figures show the organic food and drink market in Scotland has grown by 20.6 per cent in five years.
https://www.scotsman.com/hays-way/best-time-in-decades-for-scottish-farmers-to-convert-to-organic-5607351
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
3 months ago
Jeremy Leggett
@highlandsrewilding.bsky.social
has come up with a big new idea, the “nature prosperity pump,” which combines sustainable forestry, rewilding, and the work of Inverness-based Makar to address Scotland’s climate & biodiversity crises and its housing emergency
@vickyallan.bsky.social
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Could this idea solve the housing crisis and save nature?
A green entrepreneur has come up with a big idea, he calls “nature prosperity pump”, using woodland creation to drive a new wave of timber…
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25837122.big-idea-help-end-rural-housing-crisis-save-nature/
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Thanks farmers, rangers, builders, students and many more at the SEDA Land workshops who gave real insights into different ways of managing land, advocating that locals, who understand the land and community best, lead the change. But they need professional help and a more collaborative approach.
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3 months ago
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Gail Halvorsen
The National
4 months ago
It’s time for Scotland to break with US tech. Isn’t independence in reality something of an illusion in this global world dominated by tech and economic oligarchs? Isn’t what Scottish independence offers really an opportunity to pick sides? From Connor Beaton ✍️
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UK should be seeking closer ties with Europe now more than ever
https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25751243.uk-seeking-closer-ties-europe-now-ever/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Bluesky#Echobox=1767904326
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Although Britain has one of the highest levels of membership of environmental organisations in the world, it has little impact on our closeness to nature. Some interesting thoughts on why in this might be by Miles Richardson in
@patrickbarkham.bsky.social
's article.
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Britain one of least ‘nature-connected’ nations in world – with Nepal the most
Others languishing near bottom of 61-country study include Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/01/britain-one-of-least-nature-connected-nations-in-world-with-nepal-the-most
6 months ago
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Glad someone is talking sense about this very popular local venue. Yet again a knee-jerk reaction by a local authority to demolish. And Jocelyn doesn't even mention the embodied carbon aspect. Demolition would be a lose lose scenario.
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7 months ago
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Thanks Paloma, Andy, Amy, Finlay, Cormac, Ashleigh, Anna, Ray, Geoff, John and Glo. Without you it would not have happened!
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7 months ago
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
8 months ago
MASS CLIMATE LOBBY: On Friday, Scotland’s biggest-ever lobby of politicians on climate issues took place in Holyrood. The event was organised by
@sccscot.bsky.social
, which we've now joined.
@gailhalvorsen.bsky.social
attended on behalf of SEDA, lobbying MSPs including
@lornaslater.bsky.social
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
8 months ago
Less than two weeks to go until the
@uofglasgow.bsky.social
and
@scotecodesign.bsky.social
green careers fair. The careers fair will showcase jobs that operate along ecological principles to highlight the wide range that is available. 📅 Wed, 24 Sept 2025 ⏰ 10am—4pm 📌 Glasgow University Union
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Most careers fairs tend to promote only a narrow range of jobs. The SEDA Green Careers Fair will redress the balance by highlighting openings in regenerative farming, forestry, bioproducts, environmental NGOs, environmental law etc, all of which are growing sectors looking for recruits.
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8 months ago
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
George Monbiot
10 months ago
Remember all that fulminating in the billionaire press about "free speech" (ie their freedom to abuse Muslims, trans people etc with impunity)? Now that people are being arrested for speaking about an issue of the utmost gravity, the self-appointed guardians of liberty have fallen strangely silent.
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
George Monbiot
10 months ago
It's utterly mad. These people are the opposite of terrorists. THEY WANT PEACE. The police know they're not terrorists. The government knows they're not terrorists. Yet, on the Home Secretary's orders, they're being arrested under the Terrorism Act.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
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More than 100 arrested across UK at protests related to Palestine Action
Police in London detain scores of people and confiscate placards under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jul/19/palestine-action-protests-uk-london-arrests
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"Why is it that a tree never moves?" Atul Shah's provocative and accessible book 'Organic Finance' opens with this powerful poem. Do read! "Interest rates, exchange rates, stock prices are all numbers which abstract reality and have often been converted into hard facts and supreme gods"
11 months ago
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
11 months ago
How Scottish society could be transformed by the multiple benefits of intergenerational living. Full recording and slides of SEDA Land’s Radical Housing Conference Scotland 2025 part 3 now available. Thanks to partners
@agilehomes.bsky.social
&
@archifringe.bsky.social
seda.scot/radical-hous...
