1000 Better Stories

2024 marked the five-year anniversary of Greener Kirckaldy's ownership of their community building and 100 years of the community land ownership movement in Scotland. This is a story of this community’s journey to community ownership and how that empowered them to do more on climate, build resilience and help people in need. SCCAN podcast has lost it's funding. While we look for other sources, you can support us by donating through ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/1000betterstoriespod You can also join our collective and share your audio stories through our channel - get in touch with Kaska on stories@sccan.scot. Credits Production and recording: Lewis Harrower Field recording: Kaska Hempel Resources Greener Kirkcaldy https://www.greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk/ Community Land Scotland and the Stove Network - urban journeys digital mural - a story of community ownership https://www.greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk/project/greener-kirkcaldy-mural-a-story-of-community-ownership/ 100 Years of Community Ownership story archive https://100years.scot/ DTAS community ownership support service https://dtascommunityownership.org.uk/  Scottish Land Fund https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/scottish-land-fund  

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to the creative duo behind Art Moves Fife, Gillian McFarland and Kate Downes, about slow movement through landscape as a means to mobilise creative response to climate crisis, creative patience in thinking about solutions and tails wagging dogs. You can find the audio tour illustrating the essence of the creative process during the first art move at Tayport Heath on izi.travel website or app here. Credits Production: Kaska Hempel Resources Art Moves Fife website https://www.artmovesfife.org/ Art Move at Tayport Heath - blog https://www.artmovesfife.org/blog/artmove-1b Art Move at Tayport Heath - audio tour https://izi.travel/en/browse/a20cf047-db75-4f72-93e4-9ab98171d1c0/en  

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, speaks with Marie-Anne Brown, a manager at Magpie in Banchory, about embracing a circular economy lifestyle, balancing social and climate responsibilities, and planning for extreme weather. This is a final episode in our mini-series on climate driven extreme weather and adaptation in Scotland, marking the first anniversary of the devastating October floods in North East Scotland. Credits Production, recording and editing: Kaska Hempel Resources Magpie Shops https://www.magpieshops.org.uk/  Circular Communities Scotland https://www.circularcommunities.scot/  Aberdeen Voluntary Action https://www.avashire.org.uk/  Aberdeenshire South Food Bank https://aberdeenshiresouth.foodbank.org.uk/  DeesideCAN https://www.deesidecan.org.uk/  Number One https://www.facebook.com/numberonebanchory  SSEN powering communities to net zero fund includes funding for community-led physical and environmental resilience for communities within their supply network areas https://www.ssen.co.uk/about-ssen/our-communities/powering-communities-to-net-zero-fund/  The Scottish Government’s New Build Heat Standard will now allow wood burning stoves from 1 January 2025, based on rural and island community feedback (amendment on 8 November 2024)  https://www.gov.scot/news/wood-burning-stoves-to-be-permitted-in-new-homes/  SCCAN Adaptation resources https://sccan.scot/climate-adaptation/ 

We continue on our theme of climate change fuelled flooding and how we are adapting to it in Scotland. In the last two episodes we touched on responses from creative organisations and farming. Today we focus on future-proofing of newly built public buildings.  In a podcast crossover, we share an episode from CampusCast series at Fife College, which focused on their Dunfermline Learning Campus as a pathfinder project for The Net Zero Public Sector Buildings standard. It’s the only pathfinder project that incorporated adaptation into their work, supported by Scotland’s Public Sector Climate Adaptation Network. The new campus is featured in the newly published Scottish National Adaptation plan as a case study. CampusCast hosts, Sharrell Carroll and Naomi Wadsworth, are joined by industry expert Jonny Casey (Head of Climate Ready Leadership, Sniffer) to introduce climate adaptation, highlight what they are up to at Fife College and what you can do to get started with climate adaptation.  Credits:  CampusCast: Showcasing Sustainability podcast Hosts: Sharrell Carroll & Naomi Wadsworth Creative Director: Sharrell Carroll Producer, Writer & Editor: Sharrell Carroll Project Manager: Hayley Williamson Researchers: Sharrell Carroll, Hayley Williamson & Naomi Wadsworth Contributors & Advisors: Hayley Williamson & Naomi Wadsworth Additional contributors: Lucy Jackson, Ethan Moss, and the Fife College community. Music: Uppbeat Resources CampusCast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/110lS6bEVS0JcEIuU6XV1M?si=6b976a1750d74128 CampusCast on Adaptation Scotland website: https://adaptation.scot/our-work/fife-college-podcast-on-climate-adaptation/  Net Zero Standard https://www.netzerostandard.scot/  National Adaptation Plan for Scotland https://adaptation.scot/about/about-the-scottish-governments-national-adaptation-plan-snap3/ Scottish Public Sector Climate Adaptation Network  https://adaptation.scot/our-work/public-sector-climate-adaptation-network/  SCCAN Adaptation resource pages https://sccan.scot/climate-adaptation/ 

