Skye Climate Action

Tourism, landscape and nature
2021-03-18 10:30 - 12:30 (Europe/London) | Virtual Meeting
With speakers John Muir Trust, Wester Ross Biosphere, Highland Council and Visit Scotland.
For full details, and to book, click here.

Just and Green Recovery for Scotland
2021-03-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Meeting
How can we continue to push for a recovery plan that addresses the climate crisis and social inequality? What does climate action look like in the current circumstances? Hear about Friend’s of the Earth Scotland’s campaign so far and what’s next.
Register here.

Dispelling the myths about carbon sequestration
2021-03-16 12:00 - 13:15 | Virtual Meeting
Based at Bridge Farm in Somerset, strategic dairy farmer David Cotton will share the measures he has taken to improve carbon storage and explore opportunities for the future.
You’ll also hear from Harley Stoddart AHDB Senior Environment Scientist about the facts behind carbon capture and storage, focussing on soil management practices to build soil organic matter and the role of trees and hedgerows.
And Sarah Bolt, Kingshay’s membership development manager, will take you through the results from Kingshay’s recent soil organic carbon research project which looked at soil organic carbon and soil management for 100 grassland fields across the country.
In the meeting you will learn:

How Bridge Farm has addressed carbon sequestration
How to improve soil organic carbon levels
About Kingshay’s soil organic carbon research results
The facts about carbon sequestration and storage
The link between profitable farming and carbon efficiency

Register here.
For further information contact Bryan Nicholson on 07976 181103 or Bryan.nicholson@ahdb.org.uk

A new vision for land use in Scotland: Ecosystems and Energy
2021-03-15 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual Meeting
A series of evenings discussing future land use in Scotland, presented by SEDA on conjunction with the James Hutton Institute.
Over the course of six weeks, nearly 50 of the best-informed speakers on all aspects of rural land use will engage in six “conversations” — each focused on a different aspect of how land is used and how it could be better used, in Scotland. The speakers will include LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) CEO Caroline Drummond, social entrepreneur and former Greenpeace scientific director Jeremy Leggett, Glasgow University economist Prof Ronald MacDonald, NatureScot CEO Francesca Osowska, Director Crown Estate Scotland & Corrour Estate Hugh Raven, representing sectors from farming, forestry, renewable energy, to tourism and landowners.
Joining the speakers will be a selection carefully curated contributions from Scotland-based poets and musicians, intended to stimulate fresh ways of thinking. Musicians and artists who will participate include Hamish Napier, Pau de Planet, Su-a Lee, Chris Powici, Kirsty Law and The Poozies.
By going back to basics, analysing the evidence and discussing new ways of building bridges between different sectors, SEDA hopes the event will move the debate out of the silos of traditional entrenched positions, opening up new ways of thinking about land use. One goal is to feed into the Scottish Government’s programme of creating Regional Land Use Frameworks by 2023 – a coherent programme of land reform to maximise the potential of Scotland’s land in tackling climate change. As importantly, the aim is to make connections between potentially competing future uses of the land, to see ways they can join up to have the maximum effect, to start discourse on how they can work together, and build a picture of what can be achieved and how this process can involve the wider population of the country, in changing the way the land is seen and used for the future.

Monday 01 March: The Lay of the Land
Monday 08 March: Soil and Growth
Monday 15 March: Ecosystems and Energy
Monday 22 March: Natural Benefits
Monday 29 March: New Rural Economy
Monday 12 April: A Story for the Future

Tickets for the whole series or individual evenings can be booked here.

Transition Network Summit : Pop up 2030 Imagining and creating a regenerative future
2021-03-13 10:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Meeting
“Working with our partners CTRLshift this summit will build the power of community led action in the UK by bringing together hundreds of community activists who are already making change happen, so together we can have a bigger impact. It will be a space to empower us to create our own future, through inspiring each other, making new connections and sharing knowledge to build a stronger movement that creates the change we want to see in our communities.
The summit will run over a period of three weeks, to enable people to dip in and out as they wish and to allow space for learning, reflection, the building of relationships and concrete pathways of action.
Each week we will have a different focus, following the flow of What Is? What If? What Next? Below is a general overview of the timeline, we will populate this with much more detail over the coming months, but for now, here are some key dates and moments for your diary so you have an idea what to expect.”
What Next? Summit Outline 3rd – 20th March

Transition Network Summit: An evening of What If? (Society)
2021-03-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Meeting

Transition Network Summit: An evening of What If? (community)
2021-03-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Meeting

Trees and agriculture: funding and income streams
2021-03-11 19:00 - 20:30
Save the date!
For more information contact Ana on 0793 082 4983 (aallamand@soilassociation.org) or visit the website.

