Explore scenes of historic hobbies impacted by our changing climate, images that show the end of our industrial heritage, and artwork of a greener, more hopeful future.
All these and more feature in our gallery of finalists for Visions of Climate Heritage, a competition and crowd-sourced online exhibition which was launched to coincide with COP26 in November 2021 in partnership with the Heritage Trust Network and the Scottish Council on Archives.
Shortlisted: ‘Best Photograph’ award
‘Gardenstown’ by John Carroll (The Past Was A Different Place) – Sea eroding Old Jetty Posts. Long before Facebook posts.
‘A Tiny Planet’ by Iain McLachlan (A Greener future) – Perhaps, if we all regarded the whole planet as we regard our own small home area, the planet as a whole would have a brighter future.
‘Juxtaposition’ by Gordon Elliott (This Is An Emergency) – A juxtaposition between Little Raith Wind Farm and it’s next door neighbour Mossmorran Natural Gas Liquids plant.
‘Flood’ by Iain McLachlan (This is An Emergency) – When roads become rivers and water floods through houses and gardens on a regular basis we are in trouble.
‘The way it was’ by Tom Campbell (The Past was a Different Place) – View from the past of spinning mills and gas works in the Haughs at Inverbervie. This industry has all disappeared. Note the signs that water and some wind power were used.
‘Abandoned fishing boats’ by William McLachlan (This Is An Emergency) –
Two abandoned fishing boats illustrating that dwindling fish stocks affect both jobs and food supply.
‘Time To Move On’ by Phil McIntosh (The Past was a Different Place) – Long exposure of Longannet Power Station with a ship passing in front. The ongoing demolition work is visible in the picture with the iconic chimney due to be erased from the landscape by the end of the year. Once Scotland’s biggest polluter, its final chapter in the year of COP26 is an apt ending.
‘Cockenzie No More’ by Craig Buchan (Greener Future) –
This photo was taken just after the demolition of the two huge chimneys at Cockenzie power station. The two chimneys collided and caused the dust to form a ghostly figure. I see this as a metaphor for the end of coal in Scotland as we look to a greener future.
The image shows a farm house structure with additional stone walling close by all contained within the basin of an extremely dry Upper Glendevon Reservoir, revealed by a long dry spell over the summer months. Hopefully it will a very long time before the water levels are this low again.
‘Look what I found!’ by John Wilson (The Past Was A Different Place) – Beachcombing before plastic in 1959.
‘Last ice on Lake of Menteith’ by Neil Kitching (The Past was a Different Place) – Curling on Lake of Menteith, looking out to Inchmahome Priory. Given continuing climate change, this is perhaps the last time in history that the public will be able to safely walk out to the Priory without taking the ferry!
‘Past and present, harvesting energy’ by John Wilson (Greener Future) – In the foreground is a Norse Mill, a water driven grain mill. Such mills were very common at one time in the Western and Northern Isles. In the background one of today’s new windmills. I thought the two showed there is nothing new and that some of our ancestors did use nature’s energy wisely.
‘A glimpse to the future’ by Magdalena Kaminska (This Is An Emergency) – Soon, there might be no more homes to live in, as the climate grows more and more volatile.
‘A Grim Perspective’ by Iain McLachlan (This Is An Emergency) – A long exposure of the Firth of Forth with rocks in the foreground and Port Seaton power station in the background.
Shortlisted: ‘Best Artwork’ award
‘The Uninvited Guest – Bean Nighe’ by Sandy Lightbody (This Is An Emergency) – Imagine our ‘titans’ of industry, raised from their graves & called to a Teams Project Meeting: ‘What did we do well/what could we have done better’. Only the Bean Nighe – the Uninvited Guest (similar to a banshee) would know the true costs of our advancements, she just washes her bloodied garments.
‘Sodmound Maiden’ by Kathy Bruce (Greener Future) – Built of natural materials; Bamboo, straw, sod in a woodland setting. My intention is for the viewer to enter into and exit the woman’s skirt (mound) to experience a symbolic ritual suggesting birth, rebirth and the nurturing aspects of motherhood in the natural environment.
