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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Hope to see some of you this afternoon.

Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Scotland is awash with derelict farm steadings, many of which are slowly returning to the earth. Renovating these should be prioritised over new-build by regulation and tax incentives, especially when put to a community use such as done at Balcaskie, Fife. Halvorsen Architects blog: lnkd.in/eW2X7X7S

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Hope you can join us to look at some very interesting and inspiring models.

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Reposted by Gail Halvorsen

Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Just one week to go until the third of our ‘Championing the Local’ series. We’ll explore why some decisions about land use are best made at landscape-scale, and how RLUPs and bioregions with natural, not political, boundaries enable this. ⏰ 4-6pm 📆 Mon 21 Sept 📌 online 🔗 seda.scot/championing-...

SEDA LAND EVENT

Landscape-scale governance
Mon 21st September 4-6pm
Online – free admission

Landscape-Scale Governance is the third in the CHAMPIONING THE LOCAL series of SEDA Land Conversations.

This conversation will explore when it may be appropriate to scale up the model to regional or national level. Regional Land Use Partnerships (RLUPs) and bioregions are models bordered by natural geographic and landscape boundaries such as mountain ridges and watersheds. Both adopt a natural capital approach to understanding their regional landscapes. This addresses issues in a cross-sectoral way, using a systems approach, rather than simplifying the issues into sectoral silos. This is a challenging ambition, since it means grappling with the complexity, uncertainty and trade-offs inherent in large scale, closely coupled, socio-ecological systems, but policy and land use decisions (such as natural flood protection measures) are often best made at such a scale.

This Conversation will include inspirational models, using these as a springboard for a broader discussion of the subject, addressing obstacles along the way and how to overcome them.

CHAIR:

Lucy Filby, Head of Land & Forestry Transition, South of Scotland Enterprise

SPEAKERS:

Andrew Williams, Local Programme Manager, Verture

Clare Cooper, Co-Founder & Co-Director, Bioregioning Tayside

Lizzie Williams, Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP) manager, NW2045

McNabb Laurie, Manager, D&G Woodlands

Henry Leveson-Gower, Founder and CEO, Promoting Economic Pluralism

Anne Thomas, Trustee, Highland People’s Power

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Local authorities are in the position to help kickstart local economies. These speakers show a wide range of ways this can be done, including initiatives instigated by the community such as Swaffham Prior's renewable energy system.

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Local retailers bring three times the economic benefit to the area than large global retailers. We need more.

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Highland People’s Power want the majority of energy generation in the Highlands to be owned and managed by local communities, with 100% of the benefits distributed equitably across our region. This could transform the economy of the Highlands.

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

This finally gives SMEs the chance to compete with larger organisations in the onerous local authority procurement system.

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Reposted by Gail Halvorsen

Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Six years ago North Ayrshire became the first Scottish council to introduce a community wealth building strategy. Now 28 of 32 have done so. Find out how this is redirecting public money, land and power back to local communities to build fairer, more resilient economies 🔗 seda.scot/championing-...

Photo: Canva via Upworthy

Councils need to buy better
Monday, 14th September, 4-6pm
Online – free admission

Councils Need to Buy Better is the second in the CHAMPIONING THE LOCAL series of SEDA Land Conversations.

This conversation will highlight the critical role that local authorities play in enhancing local economies.

The Scottish Government is committed to integrating social value and wellbeing into public procurement through not only the Procurement Reform (Scotland) legislation, but also the Scottish National Performance Framework strategy.

In April 2023 the Scottish Government published the first Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland. Local authority procurement – on the long-term contractual basis – can give communities the much needed confidence to invest and kickstart new enterprises.

This could be particularly transformative for Scotland's rural and remote communities which often face unique challenges, including economic fragility, limited employment opportunities, and infrastructural deficits. Local procurement fosters local employment, enhancing skills, and improving local infrastructure. This event aims to ensure that councils, health boards and other public bodies are given the means to enact the bill.

This Conversation will include inspirational models, using these as a springboard for a broader discussion of the subject, addressing obstacles along the way and how to overcome them.

CHAIR:

Chris Martin, CEO, Social Enterprise Scotland

SPEAKERS:

Suzanne Bignell & Chris Watson, North Ayrshire Council

Tyra Dempster, Supply Chain Development Manager, Soil Association Scotland

Sue Guy, Director, People, Place & Resilience Scotland CIC

Iain MacPherson, Director, Reorient Places

Mike Staples, CEO, South of Scotland Community Housing (SOSCH)

Emma Fletcher, founder & chair, Heating Swaffham Prior

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

McNabb Laurie, who founded D&G Woodlands in 2023 and manages it for the benefit of the community and the environment, will talk about innovative fund-raising methods. D&G Woodlands is currently approaching potential investors, including pension funds. ⏰ 4-6pm 📆 21 Sept 🔗 seda.scot/championing-...

