Meeting of the Parliament 11 February 2026 [Draft]
The nature champions initiative is now one of the most successful examples of collaborative politics in this Parliament. Since 2013, it has grown into an award-winning model of engagement that has now been emulated across the United Kingdom. It is a testament to its impact that, as others have said, more than 100 MSPs have stepped up as champions during this session alone.
I really enjoyed John Mason’s opening speech, which brought quite a lot of good humour into the debate. However, as well as the light-hearted side of the issue, we must be clear about why such advocacy is necessary. Scotland’s nature is in a state of quiet crisis. Scotland is currently ranked 212th out of 240 countries and regions for biodiversity intactness. The decline in species abundance is not a distant threat; it is a current reality, with one in nine of our species now at risk of national extinction.
Everybody has been talking about the various species that they are champions for. I am very pleased to be the species champion for the great crested newt. I am pleased not only because it is a fantastic species but because the largest colony of the great crested newt in Scotland is in Gartcosh, in my constituency. Indeed, the reason why the Gartcosh nature reserve was established was to protect that species. I have been on various visits there with the local Froglife team to see the great crested newt, but I have not actually seen any, because they are very shy animals. I have taken my wee boys down a few times for a look, too. They were very interested in finding the newts, but we have not found any. However, the newts are there—we have seen the pictures today. In any case, Gartcosh nature reserve is a fantastic walk, so anybody who wants a wee day out with family or to go for a walk on their own should try to visit it.
On a serious note, protecting those green corridors in post-industrial landscapes is just as important as protecting any remote wilderness. That unique site at Gartcosh demonstrates how biodiversity can flourish alongside urban development when managed with care and expertise. The success at Gartcosh is a credit to the hard work of Froglife—sponsors of the great crested newt as part of the nature champions initiative—North Lanarkshire Council and the local people, who enjoy the presence of the colony, which continues to thrive.
The role of a nature champion is to turn abstract policy into a personal mission, ensuring that unseen parts of our environment have a dedicated voice in the heart of our democracy. I hope that I am doing my small part in that, as any time I drive past it with the kids—I have already mentioned my two boys, and my wee girl is now getting to a good age as well—I always say, “In there is the great crested newt!”
In the previous parliamentary session, I was the champion for the Natterer’s bat. I enjoyed being that as well, and I learned a lot about that species. As others have done today, I encourage all returning and new MSPs to become involved in the project.