‘Transitory landscape Where Ruins Grow’ by Kathy Bruce (This Is An Emergency) – A woman, unable to breathe rushes into a landscape filled with oxygen-emitting flowers–with the awareness that Nature is what will save the planet.
‘This is an Emergency’ by Gemma Lubbock (This Is An Emergency) –
Sonias Bistro, Hawick collapsing during the Floods of 2020. The building has stood for over 200 years where the Slitrig meets the River Teviot. Storm Ciara saw the collapse. The town of Hawick suffered greatly during the floods and some £90million is being invested in flood protection measures.
‘Save My Planet. This Is My Earth’ by Ojo Moses (This Is An Emergency) – It shows how the planet is being destroyed everyday through the harmful human activities we do. This includes bush burning, smoke from industries and refineries; these damage the ozone layer exposing us to the harmful rays of the sun.
‘Land Use in The Outer Hebrides’ by Julia Clough (A Greener Future) – This collage represents sustainable ways of using land in the Outer Hebrides, including solar farms amongst grazing land, beehives, on and offshore wind energy generation, and rewilding of peatlands and reforesting. Made from found objects, material scraps and a reused frame.
Shortlisted: ‘Best Mobile Photograph’ award
‘Sunset for Broughty Castle’ by Colin Tennant (This Is An Emergency) –
Walking along the beach to Broughty Castle has been a constant part of my life but will my 8 year old kids be able to walk to it when their kids are 8? 2C warming will probably make Broughty Castle an island fortress, cut off from the community that bears its name.
‘Water Park’ by Keith Wilson (This Is An Emergency) – Severe floods due to climate change resulted in this children’s play park in the Stirlingshire town of Callander being flooded and becoming inaccessible to the town’s kids. Climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely as a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture.
‘Industrial cloud reflections’ by Elaine McGregor (Greener Future) – Reflections of steam from cooling towers.
‘Dunure Harbour’ by Rebecca Cadie (This Is An Emergency) – Weatherbeaten breakwater and light tower: Entrance to Dunure harbour with severe erosion.
‘A Shop Too Far’ by Carson Haggart (This Is An Emergency) – Beautiful beaches have a high price.
‘Waves crash at Skara Brae’ by Kerry Harris (This Is An Emergency) – A combination of high tides and storm force winds brought the waves crashing against the sea wall below Skara Brae. Beyond the sea wall this fragile coastline is eroding fàst.
‘Waiting for the Last Bus’ by Sandy Lightbody (This Is An Emergency) – A bus stop on Govan Road, Glasgow: at dusk, reflected in puddles: an analogy for our wet, darkening world – are we waiting for the last bus? A bit depressing but the inverted image of imaginative public sector housing provides abstraction, as well as hope and makes for a colourful image.
‘Raging water’ by Maria Hendry (Greener Future) – The power of rain water. At New Lanark at the falls where it rained all day resulting in this wonderful fast fast flow.
Streets were for People by Martin Laird (The Past was a Different Place) – The narrow streets of Stromness, which in any sane world would be pedestrianised, are in fact open to two-way vehicle traffic. Pedestrians are squeezed out and a dirty layer of rubber coats the historic cobbles and paving.
Shortlisted: Young Creative Awards (11 and under)
‘The Repair After The Storm’ by Tor Baldorf Pirso (This Is An Emergency) – There is no calm after the storm as repair work set in.
‘Stop Deforestation!’ by Claudia Hutchinson (This Is An Emergency) – My piece of artwork can explain what deforestation really is. I think it is cruel and full of money grabbing people who only care about money and wealth and not of the welfare of the animals. I’m currently learning about the environment in primary school and I enjoy it very much!
‘Beach Litter, plastic in the Sea’ by Tor Baldorf Pirso (This Is An Emergency) – A fish made of plastic found on Portobello beach.
‘We must do better’ by Tor Baldorf Pirso (This Is An Emergency) – We have to work harder at making this a cleaner earth.
‘Blue skies coming our way’ by Claudia Hutchinson (A Greener Future) – Image taken in an local Aberdeen beach, signifies that the wind farms were near sea and water were the most wind is, which is something we should invest in, as Scotland is very windy!
