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BREAKING
Over half of Scotland’s popular beaches ‘blighted’ with raw sewage
Russel Brand: Met receive number of sex offence allegations
'Cowardly ambush': Boy aged 15 stabbed in the back with kitchen knife
Lucy Letby to face retrial on allegation she tried to murder baby girl
Lego scraps plans to make bricks out of recycled plastic bottles
Aldi boss says 'savvy shoppers' helped profits jump by £118m

Environment

Former prime minister Gordon Brown who has said that states which banked 'staggering' profits from the high price of oil last year should pay a global windfall levy to help poorer nations in the fight against climate change. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Gordon Brown: States that reaped 'staggering' oil profits should pay global wind...

PIC LISA FERGUSON 0/05/2022



Lower Largo Beach, Lower Largo Bathing Pool has been added to SEPA



Scotland has highest number of bathing waters ever – as two new locations designated for 2022



Lower Largo in Fife and Barassie in Ayrshire are now Scottish designated bathing waters following a decision by Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Mairi McAllan MSP. This brings the total number of bathing waters in Scotland to 87, the highest number on record.

Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Mairi McAllan, designates Lower Largo in Fife and Barassie in Ayrshire as Scottish bathing waters. 

Designations brings the total number of Bathing Waters in Scotland to 87 – the highest number on record.

Locals and visitors are encouraged to play their part in protecting and improving the quality of the new bathing waters.   

Two further applications for bathing waters did not meet the criteria for designation.

Four applications were received for designation in 2022 and considered by the Bathing Water Review Panel. Recommendations based on the criteria for designation were passed to the Minister for Environment and Land Reform who has made the following decisions:



The applications for Lower Largo in Fife, submitted by Largo Area Community Council with support from Fife Council, and Barassie in Ayr, submitted by Friends of Troon beaches with support from South Ayrshire Council, showed they met the criteria for bathing water designation: 



A large number of bathers use the bathing water.

There was community support for designation

There was support from the local authority and willingness to accept beach management duties.  

Two applications did not meet the criteria for designation.



Evidence provided with the application for Wardie Bay in Edinburgh demonstrated it met two of the criteria for bathing water designation, as a large number of bathers use the bathing water during the season and there was community support for the designation.

More than half of wild swimming spots have unsafe levels of sewage

Exclusive Scotland's largest landowner pours £44m into firm with NHS care home planned

Joanna Lumley's pangolin

Fancy an original artwork by Alexander McCall Smith or another celebrity?

A paddleboarder in the foreground as the Seabourn Ovation cruise ship arrives. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Scottish council wants all motorhome users and cruise ships to pay tourist tax

LEZ areas have been enforced in Glasgow since June 1. Picture: John Devlin

Union warns Glasgow LEZ will force hundreds of black cab drivers off the road

Sunak’s retreat from true pragmatism may herald return of Trussonomics Scotsman comment

Exclusive Harvie says heat pump critics acting on behalf of natural gas vested interests

A team of plant scientists would like to turn this science “fiction” into reality by using light-based messaging to communicate with plants. Picture: SWNS

Can we talk to plants and warn them about dangers?

It may one day be possible to warn potato plants of impending bad weather (Picture: Carsten Koall/Getty Images)

Breakthrough in 'talking' to plants could enable us to pass on weather forecasts

From Ruchill Park to Costa Rica, the beauty of nature can lift your spirits Philip Lymbery

Rishi Sunak was accused of 'wishful thinking' over his claim that delaying key climate-related targets would not damage the transition to net zero by 2050. Picture: Justin Tallis/WPA pool/Getty Images

Scottish minister says Sunak's announcement has 'significant impact' on Scotland

Climate change protesters stage a demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament on 16 September. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Government admits climate law breach and promises fix after court action threat

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a new “pragmatic, proportionate and realistic” approach to achieving net zero climate emissions by 2050, a watering-down of targets which he says will “ease the burden on working people”. Picture: Justin Tallis/Getty Images

What the PM’s 'pragmatic' green targets mean for Scotland

Rishi Sunak's move has been described as an “unprecedented tragedy" for the automotive industry

Scotland will have to delay ban on new petrol car sales after PM’s move – SNP

Sunak's new net-zero 'strategy' is cynical electioneering Scotsman comment

Native oysters are back in the Firth of Forth for the first time in 100 years, thanks to the groundbreaking Restoration Forth project -- Emmy Cooper-Young, from Heriot-Watt University, was part of the team deploying the molluscs in their new home. Picture: Callum Bennetts/Maverick

Go Forth: Native oysters set for comeback in Edinburgh seas after 100s

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak watered down the UK Government's climate commitments.