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

The joy of these examples of collaboration between a community and local authority is that they are equal partnerships. Both, in their different ways, are benefiting from collaboration with their council through sustainable means.

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Reposted by Gail Halvorsen

Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

NW2045’s Lizzie Williams and Bioregioning Tayside’s Clare Cooper will outline the merits of landscape-scale governance. Both groups bring together grassroots and national bodies to address issues like environmental degradation and population decline at bioregional level. 🔗 seda.scot/championing-...

SEDA Land Conversation

Landscape-scale governance
Mon 21st September 4-6pm
Online – free admission

Landscape-Scale Governance is the third in the CHAMPIONING THE LOCAL series of SEDA Land Conversations.

This conversation will explore when it may be appropriate to scale up the model to regional or national level.

Regional Land Use Partnerships (RLUPs) and bioregions are models bordered by natural geographic and landscape boundaries such as mountain ridges and watersheds. Both adopt a natural capital approach to understanding their regional landscapes. This addresses issues in a cross-sectoral way, using a systems approach, rather than simplifying the issues into sectoral silos.

This is a challenging ambition, since it means grappling with the complexity, uncertainty and trade-offs inherent in large scale, closely coupled, socio-ecological systems, but policy and land use decisions (such as natural flood protection measures) are often best made at such a scale.

This Conversation will include inspirational models, using these as a springboard for a broader discussion of the subject, addressing obstacles along the way and how to overcome them.

CHAIR:

Lucy Filby, Head of Land & Forestry Transition, South of Scotland Enterprise

SPEAKERS:

Andrew Williams, Local Programme Manager, Verture

Clare Cooper, Co-Founder & Co-Director, Bioregioning Tayside

Lizzie Williams, Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP) manager, NW2045

McNabb Laurie, Manager, D&G Woodlands

Henry Leveson-Gower, Founder and CEO, Promoting Economic Pluralism

Anne Thomas, Trustee, Highland People’s Power

Lizzie Wilder Williams

NorthWest2045 Regional Landscape Partnership manager; coordinator of Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape partnership; Founder of Wilder Williams Regeneration; author of 'Wilder Isle: A Few Years on Tanera'.

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Community-owned energy projects return vastly more wealth to local people than their privately-owned counterparts. So why make do with crumbs from the corporate table? – Devon McCole, The Scottish Beacon. Learn more at this free SEDA Land event: seda.scot/championing-...

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Learn how SOSCH do such fantastic work helping communities build new, and refurbish local heritage buildings into affordable homes, such as The Old Police Station in Langholm (4 homes), or the Bank of Scotland Wigtown branch (2 homes). This is such excellent use of the existing building fabric.

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

This event addresses issues in a cross-sectoral way, using a systems approach, rather than simplifying the issues into sectoral silos. It is challenging, grappling with complexity, but policy and land use decisions (such as natural flood protection measures) are often best made at such a scale.

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Reposted by Gail Halvorsen

Ian Fraser @ianfraser.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

“If we allow chasing North Sea oil and gas to distract us from increasing the electrification of the economy, investing in new power generation and better grid infrastructure, we’ll condemn ourselves to remaining at the mercy of international energy shocks.” Excellent piece by @whittso.bsky.social

newstatesman.com

Here's why Andy Burnham should leave the North Sea alone

Research shows that oil and gas drilling at Rosebank and Jackdaw will fail as a long-term strategy

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Stop Rosebank @stopcambo.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

BREAKING 🚨: reports suggest Andy Burnham could approve new oil and gas fields, including Rosebank. Is he REALLY going to cave into the demands of the profiteering oil giants and Trump? Or is he going to stand with people facing soaring bills and a worsening climate crisis?

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Reposted by Gail Halvorsen

Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

At ‘Councils Need to Buy Better’ on 14 Sept we will showcase @soilassocscot.bsky.social and Sustain initiative Give Peas A Chance. A model partnership between a council and local organic farmer, it provides good-value, nutritious food for Aberdeenshire schoolchildren. 🔗 seda.scot/championing-...

youtube.com

Soil Association

YouTube video by The Soil Association Videos

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

In April 2023 Scot Gov published the first Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland. It is committed to integrating social value and wellbeing into public procurement. This event showcases the local authority and other organisations trailblazing local procurement. @socialenterprise.scot

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Leading expert on Community Wealth Building, @neilmcinroy.bsky.social, will open the first in our ‘Championing The Local’ series. ‘Building Vibrant Local Economies’ will include practical advice for community groups on governance structures, benefiting the economy and wellbeing of communities.