Shortlisted: Young Creative Awards (12-15 years)
‘Weather is Changing’ by Anya Hutchinson (This Is An Emergency) – This image is about how Scotland has already been affected by climate change.
‘Coastal erosion at St Monans’ by Anna Cruden (This Is An Emergency) – A small area of erosion south coast of St Monans. The stunning scenery is changing creating new landscape.
‘A bright awakening’ by Anna Cruden (This Is An Emergency) – A sunrise at the Crags. One of the extraordinary places our world created. Beautiful and unique, a place that we need to protect so it can continue thriving. It has been around for millions of years and we have treasured it, but now its being destroyed by us and we need to help rebuild our planet.
‘There’s snow way back’ by Gemma Davies (This Is An Emergency) – This photo was taken during a period of heavy snowfall in February of 2021. The photo reflects the extreme weather changes occurring more often due to the impact of climate change. The photo shows the beautiful Scottish hills being covered by the snow off in the distance.
‘Our Fish Are Made of Plastic’ by Morgan James (This Is An Emergency) – A single plastic shaped fish lies in the water, portraying the impact plastic has in our oceans. It suggests that if we do not start to stop climate change then our sea life will become plastic.
‘Healing Nature’ by Anya Hutchinson (A Greener Future) – Lochwinnoch industrial past reclaimed by nature.
‘Reflection of past and future’ by Anya Hutchinson (A Greener Future) – Old Titan crane reflected on new environmentally friendly district heating building.
‘Squirrels Do Use Cups’ by Anya Hutchinson (This Is An Emergency) – This image describes how much plastic pollution there is in our environment. The squirrel in this image, is clearly eating something in the plastic tub, which is harming the squirrel’s health and therefore shorting the animals life span.
‘The World Is In Our Hands’ by Morgan James (This Is An Emergency) – As we look out, both to the city and our future, we realise only we have the ability to make a difference with the future. It rests in our generation’s hands.
Shortlisted: Young Creative Awards (16-18 years)
‘The Flooded Path’ by Cerys James (This Is An Emergency) – As the water seeps out the burn it covers the path, rising higher and higher until it reaches the neck of an average person. This conveys the need to stop climate change to prevent our villages, towns and cities from becoming pushed down under water or sewage.
‘Silver Sands’ by Connor Draycott (This Is An Emergency) – View from silver sands beach, Aberdour shows the crumbling cliff edge and the destroyed dock in the distance, Everything on this coastlines is being slowly eroded day by day due to the fiercer growing ocean and weather.
‘April Showers’ by Cerys James (Greener Future) – This image suggests that we need to protect our plants and life on Earth to prevent damage from the unpredictable weather. If we can surround our Earth in a metaphorical dome then we can save life on Earth while allowing plants to blossom.
‘The Basketball’ by Connor Draycott (This Is An Emergency) – Dumped and discarded, left to rot and decay, as nature continues to revolve around it and swallow it.
‘For the next generations’ by Layla Karic (Greener Future) – This piece is about the different world that could be a reality for future generations if we act now. The image shows a woman looking out a hospital room window with her granddaughter to see a green futuristic city scape.
‘Shore of Coll’ by Max Mitchell (Greener Future) – Beautiful Scottish Shoreline on the Isle of Coll
‘A Cleaner Planet’ by Cerys James (Greener Future) – The beach lies clean from plastic, conveying how our planet can look if we put in the effort to make a change to save Earth. The crisp white clouds overlook portraying pathetic fallacy, showing that not only are we happy with the difference but the Earth is letting us know it is too.
‘Keeping Up with the Current’ by Cerys James (This Is An Emergency) – As the water races down the burn, it crashes against the rocks, thundering through the forest in a hurry to keep up with the ever changing Earth to reach its onward journey.
Selecting the winning images
The panel of judges, who will determine the competition winners, include Katharine Hayhoe, the internationally renowned climate scientist and one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People.
The images will be judged on their ability to tell a story, as well as their visual interest, impact and relevant to the historic environment and climate change in Scotland.
We’ll be announcing the winners by Tuesday 18 January 2022. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to hear the news on social media, or sign up for news alerts.