Theme: Nature & Biodiversity

Creative Scotland have very kindly funded a massive #ChoirsForClimate concert in Edinburgh on 5th March 2023! Admission will be free, with a collection at the end for environmental causes. We’ll be singing climate-related choral works from a wide variety of composers, including new works from the Choirs for Ecocide Law project.

We’re putting together a community choir to perform at this event. If you’re interested in singing in it, sign up at https://forms.gle/r1doJJ4QaiYxirar5 , and if you’re in a choir, please share with other members too. Rehearsals will be on the two previous Sunday afternoons, 19th and 26th Feb, and music and learning tracks will be available online – links will be sent in early February. All singers are welcome, no matter what your skill level! The choir will be led by a small group of professional singers, so you’ll have someone to sing along with.

If you’d like to know more, contact Chris on [email protected]mail.com .

Join us on Wednesday the 8th March any time between 6:30-8:30pm at Atlantis Sport and Leisure, Oban.

We inviting everyone to join our seachangers themed winter games night.

There’ll be tonnes of board games to play thanks to The Atlantis Winter Warmer scheme

A bespoke board game created by illustrator, Paul Gent, all about local ecosystems

Marine themed hot drinks by local anthropologist, photographer and food nerd, @allylomas (and normal hot drinks and soft drinks)

A visual presentation of the findings of our nature survey

Creations from our recent community workshops with collaborative artworks made with Oban Youth Cafe, Stramash and the Grab Trust.

and a seaweed slinging contest!?

Families welcome.

With thanks to Oban Hope Kitchen for hosting the overall project and to Seachangers who have funded it.

Poster designed by Danielle Banks.

Our Green Volunteers programme is for young people aged 12-18.  Take part in positive action for the environment, spend time in wild places, learn fire lighting and wilderness survival skills and meet new people. For those aged 14 you can complete the Duke of Edinburgh Award Volunteering or Skills sections. Explore some amazing wild places and get connected! 

Ticket sales close at 10am on the Thursday before each project date.

The sessions all run on a Sunday. Full details of the project will be sent the week prior.

• All sessions involve meeting on site at around 10.00am, pickup at 4.00pm, unless otherwise specified
• Cost of the day is £12, or £4 for low waged households. Please choose the option that is most appropriate for your financial situation. Free places are available; please email [email protected] for more information
• Participants should bring warm and waterproof clothing, a packed lunch and water.

Working with a range of local Councils, we have developed a two day, interactive, online course offering an in-depth look at CAT’s flagship research project, Zero Carbon Britain. Connect with a network of others working and studying in the field and explore the radical changes needed to rise to the climate challenge.

Free places available

We’re offering a limited number of free places to our Zero Carbon Britain: Live online course to help support those that would be otherwise unable to attend.

Click here to learn more

Key information

• Duration: various sessions over two days
• Upcoming dates:
  • 14 & 15 March 2023
• Start and finish times: Day 1 – 09:30 (meeting open from 09:15) to 17:00 (offline task from 13.00 to 16.00), Day 2 – 09:30 to 17:00
• Fees: £75
• Includes: tuition, question and answer sessions, online course materials
• Terms and conditions
  • You must be 16 years or over to attend this course
  • For full list of terms and conditions click here

What you will learn

CAT’s Zero Carbon Britain project offers the hard data and confidence required for visualising a future where we have risen to the demands of climate science. It helps to reduce fear and misunderstandings and open new, positive, solutions-focused conversations.

The new report published in 2019, Zero Carbon Britain: Rising to the Climate Emergency, incorporates the very latest developments in science and technology to show that we can create a zero carbon Britain using only proven technology.

During this two day course you will explore all aspects of climate solutions and scenarios presented in the research. Live lectures will cover a range of topics from renewable energy and energy efficiency to diets and land-use, looking at how these can work together to help us build a zero carbon future. Online workshops will enable discussion and debate among participants on catalysing action across all areas of society.

Some of the topics covered include:

• How we can provide a reliable energy supply for the UK with 100% renewable energy sources and flexible carbon neutral back up – without fossil fuels, nuclear power, or gambling on the promise of future technology.
• How we can grow the vast majority of the food we need for a healthy, low carbon diet, and manage our land to capture carbon, nurture biodiversity and increase the health and resilience of our ecosystems.
• How we can deliver a modern lifestyle, create employment, improve our wellbeing, and ensure that the future we leave for our children and generations to come is safe and sustainable.
• Understanding key barriers to change, and how we can overcome them – offering a range of other benefits in the process.
• How research can be used to support councils in developing climate emergency action plans.

The live, interactive nature of this course will offer a rich online learning experience. To get the most out of the course, we suggest you:

1. Download the Zero Carbon Britain; Rising to the climate emergency, and read (at least) the 8-page executive summary and explore chapters relevant to your areas of work / expertise.
2. Make a note of key questions, reflections and ideas for going forwards.

