Zane Lee

In the lush greenery of Scotland’s landscapes, a silent war is being waged. The native red squirrels, once a common sight, are now in a fierce battle for survival against their grey counterparts. This struggle has significant ecological implications and has sparked a conservation effort of unprecedented scale. The Invasion of the Greys The introduction of grey squirrels to Britain in the Victorian era marked the beginning of a decline for the red squirrels. The greys, larger and more robust, outcompete the reds for food and habitat. Moreover, they carry the squirrelpox virus, which is deadly to the reds but…

Scotland is taking action to reduce child poverty by investing £1.6 million in various initiatives that aim to support low-income families and children. The fund, which is part of the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, will be used to fund projects that address the three drivers of child poverty: income from employment, income from social security and benefits in kind, and costs of living. Boosting income from employment One of the main challenges that many families face is finding and keeping a decent job that pays enough to cover their living expenses and provide a secure future for their children.…

MSP’s controversial tweet sparks outrage SNP MSP Rona Mackay has been criticised for telling parents to report teachers who express opposition to the vaccine passport scheme. The MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden tweeted on Saturday: "If your child tells you their teacher is speaking against the vaccine passport, please report it to the head teacher. This is totally unacceptable." Her tweet, which has since been deleted, was met with a barrage of negative responses from Twitter users, who accused her of promoting a “snitch culture” and undermining free speech. Some also questioned the legality and ethics of her statement, as…

What are the new restrictions? The Scottish government has recently imposed new restrictions on American XL bully-type dogs, which have been linked to a series of attacks across the UK. The new rules, which came into force on 31 July 2023, require owners of the breed to: Muzzle the animals and keep them on a lead in public Apply for an exemption certificate, which includes having them microchipped and neutered Abstain from breeding, exchanging or selling the dogs The new restrictions are similar to those introduced by the UK government in England and Wales last year, which created a “loophole”…

The ban on breeding and selling XL bully dogs Scotland has introduced new legal safeguards on XL bully dogs, a type of large and muscular dog that has been linked to several serious and fatal attacks. The new rules came into effect on 23 February 2024 and ban the breeding and sale of these dogs. Anyone who owns an XL bully dog must ensure they are muzzled and on a lead at all times when in public, including in a car. It is also an offence to exchange, offer as a gift, advertise, abandon or allow an XL bully dog…

Police launch murder probe after fatal incident Police Scotland have confirmed that the man who was shot dead in Aberfeldy on Wednesday morning was Alan Lawson, a 61-year-old resident of the town. A 23-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the incident. The shooting took place around 7.30am on Wednesday, February 23, 2023, at a property on Taybridge Terrace. Emergency services attended the scene, but Mr Lawson was pronounced dead at the scene. A firearm was recovered by the police. Detective Chief Inspector Iain Wales, of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said: “This was a…

The family of Emma Caldwell, who was murdered in 2005 by a serial rapist, has issued a statement calling for a public inquiry into the police handling of the case. They say the police failed to protect Emma and other vulnerable women from the killer, who continued to commit violent crimes for almost two decades. A long-awaited verdict Iain Packer, 51, was found guilty of murdering Emma Caldwell in a remote woodland near Biggar, South Lanarkshire, on 29 February 2024. He was also convicted of 32 other charges against 22 women, including 11 rapes and multiple sexual assaults. He was…

A Fife business that offers forest-based workshops to help employees cope with stress and improve their wellbeing is expanding to Edinburgh. The business, called Wild Workforce, has secured permission to run its innovative programme at the 16th century Lauriston Castle, following an agreement with the city council. What is Wild Workforce? Wild Workforce is a business that was founded by Clare Stephen, who has a background in professional development and human resources. She was inspired by the successful forest schools in Scandinavia, which have been shown to benefit the physical and mental health of children, as well as their resilience…