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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The need for food security has been highlighted by recent climate change impacts and trade disruptions. What is the nature of the problem in Scotland, and what interventions are needed? 📅 4-6.30pm, Tuesday, 10 November 📍Edinburgh Climate Change Institute 🎟️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/food-secur...

Food-secure Scotland with SEDA Land & Resilience Constellation & Centre for Sustainable Forests and Landscapes

Edinburgh Climate Change Institute
Edinburgh, Mid Lothian
Tuesday, November 10 • 4 PM - 6:30 PM

Overview
Is our food supply resilient or could we be nine meals from anarchy?

(4-6pm, with networking until 6.30pm)

Is Scotland’s food system resilient or facing a crisis?

Recent extreme weather, coupled with the prospects of El Niño, climate change and trade disruptions have highlighted the issue of food security as a matter of urgency. Commentators have proposed a range of interventions, including stockpiling, a drive towards self-sufficiency and changes to agricultural support. But what is the nature of the problem in Scotland, what interventions are needed, what will work and who should be involved?

This discussion will address:

- The nature and urgency of the problem

- Potential solutions and their limitations

- The roles for government, communities, business and organisations

Chair:

Professor Mathew Williams, University of Edinburgh

Panellists:

Professor Peter Alexander, University of Edinburgh

Jayne Jones, Scottish Food Commission

David Michie, NFU Scotland

Ruth Ashton-Shaw, NFFN Scotland (Nature Friendly Farming Network)

Experts in attendance:

Pete Ritchie, Nourish Scotland

Professor Lindsay Jaacks, University of Edinburgh

Dr Richard Tipper, Resilience Constellation

Poet: Sophie Cooke, Open University, Scotland

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

TODAY! – the third and final event in our ‘Championing the Local’ series. We’ll explore why some decisions about land use are best made at landscape scale, and how bioregions and RLUPs can enable this. ⏰ 4-6pm 📆 Mon 21 Sept 📌 online 🔗 seda.scot/championing-...

SEDA Land event - today at 4 p.m.

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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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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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

SEDA is seeking a volunteer gamer to play and help promote Stone & Veil, an exciting new interactive game addressing soil health, land use and Highland mythology. The game has been co-developed by Abertay University, Fish Tin Games, James Hutton Institute and SEDA Land. seda.scot/seda-land-ga...

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Highland Peoples Power’s Anne Thomas is speaking at our Landscape-Scale Governance event. HPP works with communities across the Highlands to boost community participation and ownership of renewable energy projects, with profits staying in the region. ⏰ 4-6pm 📆 21 Sept 🔗 seda.scot/championing-...

Anne Thomas, trustee of Inverness based Highland People's Power

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

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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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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Hear from two pioneering community ventures which gained financial independence through partnership with local authorities. Emma Fletcher will talk about a Cambridgeshire off-grid heating network; Sue Guy about how Reuse Scotland diverts East Lothian waste from landfill. 🔗 seda.scot/championing-...

SEDA Land conversation

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 · 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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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Building Vibrant Local Economies CICs, SCIOs, co-ops, or development trusts—what’s the difference? @socialenterprise.scot CEO Chris Martin will outline alternative governance structures for social enterprises and explain the merits of each. 📆 4-6pm, Monday, 7 Sept 🔗 seda.scot/championing-...

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.

CHAIR:

Adam Forrest, co-op development manager at Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS)

SPEAKERS:

Neil McInroy, Global lead for Community Wealth Building, The Democracy Collaborative

Dr Emilia Pietka-Nykaza, Senior lecturer, University of the West of Scotland

Chris Martin, CEO, Social Enterprise Scotland

Zoë Holliday, CEO, Community Energy Scotland (CES)

Abi Mordin, Co-director, Propagate

Amanda Doig, The Ridge, Dunbar

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Building Vibrant Local Economies: @cescotland.bsky.social CEO Zoë Holliday will talk about community-owned Garth Wind, North Yell which funds housing and Europe’s largest community-owned industrial estate to illustrate the merits of community ownership of renewable energy assets 📆 4pm 7 Sept online

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Mike Staples, CEO of South of Scotland Community Housing, will speak at our ‘Councils Need to Buy Better’ event on 14 Sept. SOSCH offers long-term support to communities, bringing empty homes back to life, working with local authorities within Place and Local Plans. 🔗 seda.scot/championing-...

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

TBC, North Ayrshire Council

Tyra Dempster, Supply Chain Development Manager, Partnerships 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 · 20/07/2026

Speakers at our Landscape-Scale Governance event on 21 Sept include Andrew Leveson Gower, Promoting Economic Pluralism Andrew Williams, Verture Anne Thomas, Highland People’s Power Clare Cooper, Bioregioning Tayside Lizzie Williams, NW2045 McNabb Laurie, D&G Woodlands 🔗 seda.scot/championing-...