Anger as Rishi Sunak waters down climate commitments

Suella Braverman has said the UK government does not want to "bankrupt" British citizens

Braverman's 'bankrupt' warning as Ford attacks Sunak climate rollback

Electric heat pumps are crucial for the decarbonisation of heat – they use technology like that found in a refrigerator, but in reverse, extracting heat from a source and then amplifying and transferring the heat to where it is needed

Warmth not warming: Busting the myths is key to green heating roll-out

Apples in the orchard at NTS's Priorwood Garden in Melrose could help gardeners preserve the fruit in the future. PIC: NTS/ Brian & Nina Chapple

How Scotland's ancient apple collection could help save the fruit in the future

How Scotland is falling behind Wales on environmental issues Richard Dixon

First Minister Humza Yousaf addresses the Climate Week conference in New York. Picture: Flickr

Humza Yousaf under fire on Scotland's missed targets after New York speech

Dundee Eden Project:  A planning application for the landmark is due to be lodged by the end of the year.

Dundee's stunning Eden Project takes step forward

Fishermen processing their catch of lobster and crab on the deck of their boats. Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Poll suggests support for fishing ban in 40% of Scottish waters

Transition to net-zero will be expensive, so the big polluters need to pay up Lewis Ryder-Jones

A car park and lay-by close to Ullapool on the North Coast 500, pictured in July 2020 as some lockdown restrictions eased. The popularity of motorhomes and roadside camping in parts of Scotland has intensified since the pandemic with solutions sought to the impact to local communities and infrastructure. PIC:  Paul Campbell/Getty Images.

Review of right to roam guidance ruled out amid overtourism concerns

Glasgow's city centre low emission zone has been enforced since June. (Photo by John Devlin/The Scotsman)

Edinburgh's council vehicles to comply with low emission zone – unlike Glasgow’s

Exclusive Major pension fund condemned over 'destructive' fossil fuel investments

Locals fear that visitors who come to Skye in droves to enjoy the Quiraing and other iconic scenery may stop coming if massive turbines dominate the landscape. Picture: Andrew Robinson

Should communities have power to veto new wind farms?

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is seen shrouded by smoke in Sydney after a ring of controlled blazes burned on the city's fringes in preparation for the looming bushfire season.

Sydney marathon runners hope for clean air after thick smoke blanketed city

Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater arrive at Bute House, Edinburgh, ahead of an announcement on the finalisation of an agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens to share power in Scotland.

No vote on continuation of coalition deal with Scottish Greens for SNP members

The road to Balivanich on Benbecula, where residents have been told to stop using tap water following a fuel leak at a nearby water treatment works. More than 1,000 homes on Benbecula and South Uist have been affected. PIC: Contributed.

85,000 bottles of water delivered to islands after fuel leak warning

Exclusive Pressure grows for tax on motorhome users in Scotland

Paul McManus, the drummer with Scots rock band Gun, has donated to the LEZ fund

Scottish rock band member revealed as mystery £100k donor to LEZ fightback fund

Dalgety Bay radiation clean-up has concluded (Pic: Lisa Ferguson)

Fife shore re-opens to public for first time since 2011 after radiation clean-up

A red admiral butterfly and a honey bee pictured sharing a bright yellow sunflower in the autumn sunshine, in a sunflower field planted at Old Melrose in the Scottish Borders.
Picture Phil Wilkinson

Why Scotland has seen a big butterfly resurgence

Leis an t-slighe air adhart gu math mi-chinnteach, tha croitearan is tuathanaich a’ cur an cùlaibh ris a’ ghniomhachas. (Dealbh: Adrian Dennis/Getty Images)

Chan eil e idir math dhan àrainneachd g’eil crìonadh ann an gnìomhachas na feòla

The floating larvae in a tank where it is kept until it grows a bit stronger before being translocated to beaver ponds (pic: Danny O'Brien)

Great crested newt in first-of-its-kind reintroduction

The Basic Payment Scheme and Greening advance payments, which are two weeks ahead of last year’s first payments, started to reach bank accounts on Tuesday and will be paid to over 13,000 businesses across Scotland (pic: Lisa Ferguson)

Farming and crofter payments brought forward to aid post Brexit pay transition

As climate change gets worse, is plan to give up and go out with a bang? Laura Waddell

A motion raised to scrap plans to allow the male deer cull season to be open all year round has been successful (pic: John Stillwell)

Deer cull season plans to be debated in Parliament following successful motion

Elements Edinburgh is a hi-tech net-zero-carbon development of 2,500 homes, commercial premises, hotels and retail units with an informal park and a network of cycleways and paths on the west side of the city

Park life: Why city green spaces are good for nature and for people

An Amazon Prime delivery van in California. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images)

Online shoppers 'must wean themselves off next-day deliveries to cut emissions'

The Scottish Government is being threatened with legal action unless it publishes full details of the environmental impact of policies contained in its infrastructure investment plan. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Ultimatum for Scottish ministers: Sort climate commitments or face court

From left: new CEO Steve Dunlop and chair John Watson. Picture: contributed.