Scotland for a Fairer World - international question time with political party spokespeople
2021-03-11 18:30 - 20:00
Scotland’s International Development Alliance is hosting an online Question Time event in the run up to the Scottish Parliament elections to give voters in Scotland and communities in the global south the chance to quiz representatives from each of the main parties on the role we can play in building a greener, fairer world.
This year’s Scottish Parliament elections will take place against the backdrop of a world facing multiple crises. No longer can we separate the nature crisis and the climate emergency from our consumption habits and fossil-fuel dependency, nor can we decouple our own economic prosperity from the poverty experienced elsewhere.
The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated clearly that the health of everyone, everywhere, is only as strong as the health of the most vulnerable and that we all have a responsibility to help one another.
This is a critical moment to make your voice heard as the parties are currently in the process of finalising the content of their manifestoes. The decisions they make now will set the agenda for the next five years of the Scottish Parliament. Join the Scotland for a Fairer World: Question Time and encourage all parties to set out a bold, internationalist agenda to make Scotland a global leader in tackling poverty and climate change.
For more information on the party spokespeople and chair, and to register click here.

Skye Climate Action Plastics meeting
2021-03-10 19:30 - 21:00 | Virtual Meeting
Helen Lavery from Zero Waste Scotland will talking about the Circular Economy in the Highlands and Islands, single use plastics and Scotland’s deposit return scheme, which is due to start on 1st July 2022. Followed by questions and a discussion.
Contact Anne for the zoom link.

Transition Network Summit: An evening of What If? ( individual)
2021-03-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Meeting

A new vision for land use in Scotland: Soil and Growth
2021-03-08 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual Meeting

Transition Network Summit Day 4: Stories from the movement
2021-03-06 10:00 - 18:00 | Virtual Meeting

Transition Network Summit Day 3: Stories from the movement
2021-03-05 10:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Meeting

Transition Network Summit Day 2: Stories from the Movement
2021-03-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Meeting

Circular economy in practice: How to Integrate CE Principles into organisations, governments and individual lives.
2021-03-04 17:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Meeting
Creating a career whilst staying true to your passion and values is not always easy and yet many of us are driven by our values and a common purpose to create sustainable future.
You would have heard the phrase “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” but how can that really change the way we run our economy, redefine growth and decouple economic activity from the consumption of finite resources? What kind of values need to be changed or shifted to reduce waste in our society and the systems we create, in how we make things, use things and discard things? What are the systemic shifts we need to encourage? And what can we do to support that?
Join the Women in Sustainability event with speakers Catherine Weetman, Izzie Eriksen and Jane Stewart who all have expertise in the circular economy.
Register here

Transition Network 'What Next?' Summit 3-20 March
2021-03-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Meeting

Skye Climate Action conversation
2021-03-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Meeting
CREATIVE CLIMATE CONVERSATION
Come and share your stories and tips and hear what others are doing.

Cash vs. the Climate Crisis
2021-03-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Meeting
Scotland invests billions in some of the world’s worst climate polluters: fossil fuel corporations. But the damage caused by this cash also opens up an opportunity.
Friends of the Earth Scotland invites you to explore how a web of money connects Scotland’s institutions to global pollution – what we can do to shift this cash towards sustainable investments – and how divestment can be a powerful tool in the work of building a healthier, greener future.
You’ll hear about brand new research on the Scottish Parliament and local councils.
In the second part of the event there’ll also be a chance to meet other concerned people and find out what you can do across Scotland to help make the shift to fossil-free.
With Ric Lander, Campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, and divestment campaigners.
Register here.

Grow your own vegetables and salad: training course
2021-03-02 19:00 - 21:30 | Virtual Meeting
Another of the excellent West Highland College courses. This two-evening course is designed for those with no experience who wish to start growing vegetables and those already experienced at vegetable production but who want to know more, or adapt what they already know to work better in the Highland and West Highland climate and soils. This course will help you to develop confidence in your growing skills, and your ability to plan and increase production with time saving ideas and a helpful diary for growing vegetables successfully. It is also useful preparation for the following polytunnel and fruit courses.
2nd and 9th March – book here.

Cash vs Climate - Scotland's investment in climate polluters.
2021-03-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Meeting
Scotland invests billions in some of the world’s worst climate polluters: fossil fuel corporations. But the damage caused by this cash also opens up an opportunity.
Friends of the Earth Scotland invites you to explore the how a web of money connects Scotland’s institutions to global pollution – what we can do to shift this cash towards sustainable investments – and how divestment can be a powerful tool in the work of building a healthier, greener future.
You’ll hear about brand new research on the Scottish Parliament and local councils.
Register here.

