Green Times Magazine Autumn 2024

LEAF fund for community and environmental projects re-opened

The LEAF (Local Environmental Action Fund), which provides grants of up to £3,000 to support projects in local communities has reopened.

Funding is available for projects that provide environmental improvements, support nature recovery, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support local communities.

Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “The first round of funding awards is supporting community led projects which will make a real difference in Aberdeen.

"These community-led initiatives have an important part to play in reaching the targets set out in our collective Net Zero Aberdeen Routemap and Aberdeen Adapts framework.”

Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard added: “Applications for LEAF funding have been opened to a wider range of groups this time, and it’s exciting to see what creative ideas come forward for the benefit of our communities.”

Alison Stuart, Chief Officer of NESCAN Hub said “We have been delighted by the variety and creativity of the environmental action projects we have seen spring up all over the city, and by the enthusiasm and commitment of community groups working for the benefit of nature, the planet and their community.”

Thirteen projects received support from the scheme during the first round of LEAF earlier this year, including work to brighten up urban spaces, monitor the health of river wildlife, and create biodiverse sensory spaces.

The LEAF fund is administered through NESCAN Hub (North East Scotland Climate Action Network), on behalf of the Council. Applications should be made through the NESCAN Hub website, and should outline how they fulfil the criteria, setting out how they will benefit the local environment, while supporting communities.

The fund is open to not-for-profit community groups with an annual income of under £200,000, increased from £100,000 from the first round, for projects located within Aberdeen City.

Further information on LEAF 
Further information on Net Zero Aberdeen

Small electricals recycling project launched

On 14 October, the Waste and Recycling service, in partnership with Recycle Your Electricals, launched a new initiative to help residents recycle small electricals.

19 bright pink small electricals bin have been positioned at sites across the city. Another three bins are being used for temporary projects e.g. we have positioned one at Marishal College for eight weeks for staff.

Why is this important?

On average there are at least 30 electricals hidden away in drawers in UK homes, a total of 880 million items across the UK. And yet, 39% of people bin electricals, rather than recycle or reuse them leading to over 100,000 tonnes of electricals thrown away every year.

The aim of this project is to help our citizens by making it easier to recycle their small electricals.

What can we put in these bins?

The bins are for electrical items smaller than a microwave. Examples include phones, chargers, cables, headphones, kids toys, electric toothbrushes, electric razors, toasters, and kettles.

If you can’t donate, sell or repair your old small electricals, you can recycle them in these bins.

Batteries like AA's and AAA's must be removed where possible before disposal with the exception of products such as laptops, mobile phones, electric toothbrushes and tablets with lithium batteries built into them. Loose batteries can be recycled at battery recycling points.

Visit our website to find out more about the project.

Critical red squirrel conservation aided by public citizen science efforts

Members of the Scottish public have aided critical red squirrel conservation efforts by taking part in the sixth annual Great Scottish Squirrel Survey. In a year of mixed fortunes for red squirrels in Scotland, public squirrel sightings have proved more important than ever for work being undertaken by conservationists across the country.

Results from the nationwide survey, which took place between the 30 September and 6 October, show that during the week 1802 people reported over 2500 squirrel sightings, the second highest result to date and a 30% increase from 2023.

Public sightings revealed the success of ongoing conservation efforts to eradicate grey squirrels from Aberdeen, with numerous reports of reds returning to the city and no greys spotted (although it is known they are still present in very small numbers).

Contributions by the public also helped to detect low density grey squirrel incursion northwards in Perthshire and other Lowland areas, aiding conservationists in their efforts to protect the red-only population of the Scottish Highlands – the largest red-only area left in the UK hosting around 80% of Scotland’s native squirrels. 

Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) Programme Manager Gail Turney said:

“We are incredibly grateful to every single person who took the time to get outside, explore their local areas, and report sightings of grey and red squirrels to us this year. Public sightings are vital to the work we carry out, and it has been incredibly uplifting to see records coming in from all over the country, with thousands of people responding to the call to help protect one of Scotland’s threatened iconic species.”

Red squirrels are one of Scotland’s most loved animals, and our only native squirrel species. Once widespread throughout the country, in recent decades red squirrel populations have declined due to their replacement by introduced invasive non-native grey squirrels, who outcompete them for food and habitat and spread the deadly squirrelpox virus, which doesn’t harm greys but is fatal to reds.

Sightings of both species can be reported year-round on the Scottish Squirrels website and help SSRS staff, volunteers, and partners understand how the distribution of each species is changing over time and where efforts should be prioritised.

Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot. 

Bridge of Don and District Men’s Shed Update

In March this year Mens’ Shed purchased, built, and kitted out a 16 metre long poly tunnel, then entered into a joint training programme with Forehill Primary School, where the children helped our men to sow seeds and grow a wide range of vegetables, both in the poly tunnel and outdoors, with the eleven classes each having their own planter to look after.

The grand opening on Monday 27 May 2024 was well attended by members of the Men’s Shed, pupils, teachers, and visitors including Jackie Dunbar MSP. The pupils sang a sweet song to us ‘Celebrate’ - a lively feel-good song created by Scottish charity, Fischy Music, which is all about celebrating the growing seasons.

