Vicky Allan
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vickyallan.bsky.social
Vicky Allan
@vickyallan.bsky.social
740 followers 430 following 47 posts
Journalist and author, writing about climate, green energy, environment for Herald. Books about wild swimming, trees and more...
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vickyallan.bsky.social
Should the war on cars extend to SUV EVs?
As part of an @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Scotland's Energy Future series I've looked at the impact of carspreading, and ever larger SUVs on net zero and a just transition.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2556826...
Should the war on cars extend to EVs?
Carspreading is increasingly being identified as a problem as SUVs grow bigger. But it's not only petrol and diesel, we need to worry about - it's…
www.heraldscotland.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:18 AM
vickyallan.bsky.social
Jobs, bills, heat pumps, fuel poverty. Scotland's stalling heat transition risks leaving people out in the cold, and industry uncertain. Where we are at - and the big ideas. 🔥

Part of an @heraldscotland.bsky.social series, Scotland's Energy Future
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2556624...
Heat pumps. How do we avoid clean heat becoming 'two-tier' and making people poorer?
The Herald examines the human cost of Scotland’s troubled heat pump rollout — and the risk of leaving households behind in the race to net zero.
www.heraldscotland.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Reposted by Vicky Allan
heraldscotland.bsky.social
Do the jobs figures add up? What are the opportunities and the questions? What’s the plan for workers rights?

www.heraldscotland.com/opin...

@vickyallan.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by Vicky Allan
kirstyshughes.bsky.social
Good piece by @vickyallan.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2545...
'I can't afford an EV. And anyway, isn't car sharing better for the planet?'
It is, for those who weren’t aware of it, World EV Day. But for many of us a more realistic way to reduce our footprint is car sharing.
www.heraldscotland.com
September 9, 2025 at 5:38 PM
vickyallan.bsky.social
The John Muir Trust AGM today takes place against a backdrop of tensions and calls for resignation of both Chair and CEO
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2544305...
John Muir Trust criticised for alleged 'toxic culture'
Former staff, trustees and a previous chair of Scotland’s wild places charity, the John Muir Trust, have called for the resignation of its chair
www.heraldscotland.com
September 15, 2025 at 10:27 AM
vickyallan.bsky.social
Could Galloway Dark Sky park lose its status because of windfarms lights? How do we fight climate change and make sure we hold onto other disappearing aspects of the natural world?
Fascinating chat with concerned Dark Sky Ranger, Matthew MvFadzean
heraldscotland.bsky.social The Herald @heraldscotland.bsky.social · Aug 27
The expansion of windfarms around Galloway Dark Sky Park is causing stargazers to worry it could lose its status due to aviation lights

www.heraldscotland.com/news...

@vickyallan.bsky.social
August 29, 2025 at 12:36 PM
vickyallan.bsky.social
Cumulative forestry projects 'swamping' Langholm, say locals. The town is surrounded by land management changes. But the one upsetting some locals most is a conifer proposal for Warblaw. 🌲
My latest piece for @heraldscotland.bsky.social D&G series

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2541415...
'We’ve got encroaching forestry. It's swamping the town, economically, physically'
The land around Langholm is changing, driven by nature restoration ambitions, carbon and timber market. But it's a forestry scheme that has upset…
www.heraldscotland.com
August 26, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Reposted by Vicky Allan
heraldscotland.bsky.social
Dumfries & Galloway has the second highest percentage of old people. But many young people choose to stay in the region - and love it

www.heraldscotland.com/news...

@vickyallan.bsky.social
August 25, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by Vicky Allan
neilmackay.bsky.social
I really enjoyed this from my colleague @vickyallan.bsky.social in @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2519...
This is what it was like to have years of tramworks outside my door
My children grew up with the Edinburgh tram works on our Leith street. A new line is proposed. Here's what I learned
www.heraldscotland.com
June 3, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Vicky Allan
heraldscotland.bsky.social
heraldscotland.com/news/25205710.fewer-bus-stops-make-edinburgh-buses-faster/

(7/10)

@vickyallan.bsky.social
June 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Reposted by Vicky Allan
heraldscotland.bsky.social
heraldscotland.com/news/25206419.can-city-failed-just-eat-bikes-now-go-dockless/?ref=ial

(10/10)

@vickyallan.bsky.social
June 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Reposted by Vicky Allan
heraldscotland.bsky.social
Catch up with the first three days of the series 👇

heraldscotland.com/news/subscri...

@vickyallan.bsky.social @turvill.bsky.social @martin1williams.bsky.social @brianjaffa.bsky.social
June 5, 2025 at 4:36 PM
vickyallan.bsky.social
It's been such a joy -not to mention fascinating - to be on the team for the Herald's new series about my home city, Edinburgh.

Starting next Tuesday.

Pick up a paper 🗞️ or subscribe for great investigative reporting about tourism, festivals, transport, education and more ...
heraldscotland.bsky.social The Herald @heraldscotland.bsky.social · May 30
We, at the Herald, know and love the beautiful, “mad god’s dream” of a city that is Edinburgh.

