1000 Better Stories

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Paul and Chloe about making dreams come true and turning the forgotten patch of land into a safe place for community connection and play. The story is the last one in the five-part Dumfries series of Everyday Changemakers. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-paul-and-chloe-sandside-community-garden/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Sandside Community Garden facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sandsidegarden/ Gilbert’s coffee grounds composting project on Cycling Dumfries website https://cyclingdumfries.wordpress.com/2023/06/12/trailer-tuesdays/ Scottish Government’s Adaptation Plan consultation, closes on 24th of April https://www.adaptationscotland.org.uk/news-events/stories/scottish-national-adaptation-plan-public-consultation Adaptation Scotland https://www.adaptationscotland.org.uk/ Tenth consecutive monthly heat record alarms and confounds climate scientists, Jonathan Watts, The Guardian, 9 Apr, 2024 https://www.theguardian.com/global/2024/apr/09/tenth-consecutive-monthly-heat-record-alarms-confounds-climate-scientists?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR0Afp1lIWMzhzDZIChyxx0m-ji3_rgn-MtISK2lPJj0nTmB0MJ1i3qOZ6A#Echobox=1712642938

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Martin O’Neill from The Stove network about coming home and creative placemaking with his community. The story is the fourth in a five-part Dumfries series of Everyday Changemakers. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-martin-the-stove/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources The Stove https://thestove.org/ Midsteeple Quarter stories and studies https://www.midsteeplequarter.org/midsteeple-quarter-resources Newly published Creative Placemaking report based on the Stove’s work https://thestove.org/how-creativity-culture-can-support-communities/ What We Do Now creative placemaking network https://whatwedonow.scot/ Post-covid Open Hoose programme which launched 10 community-driven initiatives, including Climate Kitchen https://thestove.org/projects/ongoing-projects/open-hoose/ Dumfries Climate Kitchen https://climatekitchen.co.uk/ From our archive - another scottish example of community-driven town centre regeneration story 1000 Better Stories Podcast: Carolyn Powell, Huntly Development Trust https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-6e2tu-142d6cf

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Rachel Cooper of The Crichton Trust about taking large strides and small steps in their journey towards their zero carbon future teeming with life. The story is the third in a five-part Dumfries series of Everyday Changemakers. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-rachel-the-crichton-trust/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources The Crichton Trust https://www.crichton.co.uk/

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Tom Burns, Marketing Officer from Shax, about the circular economy with a heart. The story is the second in a five-part Dumfries series of Everyday Changemakers. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-tom-burns-shax/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Shax https://shax.org.uk/ Circular Communities Scotland https://www.circularcommunities.scot/ Investing in Volunteers Award https://investinginvolunteers.co.uk/ Volunteer Friendly Award https://volunteerfriendly.co.uk The Crichton Trust https://www.crichton.co.uk/

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Sally Hinchcliffe, a founding member of Cycling Dumfries. The story is the first in a five-part Dumfries series of Everyday Changemakers. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-sally-hinchcliff-cycling-dumfries/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Cycling Dumfries https://cyclingdumfries.wordpress.com/ Pedal on Parliament https://pedalonparliament.org/ UK cycling embassy https://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/ Sustrans https://www.sustrans.org.uk/ Cycling UK https://www.cyclinguk.org/ Sally Hinchcliffe https://sallyhinchcliffe.net/ Atmospheric river event 8-9 Oct 2023 https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/weather/learn-about/uk-past-events/interesting/2023/2023_07_scotland_rain.pdf Storm Babet 18 - 21 October 2023 https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/weather/learn-about/uk-past-events/interesting/2023/2023_08_storm_babet.pdf Kirkpatrick McMillan, inventor of the pedal bike Video story of the bike reconstruction and journey in 2023 https://youtu.be/pfvocT7rfQ4?si=50bFhanJxAstxAGN Blog on reconstructing the bike in 2023 https://off.road.cc/content/feature/bike-check-kirkpatrick-macmillans-rear-wheel-driven-wooden-replica-13181 On Cycling Dumfries website: https://cyclingdumfries.wordpress.com/2023/10/03/there-must-be-something-in-the-nith-water/#more-17037 BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-19423947