In this episode, we share a recording of a panel discussion on Farming and Water held at the Groundswell Outreach regenerative farming meet up at the Falkland estate in Fife, last July. The session explores how landscape-level, regenerative management can help us adapt to the climate-induced extremes of floods and droughts. It also touches on the barriers to implementing such an approach.  The panel was led by Ian Davis and included Alister Leggatt, Lyn White, and Cees Kamp and Anthony Ellis.  This is the second in a short series focusing on flooding and adaptation stories this month. Credit Recording and edit: Kaska Hempel Music extracts from “Song Shall Be Our Measure”, by Jessica Kerr, performed by herself, Kirsty Orton and Aaron McGregor Poem written and performed by Sophie Cooke “The overpromised land” Both works were commissioned as one of the creative inputs into the Scottish Ecological Design Association’s (SEDA) session on integrated land use at GO Falkland. Resources Groundswell https://groundswellag.com/  GO Falkland https://falklandestate.co.uk/go-falkland/  Videos from GO Falkland 2023 and 2024 https://www.youtube.com/@GOFalkland/videos Video of SEDA’s session on Solving the Land Use Jigsaw Puzzle at GO Falkland 2024 https://youtu.be/8TxnHG9JwU8?si=RcNYuRmVXMDlU_JP Integrated Trees Network - Scottish Forestry https://www.forestry.gov.scot/support-regulations/farm-woodlands/integrating-trees-network  Affinity Water https://www.affinitywater.co.uk/  “Water is Love” film https://www.waterislovefilm.org/  5 Principles of Regenerative Agriculture https://groundswellag.com/principles-of-regenerative-agriculture/ 

Our Story Weaver, Kaska, talks to Everyday Changemaker Simone Stewart at the Barn’s “Plenty?” Festival in Banchory last October. They discuss degrowth and snails, storm Frank’s influence on the Barn’s creative direction, and the value of improvisation and community in an emergency. One year on, they also reflect on the impact of last year’s flooding which interrupted the festival.   This is the first in a short series focusing on flooding and adaptation stories this month.   Credits Recording, interview and sound production: Kaska Hempel   Resources Storm Babet Stories from Angus https://sccan.scot/blog/storm-babet-a-watershed-moment-for-angus/ The Barn https://www.thebarnarts.co.uk/  Newton Harrison’s The Deep Wealth of This Nation, Scotland https://www.thebarnarts.co.uk/artist/newton-harrison Becoming Earthly at the Barn https://www.thebarnarts.co.uk/article/becoming-earthly-at-the-barn  Far Orchard Network at the Barn https://www.thebarnarts.co.uk/article/the-far-orchard  Manfred Max-Neef’s fundamental human needs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manfred_Max-Neef%27s_Fundamental_human_needs  What is degrowth? A beginners guide by Eilidh Connolly The Barn blog ttps://www.thebarnarts.co.uk/article/what-is-degrowth-a-beginners-guide  Degrowth reading list from Creative Carbon Scotland https://www.creativecarbonscotland.com/springboard-2023/reading-list/ Degrowth in Scotland on We Talk podcast (early 2022) https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nico-ndlovu

In this cross over episode from Harbour Voices podcast by Open Road, we hear a story of Hans Unkles' all electric lobster boat. This is first episode in Harbour Voices Festival of the Sea series which gives an important historical perspective to the stories of Torry People's Assembly we published recently. Credit Open Road Resources “Harbour Voices” podcast: https://www.openroadltd.com/projects/harbour-voices/   “It’ll never work - an all electric electric lobster boat” documentary https://itllneverwork.boats/  SCCAN collection of climate-engaged podcasts in Scotland: https://sccan.scot/blog/on-the-way-to-1000-better-stories-ten-scottish-climate-podcasts/