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

The third in our ‘Championing The Local’ series is on 21 Sept. We’ll explore why some decisions about land use are best made at landscape-scale and how Regional Land Use Partnerships and bioregions with natural not political boundaries enable this. 🔗 calum-ross-7y5m.squarespace.com/championing-...

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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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

The second in our ‘Championing The Local’ free events takes place on 14 Sept ‘Councils Need To Buy Better’ will highlight the role local authorities can play in enhancing local economies, by giving communities the confidence to invest in and develop local enterprises. 🔗 seda.scot/championing-...

Championing the Local, part 2

SPEAKERS:

TBC, North Ayrshire Council

Sarah Gowanlock, Partnerships 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

Chris Martin, CEO, Social Enterprise Scotland

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.

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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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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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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

We are holding a series of three conversations on Community Wealth Building, with the focus on local value chains, on 7, 14, and 21 Sept 2026. The series is intended to help communities realise their ambitions and persuade local authorities of the part they can play in enhancing local economies.

Poster for 'Championing the Local,' a series of three SEDA Land events in September 2026, promoting local value chains. This will include exploring local value chains in the food, housing and energy sectors.

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Former WD & HO Wills cigarette factory to be “sensitively repurposed” as 129 homes under proposals from Turnberry Property Devts and EMA Architects. At its height, the Art Deco landmark, built 1946-53, employed 3500 and produced 260m cigarettes a week. www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/pla...

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

We're delighted that Gerry Hogan, who leads the conservation team at Collective Architecture, is among the speakers at our afternoon of talks to celebrate the life and legacy of SEDA co-founder, Jim Johnson, on, 16 May at The Briggait, Glasgow. Tickets and info: seda.scot/jim-johnsons...

Paisley Central Library on the High Street in Paisley features a distinctive facade designed by Collective Architecture utilising sculptural, bent metal fins.

The Briggait, a Grade A-listed building in Glasgow, Scotland, that formerly served as the city's fish market. It has been repurposed as a creative hub for artists and cultural organisations, featuring studios, offices, and exhibition spaces. Designed by Clarke & Bell in 1873, the building is a landmark of Glasgow's industrial past situated near the River Clyde. A £3.9 million refurbishment was recently completed to restore the Clydeside Market Halls, safeguard the historic roof, and improve accessibility.

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

At last night’s Better Outdoors SEDA Land event, held in Augustine United Church, Edinburgh, one audience member said outdoor learning is a “a no-brainer”. She’s right. At the event, practitioners, academics and policymakers explored how to ensure it is rolled out more widely across Scotland.

Davina Bowers, head of The Forest Nursery and The Forest Junior School, Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh

Rob Heasman, teacher at Beeslack Annex, Beeslack High School, Midlothian

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Join us for a celebration of the life and legacy of SEDA co-founder, architect, activist and educator Jim Johnson on Saturday, 16 May from 1pm. The event is being held in Briggait, an a-listed complex of studios in the Merchant City which owes its survival and flowering to Jim and his colleagues.

Flier for SEDA event at Briggait, Glasgow to celebrate the life and legacy of SEDA co-founder, architect, activist and educator Jim Johnson who died on January 19 aged 91. He was one of the first architects to realise and act upon the climate crisis. He helped instigate the community-based housing movement, co-founding ASSIST Architects; was involved in conservation and urban regeneration of Edinburgh Old Town and co-founded the Scottish Ecological Design Association.

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Children who play in mud are healthier, as exposure to microorganisms helps train immune cells to fight infections and reduce inflammation. Learn more about the merits of outdoor education at BETTER OUTDOORS in Augustine United Church, Edinburgh, and online, on 29 April seda.scot/seda-land-gr...

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

The Forest at Merchiston headteacher Davina Bowers and Little Bugs founder Louise Licznerski will explain the merits of outdoor learning and how it can be rolled out more widely 📅 29 April: in person 5-8pm, online 5:30-7:30pm 📌 Augustine Utd Church, Edinburgh Full details seda.scot/seda-land-gr...

Pioneers of outdoor education: Davina Bowers, head of the forest nursery & junior schools at Merchiston in Edinburgh, and Louise Licznerski founder of Little Bugs, which operates outdoor nurseries for nursery and primary children in West Lothian and Fife, will be outlining the many benefits of outdoor learning and how this can be extended to include primary-school pupils at this SEDA Land event on 29 April.

Both Davina and Louise have been running forest school nurseries for several years and will describe their different approaches to expanding outdoor learning to primary school education, as well as how learning out-of-doors can galvanise the imagination of each individual child. They will also explain how risky play helps build resilience and confidence among younger children and fosters an understanding of sustainability and stewardship of the environment.

