Nature Champions
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naturechampions.bsky.social
Nature Champions
@naturechampions.bsky.social
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/
#DYK Common Lizards are unusual among reptiles because they incubate their eggs inside their bodies instead of laying them, giving them their other name: 'viviparous lizard'.

Their #NatureChampion is Katie Hagmann MSP @katiehagmann.bsky.social in collaboration with Froglife @froglife.bsky.social
October 5, 2026 at 11:39 AM
📣 Nature Champions News! 📣

@benmacpherson.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Common Tern!

Ben will work with @rspbscotland.bsky.social to champion these much-loved 'sea swallows' in the Scottish Parliament!

Discover more:
www.scotlink.org/species/comm...

📸 ScotGov | David Tipling
September 29, 2026 at 8:24 AM
Reposted by Nature Champions
Everyone in Montrose is getting into the spirit of GooseFest!

In keeping with the geese’s most notable feature, both the women’s and men’s teams at Montrose Football Club will be wearing pink socks for their next home matches.

Read more 👇

buff.ly/bmBiegm
September 29, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Kelp forests play a vital role in supporting healthy marine ecosystems. Their presence creates a complex habitat that provides shelter & feeding areas for many animals.

Their #NatureChampion is Sanne Dijkstra-Downie MSP in collaboration with Marine Conservation Society & Scottish Wildlife Trust
September 28, 2026 at 3:42 PM
📣 Nature Champions News! 📣

@katiehagmann.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Common Lizard!

Katie will work with @froglife.bsky.social to champion these sun-loving, handsome lizards in the Scottish Parliament!

Discover more:
www.scotlink.org/species/comm...

📸 ScotParl | Jules Howard
September 21, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by Nature Champions
🦇'Bats' are more than one species. They are an incredibly diverse group of mammals with over 1,400 species. There is a huge diversity of sizes, colours, nose shapes, ear shapes, diet, habitat and more!
In the UK, there are 18 resident species. Learn more here: www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/w...
September 20, 2026 at 3:07 PM
📣 Nature Champions News! 📣

Duncan Dunlop MSP is the #NatureChampion for Species-rich Grasslands!

Duncan will work with @plantlifeuk.bsky.social and @savebutterflies.bsky.social to champion these important habitats in Holyrood.

👇
www.scotlink.org/species/spec...

📸 ScotParl | Alistair Whyte
September 15, 2026 at 10:03 AM
Did you know that Ash trees attract incredible biodiversity, with 955 species of birds, mammals, insects, fungi, mosses and lichens relying on them?

Their #NatureChampion is Alison Thewliss MSP @thewliss.bsky.social in collaboration with Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social
August 27, 2026 at 8:35 AM
📣 Nature Champions News! 📣

@paulinestaffordsnp.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Round-leaved Sundew!

Pauline will work with @plantlifeuk.bsky.social to champion these extraordinary peatland plants in Holyrood.

Read more: www.scotlink.org/species/roun...

📸 ScotParl | Beth Newman
August 26, 2026 at 9:46 AM
#DYK the Common pipistrelle is so small it can fit into a matchbox?! But don't let its size fool you. They can easily eat 3000 insects per night!

Their #NatureChampion is Clare Adamson MSP @clareadamsonmsp.bsky.social in collaboration with The Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social
August 24, 2026 at 12:23 PM
📣 Nature Champions News! 📣

@yipeichouscotland.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Twinflower!

Yi-pei will work with @plantlifeuk.bsky.social to champion these rare, beautiful pinewood plants in the Scottish Parliament.

Read more:
www.scotlink.org/species/twin...

📸 ScotParl | Andrew Gagg
August 24, 2026 at 10:38 AM
The Round-leaved Sundew is a strange & beautiful carnivorous plant that has round leaves with sticky tendrils used to attract unsuspecting insects as prey.

Their #NatureChampion is Pauline Stafford MSP @paulinestaffordsnp.bsky.social in collaboration with Plantlife @plantlifeuk.bsky.social
August 21, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Did you know that Basking Sharks are the second largest fish in the world, and can grow up to 12 metres long?! That's as long as a Lothian bus!