Retrofit coordinator, Matthew Clubb, talks through benefits and options of the retrofit project for Torry in Aberdeen. This is a recording of a talk from GO Torry! event in June 2024. Credits Recording and edit: Kaska Hempel Resources Listen to "GO Torry - growing resilience one year after peoples' assembly" https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-736yg-16bfd67 Community-driven regional retrofit support services: Edinburgh: https://www.edinbric.scot/ SCCAN Members Skillshare presentation: https://youtu.be/6vP8lU_ZykA?si=26qExfvvdq3SBWOQ Aberdeenshire: https://nesfit.org/ Glasgow: https://locohome.coop/ SCCAN Members Skillshare videos: https://youtu.be/AjQLdnk82Vo?si=KQSG93qfrsO2yXEJ Our Everyday Changemakers interview with Tom Nockolds Loco Homes  https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-nf6kq-1493f27

Our Story Weaver, Kaska, revisits Torry in Aberdeen for a GO Torry event, celebrating community's growing resilience in the wake of People's Assembly and its Declaration last Spring. We hear of RAAC and retrofit, outdoor classrooms and stealthy resistance, poetry and community with a heart. Credits Production: Kaska Hempel Resources 1000 Better Stories podcast episode about Torry Peoples’ Assembly of May 2023 – putting “just” back into “just transition”  https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-5q33x-14be025   NEW! Torry Assembly website – with:  Tullos poetry zine from GO Torry event https://www.torryassembly.net/tullos-poetry-zine-1 Declaration of Torry Peoples’ Assembly 28th of May 2023 (PDF) https://www.torryassembly.net/s/Declaration-of-Torry-A6-booklet-v1-2.pdf  Updates on the retrofit project https://www.torryassembly.net/about-retrofit  Information about Torry Peoples Assemblies on the Grassroots to Global website https://www.grassroots2global.org/torry-peoples-assemblies  Communities Assembly training by Grassroots to Global, early 2024 – SCCAN video series https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL727H-1nm_P25ueYx18ikvYroPMTGZ91-&si=dfN-nYxvbbaKQ3Ra Just Transition Communities Project (NESCAN Hub) https://www.nescan.org/just-transition-communities  Station House Media Unit https://www.shmu.org.uk/  Friends of St Fittick’s Park https://saintfittickstorry.com/  Aberdeen Ethnic Minority Women’s Group https://www.abdn-emwomen.org.uk/ North East Scotland Mammal Network (FB group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/335588875705435/  The Bridge Centre, Torry FB page https://www.facebook.com/thebridgecentretorry/  Social Juice https://www.social-juice-cic.co.uk/ St Fittick’s Park court appeal fails https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/aberdeen/news/st-fitticks-lose-legal-challenge-over-park-development/   

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Gareth Allenby from YMCA Glenrothes about weaving climate action into life journeys of young people experiencing homelessness and the joys of judging coleslaw competitions. YMCA Glenrothes Healthy Living Garden project was one of the community groups that received a small community grant from the Fife Climate Action Hub last year. Apply for your grant here: https://fccan.org.uk/community-climate-grants/  Listen to our story about First Year of Fife Climate Action gathering https://scottishcommunitiesclimateactionnetwork.podbean.com/e/year-one-of-fife-climate-hub-deepening-the-network-for-action/ Transcript  See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-gareth-allenby-ymca-glenrothes/   Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel   Resources Healthy Living Garden at YMCA Glenrothes https://www.ymca.scot/glenrothes/garden-open/  Sustainable Growing Event, Fife Climate Festival, at the Healthy Living Garden https://fccan.org.uk/events/ymca-glenrothes-fife-sustainable-growing-event/   Seed and Development Fund, Fife Climate Hub https://fccan.org.uk/community-climate-grants/  Climate Hubs Across Scotland  https://sccan.scot/network-building/ Year One Of Fife Climate Hub - deepening the network for action (1000 Better Stories episode): https://scottishcommunitiesclimateactionnetwork.podbean.com/e/year-one-of-fife-climate-hub-deepening-the-network-for-action/

