Alison Watson
@alliewatson.bsky.social
Just me, my garden and my dog. Living in North East Scotland. Preferred habitat, beaches and forests. Hand spinning, knitting and reading.
Labour are backtracking on a plan to help save birds: by blocking a new rule that would make developers put a £35 nest brick in every new home. They think it'll help win them votes - we need to show it would do the opposite. Sign the petition 38d.gs/ky2i
Sign the petition: Save Our Swifts
Swifts have lost more than half their population in 20 years. A simple £35 brick in new builds could help save them. Labour used to support this – now they’re planning to backtrack. Sign the petition ...
38d.gs
May 25, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Labour are backtracking on a plan to help save birds: by blocking a new rule that would make developers put a £35 nest brick in every new home. They think it'll help win them votes - we need to show it would do the opposite. Sign the petition 38d.gs/ky2i
Reposted by Alison Watson
Please stick up for wrasse and sign this petition! petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...
April 30, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Please stick up for wrasse and sign this petition! petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...
Reposted by Alison Watson
The wrasse fishery is yet another example of our government selling out our environment for the benefit of foreign owned billion earning #salmon farms, who get more government hand outs than they pay in tax. news.stv.tv/scotland/min...
Ministers threatened with legal action over fishing of ‘vital’ species
The Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust has called on the Scottish Government to stop the fishing of wrasse in marine protected areas.
news.stv.tv
April 30, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The wrasse fishery is yet another example of our government selling out our environment for the benefit of foreign owned billion earning #salmon farms, who get more government hand outs than they pay in tax. news.stv.tv/scotland/min...
Reposted by Alison Watson
🧵Open season for trapping wild wrasse starts tomorrow in Scotland (in no way avoiding the breeding season), purely to supply the #salmon farming industry. Removing wrasse damages our coastal environment because of their vital role in the food chain. Its also incredibly cruel.
April 30, 2025 at 3:18 PM
🧵Open season for trapping wild wrasse starts tomorrow in Scotland (in no way avoiding the breeding season), purely to supply the #salmon farming industry. Removing wrasse damages our coastal environment because of their vital role in the food chain. Its also incredibly cruel.
Reposted by Alison Watson
‘Restaurant boss halfwits should have no powers to chop down trees’
My piece for @lbc.co.uk on the Toby Carvery chopping down an ancient oak tree
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
My piece for @lbc.co.uk on the Toby Carvery chopping down an ancient oak tree
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Restaurant boss halfwits should have no powers to chop down trees
The felling of an ancient oak tree has understandably put local residents and conservationists on a collision course with the Toby Carvery restaurant chain.
www.lbc.co.uk
April 17, 2025 at 1:46 PM
‘Restaurant boss halfwits should have no powers to chop down trees’
My piece for @lbc.co.uk on the Toby Carvery chopping down an ancient oak tree
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
My piece for @lbc.co.uk on the Toby Carvery chopping down an ancient oak tree
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Reposted by Alison Watson
🌍 Nature matters to us all 🌿🤝
We need the #NaturalEnvironmentBill to set strong, meaningful targets to help nature recover.
Will you tell our leaders how much this matters, and why you love Scotland’s nature? 👉 www.scotlandlovesnature.scot/actnow
#ScotlandLovesNature @scotlink.bsky.social
We need the #NaturalEnvironmentBill to set strong, meaningful targets to help nature recover.
Will you tell our leaders how much this matters, and why you love Scotland’s nature? 👉 www.scotlandlovesnature.scot/actnow
#ScotlandLovesNature @scotlink.bsky.social
March 12, 2025 at 2:11 PM
🌍 Nature matters to us all 🌿🤝
We need the #NaturalEnvironmentBill to set strong, meaningful targets to help nature recover.
Will you tell our leaders how much this matters, and why you love Scotland’s nature? 👉 www.scotlandlovesnature.scot/actnow
#ScotlandLovesNature @scotlink.bsky.social
We need the #NaturalEnvironmentBill to set strong, meaningful targets to help nature recover.
Will you tell our leaders how much this matters, and why you love Scotland’s nature? 👉 www.scotlandlovesnature.scot/actnow
#ScotlandLovesNature @scotlink.bsky.social
Reposted by Alison Watson
Did u know? Feeding early emerging pollinators is so important this time of year. A sweet smelling & beautiful solution to that is Viburnum Bodnantense-Charles Lamont. It's a gorgeous & useful wildlife garden addition. Bees & early emergers like Red Admiral butterflies adore its nectar.🌿🌱🪲🐝🌍🦋
March 13, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Did u know? Feeding early emerging pollinators is so important this time of year. A sweet smelling & beautiful solution to that is Viburnum Bodnantense-Charles Lamont. It's a gorgeous & useful wildlife garden addition. Bees & early emergers like Red Admiral butterflies adore its nectar.🌿🌱🪲🐝🌍🦋
Oh dear. Why is moving home so hard? I feel like I'm still camping here and things aren't where they should be. At least the sitting room looks tidy now. Onwards to bedrooms next!
