Scottish Environment Week 2006 - Report

February 2006 saw the launch of the second annual Scottish Environment Week, an initiative designed to profile the environment, conceived of and organised by Scottish Environment LINK.

The 2006 programme was mainly based in and around the parliament with the purpose of raising the profile of the Scottish environment with parliamentarians, though it included a number of site visits in other parts of the country. The intention of the Week is to celebrate the rich and diverse natural heritage of Scotland, to show how people care for their environment in their workplace and communities; and to showcase innovative thinking and initiatives around environmental and sustainable development in Scotland.

In January, a preview event at the Holyrood Hotel for media and parliamentarians, launched the programme for the week. This was followed by a dinner at the National Trust for Scotland hosted by LINK’s President Fred Edwards and sponsored by National Grid, for Scotland’s environment Ministers, the environmental spokespeople from the main political parties, guests from SEPA, SNH and COSLA, media representatives, and a number of players from LINK member organisations.

During the Week (6-12 February), a Scottish Environment LINK exhibition and DVD presented a snapshot of the work of the eNGO sector in the first floor lobby area of the parliament. Sarah Boyack MSP, whose bill on micro-renewables is currently being considered by parliament, provided a Combined Heat and Power boiler for display, which attracted attention of MSPs passing through. A Scottish Environment Week Quiz testing the environmental knowledge of parliamentarians and others, was won by Campbell Gunn of the Sunday Post. Rhona Brankin MSP presented him with his prize of a year’s membership to the Scottish Mountaineering Council.

A Midweek Reception in the Garden Lobby at Holyrood marking the Week was well attended by parliamentarians and an invited audience including business, community groups, environmental NGOs and more. Keynote speaker Fred Edwards, LINK President took the opportunity to speak about the prophetic nature of environmental activism in Scotland and its links with development and human rights. He emphasised the opportunities that had been presented by devolution as reflected in legislation on accessibility, the water framework directive, strategic environment assessment and the availability of Ministers and legislators. Ross Finnie, Minister for the Environment and Rural Development congratulated LINK on a second successful Scottish Environment Week, and hoped it would continue as an annual event in the Scottish Parliament’s calendar.

The launch event was followed by a number of themed events in the parliament hosted by MSPs from the main political parties. ‘You are what you eat: Food as a route to Environmental Understanding’ was the intriguing title of the first event – a food tasting session with speakers using food samples to illustrate talks on the history of eating habits in Scotland, edible wild food, and the future for Scotland’s food industry. John Scott MSP, event host, was enthusiastic about his first taste of mutton since he was a boy; Deborah Long (Plantlife Scotland) told us all how to make nettle soup; and the scones with homemade hedgerow jam was a hit amongst the participants.

On Wednesday, a lunchtime event on Scotland’s Seas offered a platform to both marine conservationists (representatives from the marine conservation society and RSPB) and fishermen – represented by Bertie Armstrong of the Scottish Fisherman’s Federation. This was followed in the evening by the launch of a new Audit of the State of the Farmed Environment, a Macaulay Institute research project for the Agriculture working group of Scottish Environment LINK. The event was ably hosted by Rob Gibson MSP, and the Environment Minister was amongst the speakers.

Sustainable Development Education was the subject of the final event in the parliament. Led by children from Fallahill Primary School in West Lothian, the event demonstrated the value of practical education in environmental issues. The children had been attending a ‘forest school’ in their local area which had taught them basic skills such as lighting fires, building shelters, and managing the forest. They performed a role play, and read out poems about the project which they were clearly enjoying.

Complementing events in the parliament, Environment LINK also encouraged MSPs to attend events in Holyrood Park and further afield in their own constituencies. On the Wednesday, MSPs and a local Councillor had the opportunity to find out about a local ‘safer routes to schools’ project by speaking to the children involved. A cycle ride to Duddingston Primary School led by Sustrans and the Bike Station was joined by children from the school. Over tea and biscuits, the children discussed the project with the politicians, and then turned the tables, quizzing the MSPs on their work in the parliament for a school project on the Scottish Parliament. Meanwhile, students from the Garvald Centre spoke to MSPs about how they had worked with Holyrood Park rangers to complete their John Muir Award.

Towards the end of the week, as MSPs returned to their constituencies, LINK helped to coordinate site visits in their local areas. Marilyn Glen MSP helped to launch the ‘Walking Whitfield’ initiative which is encouraging people who don’t normally get exercise to meet for short walks during the weekend. A number of MSPs participated in beach clean-ups organised by the Marine Conservation Society. Iain Smith MSP learned how to ring ducks in Fife with the help of a countryside ranger and local conservation groups. And Rhona Brankin MSP, Robert Brown MSP and Kate McLean MSP visited schools in their area that had won eco-school awards.