In this Edinburgh Fringe special, Kaska speaks to Lewis Coenen-Rowe about the trees and myths that inspired his deforestation opera STUMPED, becoming an artist activist, and about the importance of coming together for storytelling like this to help us imagine a better future and take collective action.  STUMPED is showing at the Scottish Storytelling Centre starting this week and each performance ends with a short reflection from a different invited expert or community group involved in caring for trees and forests.  Transcript  See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/stumped-at-the-fringe-stories-trees-and-collective-action/ Credits Interview and production: Kaska Hempel Music: Exerpts from STUMPED by Lewis Coenen-Rowe, performed Resources: Lewis’ website https://www.lewiscoenen-rowe.com/  STUMPED opera on Insta https://www.instagram.com/stumpedopera/  STUMPED opera on FB https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557738514898&paipv=0&eav=AfZnr8aawmI-pzLrXUqtBT8rRZPKYyr8XH0MzRopZFZWSG8u_4NpXcaSEijReX9dubs Made in Scotland Showcase https://www.madeinscotlandshowcase.com/  Creative Carbon Scotland https://www.creativecarbonscotland.com/  Scottish Storytelling Centre https://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.com/  Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforests https://savingscotlandsrainforest.org.uk/

Kaska Hempel reports from the Fife Climate Hub gathering in celebration of their first year. We hear how they have built on longstanding partnerships, welcomed new faces and the critical importance of leadership from governments in support of the urgently needed community climate action. Consider this leadership when voting in general election on the 4th of July. Reviews of party manifestos on environment: Carbon Brief (Energy and climate only) - includes SNP and other minor parties https://www.carbonbrief.org/uk-election-2024-what-the-manifestos-say-on-energy-and-climate-change/ Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth UK (energy and climate, nature and environment, homes and transport, justice and democracy) - only Conservatives, Labour, Lib Dems and Greens  https://friendsoftheearth.uk/system-change/general-election-2024-manifestos-final-scores  Credits Recording and production Kaska Hempel Music Victoria Hume, Oblivious Structures from Radical Abundance album. https://www.lostmap.com/products/victoria-hume-radical-abundance   Resources FCCAN - Fife Climate Hub https://fccan.org.uk/ River Eden Partnership https://www.riveredenfife.org/ YMCA Healthy Living Garden https://www.ymca.scot/glenrothes/garden-open/ St Andrews Botanic Gardens https://www.standrewsbotanic.org/ The Curnie Clubs https://www.facebook.com/FifeCurnieClubs/  Big Green Market https://www.facebook.com/BurntislandGreenMarket  Climate Action Fife https://www.climateactionfife.org.uk/ Fife Environment Partnership COP conference https://www.fife.gov.uk/news/2023/fife-environmental-partnership-hosts-fife-climate-conference Fife Environment Partnership https://www.fife.gov.uk/kb/docs/articles/have-your-say2/community-planning Paper Boats https://paperboats.org/ Women’s climate action https://womensclimateaction.net/ Kathleen Jamie’s poem What the Clyde Said After COP26 https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/what-the-clyde-said-after-cop26/ SCVO Scotland https://scvo.scot/ SCVO Growing Climate Confidence resources including Climate Scorecard for Socially focussed community organisations https://climateconfident.scot/ Climate Cafe https://www.climate.cafe/  Victoria Hume Radical Abundance https://www.lostmap.com/products/victoria-hume-radical-abundance?utm_medium=order-details&utm_source=customer-accounts&utm_content=name Oblivious Structures https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmc8woJ6ppg “Less is more how degrowth will save the world” by Jason Hickel https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/441772/less-is-more-by-jason-hickel/9781786091215  Climate Outreach - Leadership on Climate https://climateoutreach.org/britain-talks-climate/climate-big-picture-2024/leadership/  Climate hub stories on 1000 Better Stories channels: Climate Action Hub Pilots - connecting local communities for change https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-kqdw6-12e1778 Edinburgh Communities Climate Action launch day (blog) https://sccan.scot/blog/edinburgh-communities-climate-action-launch-day/  TsiMoray Connect the Dots conference (blog) https://sccan.scot/blog/join-the-dots-tsimorays-annual-conference-connecting-ideas-people-moray/ 

