News

A new report from WildLand Cairngorms highlights the success of its ecological restoration efforts, showcasing the positive impact of its work on Scotland’s native raptors. The report follows a promising national trend of environmental rehabilitation, focusing on species such as hen harriers, golden eagles, and goshawks. The Cairngorms Connect Partnership The Cairngorms Connect partnership, encompassing a vast 600 km² area of land, includes WildLand Cairngorms as a key contributor. This initiative brings together neighbouring land managers working towards a shared 200-year vision to improve habitats, support species recovery, and restore ecological processes. Since 2019, WildLand Cairngorms has been dedicated to…

Scotland’s public finance watchdog, the Accounts Commission, has raised alarm over the growing financial pressures on local councils, urging them to accelerate reforms to avoid unsustainable losses. Financial Strain on Local Authorities In its latest report for the 2023-24 financial year, the Accounts Commission revealed that councils were facing a £759 million budget gap due to a real-terms decrease in revenue funding from the Scottish government. This shortfall is putting immense strain on local authorities, which are increasingly relying on reserves to meet their budgets and deliver essential public services. According to the report, a 3.3% reduction in total revenue…

A court has ruled that Biffa Waste Services can proceed with its £166 million legal claim against the Scottish government over the abandoned deposit return scheme (DRS), which was initially planned for launch in 2023. Legal Action Against the Scottish Government In June 2023, Scottish ministers postponed the implementation of the deposit return scheme, citing a dispute with the UK government. Biffa, which was hired to collect and process recyclable containers for the initiative, argued in the Court of Session that the Scottish government had assured the company that the scheme would proceed, causing it to incur significant losses when…

Starting on April 1, 2025, Scottish households will see an increase in their water bills, with average charges rising by £44 annually, or £3.68 per month. This marks a 9.9% rise in the cost of water and wastewater services, which will be implemented by Scottish Water to support essential infrastructure and services. Why Are Charges Increasing? Scottish Water, the publicly owned utility responsible for the provision of water and wastewater services across Scotland, stated that the increase in charges is necessary to fund vital investments into maintaining and upgrading the country's water systems. According to Alex Plant, Chief Executive of…

Scotland’s premier trade event for the food, drink, hospitality, and retail industries, ScotHot 2025, is fast approaching, and there’s just under a month left to register. Set to take place on February 26-27, 2025, at the SEC in Glasgow, the two-day showcase promises an exciting lineup of exhibitors, networking opportunities, and trend-focused seminars. What to Expect at ScotHot 2025 In its 52nd year, ScotHot remains Scotland’s only dedicated trade event for the food and drink industry, offering invaluable opportunities for delegates to meet with suppliers, explore new trends, and share innovative ideas. With over 7,500 visitors expected, it is the…

Glenmorangie, the renowned Highland single malt Scotch whisky brand, has unveiled a captivating global campaign titled ‘Once Upon a Time in Scotland,’ featuring the iconic Harrison Ford. Directed by Joel Edgerton, the campaign is a cinematic exploration of Scotland's rich whisky-making traditions, offering a unique behind-the-scenes look at Glenmorangie’s distillery in the northeast Highlands. The Campaign's Concept The ‘Once Upon a Time in Scotland’ campaign consists of a series of episodic films that delve deep into the art of whisky production. Throughout these films, Ford immerses himself in Scottish culture, learning about local pronunciation, the etiquettes surrounding kilts, and the…

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is known for his unpredictable selections, with fans often referring to his approach as the "Toonie Tombola." His latest surprise came with the call-up of Alex Masibaka, a player few had on their radar. But while Townsend's selections have certainly caught the public's eye, his teams have been relatively consistent, making Scotland one of the more settled squads in the Six Nations. However, ahead of the 2025 Six Nations opener against Italy, Townsend faces some tough decisions due to a series of injuries to key players, with the biggest blow being the absence of captain…

Scotland is taking bold steps toward becoming a key player in the global hydrogen market, with plans to export green hydrogen to Germany. This initiative, which includes a potential £2.6 billion pipeline project, aims to address a significant portion of Germany's energy needs by 2030 and could create up to 300,000 jobs in Scotland. The Green Hydrogen Plan: A Game-Changer for Scotland and Germany The Scottish Government is fast-tracking its plans to export green hydrogen, with initial shipments set to be transported by ship before a proposed hydrogen pipeline is developed. This project forms part of a broader strategy to…

The Scottish government has admitted that the victims of one of Scotland's most horrifying child sex abuse rings were "failed" by authorities, following the convictions of seven gang members for their roles in the abuse of three children in Glasgow. Gang Convicted After Years of Abuse The group, consisting of Iain Owens (46), Elaine Lannery (40), Lesley Williams (43), Paul Brannan (42), Scott Forbes (51), Barry Watson (48), and John Clark (49), were sentenced to life imprisonment after they subjected their victims, all under the age of 13, to unimaginable abuse over a seven-year period. The abuse took place in…

More than 2,000 households across Scotland remain without power following the destructive impact of Storm Éowyn. Despite efforts from energy companies, the damage to infrastructure continues to disrupt services, including power supplies and transportation. Ongoing Power Restoration Efforts Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) reported that 1,908 customers in central and southern Scotland are still experiencing outages. Engineers from both SPEN and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) are actively working to restore electricity to affected areas. SSEN has confirmed that 240 customers remain without power, and efforts are underway to reconnect them. The storm caused extensive damage across Scotland, with…