Photo of Neil McInroy, Global Lead for Community Wealth Building, Chair EDAS, adviser, writer, researcher, speaker, organizational leader and activist.

Championing the Local 1 - Building vibrant local economies
Monday 7 September 2026
4:00 pm 6:00 pm

Building vibrant local economies is the first in the CHAMPIONING THE LOCAL series of SEDA Land Conversations.

Online – free admission

This Conversation is aimed at helping community groups realise their ambitions

We will explore alternative business models, including co-operatives, social enterprises and employee-owned businesses, and how they can make LVC’s possible, as well as the best scale at which such issues can be addressed – local, regional or national.

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

What a wonderful sculpture. I love the idea of her keeping someone company who happens to be travelling the Southern Uplands Way on their own.

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

With all the uncertainty in the world we need more resilience and building local value chains is one way of doing it. Come and learn how you could do this in your community.

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

The first of our ‘Championing The Local’ free events takes place on 7 Sept. Building Vibrant Local Economies will help community groups realise their ambitions by explaining the range of business models available, showcasing IDBMs in food, renewable energy and retrofit. 🔗 seda.scot/championing-...

Championing the Local, part 1

Building vibrant local economies
Monday, 7th September, 4-6pm
Online – free admission

Building vibrant local economies is the first in the CHAMPIONING THE LOCAL series of SEDA Land Conversations.

This Conversation is aimed at helping community groups realise their ambitions

We will explore alternative business models, including co-operatives, social enterprises and employee-owned businesses, and how they can make LVC’s possible, as well as the best scale at which such issues can be addressed – local, regional or national.

At present, Scotland has plenty of micro examples of Inclusive and Democratic Business Models (IDBMs). We will look at ways of scaling these up, and rolling them out across the country, in areas such as food, renewable energy and retrofit.

One aim is to highlight the interconnectedness of all these issues, and how thinking about them together brings wider benefits, with different sectors learning from each other.

This Conversation will include inspirational models, using these as a springboard for a broader discussion of the subject, addressing obstacles along the way and how to overcome them.

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Local value chains are gaining traction, especially given all that is going on in the world at the moment. Thanks to the hard work of one of our speakers, @neilmcinroy.bsky.social, the Community Wealth Building movement is moving forwards in Scotland. Find out how it can be rolled out further here.

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

“Like a woodwind solo drifting through a mountain valley these houses play a continuous melody marked by theme and variation in cedar, stone and timber beam,” says Trevor Roddy of homes by Blue Sky Architecture, the Vancouver-based practice led by Bo Helliwell and Kim Smith. LAST CHANCE TO BOOK!

eventbrite.co.uk

Blue Sky Architecture - our approach to an Ecological Architecture

Bo Helliwell’s eco-architectural practice with Kim Smith dates back to the 1970s.The talk describes their ecological architectural approach.

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

There's a groundswell to get children outside more. Let's discuss how.

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

It's incredible how fewer bugs and allergies children in outdoor nurseries pick up.

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Unfortunately this culture of fear seems to be prevalent across the public sector.

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Reposted by Gail Halvorsen

Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust has acquired part of a commercial forest beside Loch Duich with a view to building an eco-village offering affordable housing, woodland crofts and business units. It hopes the development will attract young families to the area and help keep the local school open.

bbc.co.uk

West Highland community moving forward with eco-village plans

A community trust has bought land for affordable homes and woodland crofts at Loch Duich.

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

On International Women’s Day, SEDA Land thanks all the inspirational women who have helped us in the past year. Here are a few of them. Clockwise from top left: Bea Nichol, Megan MacInnes, Flora Fraser, Magdalena Blazusiak, Lucy Filby, Savannah Fishel, Sophie Cooke, Lorna Dawson, and Gloria Lo

Women of SEDA Land, clockwise from top left - Bea Nichol, Megan MacInnes, Flora Fraser, Magdalena Blazusiak, Lucy Filby, Savannah Fishel, Sophie Cooke, Professor Dame Lorna Dawson, and Gloria Lo.

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Fantastic line-up for the next SEDA Land event. This is a timely event given that local authorities across Scotland are becoming more open to the idea of outdoor learning.

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Jeremy Leggett @highlandsrewilding.bsky.social has come up with a big new idea, the “nature prosperity pump,” which combines sustainable forestry, rewilding, and the work of Inverness-based Makar to address Scotland’s climate & biodiversity crises and its housing emergency @vickyallan.bsky.social

heraldscotland.com

Could this idea solve the housing crisis and save nature?