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Rebecca Gibbs from SCCAN about rollerblading for sanity, turning NET zero into NOT zero and the invitation to get into climate adaptation planning with us. Transcript  See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-rebecca-gibbs-sccan/(opens in a new tab) Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Rebecca can be reached on rebecca@sccan.scot NEW! SCCAN Adaptation for Communities resources and news https://sccan.scot/climate-adaptation/  Storm Angus - contribute your stories of impacts of recent storms on Angus  https://www.angusclimatehub.co.uk/storm-angus  Climate Regional Networking Project https://sccan.scot/network-building/  Cadence Roundtable https://cadenceroundtable.org.uk/  Pollock Park https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/4187/Pollok-Country-Park Galgael Trust https://www.galgael.org/ Not Zero - How net zero targets disguise climate inaction (Report PDF) https://whatnext.org/research_pubs/not-zero-how-net-zero-targets-disguise-climate-inaction/ Prof Kevin Anderson on Net Zero  -Short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEk0uQ7nPV8  -In depth video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUwSNuHlve8&t=3s Carbon Capture and Storage explainer from Juice Media  -(sweary version) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSZgoFyuHC8&t=2s -(PG version) https://youtu.be/ThnLghO3Pv8?si=EBXIgUAa8dKZ3ddf  Roller Stop https://rollerstop.co.uk/  Climate Psychology Alliance https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/ National Consortium for Societal Resilience [UK+]: New Zealand Community Emergency Response Hubs  https://youtu.be/yNdF9kWG1A4?si=H1yg5xeJId8eAAhq Adaptation Scotland Community Climate Adaptation Routemap https://www.adaptationscotland.org.uk/how-adapt/tools-and-resources/community-climate-adaptation-routemap Flood Mary https://floodmary.com/  Global Assembly https://globalassembly.org/ 

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Alex Daniels from Transition Dundee about gleaning, fair access to fresh food and his favourite glut-busting recipes. Transcript  See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-alex-transition-dundee/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Register for 1000 Better Stories Collective skillshare with Manuela and Daniel from Maxwell Centre in Dundee, 30 May, 1-2pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/904908354247  Gleaning Project at Transition Dundee https://www.transitiondundee.com/gleaning The Gleaning Network https://gleaning.feedbackglobal.org/ West End Community Fridge https://www.transitiondundee.com/community-fridge  Campy Growers https://campygrowers.uk/  Kris Harbour off grid living  https://www.krisharbour.co.uk/  Transition St Andrews https://transitionsta.org/  Roasted cauliflower dip  https://www.cookincanuck.com/roasted-cauliflower-dip-recipe-vegan/ 

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Paul and Chloe about making dreams come true and turning the forgotten patch of land into a safe place for community connection and play. The story is the last one in the five-part Dumfries series of Everyday Changemakers.  Transcript  See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-paul-and-chloe-sandside-community-garden/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Sandside Community Garden facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sandsidegarden/ Gilbert’s coffee grounds composting project on Cycling Dumfries website https://cyclingdumfries.wordpress.com/2023/06/12/trailer-tuesdays/  Scottish Government’s Adaptation Plan consultation, closes on 24th of April https://www.adaptationscotland.org.uk/news-events/stories/scottish-national-adaptation-plan-public-consultation  Adaptation Scotland https://www.adaptationscotland.org.uk/  Tenth consecutive monthly heat record alarms and confounds climate scientists, Jonathan Watts, The Guardian, 9 Apr, 2024 https://www.theguardian.com/global/2024/apr/09/tenth-consecutive-monthly-heat-record-alarms-confounds-climate-scientists?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR0Afp1lIWMzhzDZIChyxx0m-ji3_rgn-MtISK2lPJj0nTmB0MJ1i3qOZ6A#Echobox=1712642938 