Meet your tutors

Paul Allen

Paul is Knowledge and Outreach Coordinator for Zero Carbon Britain. He has been a member of the Wales Science Advisory Council (2010), board member of the International Forum for Sustainable Energy (2008) and a Climate Change Commissioner for Wales (2007). He holds an Honours degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering and has been at CAT since 1988.

Location: In person and 100% outdoors at Johnstone Terrace Garden, 7/8 Castle Wynd S, Edinburgh EH1 2JT

This is the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s smallest reserve and is located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, near to Edinburgh Castle, a 10-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley train station.

What to expect:

During this free two-hour training session aimed at youth work practitioners, you will spend time participating in a variety of creative outdoor activities that Rowanbank facilitate with the young people they work with.

You will enjoy foraged seasonal tea made on the fire, make some bread, sky gaze in hammocks hung from the trees and tell stories.

We will talk about climate change and biodiversity loss, and how to manage the complex emotions associated with this.

There will also be time to ask questions about Rowanbank’s work, network and share best practice with each other.

We hope these activities will inspire and give you the confidence and knowledge to undertake creative outdoor learning with your own groups of young people, whether you’re based in an urban or rural environment, with minimal resources and no matter your experience.

Spaces are limited so please sign up for your FREE space early to avoid disappointment.

Additional information:

This event will be held entirely outdoors. In the case of bad weather, participants will be informed and we will move the training indoors at a central Edinburgh location.

Please be mindful that there are no public toilets on site with Waverley station being the closest facilities a 10-minute walk away.

You do not require any previous experience of outdoor learning to take part and we encourage participation from practitioners who are curious to learn more and who are prepared to get stuck in to these hands-on activities!

Please bring: Warm and waterproof clothing, appropriate footwear, and an optional hot water bottle, blanket and flask of hot water for story time!

This training event is being delivered by YouthLink Scotland as part of Scotland’s Young People’s Forest, in partnership with Young Scot. The mission of the panel is to create and regenerate native Scottish forests, which are accessible to all, to help combat the current climate emergency, promoting and connecting education, wildlife, and well-being.

PLEASE NOTE 2 SEPERATE PLANTING LOCATIONS – MORE DETAILS BELOW

We have over 1,000 trees to plant this March, so please come along to help us on Saturday 18th, Sunday 19th and Saturday 25th March 10am and 3pm!

***This initiative is in partnership with Harviestoun Estate, and we would like to acknowledge their ongoing support with our community tree planting. They are once again providing the location and carrying out all the preparation***

You can choose how you would like to support us:

Option 1: buy some trees (saplings) and we will plant them for you

Option 2: buy some trees and come and help us plant them

Option 3: just come and help us plant the trees

You can buy 5 Saplings for £10, or 12 for £20. This is to cover the costs of guards, stakes and associated equipment. Any surplus from sales will be put back into a fund for future planting.

The various ticket types are designed to give us information on what you would like to do:

1. Buy 5 or 12 saplings and help plant during the weekend i.e. you are buying the saplings AND coming to plant them with us during the weekend

2. Buy 5 or 12 saplings (no planting) i.e. you are buying the saplings but don’t want to/are not able to come to help plant them.

3. Volunteer to help planting on Saturday/Sunday i.e. you don’t want to / are not able to buy trees but are willing to come and help the Trust plant them.

For those coming to help plant –

Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th March 10am – 3pm.

We are planting around 1,000 to the south end of the field that will be developed into the Harviestoun Community Garden, south of the Devon Way. If you start on the road at the health centre and walk south in line with the burn.

https://goo.gl/maps/eHSV94xiHJPxp9mM9

Saturday the 25th March 10am – 3pm

Planting a couple of hundred trees opposite taits tomb. – Please note you have to cross the A91 to get to the planting location. Layby with parking mid way between Dollar and Tillicoultry.

https://goo.gl/maps/o4DSbokott5LXnYV9

Please contact [email protected] for more details!

This 2 day workshop will introduce the principles of permaculture design and answer the question ‘What is Permaculture?’ and will inspire the next generation of designers in the heart of Leith who want to reimagine and redesign for a sustainable future.

Put simply, permaculture is about people living in a truly sustainable way, and permaculture design is about creating sustainable habitats for people, crops, animals and wildlife.

Permaculture is a highly transferable design process based on the laws of ecology. By studying natural ecosystems we try to learn how nature can be so abundant, efficient and stable. Permaculture uses the same principles to create sustainable, highly productive habitats.

