Explore!

Explore! Our articles cover anything and everything to do with West Lothian, West Edinburgh and Falkirk.

A selection of what goes into print is published here.

Browse the archives below or use the archive menu to sort by category, or use the search bar to find a specific reference.

Read past and current issues online

ONLINE LIBRARY

Engineering a miniature world: Almondell Model Engineering Centre

Editor

Apr 5
3 min

Engineering a miniature world: Almondell Model Engineering Centre

Almondell Engineering Centre is a beautiful natural environmental setting, and ecology goes hand in hand with the engineering here.

“Loved ones are near when robins appear"

Editor

Feb 9
1 min

“Loved ones are near when robins appear"

Whilst we weren’t lucky enough to have a white Christmas, we were certainly treated to a few days of the white stuff, which created a...

Editor

Dec 16, 2019
4 min

Howden Weir: The UK's Largest Rock Ramp

It looks like a natural rock fall in the river, but is actually a sophisticated piece of engineering work. In the River Almond at Howden...

Editor

Oct 31, 2019
2 min

Pesticide-Free Balerno

Last summer, the residents of Cherry Tree, Balerno, successfully petitioned Edinburgh City Council to stop using pesticides to treat...

Editor

Oct 10, 2019
1 min

My favourite zero waste changes

Emms Choice is a West Lothian business that stocks products with a strong ethical focus. We embrace zero waste and all things...

Editor

Oct 10, 2019
2 min

What’s your favourite garden tool?

The Garden Project column from New Hopetoun Gardens: sustainability special We both might have said our spade was our favourite garden...

Editor

Oct 10, 2019
2 min

The Pursuit of Convenience

The October 2019 issue: sustainability special edition. We’re all in constant pursuit of convenience, so anything that makes life easier...

Editor

Oct 10, 2019
2 min

Ocean waste recycled : roller blinds

We can’t get away from the plastics problem; the debate about how to deal with our environmentally devastating plastic habit permeates...

Menstrual cups are the way forward, period.

Editor

Oct 10, 2019
3 min

Menstrual cups are the way forward, period.

Guys, gals and non-binary pals, please welcome to the stage the rising star of the period world: the menstrual cup, fast becoming known...

Editor

Oct 10, 2019
2 min

Going green and keeping kids keen!

Sustainability isn’t just for adults. Kids need to learn to think about the consequences of their choices and behaviours too, just as...

Editor

Oct 10, 2019
4 min

Plant for bees!

The strap line of the Balerno Village Trust (BVT) is “towards a sustainable community” and, with various members of the community at its...

Local Lab: Building a sustainable future

Editor

Oct 10, 2019
2 min

Local Lab: Building a sustainable future

Professor Gabriela Medero is a civil engineer at Heriot-Watt University who, for years, has been concerned about the huge amounts of...

Editor

Oct 10, 2019
3 min

Falkirk Nappy Library

“We are all cloth-bum parents, and we run the nappy library to help other parents and carers understand and use cloth nappies and other...

Editor

Oct 10, 2019
1 min

Local food – fresh, free, no packaging.

We’ve forgotten how to feed ourselves. To a large extent, for this most basic of human needs, we’re totally dependent on supermarkets and...

What is a Tool Library? (or, a Thing Library?)

Editor

Oct 10, 2019
3 min

What is a Tool Library? (or, a Thing Library?)

What do you think of when you hear “Tool Library”? I had assumed it was a place you could hire garden or DIY tools, until I visited the...

Editor

Oct 10, 2019
3 min

Pure passion for food equality

The Sustainable Thinking Scotland Foodbank Farm It all started when a couple of guys working for a large supermarket were involved in...

Local Lab: Is there still hope for our endangered coral reefs?

Editor

Sep 9, 2019
2 min

Local Lab: Is there still hope for our endangered coral reefs?

Around the world, the long-term survival of reefs is in question because of the environmental stress that climate change is placing on them.