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Martin O’Neill from The Stove network about coming home and creative placemaking with his community. The story is the fourth in a five-part Dumfries series of Everyday Changemakers.  Transcript  See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-martin-the-stove/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources The Stove https://thestove.org/  Midsteeple Quarter stories and studies https://www.midsteeplequarter.org/midsteeple-quarter-resources  Newly published Creative Placemaking report based on the Stove’s work https://thestove.org/how-creativity-culture-can-support-communities/  What We Do Now creative placemaking network https://whatwedonow.scot/  Post-covid Open Hoose programme which launched 10 community-driven initiatives, including Climate Kitchen https://thestove.org/projects/ongoing-projects/open-hoose/ Dumfries Climate Kitchen https://climatekitchen.co.uk/  From our archive - another scottish example of community-driven town centre regeneration story 1000 Better Stories Podcast: Carolyn Powell, Huntly Development Trust https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-6e2tu-142d6cf

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Rachel Cooper of The Crichton Trust about taking large strides and small steps in their journey towards their zero carbon future teeming with life.  The story is the third in a five-part Dumfries series of Everyday Changemakers.  Transcript  See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-rachel-the-crichton-trust/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources The Crichton Trust https://www.crichton.co.uk/

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Tom Burns, Marketing Officer from Shax, about the circular economy with a heart. The story is the second in a five-part Dumfries series of Everyday Changemakers.  Transcript  See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-tom-burns-shax/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Shax https://shax.org.uk/  Circular Communities Scotland https://www.circularcommunities.scot/  Investing in Volunteers Award https://investinginvolunteers.co.uk/  Volunteer Friendly Award https://volunteerfriendly.co.uk  The Crichton Trust https://www.crichton.co.uk/ 

Our Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, talks to Sally Hinchcliffe, a founding member of Cycling Dumfries. The story is the first in a five-part Dumfries series of Everyday Changemakers.  Transcript  See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-sally-hinchcliff-cycling-dumfries/ Credits Interview, recording and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Cycling Dumfries https://cyclingdumfries.wordpress.com/  Pedal on Parliament https://pedalonparliament.org/  UK cycling embassy https://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/ Sustrans https://www.sustrans.org.uk/  Cycling UK https://www.cyclinguk.org/  Sally Hinchcliffe https://sallyhinchcliffe.net/ Atmospheric river event 8-9 Oct 2023 https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/weather/learn-about/uk-past-events/interesting/2023/2023_07_scotland_rain.pdf  Storm Babet 18 - 21 October 2023 https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/weather/learn-about/uk-past-events/interesting/2023/2023_08_storm_babet.pdf  Kirkpatrick McMillan, inventor of the pedal bike  Video story of the bike reconstruction and journey in 2023 https://youtu.be/pfvocT7rfQ4?si=50bFhanJxAstxAGN  Blog on reconstructing the bike in 2023 https://off.road.cc/content/feature/bike-check-kirkpatrick-macmillans-rear-wheel-driven-wooden-replica-13181 On Cycling Dumfries website: https://cyclingdumfries.wordpress.com/2023/10/03/there-must-be-something-in-the-nith-water/#more-17037  BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-19423947 

Dell McCLurg of the Merkinch Community Council reflects on turning life's challenges into local activism and the creation of the community's Merkinch Local Nature Reserve. The story is the final in a 5-part series of weekly interviews with a variety of grassroots organisations involved in climate, biodiversity and social justice action across Inverness.  Transcript  See our website: https://sccan.scot/blog/everyday-changemakers-dell-merkinch-community-council/ Credits Interview, edit and sound production: Kaska Hempel Resources Friends of Merkinch Local Nature Reserve https://www.facebook.com/merkinchreserve/  Merkinch Local Nature Reserve Ticket office http://www.merkinchlnr.org.uk/htm/old_ticket_office/old_ticket_office.php  Merkinch Community Centre https://www.merkinchcommunitycentre.co.uk/about/    Networks of community organisations: Scottish Communities Climate Action Network https://sccan.scot/  Development Trusts Association Scotland https://dtascot.org.uk/  Highlands and Islands Climate Hub https://hiclimatehub.co.uk/  Highland Good Food Partnership (also a great podcast!) https://highlandgoodfood.scot/  Highland Community Waste Partnership  https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/highland-community-waste-partnership/  Circular Communities Scotland https://www.circularcommunities.scot/  Incredible Edible Network https://www.incredibleedible.org.uk/  Community Woodlands Association Scotland https://www.communitywoods.org/  Community Land Scotland https://www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/