Their #NatureChampion is Stuart McMillan MSP @stu-mcmillan-snp.bsky.social in collaboration with Marine Conservation Society! @mcsuk.bsky.social
August 19, 2026 at 10:53 AM
📣 Nature Champions News! 📣

Joe Long MSP is the #NatureChampion for the Aspen!

Joe will work with @wtscotsocial.bsky.social and @treesforlife.bsky.social to champion these rare native trees in the Scottish Parliament.

Read more:
www.scotlink.org/species/aspen/

📸 ScotParl | Hannah Rennie
August 18, 2026 at 8:29 AM
Did you know that Water Voles are keystone species and expert ecosystem engineers whose presence indicates a healthy wetland ecosystem and generates greater biodiversity?

Their #NatureChampion is Fulton MacGregor MSP in collaboration with @rspbscotland.bsky.social !

📸 Ben Andrew | rspb-images.com
August 10, 2026 at 1:29 PM
#DYK that Bog Sun-jumper Spiders are one of the rarest and tiniest jumping spiders in Britain? They're highly sensitive to bog hydrology & require stable, wet, acidic conditions to thrive.
Their #NatureChampion is Martyn Day MSP @martyndaysnp.bsky.social in collaboration with Buglife.

📸 Lorne Gill
August 6, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Blue mussels are habitat-forming ecosystem engineers that provide many vital ecosystem functions, including seafloor stabilisation, water filtering, & boosting biodiversity!
Their #NatureChampion is Kate Campbell MSP @kate-c.bsky.social in collaboration with Young Sea Changers Scotland

📸 ©JPrescott
August 3, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Did you know that Peregrine falcons can reach speeds of 200 mph as they plunge out of the sky to catch their prey, making them the fastest animal?!

Their #NatureChampion is Holly Bruce MSP
@hollybruce.bsky.social alongside RSPB Scotland
@rspbscotland.bsky.social & the Scottish Raptor Study Group
July 27, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Earlier this month, Nature Champion for the Great Yellow Bumblebee, Liam McArthur MSP, went searching for these rarest of bees with @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social at @rspbscotland.bsky.social Brodgar. Read more about their visit below! 🐝

www.bumblebeeconservation.org/news/orkney-...
Orkney reserves receive Great Yellow bumblebee champion site awards during MSP visit - Bumblebee Conservation Trust
Two Orkney nature reserves recognised for their vital role in protecting one of Scotland’s rarest bumblebees during a visit by the Scottish Parliament’s newest Nature Champion for the species.
www.bumblebeeconservation.org
July 23, 2026 at 5:18 PM
📣 Nature Champions News! 📣

@stephengethins.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Swift!

Stephen will work with @rspbscotland.bsky.social to champion these intrepid migratory birds in the Scottish Parliament.

Read more 👇
www.scotlink.org/species/swift/
July 23, 2026 at 3:54 PM
📣 Nature Champions News! 📣

@clairebakermsp.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for the Merlin!

Claire will work with @rspbscotland.bsky.social and @scottishraptorsg.bsky.social to champion these small but mighty birds of prey in the Scottish Parliament.

Read more 👇
www.scotlink.org/species/merl...
July 23, 2026 at 2:05 PM
📣 Nature Champions News! 📣

Hannah Mary Goodlad MSP is the #NatureChampion for Sandeels!

Hannah Mary will work with @mcsuk.bsky.social and @rspbscotland.bsky.social to champion these critically important marine species in Holyrood.

Read more 👇
www.scotlink.org/species/sand...
July 23, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Want to know some turtly awesome facts about Leatherback Turtles? They can grow up to 2 metres long and have been around for over 65 million yrs, since the Jurassic Period!

Their #NatureChampion is Ross Greer MSP @ross-greer.bsky.social, working with Marine Conservation Society @mcsuk.bsky.social
July 22, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Scotland holds approx. 2/3 of the UK’s river systems, supporting key ecosystem services, agriculture, and whisky production. They also support iconic wildlife like otters and Atlantic salmon!
#NatureChampion of rivers is Dawn Black MSP @dawnblacksnp.bsky.social with Atlantic Salmon Trust & Buglife!
July 20, 2026 at 11:58 AM
📣 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
July 16, 2026 at 10:59 AM