Host a PEB screening with WLCAN support

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We’re supporting members to host a screening of People’s Emergency Briefing in their local community.

This is a 50-minute documentary film aimed at increasing public awareness of climate change, and highlighting the need for urgent action. 

The film is succinct in its asks – calling purely on change driven by government, rather than making people feel guilty for individual choices. 

So far, there have been more than 3,400 screenings across the UK. To help make more screenings in West Lothian happen, WLCAN has a limited number of £100 grants available to member groups to support the costs of hosting a People’s Emergency Briefing screening in their local community. Some members have already organised screenings – see our Events page for any that are coming up.   

The grant can be used to support any aspect of putting on a screening in your local community. You can use it for venue hire, refreshments, marketing, or any other costs associated with hosting a screening. 

To apply, see our hosting guidelines for hosting, fill in the form and send it back to us.   

What else can you do? 

As well as bringing screenings to your own community, you can take other actions. 

The film was shown in the Scottish Parliament at the start of October and there are growing calls for a UK parliament debate. Over 160 MPs have backed an Early Day Motion (EDM) to have the briefing debated at Westminster, with nearly 200 names attached to the all-parliamentary call for a briefing in each devolved parliament, and there have been over 130,000 signatures to the public petition for supporting the briefing.

The NEB’s aim is to get the Government to commit to do a televised Covid-style briefing, where they first launch a public engagement plan and then have regular televised updates.

The organisers say: “Our film is a very effective way of raising awareness, but it is essential the government takes responsibility for briefing the entire nation.

“We are asking the government to deliver a prime-time, multi-channel televised national emergency briefing to the nation, delivered by independent experts – launching a major public engagement plan to cut through disinformation. Our plain-speaking experts have shown how this can be done. There should then be regular televised updates.”

  • Ask your MP to back the EDM and your MSP to support the parliamentary call. Get started.  
  • Sign and share the UK petition calling for a national briefing on climate and nature risks. It has already reached over 133,000 signatures – if it can reach 250,000 it will be one of the biggest petitions on record. 

 

Seed Bank Project – Apply Now

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WLCAN has £2,000 available to start a seed sharing project in West Lothian. The vision is for groups to collaborate on seed gathering throughout the year to make banks available for other groups and the public. This will start reducing the need for buying seeds and use the resources that nature provides, increase skills and knowledge of how to use them. The closing date is 29 November. More information in the application form or scan QR code in graphic.

Eco Fund 7 now open!

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We’re delighted to announce the latest round for applications is opening for autumn 2026. The closing date is Sunday 28 November.

Download the application form and guidelines. Remember you need to be a member of WLCAN to be eligible. Join WLCAN by completing the form on the top right of this page.

Wondering what sort of projects we fund? See Eco Development Fund page for summaries of all previous awards. For the stories behind them, click project tiles for case studies and pictures.

Invite to WLCAN’s screening

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We’re hosting a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing on 28 September in Broxburn. This is open to members (group and individual) but also people who live or work in West Lothian. It’s a chance to watch this hour-long, fact-based presentation into the realities of what climate change means for our health, food supply, security and economy.

Hosted by Chris Packham, it draws on the National Emergency Briefing which brought together leading experts to present the latest evidence on the climate and nature crisis to politicians and other leaders. The aim is for the film to act as a catalyst for a wider public conversation and a stepping stone towards a live televised national briefing, and community groups across the country are hosting screenings now.

We invite to people living and working in West Lothian to come and view the fact-based, and honest, assessment of the threat posed by climate change to communities everywhere. There will be an opportunity for discussion afterwards and we will be providing more information of grants we are making available to our members for community groups to host their own screenings. Whether or not you’re a member of WLCAN, the People’s Emergency Briefing is essential viewing for the future security of food, fuel and the planet. If you would like to attend this screening, please RSVP Wendy@wlcan.scot. Full information is on our Events page.

Free Fruit Trees Are Coming to West Lothian!

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Update – Thank you West Lothian!

We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to our free fruit tree giveaway — thank you to everyone who registered their interest, and a special thank you to everyone who shared the form with friends, neighbours and local groups. Your support helped us reach communities right across West Lothian. We’ve now reached capacity, so the sign-up form is closed.

If you’ve already registered, we’ll be in touch by December to confirm if you have a tree.

Thanks again for your support for community climate action in West Lothian!

Would you like your own fruit tree to grow and care for at home?

SIGN UP for a West Lothian Climate Action Network giveaway.

