Welcome to the latest edition of Green Times showcasing recent environmental news, events, projects, and volunteering opportunities in Aberdeen. This edition will look back on highlights from some of the great work going on across the city over the summer and the last few months.
We would love to hear about your projects and events and anything you have going on. To subscribe or submit an article contact greentimes@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Aberdeen Climate and Nature Pledge Update
The Aberdeen Climate and Nature Pledge was launched November 2022, inviting individuals and organisations to play their part in Aberdeen’s citywide climate journey. By signing the pledge, signatories play their part in achieving citywide goals:
- Net Zero – Net Zero carbon emissions by 2045
- Adaptation – Build resilience to a changing climate
- Nature – Manage 26% of Aberdeen for nature by 2026
It’s quick, easy and free to sign the Pledge on the Net Zero Aberdeen website
The pledge provides ideas for actions you can take at home or at work, includes an optional sign up for the Pledge newsletter, and you can download the pledge logo for social media. Organisations can choose to make their pledge public on the Net Zero Aberdeen website.
So far, the pledge has 95 signatories, including 30 organisations and 65 individuals/households. You can view some of the pledge signatories on the Pledge Signatories page.
The Pledge supports the goals of the following city-wide climate strategies, created collaboratively with stakeholders across the city:
Net Zero Aberdeen Routemap - setting a pathway for Aberdeen to achieve Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2045.
Aberdeen Adapts Framework - the city-wide climate adaptation framework, to prepare and ensure we are resilient to the effects of climate change.
Sign the pledge today and join our city-wide climate and nature journey!
To find out more about Net Zero Aberdeen contact ecocity@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Aberdeen Climate and Nature Pledge
Greenspace Scotland launches Parks4Life and Park Portraits campaign
Our partners at greenspace Scotland have recently announced the official launch of the Parks4Life fund, Scotland’s first ever fund for parks and greenspaces, with a goal to raise one million pounds by the end of 2023 to help support Scotland’s parks with a sustainable fund for the future.
To celebrate, they’ve released Park Portraits: a digital photo gallery bringing to life the stories of a dozen Scottish individuals and the ways that parks have enriched their lives - aimed at inspiring the public to donate to the Parks4Life fund.
Show your support by donating today by visiting the Green Space Scotland website and by sharing your own Park Portrait and park story.
Your Neighbourhood Your City, Your Plans: What matters to you?
Do you care about Aberdeen and your neighbourhood? We want to hear from you.
Community Planning Aberdeen is the name for your local partnership of public, private and third sector organisations and communities working together to improve lives across Aberdeen. With our Locality Empowerment Groups and Priority Neighbourhood Partnerships we are refreshing the City’s Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) and the Locality Plans for North, South and Central.
We would like all residents of Aberdeen to help shape our plans and participate in a short exercise to discover what things that are good now and improvements you think we should prioritise working on together to make our city and our neighbourhoods better in the future. The engagement is open to any resident of Aberdeen.
You can participate by:
- Completing the online tool open from Friday 6 October until Sunday 5 November 2023 .
- Attending one of our Locality Events in your area.
| Engagement Events | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen North | ||
| North Priority Neighbourhood Partnership | Saturday 7 October 10am-12noon | Cummings Park Community Centre AB16 7AS |
| North Locality Empowerment Group | Wednesady 1 November 7pm-9pm | Danestone Community Centre AB22 8ZP |
| Aberdeen Central | ||
| Central Priority Neighbourhood Partnership | Saturday 14 October 2pm-4pm | Tillydrone Community Campus AB24 2UY |
| Central Locality Empowerment Group | Saturday 28 October 10am-12noon | Powis Community Centre AB24 3YX |
| Aberdeen South | ||
| Torry Partnership | Saturday 14 October 10am-12noon | Tullos Primary Assembly Hall |
| South Locality Empowerment Group | Saturday 28 October 2pm-4pm | Altens Community Centre AB12 3SE |
Sharing your views about what is good now, and what could be better, can help us make good decisions and allow us to target resources where they are needed most. Your response will help guide the refreshing of the priorities within the LOIP and in the Locality Plans.
For further information on the refresh of our plans, visit the Community Planning Aberdeen website.
Discover Maps Project: East Grampian Coastal Partnership
Our impressive landscapes and seascapes play a significant role in reciting the history of Scotland, capturing tales of cultural heritage and natural significance as they document the changing relationship and attachment between society and nature.
Several years ago, Ian Hay, an East Grampian Coastal Partnership (EGCP) Project Manager, developed a partnership project: Discover the Aberdeenshire Coast, resulting in webpages about the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire coastline. Whether looking for eco-friendly accommodation, places to watch dolphins or a walking route to explore the coast, the webpages provided information and ideas for an exciting ‘green’ visit to the region; from puffins to whales, to deserted beaches and bustling harbours.