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Craig White
11 months ago
@gailhalvorsen.bsky.social
of
@scotecodesign.bsky.social
kicks off the Zoomers and Boomers Soirée talking about her experience of living in an intergenerational household at the Radical Housing Conference Scotland Part 3.
@agilehomes.bsky.social
@archifringe.bsky.social
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A thoroughly fascinating evening. If I was to sum up I would say we need more grassroots initiatives to encourage community activities such as Bristol's Play Street Order; inclusion of intergenerational living in NPF4; and more multi generation cohousing projects. Thanks to all involved!
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11 months ago
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
11 months ago
Can Scotland’s housing emergency be solved by more intergenerational living? Come along to our Zoomers and Boomers event at Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh tomorrow at 6pm.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/radical-ho...
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Radical Housing Conference Scotland Part 3
Get ready for the third installment of the Radical Housing Conference in Scotland, where we'll be diving deep into all things housing activi
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/radical-housing-conference-scotland-part-3-tickets-1338179172929
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Looking forward to chairing this event to try and understand why, in Scotland, why intergenerational living is not more common and why we don't value the benefits it can bring. I benefitted enormously from growing up in the same house as my grandparents.
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11 months ago
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
11 months ago
Renowned Scottish singer-songwriter and environmentalist Zoë Bestel is performing a version of Utopia, live, at Radical Housing Conference Scotland Part 3, in Augustine United Church on Wed 11 June, 6-9pm. Sophie Cooke will read a newly-commissioned poem at the same Zoomers and Boomers Soireé.
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Utopia - Zoë Bestel // Official Visualiser
YouTube video by Zoë Bestel
https://youtu.be/40rVsU6Kcb0?si=Bs4V1k-S2vvT2BAa
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
12 months ago
Fraser/Livingstone Architects’ Robin Livingstone will talk about intergenerational living and how this can work in practice, through the lens of the zero-carbon, multi-generational community he’s developing on the edge of Forres in Moray. SEDA Land/Architecture Fringe event, 11 June, 6-9pm.
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
12 months ago
Students! Looking to enhance your CV and make a positive impact? Join SEDA LAND as a volunteer at this September’s Green Careers Fair! No prior experience required—just bring enthusiasm & eagerness to learn. Email
[email protected]
for more info!
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We'd love to hear your views about intergenerational living – something mostly lost in the UK as we gravitate towards the nuclear family. Can architecture be part of the solution?
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12 months ago
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We were so lucky to have such incredible artist performing at the conference. Thank you Beth and Chris!
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about 1 year ago
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
about 1 year ago
SEDA Land thanks all those who came to Birnam Arts for the Radical Housing Conference on Friday. From activists and timber home manufacturers, to investors in construction and retrofit hubs, we managed to assemble a fantastic group. Thanks to
@agilehomes.bsky.social
for bringing the event North.
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Ian Fraser
about 1 year ago
In parts of this septic isle, fresh water has become first undrinkable, then unswimmable, then untouchable. How did it come to this—and where do we go from here? Must read about the global fight to halt abuse of our rivers by
@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social
, extracted from his book Is A River Alive?
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Is this river alive? Robert Macfarlane on the lives, deaths and rights of our rivers
As pollution levels hit record highs and fresh water becomes ‘the new oil’, is it time to radically reimagine our relationship to the natural world?
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/26/is-this-river-alive-robert-macfarlane-on-the-lives-deaths-and-rights-of-our-rivers
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Ian Fraser
about 1 year ago
On World Press Freedom Day, it emerges Israel has arrested prominent Palestinian journalist Ali al-Samoudi in the Occupied West Bank.
