Andy Paton
@andypaton.bsky.social
There is no Maverick without Goose. A team worker looking out for wildlife.
Pinned
Reposted by Andy Paton
BLOG - Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and the £25 million Estate. An analysis of the impacts of the Bill on a sale of 3500 ha of land that took place in September. In summary, it changes nothing. andywightman.scot/2025/11/land...
Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and the £25 million Estate - Land Matters
As readers may be aware, I run the Who Owns Scotland project. It documents the ownership of over 76% of rural Scotland. The information is updated annually and where there is a change I often need to ...
andywightman.scot
November 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
BLOG - Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and the £25 million Estate. An analysis of the impacts of the Bill on a sale of 3500 ha of land that took place in September. In summary, it changes nothing. andywightman.scot/2025/11/land...
Reposted by Andy Paton
Beavers should be found widespread in a nature and climate emergency, without any negative interference or unbalanced interests affecting our Scottish natural heritage. Please explain your position @naturescot.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Beavers should be found widespread in a nature and climate emergency, without any negative interference or unbalanced interests affecting our Scottish natural heritage. Please explain your position @naturescot.bsky.social
Reposted by Andy Paton
Guardian editorial on Land Reform (Scotland) Bill www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on Scottish land reform: vast estates remain feudal in scale | Editorial
Editorial: Half of the country’s privately owned countryside is held by just 421 owners. New legislation suggests democrats still fear powerful interests
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Guardian editorial on Land Reform (Scotland) Bill www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Andy Paton
'Nature's bounty' by contemporary UK printmaker Sarah Bays #WomensArt
November 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM
'Nature's bounty' by contemporary UK printmaker Sarah Bays #WomensArt
Reposted by Andy Paton
A wet few days on the Burma Road/Kinrara Estate. Not much in the way of views high up but some dramatic clouds over Strathspey from lower down. #Strathspey #cairngorms
November 9, 2025 at 9:20 PM
A wet few days on the Burma Road/Kinrara Estate. Not much in the way of views high up but some dramatic clouds over Strathspey from lower down. #Strathspey #cairngorms
Reposted by Andy Paton
Annie Soudain is a contemporary UK artist and printmaker inspired by nature #WomensArt
November 9, 2025 at 5:37 AM
Annie Soudain is a contemporary UK artist and printmaker inspired by nature #WomensArt
Reposted by Andy Paton
By reintroducing keystone species, such as beavers, and allowing rivers to flow more naturally, we can help secure a future for brown trout – and countless other species that depend on healthy waterways.
🧵3/4
🧵3/4
November 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
By reintroducing keystone species, such as beavers, and allowing rivers to flow more naturally, we can help secure a future for brown trout – and countless other species that depend on healthy waterways.
🧵3/4
🧵3/4
Beavers should be found widespread in a nature and climate emergency, without any negative interference or unbalanced interests affecting our Scottish natural heritage. Please explain your position @naturescot.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Beavers should be found widespread in a nature and climate emergency, without any negative interference or unbalanced interests affecting our Scottish natural heritage. Please explain your position @naturescot.bsky.social
Reposted by Andy Paton
An investigation by journalists at The Ferret found that local MSP and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, the National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) and landowners had “privately piled pressure” on NatureScot to derail the application.
www.thenational.scot/comment/2558...
www.thenational.scot/comment/2558...
November 4, 2025 at 6:57 PM
An investigation by journalists at The Ferret found that local MSP and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, the National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) and landowners had “privately piled pressure” on NatureScot to derail the application.
www.thenational.scot/comment/2558...
www.thenational.scot/comment/2558...
Reposted by Andy Paton
A massive rewilding project in Ukraine is proving helpful for the wellbeing of veterans as well as helping large natural areas recover.
Ukraine’s massive nature project is helping veterans and land recover
A massive rewilding project in Ukraine is proving helpful for the wellbeing of veterans as well as helping large natural areas recover.
tcnv.link
November 5, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A massive rewilding project in Ukraine is proving helpful for the wellbeing of veterans as well as helping large natural areas recover.
Reposted by Andy Paton
From bomb site to biodiversity hotspot. This is a great wee story. #northwoods
youtu.be/ksB4sKTjD8k?...
youtu.be/ksB4sKTjD8k?...
The Decoy Airfield being Healed
YouTube video by SCOTLAND: The Big Picture
youtu.be
November 7, 2025 at 1:35 PM
From bomb site to biodiversity hotspot. This is a great wee story. #northwoods
youtu.be/ksB4sKTjD8k?...
youtu.be/ksB4sKTjD8k?...
Reposted by Andy Paton
“Among the fallen beech leaves”
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
(What to Look for in Autumn, 1960)
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
(What to Look for in Autumn, 1960)
November 9, 2025 at 8:06 AM
“Among the fallen beech leaves”
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
(What to Look for in Autumn, 1960)
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
(What to Look for in Autumn, 1960)
Reposted by Andy Paton
Appalling neglect in a nature emergency. Please explain @ForestryLS
Campaign group Restore Nature with @davegoulson.bsky.social are fighting to protect Todrig from turning into an ecological desert in the form of a spruce plantation– Scot Forestry didn’t even think it deemed an environmental impact assessment . Beggars belief .
November 8, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Appalling neglect in a nature emergency. Please explain @ForestryLS
Reposted by Andy Paton
Strong article written by Max Wiszniewski, Campaign Manager for @revivecoalition.bsky.social & published by The Herald as part of its series on Scottish land reform.
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/13/g...
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/13/g...
