Professor Emeritus of Sustainable Rural Development at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Islander, Scot, & European. Anything relevant to birds, geology, ecology & landscape, human ecology. Also Gaelic/Celtic culture, history & archaeology.
Is it not just symbolic of the times that the ‘safe conduct’ letter of William Wallace should be ‘loaned’ to Scotland? 🙄
The Edinburgh ReporterScottish Government support retaining the Wallace letter in Edinburgh The Scottish Government is in negotiations to keep in a letter carried by Sir William Wallace over 700 years ago in Edinburgh....
I didn’t know that such a thing as the Cromarty Literary Circle existed. What an excellent idea. I’m giving a talk to the Nairn Literary Institute in January. Are there many more of these groups in the Highlands and Islands?
James Aithie 🏴#WigtownBookFestival 📚 #DumfriesAndGalloway 🏴 #ScottishFestivals 🎪
Yes. Labour’s answer to their promises to abolish/reform the House of Lords. Simply stuff it with our own second rate politicians. 🥴
Ballot Box ScotlandBeing reported that Scottish Labour leader and Glasgow MSP, Anas Sarwar, will be taking up a junior minister role at Westminster, via a peerage. If that is indeed the case, not only does it trigger a leadership election, but it also returns Monica Lennon to Holyrood as she's 4th on the Glasgow list
Long overdue
Byline TimesMPs Bid To End ‘Royal Secrecy’ And Open The Crown Up To Scrutiny Proposed bill would strip the King and his heirs of their blanket Freedom of Information exemptions — as royal biographer describes a… https://bylinetimes.com/2026/07/17/mps-bid-to-end-royal-secrecy-and-open-the-crown-up-to-scrutiny/
To be fair, this should really read ‘change English views on Europe…’. We already know that Scotland wants to remain/ rejoin the EU.
The New WorldAndy Burnham is pro-EU and politicians across the continent know it. The issue is whether he will last long enough to change British views on Europe ✏️@lukemcgee.bsky.social
True, but the positive experience is almost never recounted.
Joe NoonanThat is good to know. Experience varies. bsky.app/profile/kerr...
We have 3 community wind turbines for the past 15 years, in prime territory for Golden and Sea Eagles, and there has never been one bird strike of any species, never mind endangered raptors. Just saying.
Joe Noonanwww.ecoportal.net/en/norwegian...
I once spent a morning on a mountain in Greenland breaking open sodalite syenite that changed colours when exposed to sunlight. A memorable experience. 😍
Michael BuschI lately acquired a selection of sodalite-bearing syenite rocks from the north side of Lake Superior, which had been tumbled halfway around the lake before I picked them up on the beach. They fluoresce quite nicely. Locally called "Yooperlites": www.mlive.com/news/2023/05...
There are many better ways to assess critical thinking than by setting essays.
Rev Peter W NimmoHere's a university professor calling for an end to essay writing and, by implication, critical thinking. AI has boiled many brains
It has been a bumper year for orchids. Literally hundreds of several species all over our croft this year 😍
Dr Richard Bate4/7/26 #Cumbria - I led a group for the Arnside & Silverdale Natural History Society on the limestone grasslands searching for summer #orchids, and highlights included Frog #Orchids (Dactylorhiza viridis) and Dark Red Helleborines (Epipactis atrorubens) #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Living just down the road, I really get tired of these articles/books of people discovering an alien society and a primitive culture…
Sussex BylinesStepping off the world we knew: A new life in the Hebrides, part 3 Securing a new home in Skigersta, sight unseen, is part of the ongoing adventure | Judith Challender
Spoiler warning: millions of citizens in many other countries are convinced that their own country is better than anything that the USA can offer. 🤷♂️
Alabama Political ReporterAmerica is the greatest country on earth, no matter how much rightwing conservatives try to tear it apart. #alpolitics
Good advice. The only time I have included an index in one of my books, I got the publisher to compile it. I have a challenge selecting index terms cos I find *everything* in the text is significant! 😂😂
Alison StrangeBrilliantly said, what do you think @alastairmci.bsky.social @claireboardman.bsky.social @frankrennie.bsky.social ?😊