Nature Champions

@naturechampions

Scottish Environment LINK initiative encouraging Members of the Scottish Parliament to champion Scotland's threatened and iconic species and habitats. Image: Genevieve Tompkins www.scotlink.org/link-campaigns/nature-champions/

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Nature Champions@naturechampions· 29d

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @martyndaysnp.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Bog Sun-jumper Spider! Martyn will work with Buglife to champion these tiny, rare peatland specialists in the Scottish Parliament. 🕷️ Read more: www.scotlink.org/species/bog-... 📸 ScotParl | Lorne Gill

Image of a Bog Sun-jumper Spider on a small piece of moss

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 15

#DYK Brown Long-Eared Bats have huge ears, nearly as long as their body, giving them incredible hearing? They can even hear a ladybird walking on a leaf! Their #NatureChampion is Jackie Dunbar @jackiedunbarsnp.bsky.social in collaboration with Bat Conservation Trust! @batconservation.bsky.social

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 15

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @angelaconstance.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for Riparian Woodlands! Angela will work with @scotwildlife.bsky.social + @wtscotsocial.bsky.social to champion these green arteries of our landscapes in Holyrood. 🌳 👇 www.scotlink.org/species/ripa... 📸 Scot Gov | SWT

Official portrait of Angela Constance MSP

Image of a river surrounded by native trees and a blue sky

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 13

Did you know there are 24 species of bumblebees in the UK? This includes the rare Moss Carder bumblebee, with a ginger thorax and paler abdomen, found in Scotland's Northwest Highlands. Mark Ruskell is its #NatureChampion working with Bumblebee Conservation Trust! @markruskell.bsky.social

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 9

Did you know that Scotland has Coral reefs?! 🌊🪸 Cold-water corals can be found in some areas of Scotland & can form reefs that are thousands of years old! Cold-water Corals are championed by #NatureChampion Siobhian Brown MSP @siobhian.bsky.social & Marine Conservation Society @mcsuk.bsky.social

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 9

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @siobhian.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for Cold-water Coral! Siobhian will work with @mcsuk.bsky.social to champion these ancient, fragile ecosystems in the Scottish Parliament. 🪸 Discover more: www.scotlink.org/species/cold... 📸 Scot Gov | Dan Bolt

Image of a cold-water coral reef, made up of various species of coral

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 7

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 Heather Anderson MSP is the #NatureChampion for Community Green Space! Heather will work with @keepscotbeautiful.bsky.social to champion these important places for people, nature and climate in Holyrood. 👇 www.scotlink.org/species/comm... 📸 ScotParl | Bonnie Dundee

Official Portrait of Heather Anderson MSP

Image of a wildflower meadow in a local park. Trees flank the meadow, with Dundee visible in the distance.

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 6

Did you know a Minke whale can be as loud as a jet plane? 🐋 At 150 decibels, their calls travel vast distances! Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust & Whale and Dolphin Conservation do amazing work protecting them in Scottish waters. Karen Adam MSP is the proud #NatureChampion for Minke whales! 💙

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 6

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @donaldlabour.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for Machair! Donald will work with @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social and the National Trust for Scotland to champion these unique coastal habitats in Holyrood. 🐝 Read more: www.scotlink.org/species/mach... 📸 ScotParl | BBCT

Official Portrait of Donald MacKinnon MSP

Image of a machair habitat, filled with native wildflowers in many colours

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 6

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @dawnblacksnp.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for Rivers! Dawn will work with @ast-salmon.bsky.social and Buglife to champion the health of these vital ecosystems in Holyrood. Read more: www.scotlink.org/species/rive... 📸 ScotParl | Mick Garrett CC BY – SA 2.0

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 2

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @jackiedunbarsnp.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Brown Long-eared Bat! Jackie will work with @batconservation.bsky.social to champion these handsome long-eared bats in Holyrood. 🦇 Read more: www.scotlink.org/species/brow... 📸 ScotParl | Daniel Hargreaves

Image of a brown long-eared bat in flight at night about to catch a moth.

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 2

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @cllrtkerr.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Daubenton's Bat! Thomas will work with @batconservation.bsky.social to champion these dynamic bats - known as 'water bats' - in Holyrood. 🦇 Learn more: www.scotlink.org/species/daub... 📸 ScotParl | Daniel Hargreaves

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 2

It's #SwiftAwarenessWeek!#DYK that Swifts rarely land? That's where they get their scientific name (derived from Greek), meaning “no foot, no foot"! The swift is still looking for its #NatureChampion to be its voice in the Scottish Parliament alongside @rspbscotland.bsky.social!

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 2

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 Jack Middleton MSP is the #NatureChampion for the Sea Trout! Jack will work with @ast-salmon.bsky.social and @scotwildlife.bsky.social to champion these ecologically, culturally and economically important fish in Holyrood. Learn more: www.scotlink.org/species/sea-...

Image of sea trout and Atlantic salmon swimming together at sea.

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 1

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 Marie McNair MSP is the #NatureChampion for the Common Glow-worm! Marie will work with Buglife to champion these adored yet mysterious insects in the Scottish Parliament. 🪲 Discover more: www.scotlink.org/species/comm... 📸 ScotParl | Pchelovek1205 (CC BY – SA 4.0)

Image of a common glow-worm with its abdomen glowing in the darkness

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 1

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @gillianmackaygreen.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Flame Shell! Gillian will work with @mcsuk.bsky.social to champion these extraordinary nest-building molluscs in the Scottish Parliament. Read more: www.scotlink.org/species/flam... 📸 ScotParl | Cathy Lewis

Image of an individual flame shell with its bright orange tentacles emerging from its shell.