A natural evolution of this initiative is the current Discover Maps Project. Funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Funds (EMFF), featuring four annotated and illustrated maps covering the coastline between Fraserburgh, St Cyrus and Aberdeen. These maps contain a wealth of interesting information about the coast including the people, the history, environment and activities that make this stretch of coast so unique.
A short video, made with the help of Avcim media in Aberdeen (Angus Turner and his team), has been made to accompany the maps. Both the film and the maps are available on the EGCP website.
Posters of the maps are also being printed and will be donated to libraries, schools and other public spaces for feedback and further information gathering for the second issue of these maps. We have now also received sponsorship to produce printed folding versions of these maps.
We hope this project will continue to grow and become a social story of the region. If you have memories of a favourite place to share, have seen anything special, interesting or just mundane, worked on or around this coast, or just remember some favourite holidays or pastimes, and ‘tall stories’ that might be true or just legends, then please let us know!
To find out more, get involved or share your stories please contact David R Green
d.r.green@abdn.ac.uk or subscribe to the newsletter.
Vote for your Favourite Community-led Green Projects
Voting for the Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund opens on September 29th and closes October 13th 2023.
After the Scottish Government announced £500 Million over 10 years to support the transition away from oil and gas in the North East, £4 million was earmarked to go directly into grass-roots communities via a green participatory budgeting process. This means that residents of Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray are invited to vote to decide which projects are taken forward and to allocate funds to directly benefit communities.
Last year, residents of Aberdeen voted on how to allocate £333,000 to support sustainable, green projects across the city. Successful projects included a community electric mini-bus to be run by Tillydrone Community Council, a community garden at Cornhill Community Centre, and a composting toilet to support community food growing projects at Grove Nursery.
This year, Aberdeen residents will have the opportunity to vote on how to spend half a million pounds on projects to make communities greener and more sustainable. Eligible organisations can bid for up to £50,000 to spend on items or equipment for their project. To qualify, each project has to bring both social and environmental benefits to communities in Aberdeen City.
The voting will again be city-wide, however this year, in a change from last year, you can vote for projects in Aberdeen if you live, work or use services in Aberdeen. We introduced this change to provide opportunities for people to vote for projects whose impact will span more than one local authority. Everyone in your household can vote.
We hope that you will choose projects that will have a long-term impact to help inspire communities on our journey to a greener and more sustainable Aberdeen.
The funding is from the Scottish Government's Just Transition Capital Fund and is administered by a partnership of five local organisations: NESCAN Hub, ACVO, AVA, tsiMORAY, Money For Moray.
The voting platform will be open for two weeks from 29 September through to 13 October 2023 and can be accessed from the Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund Website.
You can view some of last year’s successful projects online on the Just Transition Participatory Budgeting fund website and on the AVCO website.
For more information please contact rose@nescan.org rachel@nescan.org or sarah.irvine@acvo.org.uk
Hub North gives Tullos garden a spruce up
Tullos Community Garden has been given a clear-up by staff from Hub North Scotland, the infrastructure developer delivering the new nearby Torry school and community hub for the Council.
The Hub North team were joined by supply chain partners for a day clearing, weeding, tidying, laying bark and painting in ideal weather conditions. Another Hub North team painted a sensory classroom at Tullos school on the same day.
Hub North social impact and supply chain manager Lyn Brown said: “We were delighted to help such a great community cause and the whole team enjoyed getting stuck in.”
Catrina Robb, chair of the Tullos Community Garden, said the work took place in time for an upcoming community event at the site, and added: “Hub North did a power of work and transformed the whole garden.”
A video of the Hub North volunteering day has been posted to YouTube.
Compass Directions
Local medical charity, Camphill Wellbeing Trust (CWT), launched Compass in September 2020 to transform the former Waldorf School site on Craigton Road into a centre demonstrating practical solutions for healthy and sustainable lifestyles. Thanks to the support of our local community and over 7000 hours donated by 712 volunteers, our project continues to grow.
Have you seen us?
Following the successful public vote to award £38,000 from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Participatory Budget to Compass in January 2023, we are delighted to announce the arrival of our new 8-seater electric vehicle. We will now be able to offer easy access to the site for a range of volunteers and Skills for Health [social prescribing] service users. We will also be out and about delivering weekly produce to Torry Medical Practice for residents of the local area to pick up and enjoy freshly harvested, organically grown produce. Keep an eye out and give us a wave if you see us!