That's why next week, we have turned our investigative focus on the capital, asking the big questions about how it is set to change and what would make it thrive

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2520152...
May 30, 2025 at 10:52 AM
vickyallan.bsky.social
Scottish Forestry is facing a potential third legal challenge in a year! And yet again it's over a commercial conifer plantation, chiefly Sitka. My piece for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2512226...
'We believe the decision by Scottish Forestry was unlawful.'
For the third time in a year, the Scottish Government’s forestry regulator is under threat of court proceedings - over a Sitka plantation (again).
www.heraldscotland.com
April 29, 2025 at 4:47 PM
vickyallan.bsky.social
ICYMI My piece on Murray Hall, and my collaboration with trans writer Milo Clenshaw was published in @heraldscotland.bsky.social the week before the Supreme Court decision.
Its illustration of how trans people have always been with us feels more pertinent now
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2508019...
Did the Murray Hall scandal, which rocked 1901 New York, lead back to Scotland?
Murray Hall's death from breast cancer in 1901 caused a scandal in New York. It was a mystery whose Scottish links still intrigue us now
www.heraldscotland.com
April 24, 2025 at 3:28 PM
vickyallan.bsky.social
Great column here by Neil Mackay on free speech. But challenging to live. Who of us doesn't like, and protect, one free speech more than another?
April 24, 2025 at 3:21 PM
vickyallan.bsky.social
I felt lucky to interview Johan Rockström, the @pik-potsdam.bsky.social scientist behind the planetary framework ahead of his getting the Edinburgh medal.

But what he says is both chilling and challenging. It's a wake up.

In @heraldscotland.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2509...
'You cannot focus only on oil, coal and gas. You have to do everything'
If there’s one scientist in the world who has the big overview on the health of planet Earth, it has to be Professor Johan Rockström
www.heraldscotland.com
April 17, 2025 at 6:37 AM
vickyallan.bsky.social
Publication day! 🥳

I wrote this historical novel with trans writer Milo Clenshaw.
It happens to publish at the time of the Supreme Court ruling and some shocking transphobia out there online.

Share stories. 
Come together.
Buy the book here
blackandwhitepublishing.com/products/murra…
April 17, 2025 at 5:56 AM
vickyallan.bsky.social
My pal @jackiekemp.bsky.social wrote about #SupremeCourt decision and my novel Murray Hall.

"If the legal battle is now over, then perhaps we can take a break from the culture war too, and think about how we can build acceptance and respect."

Wishing for that.
open.substack.com/pub/jackie125/…
https://open.substack.com/pub/jackie125/…
April 16, 2025 at 6:08 PM
vickyallan.bsky.social
Breakdown here of what Supreme Court ruling may mean for trans people - by a trans writer
wearequeeraf.com QueerAF @wearequeeraf.com · Apr 16
The legal definition of a woman in the UK now excludes trans people after a Supreme Court ruling defined sex as 'biological sex'

This is everything you need to know about the ruling 👇

Reporting by @jessothomson.co.uk 🧵🏳️‍⚧️
Screenshot of QueerAF website with headline: UK Supreme Court Rules That Trans Women Aren’t Women under the Equality Act 2010 Byline of Jess O'Thomson: Writer, legal researcher, journalist. Pronouns they/she. Intersectionalities trans, disabled, nonbinary woman, queer, working class / low income
April 16, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by Vicky Allan
bobbyjewell.bsky.social
Who can we trust on Net Zero? Not, says expert, Oil and Gas

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2509017...

@vickyallan.bsky.social for The Herald >>
'There's a truth that we're not getting anywhere in our response to climate crisis'
The oil and gas industry in Scotland is not to be trusted in defining a Net Zero strategy, a carbon footprint specialist has said.
www.heraldscotland.com
April 15, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Reposted by Vicky Allan
ercscot.bsky.social
Large tree plantations can significantly harm the environment.

Yet, Scottish Forestry requires Environmental Impact Assessments for very few of them & is breaching legal transparency duties.

Read full article by @vickyallan.bsky.social on the Herald:
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2506373...
Call to halt huge Scottish Borders tree planting scheme
A Scottish Borders community council has called for the halting of a proposed giant tree-planting scheme and echoed other community groups in…
www.heraldscotland.com
April 7, 2025 at 9:59 AM
vickyallan.bsky.social
And by the way if you want to read our full forest series but the paywall is the barrier, there is a great offer subscription offer on at the moment

www.heraldscotland.com/subscribe/
March 23, 2025 at 8:09 AM
vickyallan.bsky.social
Read the the Herald's full Scotland's Forest series here.

Grants, targets, controversies, Brewdog, timber shortages, environmental impact and more.

For @heraldscotland.bsky.social with @brianpdonnelly.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2501888...
All the articles in the series Scotland's Forests: Targets and timber shortages
From Brewdog's Lost Forest to Stobo Hope; from targets to grants, from timber to carbon emissions, all the articles in the series here
www.heraldscotland.com
March 23, 2025 at 8:06 AM
vickyallan.bsky.social
Day 3 of the Herald's Forestry series and @brianpdonnelly.bsky.social has looked at the grants and the targets - and, no, Scotland is not on track 🎯
March 21, 2025 at 10:18 AM