Ishan Crawford

Thieves are stripping apple orchards across Scotland bare, hitting community gardens and historic sites in areas like Stirling and Airth with bold raids using vans and tools. This wave of fruit thefts, reported just hours ago, endangers local harvests and the revival of rare apple varieties that volunteers have nurtured for years. Surge in Bold Apple Thefts Across Scotland Reports show that apple thefts have gone beyond kids grabbing a few fruits from trees. Organized groups now drive up in four wheel drive vehicles or large white vans, filling bags with entire crops or even digging up trees with spades.…

Scotland's parliament made a bold move on September 17, 2025, when it voted to scrap the controversial not proven verdict in criminal trials. This change, part of a major justice overhaul, aims to deliver better outcomes for rape survivors and other victims who have long faced uncertainty in the courts. The decision ends a centuries-old practice that many saw as a barrier to justice, especially in sexual offence cases where conviction rates remain low. Lawmakers approved the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill by 71 votes to 46, marking a victory for campaigners who fought for years to reform the…

A leading charity has launched a new app to warn swimmers and surfers in Scotland about sewage discharges in real time, highlighting a long standing issue of pollution in bathing waters. Surfers Against Sewage says this tool will help people stay safe while pushing for cleaner coasts, as concerns grow over health risks from raw sewage spills. Charity Launches App to Combat Hidden Pollution Risks Surfers Against Sewage rolled out the Safer Seas and Rivers Service app on September 15, 2025, aimed at giving users instant alerts on sewage discharges near Scotland's beaches. The group points out that swimmers have…

Edinburgh is buzzing as top video game industry leaders from around the world kick off the DICE Europe summit today. This three day event, running from September 15 to 17, 2025, brings together about 150 experts to discuss innovation, growth, and the future of interactive entertainment in Scotland's capital. Summit Highlights and Key Speakers The DICE Europe summit promises a mix of talks, networking sessions, and insights from major players in the video game world. Organizers describe it as a chance for the brightest minds to share ideas and build partnerships. Scotland's First Minister John Swinney praised the event for…

Travelers heading to England, Scotland, or Wales face strict new food import rules that ban many common items like meat and dairy to stop the spread of diseases such as foot and mouth. These changes, rolled out in April 2025 by the UK government, aim to protect local farms and public health amid rising cases in Europe, leaving many tourists confused and facing potential fines at borders. Why the Ban Started Now The UK ramped up these restrictions after reports of foot and mouth disease outbreaks across Europe earlier this year. Officials say the move protects British agriculture, which supports…

Dandara Scotland, a leading independent housebuilder, has teamed up with the charity Trees for Cities to plant hundreds of trees across the UK in 2025. This move strengthens the company's sustainability goals and ties directly to its homebuilding plans for the year, focusing on areas that need more green spaces to boost local environments and community health. Partnership Details and Scope Dandara Scotland's support for Trees for Cities comes at a key time, with the initiative set to roll out this year. The number of trees planted will match the company's expected homebuilding output, ensuring a scalable impact. Trees will…

Scotland's Land Register is expanding quickly, with new fee hikes making voluntary registration a smart move for property owners. As of August 2025, changes to plans report fees have increased costs, pushing many to act now before more rises hit. This shift comes from the Land Registration (Scotland) Act of 1979, which aims to replace the old Sasine Register with a modern, map-based system. Property owners in Scotland face higher charges for key services, but voluntary registration offers clear benefits like better boundary clarity and stronger legal protection. Understanding the Land Register Shift The Land Register of Scotland is modernizing…

Scotland's landscapes and events came alive through reader-submitted photos shared between September 5 and 12, 2025. From thrilling air shows to serene lochs, these images captured the nation's beauty and captured public imagination, as featured in a popular BBC collection. Red Arrows Steal the Show at Ayr Air Show Crowds gathered along Ayr's seafront for the International Ayr Show on September 5 and 6, 2025, where the RAF Red Arrows performed breathtaking aerobatics. One standout photo from Stuart Neville of Clydebank showed the nine jets in diamond formation, trailing white smoke against vibrant pink and blue hues. This year's Festival…

The Scottish government has thrown its support behind a bill to ban greyhound racing, marking a major win for animal welfare advocates. Green MSP Mark Ruskell, who introduced the legislation, celebrated the move as a step to protect dogs from injury and exploitation in the sport. Government Shifts Stance on Racing For years, greyhound racing has faced criticism over animal welfare concerns. The Scottish government once favored a licensing system to enforce standards rather than a full ban. That changed recently when Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie wrote to Ruskell, confirming support for the bill's core ideas. This reversal comes after…

Belarus head coach Carlos Alos has admitted it is not easy for his team to recover from a heavy 5-1 loss to Greece as they prepare to face Scotland in a key 2026 World Cup qualifier on September 8, 2025. The match, set at the neutral ZTE Arena in Hungary due to ongoing restrictions, comes after Belarus trailed by four goals at halftime in their opener, while Scotland earned a solid goalless draw against Denmark. Belarus Struggles in Opening Qualifier Belarus kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign with a tough night in Piraeus, where Greece dominated from the start.…