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jul 1

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @kathsangster.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Nathusius' Pipistrelle! Katherine will work with @batconservation.bsky.social to champion these rare and elusive bats in the Scottish Parliament. Read more: www.scotlink.org/species/nath... 📸ScotParl | Hugh Clark

Official portrait of Katherine Sangster MSP

Image of a Nathusius' pipistrelle resting on a log

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jun 29

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 Miles Briggs MSP is the #NatureChampion for the Humpback Whale! Miles will work with @whalesorg.bsky.social + Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust to champion these migrating giants in Holyrood. Discover more: www.scotlink.org/species/hump... 📸 ScotParl | Cath Bain

Image of a humpback tail lifted out of the water off the Scottish coast

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jun 29

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 Mark Simpson MSP is the #NatureChampion for the Short-eared Owl! Mark will work with @rspbscotland.bsky.social + @scottishraptorsg.bsky.social to champion these 'nomadic' owls in Holyrood. Discover more: www.scotlink.org/species/shor... 📸 ScotParl | Jack Stephen

Image of a short-eared owl sat on a wooden post.

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jun 29

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @alexkerrsnp.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Wildcat! Alex will work with @saveourwildcats.bsky.social to champion these rare and endangered mammals in the Scottish Parliament. Discover more: www.scotlink.org/species/wild... 📸 ScotParl | RZSS

Image of a European wildcat in bracken, staring towards the camera

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jun 29

This week’s Nature Spotlight is the badger championed by Paul Sweeney MSP & Scottish Badgers. 🦡 They are important ecosystem engineers who boost biodiversity, but they’re threatened by habitat loss, climate change-induced drought & wildlife crime. Learn more: shorturl.at/Jj7TE #NatureChampions

Image of a badger with headline Nature Spotlight followed by subtitle Badger ‘also known as Broc in Gaelic’ and an image of Paul Sweeney MSP, Nature Champion

Orange background with images of badgers and the headline Badger (Meles meles) followed by text saying:
Badgers are considered keystone species and ecosystem engineers. Through digging and foraging, they improve soil structure, disperse seeds and create microhabitats that support many other species.

Habitat:
They typically live in broadleaved woodland, farmland, towns and gardens

Main Threats:
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Wildlife crime
Climate change – increased drought
Declining soil health - reduced earthworm and insect populations that feed them

Green background with images or badgers and the headline Actions needed to protect badgers followed by text saying: Strengthen enforcement and raise public awareness of badger crime
Support Badger habitat protection and restoration
Champion evidence-based policy to counter misinformation on Scotland’s bovine TB-free status
Promote Badgers’ important ecological role in supporting biodiversity, green places and community wellbeing

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jun 25

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @kate-c.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for Blue Mussel Beds! Kate will work with @youth4seas.bsky.social to champion these iconic ecosystem engineers in the Scottish Parliament. Discover more: www.scotlink.org/species/blue... 📸 ScotParl | JPrescott

Image of several blue mussels attached to a rock

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jun 25

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @clarehaugheysnp.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the House Sparrow! Clare will work with @rspbscotland.bsky.social to champion these charming and sociable birds in the Scottish Parliament. Read more: www.scotlink.org/species/hous... 📸 ScotParl | Chris Gomersall

Image of a male house sparrow sat on a branch.

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jun 24

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @lloydmelville.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Lapwing! Lloyd will work with @rspbscotland.bsky.social to champion these threatened farmland favourites in the Scottish Parliament. Read more: www.scotlink.org/species/lapw... 📸 ScotParl | Graham Goodall

Image of an adult lapwing standing and calling on a flowery, machair grassland

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jun 23

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @jennygilruth.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Kestrel! Jenny will work with @rspbscotland.bsky.social + @scottishraptorsg.bsky.social to champion these charismatic falcons in Holyrood. Read more: www.scotlink.org/species/kest... 📸 ScotGov | Louise Greenhorn

Image of a kestrel perched atop a log in moorland

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jun 23

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 Amanda Bland MSP is the #NatureChampion for Road Verges! Amanda will work with @plantlifeuk.bsky.social to champion these important refuges for wildflowers, fungi and wildlife in the Scottish Parliament. Discover more: www.scotlink.org/species/road... 📸 Alistair Whyte

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jun 23

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 Rachael Hamilton MSP is the #NatureChampion for the Northern Brown Argus! Rachael will work with @savebutterflies.bsky.social to champion these threatened grassland butterflies in the Scottish Parliament. 🦋 Discover more: www.scotlink.org/species/nort... 📸 Jim Black

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jun 22

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @thewliss.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Ash! Alison will work with @wtscotsocial.bsky.social to champion these beautiful, yet threatened native trees in the Scottish Parliament. 🌳 Discover more: www.scotlink.org/species/ash/ 📸 ScotGov | George Anderson

Image of the Argyle Street Ash tree growing next to a tenement.

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jun 22

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @irisduane.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for Urban Trees and Woods! Iris will work with @wtscotsocial.bsky.social to champion these havens for people and wildlife in the Scottish Parliament. 🌳🐝 Discover more: www.scotlink.org/species/urba... 📸 Jill Jennings

Image of trees in between a lake and road in Queens Park in Glasgow

Nature Champions@naturechampions· Jun 22

This week’s Nature Spotlight highlights the water vole, championed by Fulton MacGregor MSP in collaboration with RSPB Scotland. They're one of the UK's most threatened species due to habitat loss. Learn more about our Nature Champions initiative: scotlink.org/link-campaigns/nature-champions/about/