New top team take steering wheel at Edinburgh-based EV charging specialist

Protests calling for more action to tackle climate change can make a difference (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Edinburgh climate protest march set to be the biggest in four years

Plans for the community bid were first made in 2015 after the field was deemed at the time to be surplus to requirements.

Charity wins bid to take over Scottish Government-owned farmland in Highlands

According to National Museums Scotland: “ Wildcats are found in Scotland north of the Central Belt but used to live throughout Britain.”

Explainer “Clinging by a claw”, Scottish Wildcats are near extinct says experts

The calls come in a new report on Scotland’s energy infrastructure and its readiness for the shift to large-scale electrification. Picture: Getty Images

Why map is needed to show future sites for power lines and pylons

The Edinburgh International Book Festival has been staged at Edinburgh College of Art in recent years.

‘Greenwashing’ row sponsor insists it will continue to back Book Festival

Calls have been made to review the right to roam policy in Scotland to address the influx of particularly roadside campers since the legislation was introduced two decades ago (pic: Jeff J Mitchell)

England should learn from Scotland 'right to roam' issues

The sun sets behind Scotland's first wind farm on Hagshaw Hill near Douglas in Lanarkshire. The 26 turbine first produced electricity in 1995 and was extended to 46 turbines in 2008. It is operated by ScottishPower Renewables.

Blades from Scotland's first wind farm sent into storage

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack. Image: Rob Pinney/Getty Images.

Holyrood says it is fed up ‘being passed from pillar to post’ over DRS

Marine heatwaves can lead to coral bleaching and harms to ocean life – this picture was taken during an underwater survey in Australian waters in 2017. Picture: J Stella/Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Ocean heatwaves like ones off Scotland's coast are ‘new normal’, scientists warn

Adam Elman is head of sustainability in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Google, which has launched new 'extreme heat' alerts to help people prepare for increasing hot weather

Google rolls out new ‘extreme heat’ alerts as temperatures rocket

Scared of spiders? Brace yourself. Sex-crazed male spiders want to breed in warm UK households this Autumn.

How to keep spiders out of your home: Why are there so many right now?

Ask for natives if you go for oysters on the menu

The native oyster season has begun (pic: Lisa Ferguson)

Seawilding: One community's battle to replenish Scotland's native oyster

Why Scotland risks missing out on renewable energy ‘gold rush’ Sian Lloyd-Rees

A cyclist tops a hill on a hot day at sunset. The UN weather agency says Earth sweltered through the hottest summer ever as record heat in August capped a brutal, deadly three months in northern hemisphere. Picture: AP Photo/Eric Gay

Summer 2023 confirmed as world’s hottest on record

The Programme for Government, which comes following a series of missed annual climate targets, seems light on environmental action, writes Ilona Amos. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Humza Yousaf under fire over ‘warm words’, but little action on climate crisis

Cameron McNatt, co-founder and MD of Mocean, who brands the firm's latest funding a 'major milestone'. Picture: Peter Dibdin.

Mocean Energy waves hello to seven-figure EU funding for major Orkney project

The northern brown argus has been found in Stirlingshire after an absence of 100 years, sparking hopes it will thrive in the region in the future. Picture: Jim Asher

Hearts aflutter as vanished butterfly returns after 100 years

Harnessing the power of the sun, wind and waves can lead to a bright future for the UK economy, while also tackling climate change (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Labour's renewable energy plans could save £93 billion for UK households

'Polluter pays' principle is under threat Richard Dixon

Zero Waste Scotland estimates that up to 26 million disposable vapes were consumed and thrown away in Scotland in the last year

Scotland to explore ban on disposable vapes

BEST PORTRAIT
GLISTENING-GREEN Glistening-green Tanager Chlorochrysa phoenicotis. Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Ecuador. Nicolas Reusens, Spain. Category: Best Portrait. GOLD AWARD WINNER.
Venturing into the tropical forest, I was excited to spot the rare Glistening-green Tanager. After hours of waiting, I saw the vivid-green bird on a perfect heart-shaped leaf. Its shimmering feathers reflected a dazzling array of colours. I captured every detail, grateful for this magical moment amid the lush jungle backdrop.
Canon EOS R7 with Tamron 100–400mm f/4.5–6.3 lens. 213mm; 1/500s; f/7.1; ISO 400

Bird Photographer of the Year Award 2023

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries

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