Non-native trees dominate Scotland’s national woodlands. Experts are concerned
Thousands of species rely on Scotland’s indigenous trees to survive. In our public woodlands, they’re vastly outnumbered by non-native timber plantations.
Non-native trees dominate Scotland’s national woodlands. Experts are concerned
Thousands of species rely on Scotland’s indigenous trees to survive. In our public woodlands, they’re vastly outnumbered by non-native timber plantations.
Scottish Government accused of courting “genocide-profiteers” at Farnborough Airshow
Last September Holyrood voted for sanctions against Israel due to the genocide in Gaza. This week the government was in England promoting arms dealers who sell products to Israel’s military.
Alarm over bid to keep cracked reactors running by cutting nuclear safety margins
The company that runs Scotland’s ageing nuclear power station wants to weaken safety standards to keep it running for at least four more years. But the nuclear safety watchdog has its doubts.
Claim Glasgow City Council put up posters of ‘high risk’ areas for sexual assault is False
Posters appeared on social media purporting to be from the local authority, but they are fake.
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Latest
School absence rates are reaching crisis point. How can we help young people facing ‘extreme’ social isolation?
Academics are raising concerns that an increasing percentage of young people, unable to cope with school, are withdrawing into their bedrooms, while families claim support is “woefully inadequate”.
Children in care die at twice the rate of others. Why are so few of their deaths reviewed?
A disproportionate number of children and young people growing up in care are dying prematurely, prompting calls for preventative action.
Thousands of patients’ data exposed in NHS Scotland data breaches
Everyone’s medical history and records should be confidential and secure in the hands of the NHS. But there have been serious privacy breaches resulting in dozens of staff being disciplined and police investigations.
Anti-immigration activists from England due to travel to Glasgow for protest, claims "patriot" group
Tensions are high in Glasgow following a series of protests over alleged sex crimes by migrants. Police and anti-racism groups fear extremists could inflame the situation.
Women of colour marginalised by "male dominated" election coverage
Academics investigated the representation of women of colour in media coverage of the Scottish Parliament election. They said their findings were "incredibly disappointing" given the current hostility towards migrants.
The Guga Hunt: Why a centuries-old Hebridean tradition is facing renewed scrutiny
The Ferret did a deep dive to explain why a bird cull on Lewis dating back centuries is causing outrage amid claims it's a "blood sport"
Councils were given millions to tackle the nature crisis. Some spent it on office costs
The Scottish Government gave local authorities £20m to tackle a "nature emergency". But we found that around £4m of that sum was spent on fixing cars and office equipment, among other non-environmental spending
This Trump donor has snapped up a slice of Scotland’s wind
A company founded by US media mogul John Malone has bought an Ayrshire wind farm.
Investigations
School absence rates are reaching crisis point. How can we help young people facing ‘extreme’ social isolation?
Academics are raising concerns that an increasing percentage of young people, unable to cope with school, are withdrawing into their bedrooms, while families claim support is “woefully inadequate”.
Children in care die at twice the rate of others. Why are so few of their deaths reviewed?
A disproportionate number of children and young people growing up in care are dying prematurely, prompting calls for preventative action.
Thousands of patients’ data exposed in NHS Scotland data breaches
Everyone’s medical history and records should be confidential and secure in the hands of the NHS. But there have been serious privacy breaches resulting in dozens of staff being disciplined and police investigations.
Anti-immigration activists from England due to travel to Glasgow for protest, claims "patriot" group
Tensions are high in Glasgow following a series of protests over alleged sex crimes by migrants. Police and anti-racism groups fear extremists could inflame the situation.
Fact Checks
Claim SNP government only increased teacher numbers by 75 is Mostly True
Conservative candidate Meghan Gallacher made the claim in a special education debate hosted by the BBC.
Claim Scottish GP numbers are at record levels is Half True
First Minister John Swinney made the claim in an SNP election leaflet
Claim 'abortion to birth' is now legal in the UK is Mostly False
Changes to abortion law in England and Wales have been misrepresented on social media.
Claim Scottish Labour built six houses in government is False
Online claims questioned Scottish Labour's house building in government between 1999 and 2007.
Long reads
Is this former Viking outpost a model for a fairer Scotland?
The tiny Danish island of Bornholm was the site of one of the world’s first offshore wind turbines back in the 1940s. Now its citizens are fighting to build one of the largest community wind farms ever, and raise the benchmark of what’s possible for locally owned energy.
These women were abused by far right groups who claimed to want to protect them. But they fought back
Women have been leading the fight against the far right in Scotland but anti-racism activism has come at a high personal cost with at least 14 having been publicly abused and threatened. But they are resolute in the face of intimidation and say they will continue defending human rights.
Poland's Jewish revival: In the shadow of Auschwitz
We visited the Polish city of Krakow ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day which is held to remember the millions murdered by the Nazis – including six million Jews. Krakow's Jewish population was decimated then but the city is now home to one of the fastest-growing Jewish communities in the world.
Far-right agitators stand accused of stirring up trouble at asylum hotel protests. But anti-racists are standing firm
Following a sharp rise in far right activity, we’ve spent the last three months attending protests, speaking to activists under threat, and tracking anti-asylum seeker demonstrations across Scotland.
De-noiser
The Guga Hunt: Why a centuries-old Hebridean tradition is facing renewed scrutiny
The Ferret did a deep dive to explain why a bird cull on Lewis dating back centuries is causing outrage amid claims it's a "blood sport"
Businessmen and wealthy donors are bankrolling Scottish politics. Who are they?
The Ferret did a deep dive into the Electoral Commission’s donation records to find out who was funding Scotland's political parties.
Luxury hotels and dinner dates: Who is lobbying our politicians?
High end dinners are a fraction of over 29,000 lobbying meetings in the last parliamentary term. But campaigners argue that because the lobbying spend is not declared, their significance is underplayed.
Has the Scottish Government changed its stance on oil and gas?
With a decision on the Rosebank oil field imminent – and lobbying around the windfall tax at fever pitch – some are questioning whether the Scottish Government's current stance on oil and gas is in step with their ambition to be a world leader in climate action.
“I turn to The Ferret far more than what you might call the mainstream news to find out what's really going on.”
CHRIS PACKHAM, BROADCASTER AND NATURALIST“We need more independent media asking the questions that the powerful don't want to answer. It's vital that The Ferret succeeds.”
PAUL WOOD, WEST HIGHLAND FREE PRESS