Better Outdoors? aims to persuade local authorities and The Scottish Government to systematically roll out outdoor learning across the Scottish education system.

Louise is founding director of the Scottish Outdoor Learning Association (Sola). Other speakers at the event include Alexia Barrable, PhD senior in education at Queen Margaret University and Carol Murdoch.

📅 Wednesday 29th April 2026: in person 5-8pm, online 5:30-7:30pm
📌 Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh
🤑 Free to attend

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

The idea that outdoor learning can only occur in rural areas is a myth, and teachers need to overcome their fear of it. These are among points that Love Outdoor Learning founder Carol Murdoch will be making at our Better Outdoors event. 5pm, Wed 29 April Full details: seda.scot/seda-land-gr...

Seda Land event BETTER OUTDOORS

In person 5-8pm, online 5:30-7:30pm - Free admission

Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

Light refreshments available

Forest schools and outdoor nurseries are becoming more prevalent in Scotland and their benefits are well-known, so why are they not being systematically rolled out or integrated into the Scottish education system?

Join us for a conversation covering the benefits of outdoor learning, both at primary and secondary level, and how local authorities and the Scottish government can be persuaded to recognise the part it could play in a more enlightened curriculum.

Outdoor learning is not limited to rural schools. We will explain how, with a little imagination, it can be done in a tarmacked playground.

This will be an informal discussion with leading UK educationalists and practitioners – including nursery school managers and rangers.

Speakers:

Dr Alexia Barrable, senior lecturer in education, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.

Davina Bowers, head, the Forest Nursery and Junior School at Merchiston Castle School

Louise Licznerski, founder, Little Bugs Nursery, Fife

Carol Murdoch, founder, Love Outdoor Learning

Jo Cooke, ranger, Midlothian Council

Rob Heasman, Beeslack High School, Midlothian

Gail Halvorsen, Halvorsen Architects & chair SEDA Land (chair)

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

“I'm not convinced the latest land reform bill (which became an act in December 2025) is going to shift the dial.” Prof Douglas MacMillan, trustee of @johnmuirtrust.bsky.social on where Scottish land reform efforts fall short in @bellacaledonia.bsky.social bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/09/09/l...

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Keynote speaker Dr Alexia Barrable, senior lecturer in psychology, sociology and education at @qmuniversity.bsky.social and author of Nature-Based Learning (2022), will explain the psychological and scientific benefits of outdoor learning. 5pm, Wed 29 April Full details: seda.scot/seda-land-gr...

Seda Land event BETTER OUTDOORS - speaker Dr Alexia Barrable is senior lecturer in education, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

In person 5-8pm, online 5:30-7:30pm - Free admission

Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

Light refreshments available

Forest schools and outdoor nurseries are becoming more prevalent in Scotland and their benefits are well-known, so why are they not being systematically rolled out or integrated into the Scottish education system?

Join us for a conversation covering the benefits of outdoor learning, both at primary and secondary level, and how local authorities and the Scottish government can be persuaded to recognise the part it could play in a more enlightened curriculum.

Outdoor learning is not limited to rural schools. We will explain how, with a little imagination, it can be done in a tarmacked playground.

This will be an informal discussion with leading UK educationalists and practitioners – including nursery school managers and rangers.

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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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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

💼 Looking for an exciting volunteering opportunity? ♻️ The Green Drinks team are looking for a new member! 💬 If you're interested, please contact us at info@seda.scot #volunteer #scotland #seda

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

This webinar examines design choices shaped by a young family’s priorities, including accessibility, material safety, and long-term adaptability. The session will present findings from 14 months of indoor environmental monitoring and analysis. 🕒️ - 10th March, 6-7:30pm 🔗 - seda.scot/webinar-acce...

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Better Outdoors? An event on outdoor learning both at primary and secondary level, and how ScotGov and local authorities might be persuaded to get behind it. An informal discussion with some of Scotland’s top practitioners. 📌 Augustine United Church 📆 29 April, in-person and online 🤑 Free to attend

Poster for SEDA Land event on Wednesday 29 April 2026

Forest schools and outdoor nurseries are becoming more prevalent in Scotland and their benefits are well-known, so why are they not being systematically rolled out or integrated into the Scottish education system?

Join us for a conversation covering the benefits of outdoor learning, both at primary and secondary level, and how local authorities and the Scottish government can be persuaded to recognise the part it could play in a more enlightened curriculum.

Outdoor learning is not limited to rural schools. We will explain how, with a little imagination, it can be done in a tarmacked playground.

This will be an informal discussion with leading UK educationalists and practitioners – including nursery school managers and rangers.

