Hundreds of protected areas are under pressure from Scotland’s massive deer herd. Most agree deer numbers must be controlled to protect the environment, but are split on what should be done.
Edinburgh University students were “interrogated” by police at their desks over posters featuring Palestinians killed by the Israeli military, prompting dozens to complain.
Unsafe levels of faecal bacteria were recorded at dozens of Scotland’s best beaches this summer. Swimmers and paddlers could be at risk, but officials insist water quality remains high.
It’s the end of another busy month at The Ferret. Wherever you are, be it sipping your morning coffee or indulging in the sweet drama of Glasgow’s Willy Wonka experience, we hope you’re having a great weekend.
From day one, transparency has been at the core of our work at The Ferret. If you snoop around our website, you’ll even find a whole page about it. We believe in not just sharing our stories but also revealing the dedication that goes into them.
For this reason, last year we started updating our members and newsletter subscribers about our monthly adventures, highlighting the real-world effects of our journalism. This year, we have decided to keep you up to speed about our stories, team, and events with a blog too.
So, what have The Ferrets been up to lately? Read on to find out.
Our journalists have been delving into some fishy business. In February, we launched a new investigative series, ‘Scotland’s Seas in Danger.’ Over the coming months, we’ll be shedding light on the complex challenges affecting our marine environment – from overfishing to pollution.
Carried out with the support of Journalismfund Europe, the investigation is part of a cross-border project in partnership with the Investigative Reporting Project Italy, which is conducting fieldwork in (the much sunnier) Sardinia, Sicily, and Apulia and will publish its work later this year.
The initial stories of the project examined the state of play in our marine environment, from Scotland’s marine protection measures to the species in decline.
At the end of January we published a secretly filmed video allegedly featuring the controversial businessman, Mark Fortune, threatening a tenant in a row over rent payments.
The footage led to renewed accusations from campaigners that authorities are guilty of inaction. Watch the video here.
Following our story, Labour’s Sarah Boyack MSP urged the Scottish Government and Edinburgh city council to open a “proper investigation” into the case. Boyack said those who subject tenants to “abusive” behaviour should “face serious consequences”.
Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon questioned Scottish Government ministers Màiri McAllan and Mairi Gougeon about our report on the Scottish National Investment Bank’s investment in the Gresham House forestry fund.
After years of reporting on greyhound racing and the animal welfare concerns connected to it, Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell launched a consultation for a bill that would make it illegal to hold races in Scotland.
The proposal cites one of our reports, ‘Dozens of greyhounds racing in Scotland test positive for banned substances such as cocaine’, which we published in 2019.
This past month, The Ferret revealed that arms companies supplying Israel with bombs and parts for warplanes had been invited to the Scottish Parliament despite the rising death toll in Gaza and allegations Britain could be complicit in war crimes.
The Holyrood reception was also sponsored by Labour MSP Paul Sweeney, who previously worked for BAE Systems. However, Sweeney withdrew his sponsorship after The Ferret asked him to respond to criticisms of the event. Not only that, following the publication of our report a protest was organised for the event on 21 Feb at Holyrood.
Main image: François Xavier TESTU
Hundreds of protected areas are under pressure from Scotland’s massive deer herd. Most agree deer numbers must be controlled to protect the environment, but are split on what should be done.
Edinburgh University students were “interrogated” by police at their desks over posters featuring Palestinians killed by the Israeli military, prompting dozens to complain.
Unsafe levels of faecal bacteria were recorded at dozens of Scotland’s best beaches this summer. Swimmers and paddlers could be at risk, but officials insist water quality remains high.
Footage of farmed trout suffocating, haemorrhaging, and being beaten with batons in a slaughterhouse has prompted an official complaint to a government regulator.