Dell McCLurg of the Merkinch Community Council reflects on turning life's challenges into local activism and the creation of the community's Merkinch Local Nature Reserve. The story is the final in a 5-part series of weekly interviews with a variety of grassroots organisations involved in climate, biodiversity and social justice action across Inverness. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-dell-merkinch-community-council/ Credits Interview, edit and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Friends of Merkinch Local Nature Reserve https://www.facebook.com/merkinchreserve/ Merkinch Local Nature Reserve Ticket office http://www.merkinchlnr.org.uk/htm/old_ticket_office/old_ticket_office.php Merkinch Community Centre https://www.merkinchcommunitycentre.co.uk/about/ Networks of community organisations: Scottish Communities Climate Action Network https://sccan.scot/ Development Trusts Association Scotland https://dtascot.org.uk/ Highlands and Islands Climate Hub https://hiclimatehub.co.uk/ Highland Good Food Partnership (also a great podcast!) https://highlandgoodfood.scot/ Highland Community Waste Partnership https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/highland-community-waste-partnership/ Circular Communities Scotland https://www.circularcommunities.scot/ Incredible Edible Network https://www.incredibleedible.org.uk/ Community Woodlands Association Scotland https://www.communitywoods.org/ Community Land Scotland https://www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/

Jon Dixon from the new Holm Grown and Maria from Knocknagael CIC talk about shielding their green spaces from the wave of urban sprawl in Inverness. The story is the 4th in a 5-part series of weekly interviews with a variety of grassroots organisations involved in climate, biodiversity and social justice action across Inverness. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-jon-holm-grown-amp-maria-knocknagael-cic/ Credits Interview recording: Kaska Hempel and Craig Dunn Edit and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Holm Grown https://holmcommunitycouncil.org.uk/holm-grown-a-community-growing-space/ Holm Community Council https://www.facebook.com/Holmcommunitycouncil https://holmcommunitycouncil.org.uk/ Incredible Edible Inverness https://www.facebook.com/IncredibleEdibleInverness Incredible Edible Network https://www.incredibleedible.org.uk/ Knocknagael Ltd https://www.knocknagael.org.uk/ Community Asset Transfers https://www.gov.scot/policies/community-empowerment/asset-transfer/ Community Land Scotland https://www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/ Highlands and Islands Climate Hub https://hiclimatehub.co.uk/ Highland Good Food Network https://highlandgoodfood.scot/

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Gina and Mike at Aultnaskiach Dell about the ways they have been taking care of their tiny, urban woodland. The story is the 3rd in a 5-part series of weekly interviews with a variety of grassroots organisations involved in climate, biodiversity and social justice action across Inverness. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-gina-and-mike-aultnaskiach-dell/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Aultnaskiach Dell website https://www.aultnaskiach.org.uk/ Community Woodlands Scotland https://www.communitywoods.org/ Case study: Aultnaskiach Dell as the Scottish Land Commission case study (includes video and report) https://www.landcommission.gov.scot/our-work/governance-ownership/community-ownership/aultnaskiach-dell-community-woodland https://www.landcommission.gov.scot/news-events/news/municipal-forests-v-community-woodlands-reflections-from-2020-national-student-award-winner Local press article about the early days of the Dell SCIO https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/inverness/673891/20000-appeal-launched-to-save-natural-habitat-in-inverness-city-centre/ Abriachan Forest Trust https://www.abriachan.org.uk An audio story of Abriachan Forest by Mairi Mcfadyen and accompanying essay on land ownership in the Highlands http://www.mairimcfadyen.scot/fragile-correspondence/2023/audio-piece Mairi’s presentation for SCCAN storyteller collective audio skillshare https://youtu.be/HwHo0fjlKjQ?si=szJ25FvAaQo259Xt Case study: Abriachan Forest https://www.forestpolicygroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Abriachan-FPG-case-study.pdf Community woodland case studies by Community Woodland Association, including Abriachan Forest https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2022/02/community_woodland_case_studies_scotland.pdf