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Israeli forces arrest prominent Palestinian journalist in West Bank
Ali al-Samoudi, who has worked extensively with Western media, was detained during what the Israeli military said were counter-terrorism raids.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cewgrnv08jko
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Craig White
about 1 year ago
Access to a safe, civil, low carbon, affordable home is not a lot to ask for, but the housing crisis has cut off supply! So it's time to get radical, because doing what we always did, will only get us what we always got. Are you a housing radical? 🎟️
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/radical-ho...
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Great offer for some of the best speakers on housing in Scotland!
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about 1 year ago
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Retrofit definitely needs well qualified people as it can be extremely complicated, but I would argue that that could be a surveyor, an engineer or A.N.Other. This is exactly what we will be discussing at one session of the Radical Housing Conference being held on 2nd may.
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about 1 year ago
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Global Witness
about 1 year ago
📍 In Honduras, a father and son stood up to illegal logging and paid the ultimate price. Their brutal deaths are a chilling reminder of the dangers faced by land and environmental defenders around the world. 🛑 This must end.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
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Killed, dismembered and scattered: the Honduran father and son who made a stand against illegal logging
The country is the most deadly to be an environmental activist – and the brutal murders of Juan Bautista Silva and Juan Antonio Hernández are the latest in a long line of violent acts against defender...
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/apr/14/killed-dismembered-and-scattered-the-honduran-father-and-son-who-made-a-stand-against-logging?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
about 1 year ago
Henry Leveson Gower, chief executive of the Centre for Economic Pluralism, who previously led innovation policy in the food and drink chain at Defra, will argue for a shift to nature-based solutions that have a positive natural capital outcome. 📅 28 April, 4-6pm 📍 Online
seda.scot/events/natur...
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This is one way to get more quality homes built quicker and using local timber – off-site prefabrication. Hear how at The Radical Housing Conference Scotland.
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about 1 year ago
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
about 1 year ago
RADICAL HOUSING CONFERENCE SCOTLAND 2025: John Forbes, of Communities Housing Trust, will look at ways of fast-tracking housing developments; the SFT’s Diarmaid Lawlor will look at methods of raising capital for affordable homes. 📌 Birnam Arts & online 📆 9am-5pm, 2 May 2025 🎟
seda.scot/events
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Fantastic! Works like this are more likely to change hearts and minds than the bare facts.
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about 1 year ago
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It's a disgrace how many schemes have been set up by the Scottish government and aborted. We need long-term commitment and trusted installers. I feel like a stuck record but, we know how to do it – so let's work out how.
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about 1 year ago
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Great insight into how district heating is rolled out in Denmark. Why are the Danes so far ahead of us? Certainly their PR campaigns are very good, taking the public along with them over many years. They are also better at committing to long-term solutions. We need to put the pies in the ground now.
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about 1 year ago
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
about 1 year ago
RADICAL HOUSING CONFERENCE SCOTLAND: Speakers include Makar founder Neil Sutherland & Logie Timber founder Mark Councill. Neil is already building offsite prefabricated, affordable homes using local timber—the sort provided by Logie. They will discuss how the model might be replicated Scotland-wide
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Gail Halvorsen
Scottish Ecological Design Association
about 1 year ago
“Radical Housing Conference Scotland brings together the doers in housing, providing an opportunity to grow the links needed to deliver more of the sustainable, affordable, home-grown housing that Scotland needs”: Local Government Housing & Planning Committee convenor
@ariane-burgess.bsky.social
MSP
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Fantastic lineup of speakers. Let's get these homes built.
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about 1 year ago
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Great stuff Glo. Your description of moisture movement in the full length recording is excellent. It gets to the root causes of the issues of damp and mould in buildings. This ought to be seen by all builders, house owners and local authorities.
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about 1 year ago
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reposted by
Gail Halvorsen
Ian Fraser
about 1 year ago
Wyndford Towers erased: Wheatley Homes rides roughshod over the wishes of residents and sustainability campaigners — who advocated a retrofit solution — by dynamiting three 26-storey residential blocks in Maryhill, Glasgow.
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High-rise tower blocks brought down by controlled explosion
The Wyndford Towers, near Maryhill, were razed to the ground on Sunday.
https://news.stv.tv/west-central/wyndford-tower-blocks-brought-down-by-controlled-explosion
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