Some aspects of permaculture have been practised for thousands of years, while others are new. The name was coined and popularised by Bill Mollison in the 1970s, when he wrote a number of books on PERMAnent agriCULTURE, which over time has developed into the wider notion of creating a PERMAnent CULTURE. (https://nonstuff.co.uk/permaculture-3/what-os-oermaculture/)

NonStuff Industries is a Community Interest Company with the following aims:

• To promote permaculture and permaculture education, and provide subsidised places on courses
• To deliver a range of sustainability and green skills courses
• To collaborate with and support partners with similar goals
• To promote local music, crafts and arts.

Like many, we’re working towards a truly sustainable society. However, we’re interested in a truly sustainable society that is also having a good time, because “If it’s not fun, it’s not sustainable” (Guy Dauncey).

Leith Community Growers believe everybody should have access to the resources needed to grow their own food for their families and community if they choose to and we aim to support and enable community based projects to make locally grown produce and green community spaces available to all.

We aim to create a growing community in Leith which is inclusive of all sections of the community regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability or any other identifying factors, and in particular those who may feel under-represented in such community groups, such as people of Black and ethnic minority backgrounds and those for whom English is an additional language.

We seek to remove the barriers to participation by providing free or affordable access to materials where possible and encouraging mutual support such as seed swapping and resource sharing.

PLEASE NOTE 2 SEPERATE PLANTING LOCATIONS – MORE DETAILS BELOW

We have over 1,000 trees to plant this March, so please come along to help us on Saturday 18th, Sunday 19th and Saturday 25th March 10am and 3pm!

***This initiative is in partnership with Harviestoun Estate, and we would like to acknowledge their ongoing support with our community tree planting. They are once again providing the location and carrying out all the preparation***

You can choose how you would like to support us:

Option 1: buy some trees (saplings) and we will plant them for you

Option 2: buy some trees and come and help us plant them

Option 3: just come and help us plant the trees

You can buy 5 Saplings for £10, or 12 for £20. This is to cover the costs of guards, stakes and associated equipment. Any surplus from sales will be put back into a fund for future planting.

The various ticket types are designed to give us information on what you would like to do:

1. Buy 5 or 12 saplings and help plant during the weekend i.e. you are buying the saplings AND coming to plant them with us during the weekend

2. Buy 5 or 12 saplings (no planting) i.e. you are buying the saplings but don’t want to/are not able to come to help plant them.

3. Volunteer to help planting on Saturday/Sunday i.e. you don’t want to / are not able to buy trees but are willing to come and help the Trust plant them.

For those coming to help plant –

Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th March 10am – 3pm.

We are planting around 1,000 to the south end of the field that will be developed into the Harviestoun Community Garden, south of the Devon Way. If you start on the road at the health centre and walk south in line with the burn.

https://goo.gl/maps/eHSV94xiHJPxp9mM9

Saturday the 25th March 10am – 3pm

Planting a couple of hundred trees opposite taits tomb. – Please note you have to cross the A91 to get to the planting location. Layby with parking mid way between Dollar and Tillicoultry.

https://goo.gl/maps/o4DSbokott5LXnYV9

Please contact [email protected] for more details!

PLEASE NOTE 2 SEPERATE PLANTING LOCATIONS – MORE DETAILS BELOW

We have over 1,000 trees to plant this March, so please come along to help us on Saturday 18th, Sunday 19th and Saturday 25th March 10am and 3pm!

***This initiative is in partnership with Harviestoun Estate, and we would like to acknowledge their ongoing support with our community tree planting. They are once again providing the location and carrying out all the preparation***

You can choose how you would like to support us:

Option 1: buy some trees (saplings) and we will plant them for you

Option 2: buy some trees and come and help us plant them

Option 3: just come and help us plant the trees

You can buy 5 Saplings for £10, or 12 for £20. This is to cover the costs of guards, stakes and associated equipment. Any surplus from sales will be put back into a fund for future planting.

The various ticket types are designed to give us information on what you would like to do:

1. Buy 5 or 12 saplings and help plant during the weekend i.e. you are buying the saplings AND coming to plant them with us during the weekend

2. Buy 5 or 12 saplings (no planting) i.e. you are buying the saplings but don’t want to/are not able to come to help plant them.

3. Volunteer to help planting on Saturday/Sunday i.e. you don’t want to / are not able to buy trees but are willing to come and help the Trust plant them.

For those coming to help plant –

Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th March 10am – 3pm.

We are planting around 1,000 to the south end of the field that will be developed into the Harviestoun Community Garden, south of the Devon Way. If you start on the road at the health centre and walk south in line with the burn.

https://goo.gl/maps/eHSV94xiHJPxp9mM9

Saturday the 25th March 10am – 3pm

Planting a couple of hundred trees opposite taits tomb. – Please note you have to cross the A91 to get to the planting location. Layby with parking mid way between Dollar and Tillicoultry.

https://goo.gl/maps/o4DSbokott5LXnYV9

Please contact [email protected] for more details!