A green entrepreneur has come up with a big idea, he calls “nature prosperity pump”, using woodland creation to drive a new wave of timber…

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Thanks farmers, rangers, builders, students and many more at the SEDA Land workshops who gave real insights into different ways of managing land, advocating that locals, who understand the land and community best, lead the change. But they need professional help and a more collaborative approach.

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The National @scotnational.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

It’s time for Scotland to break with US tech. Isn’t independence in reality something of an illusion in this global world dominated by tech and economic oligarchs? Isn’t what Scottish independence offers really an opportunity to pick sides? From Connor Beaton ✍️

thenational.scot

UK should be seeking closer ties with Europe now more than ever

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

Although Britain has one of the highest levels of membership of environmental organisations in the world, it has little impact on our closeness to nature. Some interesting thoughts on why in this might be by Miles Richardson in @patrickbarkham.bsky.social's article.

theguardian.com

Britain one of least ‘nature-connected’ nations in world – with Nepal the most

Others languishing near bottom of 61-country study include Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Glad someone is talking sense about this very popular local venue. Yet again a knee-jerk reaction by a local authority to demolish. And Jocelyn doesn't even mention the embodied carbon aspect. Demolition would be a lose lose scenario.

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Thanks Paloma, Andy, Amy, Finlay, Cormac, Ashleigh, Anna, Ray, Geoff, John and Glo. Without you it would not have happened!

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

MASS CLIMATE LOBBY: On Friday, Scotland’s biggest-ever lobby of politicians on climate issues took place in Holyrood. The event was organised by @sccscot.bsky.social, which we've now joined. @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social attended on behalf of SEDA, lobbying MSPs including @lornaslater.bsky.social

250 Stop Climate Change Scotland followers and associates met 30 MSPs inside Dynamic Earth. The group was photographed outside the Scottish Parliament.

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Less than two weeks to go until the @uofglasgow.bsky.social and @scotecodesign.bsky.social green careers fair. The careers fair will showcase jobs that operate along ecological principles to highlight the wide range that is available. 📅 Wed, 24 Sept 2025 ⏰ 10am—4pm 📌 Glasgow University Union

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Most careers fairs tend to promote only a narrow range of jobs. The SEDA Green Careers Fair will redress the balance by highlighting openings in regenerative farming, forestry, bioproducts, environmental NGOs, environmental law etc, all of which are growing sectors looking for recruits.

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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

Remember all that fulminating in the billionaire press about "free speech" (ie their freedom to abuse Muslims, trans people etc with impunity)? Now that people are being arrested for speaking about an issue of the utmost gravity, the self-appointed guardians of liberty have fallen strangely silent.

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Reposted by Gail Halvorsen

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

It's utterly mad. These people are the opposite of terrorists. THEY WANT PEACE. The police know they're not terrorists. The government knows they're not terrorists. Yet, on the Home Secretary's orders, they're being arrested under the Terrorism Act. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

theguardian.com

More than 100 arrested across UK at protests related to Palestine Action

Police in London detain scores of people and confiscate placards under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

"Why is it that a tree never moves?" Atul Shah's provocative and accessible book 'Organic Finance' opens with this powerful poem. Do read! "Interest rates, exchange rates, stock prices are all numbers which abstract reality and have often been converted into hard facts and supreme gods"

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

How Scottish society could be transformed by the multiple benefits of intergenerational living. Full recording and slides of SEDA Land’s Radical Housing Conference Scotland 2025 part 3 now available. Thanks to partners @agilehomes.bsky.social & @archifringe.bsky.social seda.scot/radical-hous...

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Craig White @tweeteco.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

@gailhalvorsen.bsky.social of @scotecodesign.bsky.social kicks off the Zoomers and Boomers Soirée talking about her experience of living in an intergenerational household at the Radical Housing Conference Scotland Part 3. @agilehomes.bsky.social @archifringe.bsky.social

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Gail Halvorsen @gailhalvorsen.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

A thoroughly fascinating evening. If I was to sum up I would say we need more grassroots initiatives to encourage community activities such as Bristol's Play Street Order; inclusion of intergenerational living in NPF4; and more multi generation cohousing projects. Thanks to all involved!

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Can Scotland’s housing emergency be solved by more intergenerational living? Come along to our Zoomers and Boomers event at Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh tomorrow at 6pm. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/radical-ho...

eventbrite.co.uk

Radical Housing Conference Scotland Part 3

Get ready for the third installment of the Radical Housing Conference in Scotland, where we'll be diving deep into all things housing activi

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