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Everyday Changemaker Louise Marshall, the producer for Dance and Accessible Arts at Eden Court in Inverness. The story is the 2nd in a 5-part series of weekly interviews with a variety of grassroots organisations involved in climate, biodiversity and social justice action across Inverness. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-louise-eden-court/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Eden Court Climate of Hope project, for COP26 https://eden-court.co.uk/news/climate-of-hope-a-beginning Ink Asher Hemp https://eden-court.co.uk/news/back-in-my-day Anthropocene by Gym Jam Theatre https://www.gymjamtheatre.com/home/projects It’s Not That Radical by Mikaela Loach https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/61645827 Louise Marshall https://eden-court.co.uk/profile/louise-marshall “Not in My Back Garden” performance by Eden Court’s Community Engagemnet Groups for COP28 https://www.highlifehighland.com/blog/eden-court-climate-emergency-performance-hosted-at-inverness-botanic-gardens-this-weekend/ The Eden Court’s statement of commitment to climate action https://eden-court.co.uk/news/climate-emergency-commitment?fbclid=IwAR3P5rmOgbJ_BbivDSCwSrmHnVVm7JJxfIrVIzCHFlRaJAqYVOm_1sq_j0g

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Iain McKenzie, a volunteer and Vice Chair of Inverness Foodstuff. The story is first in a 5-part series of weekly interviews with a variety of grassroots organisations involved in climate, biodiversity and social justice action across Inverness. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-iain-mckenzie-inverness-foodstuff/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Inverness Foodstuff https://invernessfoodstuff.co.uk/ Highland Good Food Partnership https://highlandgoodfood.scot/what-do-we-do/ Highland Good Food Podcast https://highlandgoodfood.scot/podcast/ Cafe Artysans https://www.cafeartysans.org.uk/ Cafe 1668 https://www.highlandtsi.org.uk/cafe Velocity Cafe (videos) https://www.velocitylove.co.uk/films Active travel maps Inverness https://www.velocitylove.co.uk/active-travel-maps Highland Community Waste Partnership https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/highland-community-waste-partnership/

In this crossover episode, Katie Revell, a podcast producer and a member of SCCAN's Story Circle and the Storytellers Collective, shares a bonus episode from her Testing Ground podcast series. It features an interview with Mairi Macleod, a Glasgow-based writer who works in both Gaelic and English, and her short story, Seasickness, or Cur na mara. Mairi’s story updates the traditional Scottish folktale, The Selkie Wife, for an age of climate crisis. Testing Grounds series focuses on the collaborative response to the climate crisis by the Nordic Alliance of Artists Residencies on Climate Action (NAARCA). Mairi’s work was commissioned by NAARCA. Credits Testing Grounds is produced and edited by Katie Revell and includes original music by Loris S. Sarid and artwork by Jagoda Sadowska. The short story was commissioned by NAARCA from Gaelic writer Mairi Macleod. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/seasickness-cur-na-mara-a-story-by-mairi-macleod-crossover/(opens in a new tab) Resources Testing Grounds podcast: https://testinggrounds.buzzsprout.com/2113331 NAARCA: https://naarca.art/ NAARCA blog about Mairi and her commission: https://naarca.art/2023/08/14/testing-grounds-bonus-episode-seasickness-cur-na-mara-a-short-story-by-mairi-macleod-now-available/

Our SCCAN intern, Madeleine Scobie, interviews three more people from Arran Eco Savvy. During her visit to Arran, she talked to Jess Wallace, Sustainable Food Coordinator and Nikki Harris, Eco Savvy shop manager. She also spoke with Stuart Wallace, ebike mechanic, online in October. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-jess-nikki-stuart-arran-ecosavvy/(opens in a new tab) Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Madeleine Scobie. Resources Arran Eco Savvy website: https://arranecosavvy.org.uk/ Zero Waste Cafe: https://arranecosavvy.org.uk/about-arran-eco-savvy/current-projects/zero-waste-cafe/ Zero Waste Cafe video: https://vimeo.com/796376962/ce499f02e2 Sustainable Food Places: https://www.sustainablefoodplaces.org/ Arran Eco Savvy Community Shop: https://arranecosavvy.org.uk/community-shop/ Community Shop video: https://vimeo.com/826523465/3f3863284a?share=copy Circular Economy: https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/topics/circular-economy An illustrated interview with Wally: https://arranecosavvy.org.uk/news-events/eco-savvy-news-events/arran-eco-savvy-bike-mechanic-wally-wallace/ Active Travel Hub: https://arranecosavvy.org.uk/about-arran-eco-savvy/current-projects/active-travel-hub/ Active Travel Hub video: https://vimeo.com/799647519/663c6e3da1 20 Minute Neighbourhoods project: https://www.ourplace.scot/about-place/themes/20-minute-neighbourhoods-home/20-minute-neighbourhoods

