A conservation effort led by Dr Max Coleman from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, in collaboration with the Borders Forest Trust, is underway to find and propagate disease-resistant wych elm trees in Scotland. The project aims to create a resilient population of elms that can repopulate the countryside, combatting the widespread devastation caused by Dutch elm disease. Volunteers are identifying mature wych elms that have survived the disease, with plans to cross-pollinate them to produce a strain of super-trees. The initiative also includes the first full genome sequencing of wych elm to understand the survival mechanisms against the disease.

Beavers, once extinct in Scotland, are now officially sanctioned to repopulate the nation's rivers and lochs as part of climate change mitigation efforts. NatureScot's 23-year strategy outlines the expected thriving locations for beavers and the management of their spread, including a translocation policy. NatureScot's CEO, Francesca Osowska, praises the significant ecological benefits of beavers.

The article discusses the issue of plastic pollution, particularly in marine environments, through the lens of beach clean-up activities at Killiedraughts Bay and Linkim Shore in Scotland. Volunteers, including the author, collect various plastic debris, highlighting the problem of microplastics and their impact on marine life. The article features perspectives from Sarah Russell of the St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve, Catherine Gemmell of the Marine Conservation Society, and Kevin Ross of Impact Solutions and the Scottish Rubber and Plastics Association. While Gemmell advocates for reducing plastic use and increasing public awareness, Ross emphasizes the value of plastics and the importance of improving recycling systems. The article also touches on government initiatives and industry responses to the growing concern over plastic waste in the oceans.