Speeches were delivered by Headteacher Ailsa Gowl, Shed Chairman John Smith, and the Convenor of Education and Children’s Services, Councillor Martin Greig, who also cut the ribbon to mark the poly tunnel officially open.

Our Autumn harvest has included courgettes, rainbow carrots, beetroot, tomatoes, and potatoes and the children took them back to the school kitchen, where a variety of vegetable soups were cooked up and even some delicious carrot cakes, which were very quickly devoured. There was even enough spare vegetables to share around with parents and teachers and also a very special delivery by the children to the residents of Jesmond Care Home, who were delighted to receive a lively visit by the children. It certainly cheered everybody up that day.

We aim to plant dwarf fruit trees before winter arrives and then next year, the school children can pick the harvest off of them and enjoy fresh apples, pears and plums, tasting fruit as it should be tasted, with no pesticides being applied, no air miles or plastic wrapping either.

The Men’s Shed fully funded our poly tunnel using income generated from selling our planters, garden benches and from social events. Then using some of this years vegetables, we produced a tasty variety of pickles, jams and chutneys, then selling them at our monthly farmer’s markets (third Saturday monthly, in Gordon Barracks, Ellon Road) and using this income we will be purchasing seeds and plants for next year and also expanding our range of produce.

Men’s Shed Facebook

Email: secretary.bodshed@outlook.com

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Gairn community garden transformation by young adults at Aberdeen Foyer

Daniel, who is heading up the community garden at Gairn contacted Aberdeen Foyer - outlining the project and asking if we would be interested in collaborating on a community project at this community garden in the making.

During the first couple weeks of launchpad – a personal development and employability programme for 16 – 25-year-olds - the team explored our community to consider how we could make a difference. The team identified various ways they would like to help our community. They loved the idea of this garden project at Gairn and jumped straight into creating individual designs for the space. We submitted these designs to Daniel who shared them with the community council and came back with their chosen three designs. Our final design was a combination of these three designs. They also wanted to invest £500 in the space, from funding they had secured.

We sought approval from SSE for a design on the substation, they were all for it. They also helped us dig out the path with a mini digger.

The team set to work on their vision, they worked so hard and collaboratively and the results are amazing!

Feedback from Gairn

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the amazing young people from Aberdeen Foyer for their hard work and dedication in transforming the entrance of the Gairn Community Garden! From building a beautiful new path to painting stunning artwork that brings so much colour and life to the area, your efforts have truly made a difference.   

The front of the garden looks fantastic thanks to your clean-up and creativity, and it’s clear that a lot of care went into making the space more welcoming and beautiful for everyone in the community. We are so grateful for all the time, energy, and passion you’ve put into this project.   

We invite everyone to come by and see the incredible improvements and check out the vibrant art that now brightens up our garden. Thank you, Aberdeen Foyer, for helping us grow this space into a vibrant and inviting place for all!

Get involved

If you’re interested in volunteering or supporting the Gairn Community Garden, please contact us at Gairn_Community_Garden@outlook.com. Together, we can create a space that benefits our community and promotes sustainable living in Aberdeen.

Gairn Community Aberdeen | Facebook

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S.O.S - Saving Our SSSI

The Countryside Ranger team has been hard at work this Autumn conserving the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Scotstown Moor Local Nature Reserve. The sites designation was given due to the presence of the rare plant species, Black Bog Rush, which is supported by this vital wetland habitat, which is also recognised by the British Dragonfly Society as its most northerly dragonfly hotspot in Scotland. This wetland site, however, is under threat due to invasive gorse, which is absorbing large amounts of water, risking the delicate ecosystem and its protected status.

To tackle this issue and help aid the wetland’s survival, the ranger team have organised volunteer sessions to remove the gorse from this area. With great effort and invaluable volunteer support, we have seen significant areas of this invasive shrub being cleared, with the removed gorse being responsibly burned, following strict guidelines from NatureScot.

While there is still a long way to go, the combined efforts of the rangers and volunteers have made a substantial impact. The team is committed to continuing this vital work in the new year, aiming to restore the wetland and protect its unique biodiversity and the incredible wildlife it supports.

To find out more and get involved and check out the latest Aberdeen Countryside Rangers Volunteering Events

Countryside Ranger Service on Facebook

Culter In Bloom

We began about ten years ago when some folk decided it was time to help Peterculter look even more attractive. We have a small committee of five or six, a chair, a vice chair, a secretary, and a treasurer.

We meet to check our progress, try to sort out difficulties, decide on plants, colour schemes etc. We also have a small band of occasional helpers who plant, water and weed. After helping you usually get tea and cake!

Our funds come from generous local residents, gala funding, the occasional grant and some from the local business too. Every donation helps.

Every year we have a social evening with stovies, and other refreshments and an interesting speaker or theme. This is to show our appreciation for the local support. The evening is always enjoyable.

Now here is what we get up to! Our work is to provide and maintain roadside containers, wall hangers and hanging baskets. These are planted in the Spring and Autumn.

We helped begin the Community Orchard and share maintenance of this with the Council.

We also have to do the boring bits, weeding, replacing broken planters, litter picking, pruning, strimming, discouraging dog fouling etc.

As every gardener knows nature keeps on trucking and we have to keep up with her.

We have a Culter in Bloom Facebook page on which we post lovely pics of the plants of which we are proud.