Scottish Communities Climate Action Network café
2021-03-02 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Meeting
Join SCCAN members for a virtual cafe. Bring your community experience, your ideas, your questions, and your own cake!
Register here.

A new vision for land use in Scotland: 6 Conversations starts today
2021-03-01 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual Meeting

Seed Saving with Paradise Permaculture
2021-02-27 | Virtual Meeting
Please save the date for our next seed-saving event on 27 February, when we will present more information, speakers, and an opportunity to take home seeds.
Check for updates at www.paradisepermaculture.org.

Integrating trees into your farm or smallholding business
2021-02-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Meeting
Trees are an effective tool for a variety of purposes in any farm design, whether you are managing a lot of hectares or a small homestead. Soil Association Scotland discusses why and how to integrate trees into farm designs with Rosa Bevan and James Reid, from small farm and market garden Tap o’ Noth, Aberdeenshire, and arable farmer Roger Howison, of 537-acre Parkhill Farm in Fife.
Book here

Jonathon Porritt talk: Decarbonisation and recarbonisation: Understanding the net zero challenge
2021-02-24 18:00 - 19:15 | Virtual Meeting
Securing a stable climate for the future of humankind depends as much on recarbonising natural systems (soils, forests, bogs, etc) as it does on decarbonising our industrial economy. So why do we still hear so little about the recarbonisation agenda? Why will COP26 in Glasgow next year be dominated by decarbonisation narratives, with Nature-Based Solutions coming in a poor second?
Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director of Forum for the Future and environmental campaigner for more than 45 years, will explain the issues in a lecture for University of Bath Institute for Policy Research
Jonathon’s book Hope in Hell, a powerful ‘call to action’ on the Climate Emergency, was published in June 2020.
Register here.

Skye Climate Action : steering group meeting
2021-02-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Meeting
Steering group meeting to prepare for the next SCA Conversation on 3rd March.
All SCA supporters are welcome.

Introduction to Seed saving in Scotland
2021-02-20 11:00 - 14:00
Gaia Foundation is rolling out an ambitious seed training programme in Scotland over two years. These courses aim to train seed savers in Scotland to a professional level. The focus is primarily on vegetable seeds and specifically for Scottish growing conditions.
Register (limited places)
For specific queries email Richie Walsh (richie@gaianet.org)
A short intro course, offered as live webinars on two Saturdays, the 23rd of January and the 20th of February, will cover seed plant biology & reproduction systems, growing seed crops, intro to harvesting and processing, seed production, and planning. The last topic had not been covered in previous intro courses and will be presented by experienced market-gardener and commercial seed producer Ellen Rignall of Trill Farm.
This intro course is a gateway to the intermediate course that will follow immediately after in March with 9 webinars spread over the rest of the year; more in-depth and hands-on, requiring trainees to grow at least one seed crop. Those who wish to further progress can then apply to an advanced course in 2022.
The intro course will cost £30 for two 3-hour webinars, with a sliding scale to allow low-income persons to enroll as well. The course will be repeated in the second half of 2020.
The Gaia Foundation is passionate about regenerating cultural and biological diversity, and restoring a respectful relationship with the Earth. Together with long-term partners in Africa, South America, Asia and Europe, we work with local communities to secure land, seed, food and water sovereignty. By reviving indigenous knowledge and protecting sacred natural sites, local self-governance is strengthened. This enables communities to become more resilient to climate change and the industrial processes which have caused the many crises we now face.

Introduction to polytunnel and greenhouse growing: training course
2021-02-16 19:00 - 21:30 | Virtual Meeting
This two-evening training course, run by West Highland College, provides the practical skills and confidence necessary to maximise the fruit and vegetable production possible with a poly-tunnel or greenhouse. The techniques and principles of growing in such a sheltered environment will be introduced to participants along with an introduction to choosing a tunnel and irrigation alternatives, choosing a site and construction considerations. This course will allow you to develop your growing skills, extend the growing season to increase production in your own garden, farm or croft or as the basis for productive indoor growing in a work environment, and to generate additional income.
16th and 23rd February. Book here.

Making trees work on your croft
2021-02-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Meeting
Wondering what trees could do for your croft? Join Soil Association Scotland for an online discussion with two crofters – new entrant Phil Knott, of Wildlife Croft on Skye, and Mike Hyatt, of Baleveolan Croft, Isle of Lismore – about their experience of crofting with trees. Ask your questions and hear about:

Benefits of agroforestry for crofting operations – food production, wood and fuel, shelter for crops and livestock
How trees can support biodiversity and improve soil health
How to plan, fund, establish and manage trees on your croft
Challenges and how to tackle them

Scottish Forestry and Woodland Trust will also be present to answer your funding questions.
Book here.