February 10, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Oh dear. Why is moving home so hard? I feel like I'm still camping here and things aren't where they should be. At least the sitting room looks tidy now. Onwards to bedrooms next!
Reposted by Alison Watson
Farmed salmon from Scotland in the news again today, hard to believe that salmon are considered a healthy choice of food to eat.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
February 9, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Farmed salmon from Scotland in the news again today, hard to believe that salmon are considered a healthy choice of food to eat.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Reposted by Alison Watson
Herdwick Sheep Wasdale - linocut by Cumbria painter and printmaker, Mark A Pearce
More of this artist's light-filled linocuts, here: markapearce.co.uk/product-cate...
#art #sheep #Herdwick #Cumbria
More of this artist's light-filled linocuts, here: markapearce.co.uk/product-cate...
#art #sheep #Herdwick #Cumbria
January 17, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Herdwick Sheep Wasdale - linocut by Cumbria painter and printmaker, Mark A Pearce
More of this artist's light-filled linocuts, here: markapearce.co.uk/product-cate...
#art #sheep #Herdwick #Cumbria
More of this artist's light-filled linocuts, here: markapearce.co.uk/product-cate...
#art #sheep #Herdwick #Cumbria
Reposted by Alison Watson
Lots of papers today covering the report from Scottish parliament committee.
It's a shame organisations like the RSPCA & Soil Association can't pay attention to this report, they need to stop certifying farms with high mortality.
archive.ph/zvXSb
It's a shame organisations like the RSPCA & Soil Association can't pay attention to this report, they need to stop certifying farms with high mortality.
archive.ph/zvXSb
January 17, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Lots of papers today covering the report from Scottish parliament committee.
It's a shame organisations like the RSPCA & Soil Association can't pay attention to this report, they need to stop certifying farms with high mortality.
archive.ph/zvXSb
It's a shame organisations like the RSPCA & Soil Association can't pay attention to this report, they need to stop certifying farms with high mortality.
archive.ph/zvXSb
Reposted by Alison Watson
Since 2018 enquiry - Record breaking mortalities (17.4 million fish in 2013), 25% mortality a year,+ massively increased chemical use, yet the industry say they are 'Hugely further along.' Eh? @vickyallan.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/... @vickyallan.bsky.social
Scottish government must do more to control salmon farming, inquiry finds
Report criticises ‘slow progress’ on industry regulation, amid record fish mortality and concerns over welfare and environmental pollution
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Since 2018 enquiry - Record breaking mortalities (17.4 million fish in 2013), 25% mortality a year,+ massively increased chemical use, yet the industry say they are 'Hugely further along.' Eh? @vickyallan.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/... @vickyallan.bsky.social
Moving house. Stressful and emotional. Leaving one life to start anew. Doubts, setbacks and a new garden to nurture.
January 16, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Moving house. Stressful and emotional. Leaving one life to start anew. Doubts, setbacks and a new garden to nurture.
Reposted by Alison Watson
£5 million of tax payers money to a foreign owned multinational, and as usual our Cab Sec for rural affairs is in the thick of it. How can this spend be justified @mairigougeon.bsky.social ? Bakkafrost have a track record of mass mortality. #Offthetable
www.fishfarmingexpert.com/applecross-h...
www.fishfarmingexpert.com/applecross-h...
£5m public funding for Scottish Salmon Company post-smolt project
A four-year Scottish Salmon Company project to grow post-smolts to 500g at its Applecross site in the northwest highlands has been awarded up to £5 million in public sector funding.
www.fishfarmingexpert.com
January 16, 2025 at 9:07 AM
£5 million of tax payers money to a foreign owned multinational, and as usual our Cab Sec for rural affairs is in the thick of it. How can this spend be justified @mairigougeon.bsky.social ? Bakkafrost have a track record of mass mortality. #Offthetable
www.fishfarmingexpert.com/applecross-h...
www.fishfarmingexpert.com/applecross-h...
Reposted by Alison Watson
If you need guidance on how to spot real accounts, you need to look carefully at the name. It has the domain name of the user, in this case it’s moneysavingexpert.com. This can only be enabled by the domain holder, so offered verification for the user.
Dear BlueSkyers. Sadly I'm getting many reports of scammers pretending to be me here, incl messaging people with 'investments' . Pls share/help me spread word that, as you know, THIS IS MY ONLY BLUE SKY account (proved as my handle is an official MoneySavingExpert one). All others are scams
January 15, 2025 at 10:51 AM
If you need guidance on how to spot real accounts, you need to look carefully at the name. It has the domain name of the user, in this case it’s moneysavingexpert.com. This can only be enabled by the domain holder, so offered verification for the user.