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Hollis, a volunteer involved in Dundee’s Wee Forest project. The story is the final in a 5-part series of weekly interviews with members of Dundee Community Garden Network (Grow Dundee) recorded this June, and an audio tour exploring the meaning and impact of community gardening. You can find a draft of the audio tour here: https://izi.travel/en/ff0a-dundee-community-garden-network-draft/en WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! We are looking for micro-story contributions about your community’s climate and social justice achievements this year so that we can include them in the next few episodes. If you or your community organisation had some proud moments, if you managed to create real glimpses of what’s truly possible or if you simply kept going against all odds please share it with our audience. You can record your message at this link (up to 90 sec): https://www.speakpipe.com/1000BetterStories. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-hollis-dundee-wee-forests/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Wee forest project info on Nature Scot website - including a few wee videos from primary schools involved in creating them. https://www.nature.scot/climate-change/nature-based-solutions/wee-forests-part-tinyforest-global-family Wee Forests in Dundee (University of Dundee press release) https://www.dundee.ac.uk/stories/wee-forests-make-big-impact-dundee-community Earthwatch Europe - tiny forest project https://earthwatch.org.uk/program/tiny-forest/ Tiny Forest research and citizen science https://tinyforest.earthwatch.org.uk/tiny-forest-research The 2023 state of the climate report: Entering uncharted territory https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biad080/7319571?login=false Sugi project - Pocket Forest has a podcast on community https://www.sugiproject.com/podcast Wee forest zine jam https://allevents.in/mobile/amp-event.php?event_id=10000528390950557 Dundee Climate/Changemakers Hub: https://creativedundee.com/2023/09/dundee-changemakers-hub/ Dundee Community Gardens Network map https://growdundee.blog/75-2/ Social Action Inquiry Scotland documentary about Dundee Community Gardens Network (Fruit Bowls, Ninewells and Maxwell) https://youtu.be/LFrZPtmgssA?si=kjQcQCG88fQfXd5d

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Harold, one of the core volunteers running Fruit Bowls Community Garden. The story is the fourth in a 5-part series of weekly interviews with members of Dundee Community Garden Network (Grow Dundee) recorded this June, and an audio tour exploring the meaning and impact of community gardening. You can find a draft of the audio tour here: https://izi.travel/en/ff0a-dundee-community-garden-network-draft/en Tune in next week for the final story from the Fruibowls Community Garden. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! We are looking for micro-story contributions about your community’s climate and social justice achievements this year so that we can include them in the next few episodes. If you or your community organisation had some proud moments, if you managed to create real glimpses of what’s truly possible or if you simply kept going against all odds please share it with our audience. You can record your message at this link (up to 90 sec): https://www.speakpipe.com/1000BetterStories. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-harold-fruit-bowls-community-garden/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Fruit Bowls Community Garden Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/fruitbowlsdundee/ Fruibowls Garden in a blog by Repollinate: https://www.repollinate.org.uk/2022/08/10/beds-for-bees-fruit-bowls-community-garden/ Froglife https://www.froglife.org/ Repollinate https://www.repollinate.org.uk/ Bonnie Dundee IYN https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/service-area/neighbourhood-services/environment/beautiful-scotland/bonnie-dundee Dundee Community Garden Network/Grow Dundee https://growdundee.blog/ Scrapantics’ loose parts play https://www.scrapantics.co.uk/play Fair Growing Green Video https://vimeo.com/778473010

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Gisela de la Espada, a garden coordinator for Yusuf Youth Intitiative’s Victoria Community Gardens, forstering diversity among their volunteers and nature. The story is the third in a 5-part series of weekly interviews with members of Dundee Community Garden Network (Grow Dundee) recorded this June, and an audio tour exploring the meaning and impact of community gardening. You can find a draft of the audio tour here: https://izi.travel/en/ff0a-dundee-community-garden-network-draft/en Tune in next week for a story from the Fruibowls Community Garden. Transcript See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-gisela-victoria-community-gardens/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Victoria Community Gardens (Yusuf Youth Initiative) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaGardensYYI The Big Lunch (Eden Communities) https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/the-big-lunch Eden Project Dundee https://www.edenproject.com/new-edens/eden-project-dundee-uk Trellis Scotland (gardening for wellbeing) https://www.trellisscotland.org.uk/ Keep Scotland Beautiful https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/ SRUC https://www.sruc.ac.uk/ The MAXwell Centre, Dundee https://maxdundee.org.uk/ Green Health Prescription Scotland https://www.greenhealth.scot/ Dundee Community Garden Network (Grow Dundee) https://growdundee.blog/

