Make Space For Nature

In this episode we chat to Laura Young, also known as Less Waste Laura, an award winning climate activist, environmental scientist, and ethical influencer.

Recently awarded Scottish Influencer of the Year (Inspiration) for her climate and environmental work, Laura regularly speaks in the media on the BBC, STV, and Sky News and is currently campaigning for the Scottish Government to ban problematic disposable vapes.

She tells us what drove her passion for the planet, and what we can all do to make space for nature and help fight climate change and nature loss.

More:

Follow Laura on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. 

Watch her TEDX talk.

Ten ways to Make Space For Nature in winter.

In this episode we chat to Simon Foster, NatureScot’s Trends and Indicators Analysis Officer, about our latest research which reveals an increase in the number of birds in Scotland’s towns and cities.

He explains the likely reasons for the increase, how climate change is affecting our birds, and what everyone can do to help.

More information:
News release: Birds increase in urban areas
NatureScot Research Report 1300 - Scoping the feasibility of developments to the Terrestrial Bird Indicator for Scotland - urban, farmland and wetland indicators

Brodie Thomas, a project placement helping to facilitate NatureScot's use of genetic technologies, explains what Environmental DNA is, and how this non-invasive sampling technique can monitor wildlife and help build up a detailed image of what lives where. 

She explains the pros and cons of the technique, how it's being used to detect the presence of invasive non-native species, and the potential use of eDNA to help tackle nature loss and climate change. 

Further reading:
Measuring biodiversity from DNA in the air Elizabeth L. Clare, Chloe K. Economou, Frances J. Bennett, Caitlin E. Dyer, Katherine Adams, Benjamin McRobie, Rosie Drinkwater, Joanne E. Littlefair Current Biology Journal

Airborne environmental DNA for terrestrial vertebrate community monitoring Christina Lynggaard, Mads Frost Bertelsen, Casper V. Jensen, Matthew S. Johnson, Tobias Guldberg Frøslev, Morten Tange Olsen and Kristine Bohmann Current Biology Journal

In this episode we hear about NatureScot’s Programme for Youth employment, a programme helping to develop nature based skills to support the fight against climate change and nature loss.

Since 2021 we’ve offered around 40 jobs for younger employees including project and practical placements, apprenticeships, and trainee roles right across the organisation, from support roles in finance to outdoor work on nature reserves.

We chat to two of our placements Ceara Webster and Amy Kidd. Ceara works on embedding behavioural change and co-design approaches, and Amy is now a Licensing Officer. We hear about their career paths so far and what more we can do to encourage young people into green jobs and the nature sector.

More information:
Attracting young talent to NatureScot
Working and volunteering with us
Current vacancies

In this episode we chat with Peatland ACTION Project Officers Ben Inglis-Grant and Sue White. Both are based on Scottish islands; Sue works with Shetland Amenity Trust and Ben is with Carloway Estate Trust on the isle of Lewis.

We hear about their varied work with Peatland ACTION, the national programme helping to restore damaged peatlands in Scotland, led and funded by Scottish Government and delivered by NatureScot and partners.  

They explain the importance of peatlands and how restoring these vital carbon stores can provide a range of benefits for people and nature, and help tackle climate change.

Further reading:

Peatland ACTION

Peatland ACTION Fund - how to apply

The Shetland Amenity Trust

Urras Oighreachd Chàrlabhaigh (Carloway Estate Trust)

In this episode NatureScot staff Fiona Leith and Claire Gordon chat to Christina Riley the founder of the Nature Library, a pop-up nature library which travels to festivals and events around Scotland.

Christina explains how the book collection has evolved, and why taking stories to local communities is helping more people appreciate and make space for nature, particularly during Scotland’s Year of Storytelling 2022.

Christina also explains how now, more than ever, as the climate and nature crises become more apparent, nature writing is touching all of our lives and why we all need to take immediate action and make a difference.

Further reading:

The Nature Library

Ways to Make Space For Nature 

Scotland's Year of Storytelling 2022

Or follow @thenaturelib on Twitter to find out where the library will be touring next.

Foraging Fortnight, a series of events celebrating Scotland’s natural environment and wild food, recently took place across the country. Following on from this festival, we chatted with two NatureScot colleagues, Elli Carlisle and Kat O’Brien, about the easiest and safest ways to experience the best of Scotland's natural larder.

From brambles and chanterelles to wild garlic and hazelnuts, which food is ripe for picking depends on the time of year, and it’s vital we eat only those wild plants and mushrooms safe for human consumption. Responsible wild harvesting means taking only what you'll use and picking carefully to have minimal impact on the plant.

Read more:
Foraging Fortnight
More about foraging
Foraging wild plants
Scottish Wild Mushroom Code
Scottish Outdoor Access Code

In this episode NatureScot’s Chief Executive Francesca Osowska and Lorna Slater MSP, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, discuss what the Scottish Government and NatureScot are doing to tackle the climate and nature crisis and what radical change is needed by us all, to help heal Mother Nature by 2045.

Further reading:

• NatureScot Corporate Plan 2022-26
• Scottish Biodiversity Strategy consultation 
• State of Nature Report 2019 Scotland
• Scottish Government Nature Restoration Fund 
• Scottish Government Let's Do Net Zero campaign
• Lecture to the Royal Society of Edinburgh by Francesca Osowska 
• Make Space For Nature - seasonal tips 

In this episode we chat with Brian Lironi, Scottish Water’s Director of Corporate Affairs, who highlights the negative impact climate change is having on our water, and suggest ways we can all reduce consumption and help prevent system blockages. 

Brian explains why the Scottish Water 'Nature Calls' campaign is seeking a ban on wipes containing plastic, why everyone needs to bin all wipes rather than flush them and he reminds us of the three Ps rule: poo, pee and paper (toilet) - the only things that should go down the toilet.

Further reading:

• Scottish Water
• Scottish Water Nature Calls campaign information
• Join The Wave with Nature Calls
• Make Space For Nature - 14 ways to help reduce nature loss this summer

In this episode we speak to Nick Everett, NatureScot’s Climate Change Adaptation Adviser.

Nick explains what climate change adaptation is and provides examples of innovative nature-based solutions throughout Scotland, as well as practical ways we can all make space for, and help support, nature to adapt.

More:
Helping nature to adapt
Nature-based solutions to climate change
Climate change impacts in Scotland
Volunteering organisations
Make Space For Nature summer tips