An inspiring day of #NatureRestorationFund projects all making a difference for nature and delivering real benefits for nature and Scotland’s future. Hope is in short supply at the moment but today illustrates the huge potential for nature restoration to deliver resilience, health and prosperity.

Delighted to be at the #NatureRestorationFund conference today hearing about the fantastic projects that have been funded and that are making real progress in halting the loss of biodiversity and building Scotland’s resilience. Inspiring and so badly needed.

Big win for Scotland’s nature! The Natural Environment Bill passed by MSPs will bring in legally binding targets to restore wildlife and habitats. Huge thanks to LINK’s members and supporters who helped make this happen! Let’s keep pushing for strong action and funding to restore Scotland’s nature.

Great news! The Natural Environment Bill has been passed in Scottish Parliament. Nature’s voice has been heard, bringing focus on 1 of the biggest risks facing the world but which is often ignored. Legally binding targets for nature alongside action on other key pressures will help focus minds.

My latest blog is about why we need legally binding targets for nature and a decent future for communities and future generations. Legally binding targets to be delivered by 2030 and 2045 provide focus to meet our international targets. valuingwildplants.wordpress.com/2025/12/20/w...

My latest blog: There is so much we could be doing to bring nature back from decline. But we lack focus & political leadership on this fundamental issue for communities today and future generations. Legally binding targets provide that focus to meet the 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework targets.

Today, some of @scotlink.bsky.social CEOs gathered in Birnam to discuss the future, share plans, hopes and ambitions for Scotland’s environment. I’m truly honoured to work with such smart, inspiring and generous leaders.

LINK's Deborah Long in the new 'ScotLand Futures' report argues land reform must empower human & natural communities currently limited by concentrated ownership. Read her full perspective on pg.16 www.landcommission.gov.scot/downloads/69... @naturepower.bsky.social @scottishlandcom.bsky.social

A great evening #NatureofScotland awards celebrating all those doing fantastic things for nature in Scotland

Arriving at work this morning, a puffin, a wildcat, a bumblebee and a red squirrel reminded MSPs they needed a strong Natural Environment bill to protect and restore nature. They can’t vote and mustn’t be forgotten. #ScotlandLovesNature

#JustTransitionSummit25 investors are avoiding nature restoration & inherent risks limiting investment. Scottish Investment Bank has key role but no ideas on how to tackle this urgent issue? Part of this is innovative natural capital investment but also not investing in nature negative activities.

Scotland's Just Transistion is just as much about nature as carbon. There are challenges ahead but also opportunities and some clear options for action. I'm hoping these will be fully explored @JTCScot summit in Edinburgh today.

Key to land use and communities able to engage on local planning effectively depends on large part on #nationalplanningframework implementation of biodiversity enhancement, committing to replacing lost biodiversity and enhancing it. Work to do on that front.

Some excellent questions for @johnswinney.bsky.social about resilience, Scotland’s lack of it and the lack of a land use plan to plan developments and enable communities to engage.

If Nature could speak, what would she say? On the eve of the Just Transistion summit 2025 and two days before the debate in Scottish Parliament about the Natural Environment Bill, I imagined what nature would want to say to us: Nature's letter to Humanity

First published in the Scotsman, this blog explores why nature needs targets and how Scotland's Natural Environment Bill can, and must, make that happen.

Scottish Environment LINK: reflecting on the recent milestone of 50 members In July 2025, Scottish Environment LINK celebrated welcoming 50 members to the network. Started in 1987, LINK has continued to be the voice for Scotland's environment, amplifying member voices and ensuring the environment…

ScotLand Futures: how can land reform deliver a fairer, greener, more prosperous Scotland? An opinion piece written for ScotLand Futures on how land reform can deliver for a fairer, green and prosperous Scotland.

LINK at 50 members: I asked our Hon Fellows & members about the importance of working together as LINK: The environment and planet has never needed champions more, ready to voice the uncomfortable & point out the awkward while always looking to the long-term future. www.scotlink.org/link-at-50-m...

Today sees Scottish Government 1st evaluation of #NatureRestorationFund. Crucial to nature restoration in Scotland, its investment supports habitat & species restoration across Scotland. It's only the start but it powerfully shows how nature can recover given investment. www.gov.scot/publications...

This is brilliant. 50 members and counting! Togther we're stronger and louder for the environment.

I needed to find that Friday feeling & it's still here. This @johnmuirtrust.bsky.social film may be 10 years but it is as relevent today & still packs a punch. Have a good weekend everyone. youtu.be/1UIiixu2MZs?...

We made Nature's voice heard...thanks to everyone who showed up, spoke, shouted & rapped. 🐝🌸🗳️

Brilliant to see so many eloquent and loud people outside parliament today. Thank you for Speaking up for Nature.