PLEASE NOTE 2 SEPERATE PLANTING LOCATIONS – MORE DETAILS BELOW

We have over 1,000 trees to plant this March, so please come along to help us on Saturday 18th, Sunday 19th and Saturday 25th March 10am and 3pm!

***This initiative is in partnership with Harviestoun Estate, and we would like to acknowledge their ongoing support with our community tree planting. They are once again providing the location and carrying out all the preparation***

You can choose how you would like to support us:

Option 1: buy some trees (saplings) and we will plant them for you

Option 2: buy some trees and come and help us plant them

Option 3: just come and help us plant the trees

You can buy 5 Saplings for £10, or 12 for £20. This is to cover the costs of guards, stakes and associated equipment. Any surplus from sales will be put back into a fund for future planting.

The various ticket types are designed to give us information on what you would like to do:

1. Buy 5 or 12 saplings and help plant during the weekend i.e. you are buying the saplings AND coming to plant them with us during the weekend

2. Buy 5 or 12 saplings (no planting) i.e. you are buying the saplings but don’t want to/are not able to come to help plant them.

3. Volunteer to help planting on Saturday/Sunday i.e. you don’t want to / are not able to buy trees but are willing to come and help the Trust plant them.

For those coming to help plant –

Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th March 10am – 3pm.

We are planting around 1,000 to the south end of the field that will be developed into the Harviestoun Community Garden, south of the Devon Way. If you start on the road at the health centre and walk south in line with the burn.

https://goo.gl/maps/eHSV94xiHJPxp9mM9

Saturday the 25th March 10am – 3pm

Planting a couple of hundred trees opposite taits tomb. – Please note you have to cross the A91 to get to the planting location. Layby with parking mid way between Dollar and Tillicoultry.

https://goo.gl/maps/o4DSbokott5LXnYV9

Please contact [email protected] for more details!

On 25th of March 11:00 – 13:00, we’ll be having a pollinator expert in The Secret Garden who will talk about the importance of pollinators and how climate change is impacting them.
As you may know, we’re starting a pollinators project (a continuation of Bugtropolis) in which we will be building some beehives and bee houses for solitary bees and bumblebees, but also making wildflower patches and creating suitable environments for butterflies!
So, this day we’ll start making some houses with the guidance of the expert!
The event will take place in The Secret Garden 11am, next to the Butchart Centre, on University Road (it’s on Google Maps!). Don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re unsure about the location.

The event is open to everyone! Adults, children, students, non-students… even pets!

Access to The Secret Garden is via a dust/gravel car park (off University Road).

Are we currently in another mass-extinction event? If so, what’s causing it? Join a special tour of the University of Aberdeen’s Zoology Museum led by students from the Zoology Society, where we’ll look at species at risk of extinction, and discuss major issues plaguing our global biodiversity.

11:00 to 16:00. Tours on the hour every hour. Two tours per hour.

Free – Booking on University of Aberdeen website: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/collections/visit-us/whats-on/18177/

Wingate Road Bus Station (Busses: 8 and 19). Duncan Rice Library Parking available for cars, Disabled parking available (we recommend parking at the disabled parking at the Cruickshanks parking, the Zoology building is wheelchair accessible only form the Botanical Gardens entrance. The front entrance elevator is not in working condition)v

With the spring equinox just past, it’s the perfect time to think about what you might like to grow this year. Saving your own seeds and swapping them with your local community can help you save money on seeds and is a great way to contribute to biodiversity and multispecies wellbeing in cities. Plants grown from locally saved seeds adapt to their specific conditions and are more resilient to climate change than most industrially produced seeds.

But many of us living in the city don’t have much space to grow. So in this introductory workshop we will explore growing from seed to seed in small spaces, like on window sills, in pots and containers, and in community gardens. We will spend the morning exploring the community garden at the Meanwhile Site, learning some basics of urban community seed saving and garden  planning, and we might even sow some seeds together.

Dress for the weather. No experience necessary, all curiosity welcome! If you have any questions feel free to get in touch with Hannah at [email protected] or [email protected]

Our Green Volunteers programme is for young people aged 12-18.  Take part in positive action for the environment, spend time in wild places, learn fire lighting and wilderness survival skills and meet new people. For those aged 14 you can complete the Duke of Edinburgh Award Volunteering or Skills sections. Explore some amazing wild places and get connected! 

Ticket sales close at 10am on the Thursday before each project date.

The sessions all run on a Sunday. Full details of the project will be sent the week prior.

• All sessions involve meeting on site at around 10.00am, pickup at 4.00pm, unless otherwise specified
• Cost of the day is £12, or £4 for low waged households. Please choose the option that is most appropriate for your financial situation. Free places are available; please email [email protected] for more information
• Participants should bring warm and waterproof clothing, a packed lunch and water.