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Rowan, who works for Uppertunity with their Growing Spaces Group. Uppertunity supports individuals with learning disabilities, autism and mental health barriers. The story is the second in a 5-part series of weekly interviews with members of Dundee Community Garden Network (Grow Dundee) recorded this June, and an audio tour exploring the meaning and impact of community gardening. You can find a draft of the audio tour here: https://izi.travel/en/ff0a-dundee-community-garden-network-draft/en Tune in next week for a story from the Victoria Community Garden. Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Transcript SCCAN website https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-rowan-uppertunities-growing-spaces/ Resources Uppertunity Growing Spaces Group https://uppertunity.org.uk/growing-places Uppertunity website (including ReBoutique and Serendipities project) https://uppertunity.org.uk/ Uppertunity on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Uppertunity The Circle https://thecirclecic.org.uk/ History of the Dudhope Castle, including reasons for its nickname “People’s Castle” (Video) https://thecirclecic.org.uk/the-history-of-dudhope-castle-film/ Barnhill Rock Garden http://www.barnhillrockgarden.org.uk/

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Catherine Lawson, one of the volunteers behind Bonnie Dundee (In Your Neighbourhood) group. Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Transcript See SCCAN website https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-catherine-lawson-bonnie-dundee-iyn/ Resources Audio tour of Dundee Community Garden Network (DRAFT): https://izi.travel/en/browse/ff0a9bcf-009d-4c1d-baaf-19e3e1d7e056/en Bonnie Dundee Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BonnieDundeeBloom/ Bonnie Dundee Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bonniedundeebloom/ Bonnie Dundee website https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/service-area/neighbourhood-services/environment/beautiful-scotland/bonnie-dundee Bonnie Dundee IYN (It’s Your Neighbourhood) write up on Keep Scotland Beautiful https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/community-and-place/its-your-neighbourhood/find-out-more-and-take-part-in-its-your-neighbourhood/2023-entrants/bonnie-dundee-iyn/ A map of groups and places participating in Beautiful Scotland and It’s Your Neighbourhood (IYN) https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/community-and-place/its-your-neighbourhood/beautiful-scotland-and-its-your-neighbourhood-map/ The Art-Science Orchard at the back of the Science Centre/Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre https://dundeeurbanorchard.net/art-science-orchard/ Dundee Urban Orchard (DUO) https://dundeeurbanorchard.net/about/ Pocket Gardens at Slessor Gardens, Dundee (Bonnie Dundee takes care of ‘Reflections of the Tay’) https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/service-area/city-development/slessor-gardens Urban rewilding projects at Dundee Botanics https://www.dundee.ac.uk/projects/rewilding-dundee Dundee Botanics - Urban Arboretum https://www.dundee.ac.uk/corporate-information/botanic-garden-and-grounds-strategy Interview with Kevin Frediani about the Botanic Garden’s role in future-proofing Dundee’s green spaces https://youtu.be/hXGuLwSFtg0?si=K1Df5oU0DjA5a-QQ