Panel:

Alexia Barrable, senior lecturer in education, Queen Margaret University
Carol Murdoch, founder, Love Outdoor Learning
Davina Bowers, head, the Forest Nursery and Junior School at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh
Louise Licznerski, founder, Little Bugs Nursery, Fife
Jo Cooke, ranger, Midlothian Council
Rob Heasman, Beeslack High School, Midlothian
Chair: Gail Halvorsen, chair SEDA Land

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Workshops, talks, celebration of member and student work, walks, storytelling, art and song—bringing people together in connection with land, place, and one another. More details coming soon!

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Just a friendly reminder about the screening of 'The Cost of Growth' in Edinburgh, 19th of February! 🔗 - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/screening-...

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

The GOV.UK Nature Security Assessment makes it clear: biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse threaten food, water, health and stability. We need nature. Protecting and restoring it is not optional, it’s a responsibility. We must redesign how we live with the natural world — urgently and together.

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

♻️ Get ready to dive deep into the world of environmental standards in our upcoming webinar 🕐 3rd February - 5:30-6:30pm🕐 🔗Book Here - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/environmen... The Webinar will provide an overview of Environmental Standards Scotland, including our core functions and statutory powers.

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

'Stone Stories' From the Stone Futures online seminar series with Amy Wilson and Geoff Squire! 🪨 - Monday 2nd February at 13:00 - ONLINE 🔗Booking Link - architecturaltechnology.com/more/event-c... We hope to see you there! #seda #stonefutures

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Looking for an interesting read? Check out this article by Colin Porteous reflecting on COP26. ♻️ 🔗 - seda.scot/cop26 #seda #cop26

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Growing our homes - ♻️ upscaling biobased materials in construction webinar! Link - 🔗 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/growing-ou... 🔗 Please reserve your spot in the webinar in the link above! #SEDA

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

It's time for our annual Show and Tell event for members! Location, Date & Time is shown on graphic, as well as on the eventbrite page linked below! Please reserve your tickets on the eventbrite website. - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/seda-show-... We look forward to seeing you there!

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Scotland's construction and built environment professionals are being urged to make the most of two new facilities — the Mass Timber Centre of Excellence and Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre — at @be-stbuild.bsky.social's innovation campus in Hamilton. projectscot.com/2025/10/new-...

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

At the SEDA Green Careers Fair held in Glasgow University Union, the exhibition halls were packed with exhibitors from across Scotland promoting real green jobs — ranging from green health to environmental law, and from forestry to regenerative farming.

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

It was a busy day. We welcomed over 600 students from the universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Napier, Heriot-Watt, and Strathclyde to the Green Careers, who enjoyed a wide range of activities including a workshop exposing greenwash.

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

No greenwashing please, we're SEDA! In one of the two exhibition halls at the Green Careers Fair, Liz Barron-Majerik, director of @lantrascotland.bsky.social played a pivotal role, guiding students towards truly sustainable, land-based jobs.

Liz Barron-Majerik, Scotland director of Lantra, welcoming students to the SEDA Green Careers Fair at Glasgow University Union on 24 September 2025.

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

Thanks very much to the impressive team of volunteers who guided over 600 students around the SEDA Green Careers Fair at @uofglasgow.bsky.social ensuring it was such as success.

Group of 10 SEDA and Glasgow University volunteers wearing the newly designed SEDA T-shirts at SEDA Green Careers Fair on Wednesday 24 September 2026. The event was held in the Glasgow University Union from 10am to 4pm.

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Join us this Sunday 5th Oct for a visit to Sustainable Thinking Scotland's Walled Garden in Bo'ness. seda.scot/seda-confere...

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

As part of this years conference, you will have the chance to buy signed copies of some of our guests' books! Please bring your pennies, as its cash purchases only! 📌 Edinburgh & ONLINE 📆 Fri 3 - Sun 5 Oct 🎟 seda.scot/seda-conference-2025

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Kathy Li is a founding member of Missing in Architecture, a collaborative compromising of architects and educators at Glasgow's Mackintosh School of Architecture. Find out more and book tickets here: seda.scot/seda-confere...

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Scottish Ecological Design Association @scotecodesign.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

CIAT Scotland East Region, SEDA & Historic Environment Scotland are bringing you a free lunchtime CPD seminar series dedicated to one of the most enduring yet ever evolving materials in our built environment: Stone Online / 1pm / 1st Monday each month. Visit tinyurl.com/stonefutures to book.

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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 · 20/09/2025

Look at this lineup! There's a shift in the sustainability world, and we are excited about it. Are you ready to move beyond "sustainable" to "regenerative"? 📌 Edinburgh & ONLINE 📆 Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th October 🎟 seda.scot/seda-conference-2025 Thanks to sponsors @eco.cocon & @wikihouseproject

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