Today's the day! Join us outside the Scottish parliament from 12:30-2pm to make our voices heard for Scotland's nature 🌱✊

I am on my way, with my placards, to Stand up for Nature at today's demo outside Scottish Parliament with @scotlink.bsky.social & our members!

The @acosvo conference today is reflecting a key theme in #environmentsector & @scotlink.bsky.social: we need to see a move from rhetoric to reality. The need is across society & across policy www.scotlink.org/publication/...

In less than a week we'll be standing up for nature - join us! With one in nine species at risk of extinction in Scotland, the time to act is now. Join us to demand that our MSPs stand up for nature. 📅Thursday 12 June ⏰ 12:30-2pm 📍 Scottish parliament www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stand-up-f...

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.

Thank you to everyone who came along to the fantastic @scotlink.bsky.social reception in Scottish Parliament tonight & congratulations to our #NatureChampion award winners. Special thanks to the fab @scotlink.bsky.social team.

#communitybenefit has been central to today's @holyroodmag.bsky.social #ScotClimateSeries conference today. Action on #NatureRestoration - opportunities to restore & avoid damage & fragmentation is also key. A future conference?

Enjoying being on first panel @holyroodmag.bsky.social #ScotClimateSeries today & pleased to discuss key themes on renewable wind solar industry role in #NatureRestoration #CommunityBeneft & #JustTransition

Why is this happening in Scotland, a country dependent on its natural environment, & when we are in a #naturecrisis? Another step backwards for nature - and us all. theferret.scot/beaver-bid-b...

Nature restoration is a fundamental pathway to a sustainable future. #ScottishGovernment investment in #NatureRestorationFund is vital. Small wins today = massive progress in future. www.gov.scot/news/milesto...

The Just Transition Commission has been in Caithness, looking at examples of what #JustTransition looks like and will need in rural Scotland. Thank you to the communities and businesses who hosted us & gave us lots to think about.

We cannot forget that underpinning all the ambitions in today's #Scotland #ProgrammeForGovernment is a healthy, functioning natural environment. Great to see commitments on #deer & #naturerestoration. The potential for progress is immense...

For the Spring edition @royalscotgeosoc magazine, I wrote a short piece about the role of gardens and gardeners in today's nature and climate emergencies. A piece of hope and, hopefully, action!

A long term perspective from CEO at Gothenberg Ports & other international business leaders on future planetary as well as economic sustainability: www.ecocidelawalliance.org/business-lea...

📣Party leaders unite for action on nature📣 Leaders from the SNP, Green and Lib Dem parties joined forces at the Scottish Parliament this week to support the #ScotlandLovesNature campaign's call for legally binding nature recovery targets. Read more: www.scotlandlovesnature.scot/party-leader...

Thanks Tom @argatyredkites.bsky.social for an excellent talk this evening about the fantastic red kite successes at Argaty. A great way to finish this season's RSGS #Inspiringpeople talks. And a great read too for those who haven't had the luck to hear Tom speak.

A short list of books I have recently read, or re-read, to cheer myself up and keep going when the world seems grim. Linked to my recent post Keeping on keeping on...

My favourite kind of meeting - a walk and talk in the beautiful Aberlady Bay today. #NatureCure

Why the newly announced Natural Environment bill is important: www.thenational.scot/comment/2496...

@scotlink.bsky.social worked with Diffley Partnership in May 24 to explore public attitudes to nature. 76% people worried about the environment & 74% agreed there should be legal targets to improve Scotland's environment. Read more: www.scotlink.org/where-are-al...

This morning's Scottish Forum Nat Cap highlighted a key point raised across sectors: lack of statutory underpinning & lack of compliance is not stimulating or building nat cap demand. Opportunities & benefits are being lost.

Well that didn't take long. 75 days from Scottish Govt commitment to an agricultural support framework delivering for nature restoration, climate, food, @johnswinney.bsky.social confirms govt commitment to a subsidy scheme that doesn't deliver for biodiversity or build resilience to climate change.

We are pleased to see the work that we started, raising awareness of the risks to devolution of the Internal Market Act (IMA), has been taken up by @ScotLINK in this report. news.stv.tv/politics... The IMA is pretty hard to get your head round so we have a wee explainer in the thread 👇🧵

A great #Guardian interview with outgoing #Naturescot CEO Francesca Oswaska: she is right. #Nature is telling us to act but we're not doing enough quickly enough. There's still time if we invest and Government leads. Nature & future generations deserve more. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

May latest blog: It's 2025. What can Scotland do for nature and climate? Some thoughts on the changes nature needs, and us too. Also published as LINK Thinks www.scotlink.org/news/blog/

Easing myself back into the New Year with resolutions, one of which is moderate social media engagement and, at the same time, lots of connecting with nature to keep me sane. #Naturecure