'Can land really be called ‘wild’ if that status depends on an act of cultural vandalism?'

Excellent, as ever, by Gemma.

bellacaledonia.org.uk/2022/10/27/sui…

'People are choosing to retire early and move to Highland for a change of lifestyle and they are apparently doing this in droves.'

Fascinating but worrying analysis from Simon here and should be noted by anyone interested in the Highland economy or housing.

Absolutely wiped after our trip to Loch Ness with colleagues to explore the relationship between voluntary carbon offset projects & local communities

A fantastic time & huge thanks to those supporting us Jeremy Leggett Highlands Rewilding Trees for Life RSPB SUII

Home from a really interesting couple of days south in the central Highlands at Dundreggan and Bunloit. Both estates pioneering rewilding initiatives in their own respective ways and very good hosts. A lot to think about on land reform and natural capital.

Looking forward to the view out my bedroom window of the great rainforest of Hoy.

Hello Twitter!

I'm looking for folk who:

- used to live on a Scottish island but now live elsewhere
- have long term connections to a Scottish island but don't live on an island

to fill out a 10 min survey looking at island connections.

Can you help?

islandsresearcher.uk/survey/

This is cool.

'Because it is uncomfortable to admit that your spiritual growth was enabled by brutal 19th-century depopulation, the chosen solution for many is simply to ignore people, both past and present.'

pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/opinion/492…

Almost as many people using coal to heat their homes as on the gas grid in Caithness and Sutherland survey. Shows how different the local (and even regional) energy context can look compared to national discourse.

This is an interesting observation which has been picked up in work on scale and concentration of land ownership by the Scottish Land Commission.

The emergence of the 'Green Laird' debate in Scotland showcases the pushback against concentrated ownership restoration initiatives.

Campaigners are warning that up to 80% of Western Isles residents could be pushed into fuel poverty this winter.

Tonight on Eòrpa, we investigate the effects of the cost of living crisis on life in the islands. Watch at 20:30 on BBC ALBA and on iPlayer

bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…

Some harrowing figures in here but important to highlight how invaluable this research from HIE is for those of us working in sustainable development in the region. Looking forward to integrating the results into current work.

pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highla…

A final push for this evening. I'll be hosting some excellent guests as we explore travel and belonging and how the north impacts this.

So strange to be fully accepted by a land and yet pushed out by its people. The land accepts everyone and maybe that's part of why my Kristie De Garis (She/Her) connections to it are so deep. People, not so much...

Read on below...

kristiedegaris.com/blog/aye-been