Grouse moors: Scotland’s land crisis in plain sight (by Max Wiszniewski, featured in The Herald)
The Herald continues its feature on land reform today, with an article written by Max Wiszniewski, Campaign Manager for REVIVE, the coalition for grouse moor reform: Scotland’s grouse moors are und…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
October 13, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Strong article written by Max Wiszniewski, Campaign Manager for @revivecoalition.bsky.social & published by The Herald as part of its series on Scottish land reform.
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/13/g...
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/13/g...
Appalling neglect in a nature emergency. Please explain @ForestryLS
Campaign group Restore Nature with @davegoulson.bsky.social are fighting to protect Todrig from turning into an ecological desert in the form of a spruce plantation– Scot Forestry didn’t even think it deemed an environmental impact assessment . Beggars belief .
November 8, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Appalling neglect in a nature emergency. Please explain @ForestryLS
Reposted by Andy Paton
Campaign group Restore Nature with @davegoulson.bsky.social are fighting to protect Todrig from turning into an ecological desert in the form of a spruce plantation– Scot Forestry didn’t even think it deemed an environmental impact assessment . Beggars belief .
November 8, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Campaign group Restore Nature with @davegoulson.bsky.social are fighting to protect Todrig from turning into an ecological desert in the form of a spruce plantation– Scot Forestry didn’t even think it deemed an environmental impact assessment . Beggars belief .
Reposted by Andy Paton
juvenile American Golden Plover in the high tide roost by Stinky Pool, Fife Ness, 7 ‘northern’ Bullfinch @ Ferry Hills, Little Auk close inshore near Wemyss Castle
08/11/25
08/11/25
November 8, 2025 at 6:50 PM
juvenile American Golden Plover in the high tide roost by Stinky Pool, Fife Ness, 7 ‘northern’ Bullfinch @ Ferry Hills, Little Auk close inshore near Wemyss Castle
08/11/25
08/11/25
Reposted by Andy Paton
Our #microbiome is us. We are holobionts, as Lynn Margulis understood.
Thinking must be ecological, for every complex being is an ecology, as well as living in one.
#microbiotoxicity, the threat of damage to microbes, has to be on regulatory agendas
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Thinking must be ecological, for every complex being is an ecology, as well as living in one.
#microbiotoxicity, the threat of damage to microbes, has to be on regulatory agendas
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The nature extinction crisis is mirrored by one in our own bodies. Both have huge implications for health
Modern life is waging a war against ecosystems around us and inside us. Keeping our own microbes healthy is another reason to demand action to preserve the natural world
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Our #microbiome is us. We are holobionts, as Lynn Margulis understood.
Thinking must be ecological, for every complex being is an ecology, as well as living in one.
#microbiotoxicity, the threat of damage to microbes, has to be on regulatory agendas
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Thinking must be ecological, for every complex being is an ecology, as well as living in one.
#microbiotoxicity, the threat of damage to microbes, has to be on regulatory agendas
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Andy Paton
Geese in my gutters
November 8, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Geese in my gutters
Reposted by Andy Paton
Today's column is about the government's huge, unprecedented assault on nature ... and about the eerie, astonishing silence of the big nature groups. The RSPB, National Trust, Wildlife Trusts have 7.5m members between them. A vast force, completely unmobilised. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Wage war on nature to build new homes: that’s Labour’s offer, but it’s a con trick | George Monbiot
The government’s new planning bill is tearing down environmental protections to benefit developers. This nation of nature lovers won’t stand for it, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Today's column is about the government's huge, unprecedented assault on nature ... and about the eerie, astonishing silence of the big nature groups. The RSPB, National Trust, Wildlife Trusts have 7.5m members between them. A vast force, completely unmobilised. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Andy Paton
Wonderfully wet and wild.
Make up all the bug hotels and bird boxes you want, but without way more healthy wild natural habitats like this, nature will continue to crash.
Rewilding is how we make that happen.
Make up all the bug hotels and bird boxes you want, but without way more healthy wild natural habitats like this, nature will continue to crash.
Rewilding is how we make that happen.
November 8, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Wonderfully wet and wild.
Make up all the bug hotels and bird boxes you want, but without way more healthy wild natural habitats like this, nature will continue to crash.
Rewilding is how we make that happen.
Make up all the bug hotels and bird boxes you want, but without way more healthy wild natural habitats like this, nature will continue to crash.
Rewilding is how we make that happen.
Reposted by Andy Paton
Lots to enjoy at the patch.
Scaup, Siskins, Caspian Gull, 8 Snipe, 2 Green Sand, showy Water Rail, Goldeneye displaying & calling.
At dusk Goosander numbers are increasing 45+ so far & a small murmuration of Starlings. Pied Wag roost building at the train station
#LowCarbonBirding
#PatchBirding 🪶
Scaup, Siskins, Caspian Gull, 8 Snipe, 2 Green Sand, showy Water Rail, Goldeneye displaying & calling.
At dusk Goosander numbers are increasing 45+ so far & a small murmuration of Starlings. Pied Wag roost building at the train station
#LowCarbonBirding
#PatchBirding 🪶
November 7, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Lots to enjoy at the patch.
Scaup, Siskins, Caspian Gull, 8 Snipe, 2 Green Sand, showy Water Rail, Goldeneye displaying & calling.
At dusk Goosander numbers are increasing 45+ so far & a small murmuration of Starlings. Pied Wag roost building at the train station
#LowCarbonBirding
#PatchBirding 🪶
Scaup, Siskins, Caspian Gull, 8 Snipe, 2 Green Sand, showy Water Rail, Goldeneye displaying & calling.
At dusk Goosander numbers are increasing 45+ so far & a small murmuration of Starlings. Pied Wag roost building at the train station
#LowCarbonBirding
#PatchBirding 🪶