Further progress has also been made onsite thanks to the amazing efforts of our corporate volunteer groups. Thanks to the enthusiastic attendees, we now have our first composting toilet building as well as more no-dig beds, pathways and rainwater collection systems for the polytunnel. It was lovely to hear their feedback:
One visitor said: “(It’s a) really impressive facility. Aberdeen will be the better for it. Everyone was really helpful, nice and keen to share lots of gardening tips including advice on herbs to plant and I will be doing this with the kids all summer. I will definitely volunteer again with the kids in tow and spread the word.”
Produce Pop-Ups:
Take home the latest local, organically-grown seasonal produce harvested from the gardens of Compass. A full selection of fresh fruit and vegetables are available directly from Compass as part of our Produce Pop-Ups: every Thursday 2pm - 4pm, Friday 10am - 1pm and 1st Saturday of the month, 10am - 4pm. You can also find a selection of goods at Murtle Estate outside the Camphill Medical Practice between Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.
Join us:
If you’d like to learn more about Compass, discover ways to live sustainably and help support a local project, come along to one of our volunteering sessions:
- Weekdays: Wednesday (1.30pm – 4pm) or Thursday (9.30am – 12noon)
- Saturdays: volunteer days take place on the first Saturday of every month (9.30am – 4pm)
www.compassaberdeen.org.uk or email: compass@cwt.scot
Compass Website Facebook @CWTCompass
Duthie Park Ranger Service Environment Event
The Duthie Park Ranger Service Environment Event took place at the end of July and was attended by a variety of organisations including Aberdeen Science Centre, Aberdeen Climate Action, Royal Horticulture Society of Aberdeen, North East Herbs, The James Hutton Institute, The Allotment Market Stall, One Seed Forward, Scottish Badgers, Critter Creature and 2 Witt 2 Woo.
Over 600 people attended the event held on the former bowling green at Duthie Park. Children saw some of the species that can usually be found in the linked ponds at the park when they visited the Duthie Park Rangers. They also saw some of the exotic creatures with the Critter Keeper and the fantastic owls and birds of prey brought by 2 Witt 2 Woo. This family event aims to encourage more people to be aware of the outdoor environment. Attending for the first time were Scottish Badgers, who are hoping to recruit more volunteers in the North East area.
The Ranger Service is grateful to Travelstock Packaging and Friends of Duthie Park for sponsoring the event.
Get involved in Scotland’s fifth annual Great Scottish Squirrel Survey
The Great Scottish Squirrel Survey returns back in-person for its fifth year this autumn. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is calling on people all over Scotland to explore the outdoors and look out for tufted ears and bushy tails between 2-8 October 2023 (National Red Squirrel Week).
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) is a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, which is working in priority areas across Scotland to protect red squirrels from the spread of the invasive non-native grey squirrel.
SSRS monitors squirrel populations all year round; but autumn remains a particularly rewarding time of year for squirrel-spotting. Squirrels are often more visible as they busily forage the autumn harvest in preparation for the winter ahead.
Anyone can take part in the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey by reporting sightings of both red and grey squirrels throughout the week. Each sighting creates a snapshot of the situation, helping the project understand how populations are changing over time and to decide where to focus its conservation efforts.
Grey squirrels were introduced to Scotland in Victorian times and have since replaced our native red squirrel in many parts of the country. They out-compete reds for food and living space and can also carry squirrelpox, a virus that doesn’t harm them but is fatal to reds.
The Great Scottish Squirrel Survey week will feature a programme of events across the country as well as self-guided opportunities.
To find out more and record your squirrel sightings, visit the Scottish Squirrels website.
Climate Week North East – Ten Years Old!
Climate Week North East 24 will be running 15-24 March 2024 and we want your help to make it the biggest and best yet as it celebrates its tenth anniversary. It started out as Climate Week Aberdeen in March 2015 with a handful of events organised by a few organisations and has grown to over 170 events, organised by almost a 100 organisations over the ten day festival.
The week focuses on increasing everyone's understanding of climate change, what we can and are doing about it, with the aim to motivate action. NESCAN Hub co-ordinates the week and provides the publicity, including creating an events brochure, which is distributed all over the North East. It is free for groups and organisations to take part and can really help raise the profile of what groups and organisations are doing to tackle the climate crisis. Anyone can put on a climate week event, as long as it meets the aim. Events range from walks/bike rides to family fun days, workshops, tours, litter picks, tree planting, sewing lessons - anything goes!
Why don’t you take part and bring the work of your group to a wider audience? For more details you can visit Climate Week North East – Take action for a sustainable future or chat to NESCAN Hub.
For more information please contact cwne@nescan.org
Nancy’s medal for Friarsfield Park
For a number of years many people have enjoyed the delightful little park that is thriving in the heart of Cults. When once it was neglected and unappreciated, Friarsfield Park it is now a haven of beauty and tranquillity.