Reposted by Alison Watson
Winter in the Caledonian forest ❄️ Among the treetops, red squirrels build cosy nests, known as dreys, to provide protection from winter storms.
Rewilding helps ensure that vital habitats for wildlife don’t disappear. By restoring #nature, we’re creating refuges for Scotland’s incredible wildlife🌳
Rewilding helps ensure that vital habitats for wildlife don’t disappear. By restoring #nature, we’re creating refuges for Scotland’s incredible wildlife🌳
January 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Winter in the Caledonian forest ❄️ Among the treetops, red squirrels build cosy nests, known as dreys, to provide protection from winter storms.
Rewilding helps ensure that vital habitats for wildlife don’t disappear. By restoring #nature, we’re creating refuges for Scotland’s incredible wildlife🌳
Rewilding helps ensure that vital habitats for wildlife don’t disappear. By restoring #nature, we’re creating refuges for Scotland’s incredible wildlife🌳
Reposted by Alison Watson
A single 400-year-old ancient oak produces 234,000 litres of oxygen a year while soaking up carbon dioxide, and can support more than 2,000 species of bird, insect, fungus, and lichen. Nature is amazing - we need more of it, not less. Please repost if you agree 🌳
January 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM
A single 400-year-old ancient oak produces 234,000 litres of oxygen a year while soaking up carbon dioxide, and can support more than 2,000 species of bird, insect, fungus, and lichen. Nature is amazing - we need more of it, not less. Please repost if you agree 🌳
Reposted by Alison Watson
Don Staniford of Scamon Scotland claimed “Scottish salmon is a welfare nightmare that should be avoided. Yet retailers are flouting fish labelling laws and misleading consumers"
www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1982...
www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1982...
Harrods and Fortnum & Mason accused of 'misleading' customers with fish labels
The retail giants have came under fire from campaigners after they found a label without adequate information.
www.express.co.uk
November 29, 2024 at 8:25 PM
Don Staniford of Scamon Scotland claimed “Scottish salmon is a welfare nightmare that should be avoided. Yet retailers are flouting fish labelling laws and misleading consumers"
www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1982...
www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1982...
Reposted by Alison Watson
Scotland's marine muds sink more carbon than our forestry, peat, + terrestrial soils combined. If damaged (e.g. by bottom dragged fishing gear or #salmon farming) the sinks lose their function + can become Carbon sources. @thesnp.bsky.social must protect them.
spice-spotlight.scot/2021/03/24/o...
spice-spotlight.scot/2021/03/24/o...
Out of the blue: Is blue carbon the next frontier for climate change mitigation in Scotland?
This blog explains the current understanding of carbon captured and stored in Scotland’s coastal and marine environment, known as ‘blue carbon’. It also outlines known threats to …
spice-spotlight.scot
November 22, 2024 at 9:03 AM
Scotland's marine muds sink more carbon than our forestry, peat, + terrestrial soils combined. If damaged (e.g. by bottom dragged fishing gear or #salmon farming) the sinks lose their function + can become Carbon sources. @thesnp.bsky.social must protect them.
spice-spotlight.scot/2021/03/24/o...
spice-spotlight.scot/2021/03/24/o...
Raining today but a walk in a forest when the rain falls is a lovely prospect.
November 16, 2024 at 8:39 AM
Raining today but a walk in a forest when the rain falls is a lovely prospect.
Reposted by Alison Watson
Well done to 11 North West Highland Beach Clean volunteers for cleaning Balchladich & Clachtoll beaches in glorious Assynt on Saturday 9 Nov.
In total 310kg of plastic was removed, including over 50kg of fish farm pipe.
Since January volunteers have removed 11.24 tonnes of rubbish from NW beaches
In total 310kg of plastic was removed, including over 50kg of fish farm pipe.
Since January volunteers have removed 11.24 tonnes of rubbish from NW beaches
November 15, 2024 at 10:46 AM
Well done to 11 North West Highland Beach Clean volunteers for cleaning Balchladich & Clachtoll beaches in glorious Assynt on Saturday 9 Nov.
In total 310kg of plastic was removed, including over 50kg of fish farm pipe.
Since January volunteers have removed 11.24 tonnes of rubbish from NW beaches
In total 310kg of plastic was removed, including over 50kg of fish farm pipe.
Since January volunteers have removed 11.24 tonnes of rubbish from NW beaches
My Rambling Rector rose from last year. I will be so sorry to leave him if my house move goes through. The foxgloves help cover the old tree stumps through which the rose scrambles.
November 15, 2024 at 8:29 AM
My Rambling Rector rose from last year. I will be so sorry to leave him if my house move goes through. The foxgloves help cover the old tree stumps through which the rose scrambles.