Kathi Kamleitner reports on her summer visit to the Wild Seas Weekend in Argyll and the Seawilding project which is fast becoming a template for community-led marine regeneration efforts around Scotland’s coastline. This story was funded through our mini-grant programme. Get in touch on stories@sccan.scot if you are considering applying for one. Kathi’s publishing a sister Seawilding story on her own podcast Wild for Scotland this week - see the link in the Resource section to listen. Credits Interview and recording: Kathi Kamleitner Co-production, editing and sound design: Fran Turauskis Resources https://www.seawilding.org/https://www.wildforscotland.com/seagrass-restoration-loch-craignish/https://www.communitiesforseas.scot/https://argyllhopespot.scot/https://www.cromach.org/https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/marine-protected-areas/scotlands-marine-protected-area-networkhttps://pod.link/1668050136/episode/c4660a0178b228b228ffb1be3263127fhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tid73gH2i Transcript The first time I snorkelled through a seagrass meadow was in a quiet corner of a sea loch near the village of Tayvallich. I was one of eleven people participating in the snorkelling artist residency hosted by the Argyll Hope Spot. The seagrass meadow I saw that day was a bustling hub of biodiversity. Deep-black brittle stars wrapped their lanky arms around blades of seagrass or long strings of sea spaghetti. Scallops shells littered the seafloor. Many were empty and long abandoned by the creatures that built them, but I also spotted living scallops as they sifted water through the narrow opening between their shells. On their outside, pink serpulid worms peeked out of their white tubes, spreading their fan-shaped crowns towards me. But as I moved closer and they noticed my presence. The worms closed the lids at the end of their tubes and the scallops sealed their shells shut. And in an instant, life was hidden from my sight. A little further, I spot a green shore crab scuttling away and hiding beneath a tumble of seaweed. On the tips of the seagrass, I spot juvenile snakelock anemones, their green tentacles blending in with the fresh green of the meadow. But their purple tips give them away as they sway from side to side in the movement of the sea. And I knew that everywhere around me, magnificent creatures are hiding in the thicket of the seagrass, whether I could see them or not. Snorkelling in his vibrant habitat in Argyll, was the beginning of my learning journey about seagrass meadows and the benefits they bring to coastal ecosystems underwater and above the surface. I learnt that they were once much more abundant in Scottish waters. Research estimates that we have lost about 90% of Scotland’s seagrass meadows, but in places where they are given a chance they recover, they can inspire new hope in the face of the climate crisis. Back in August, this journey took me to the village of Ardfern, some 20 miles north of where I first encountered seagrass meadows. Here, on the shores of Loch Craignish, a local community-led marine restoration project, called Seawilding, is working to bring seagrass meadows and native oyster beds back to the rugged Argyll coastline. I’m here to attend the Wild Seas Weekend, a two-day event that showcases some of the work being done in this region by Seawilding and other nature conservation charities and organisations. The village hall is bustling and across the two days, I meet many people who are passionate about the sea and the coast. I speak with students who research the effects of marine sound pollution and let a volunteer show me bits of seagrass under a microscope. I look at the rubber model of a flapper skate that covers an entire table, and drop my jaw as I find out it’s actually life-size. I speak to folks who restore coastal oakwoods and watch as a handful of oysters clean the muddy seawater inside a tank...

One of our Story Weavers, Lesley Anne Rose, interviews community artist, Andrew Crummy. Andrew is one of the team of behind the vision for the The 360 Center, an inspiring community led project to transform the site of the former Cockenzie Power Station in East Lothian. Credits: Interview and recording: Lesley Anne Rose Edit: Kaska Hempel Resources: SCCAN Member of the Month blog about 360 Centre: https://sccan.scot/blog/member-of-the-month-the-360-centre/ The 360 Centre http://www.the360centre.com/ The Great Tapestry of Scotland https://www.greattapestryofscotland.com/ Andrew Crummy https://www.andrewcrummy.com/ John Muir Way https://johnmuirway.org/ Siccar Point https://www.geowalks.co.uk/siccar-point/ Sustaining Dunbar https://sustainingdunbar.org/ Sustaining Musselburgh https://www.facebook.com/sustainingmusselburgh/

This is a cross over episode from the Disrupting the Doughnut of Doom podcast by our friends at EMEN (Ethnic Minority Environmental Network). Podcast host, Andrew Williams, interviews Thalia Groucott from Glasgow Food Policy Partnership. They discuss how what we eat, and how we grow it, affects the climate, the countryside and the communities we live in. Resources Listening matters – a collection of climate-engaged podcasts from Scotland: https://sccan.scot/blog/on-the-way-to-1000-better-stories-ten-scottish-climate-podcasts/ Disrupting the Doughnut of Doom podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jXi3tU4hVmSjehCGA72oj?si=ad08bff3b31446b3 The Good Food for Glasgow podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/49vlwtpxg2e0xZtXguoUpn Inclusion, Race, The Climate and Food episode of Good Food for Glasgow podcast featuring Andrew from EMEN: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3f8cGVcFO4lIhEimKqt46M?si=47ba961a553e42ac Ethnic Minority Environmental Network: http://theemennetwork.com Glasgow Food Policy Partnership: https://glasgowfood.net/