This transformation is largely due to the efforts of Nancy Berg, whose house overlooks the park, and who decided nine years ago something needed to be done to make it a place to be proud of. She has worked determinedly with a band of volunteers and lots of support from the Environmental Services team to make that happen.
Recently Nancy was awarded a medal and certificate by the Royal Horticultural Society in recognition of her achievement. Now Nancy has stepped down as Convenor of the Friends of Friarsfield Park but her work continues. None of this could have been done without a band of volunteers, planters, diggers, and weeders. It is a community park and all are welcome.
We would be delighted if you are able to spare a little time to help us. We meet for an hour on Thursday afternoons and the last Saturday morning of each month. No expert knowledge is required just plenty of enthusiasm. If you’d like to join us please contact Rob Cooper at robert.cooper0@talk21.com
Considerable change needed to stop nature loss in Scotland
Considerable and rapid change across all aspects of society is needed to stop further nature loss in Scotland, a new report has revealed.
Many of the direct causes of biodiversity loss are well-known such as pollution, climate change and land use change. Now a new report led by The James Hutton Institute, commissioned by NatureScot, says that tackling these direct causes is not enough.
It points to factors which are indirectly contributing to nature loss in Scotland including our culture, education, demography, economy, political systems and technology.
The report, also involving researchers at the University of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian University, identifies ways to reduce the impacts of some of these contributing factors to help us move towards a future where we are living more in harmony with nature. Government, public bodies, schools, businesses, individuals and communities are highlighted as having a lead role to play.
While this will require substantial adjustments, the report comments that these will be easier and less costly to people and businesses than passively adjusting to a worsening biodiversity and climate crisis.
Professor Robin Pakeman, senior report author at the Hutton, said: “A key conclusion I draw from this report is that the consequences of all of our actions, even apparently positive ones, can have global repercussions. These can be very complex to navigate. For example, replacing a forestry plantation with a native woodland could be seen as a win for biodiversity. However, where will the timber now come from?
“Effectively, ‘offshoring’ or pushing our impacts elsewhere where they cause even more problems, is a serious concern. There are many difficult choices, which can be made easier, as the report outlines. For example, we can reduce our use of unsustainable materials and cut energy consumption that degrades the natural world.”
NatureScot’s Director of Nature and Climate Change, Nick Halfhide said: “With the forthcoming consultation on the Scottish Government’s Biodiversity strategy to 2045: tackling the nature emergency, the importance of halting biodiversity loss by 2030 is laid bare.”
The full report can be accessed on NatureScot’s website: Understanding the Indirect Drivers of Biodiversity Loss in Scotland.
Beach Windbreakers - Aberdeen Foyer & ACC collaboration
Aberdeen Foyer is a local charity that helps adults and young people in the North East towards independent living, learning and work, as part of its service provision The Foyer delivers community wellbeing courses for 16- 25 year olds. This year The Foyer has delivered two community wellbeing teams, and the young people have achieved some amazing things including the huge improvements at the beach windbreakers.
Nicky Donelan, Development Coach said: “This project has been another great collaboration between the Council and The Foyer. As soon as the Environmental Services team gave the all clear to allow for another freshen up of the four windbreakers, I asked the great team if they could go in and give the shelters a wee power wash, they said yes and really went to town, power washing years of grime and paint off the shelters. The team also donated some white masonry paint and black metal paint for the portholes.
Our community wellbeing team then worked collectively to transform the windbreakers freshening up three and designing one, ready to be enjoyed over the summer. Huge thanks to everyone involved, we hope you like the developments so far.”
Our next community wellbeing course starts in September 2023 – for further details please contact Nicky Donelan on 07918 447 360.
Clean Air Day 2023
Clean Air Day in Aberdeen this year was a great success! The sun shone on the city centre event and there was a positive atmosphere generated by the visitors to the information event and by the exhibitors themselves.
Visitors attending the event could get information about how air quality is important to our everyday health! Exhibitors attending included Aberdeen City Council, First Bus, Big Issue Bikes, GetAbout, Enterprise Car Club and the Energy Savings Trust.
Children from Hanover Primary School visited the event also and were able to meet the exhibitors, our City Council co-leader, Councillor Ian Yuill, as well as the Hedge men street entertainers who joined in on the day’s fun.
News Updates and Events
- Tackling the Nature Emergency - strategic framework for biodiversity: consultation
- Listen to Paths for All's podcast series Voice of the Walk
- Learn how to enjoy Scotland’s great outdoors – know the code
- Check out the latest Aberdeen Countryside Rangers Volunteering Events
- Find your local social Health Walk - short, safe, social, fun and accessible low level walks led by trained volunteers
- Submit your Biological Records through NESBReC.
- NatureScot’s Make Space for Nature Podcast
- Find local walks and trails near you using Aberdeen’s trail guides!