This winter, West Lothian Climate Action Network (WLCAN) is giving away hundreds of free fruit trees to households across West Lothian — inspired by Climate Action Fife’s popular “A Fruit Tree for Every Garden” scheme. Growing your own fruit means fresh, seasonal food with zero food miles, right on your doorstep. Fruit trees also are beautiful, lock away carbon, support bees and other pollinators, and provide shelter for wildlife for decades to come. 

Growing a fruit tree is easy, once established it only needs maintenance a couple of times a year, WLCAN will provide support and advice on what to do.

What’s on offer

Free bare-root apple, pear, plum and cherry trees — the best way to plant a fruit tree, and ready to go straight into the ground this winter.

A planting and care guide with every tree, so you know exactly how to give it the best start.

Who can apply

Any West Lothian household, group or community space with room to plant a tree is welcome to apply. 

Council tenants: WLCAN is working with West Lothian Council to offer an allocation of trees to council tenants. If this applies to you, please check with your Tenant Participation Team.

How it works

Register your interest online from Friday, 14 August, 2026. Complete form. 

We’ll be in touch in December to confirm your nearest collection point, based on your postcode.

Collect your tree at a local pick-up event in February 2027, along with your planting and care guide.

Please note: registering your interest doesn’t guarantee a tree. Trees are limited and demand is expected to be high, so please register as early as possible once the form goes live.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this really free?

Yes — completely free, funded by WLCAN, with no catch.

How many trees can I request?

One each.

What types of fruit tree will I get?

Apple, pear, plum and cherry trees will be available. We can’t guarantee a specific variety, and allocation will depend on stock.

How big will the tree be?

When you first get the tree it will be quite small, just one year old. The tree will eventually grow to a height of 3- 3.5m. No, the trees we will offer are on a semi-dwarfing rootstock so they stay small enough for most gardens.

Can community groups or schools apply, not just individual households?

Yes — groups and community spaces are welcome to apply through the sign-up form.

When and where do I collect my tree?

Trees will be collected at local pick-up events across West Lothian in January/February 2027. You’ll be allocated your nearest collection point automatically, based on your postcode.

What if I can’t make my collection date?

We’ll get in touch to try to find a solution for this.

Do I need gardening experience to plant a fruit tree?

No — every tree comes with a planting and care guide, and we will also have future training if you’d like to know more.

What maintenance does a fruit tree need

The most important thing in the first summer is to water the tree once per week during dry spells (no need if we have a wet summer).

What happens if I register but don’t get a tree?

We will keep a waiting list and if we run the scheme again, we may also get in touch if others can’t come to collect their tree.

Are council tenants included in this scheme?

Yes — WLCAN is working with West Lothian Council to offer an allocation of trees to council tenants. More details on this will be available from the tenant participation team. Email the team: TP@westlothian.gov.uk

Is this only open to West Lothian residents?

Yes — this scheme is for people who live in West Lothian.

When does the sign-up form open?

The Expression of Interest form is open from 14 August 2026. Council tenants should contact their tenant participation team. 

Stay updated

Questions? Get in touch: info@wlcan.scot

WLCAN becomes a charity

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West Lothian Climate Action Network has transitioned its status from limited company to becoming a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO).

As outlined at our annual gathering, this will give us a stronger foundation to support local climate action and unlock greater access to funding opportunities. This will go straight back into helping our communities build a greener, more sustainable West Lothian.

One of WLCAN’s founding Trustees and Treasurer, Donald Stavert, has overseen the transition. He commented: “WLCAN are delighted to be accepted as a Scottish charity by the official register OSCR this week. This will open new funding opportunities for us and gain us a new standing in the West Lothian community that we serve. Our climate change Network is open to all concerned with our future sustainability.”

The whole Board of Trustees and WLCAN’s staff are excited to join other charities in West Lothian and to begin the next phase of our work supporting local community work.

Eco Fund 6 launched

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New funding is available for your climate projects. The application deadline is 5pm on Sunday 16  August, with £15,000 to be issued across eligible projects which must be spent by 31 March 2027. The form includes guidelines for applying. If you haven’t applied before, to help you get started, look at how funding has been distributed previously, and what climate impacts are being targeted. Visit the Eco Development Fund page, from where you can access the application form, which is also available through the link below.

What makes a good bid?

● Demonstrate climate impact and clear benefit to community
● Show match funding effort, and wider support base
● Joint bids with other members or community groups; shared resources
● Projects that can evolve and feed to new work – stretch what’s being funded
● Detailed costings that show commitment to local climate action
● Tips for future bids – attend our Q&A. Read guidance notes on form

Download the application form here. If you are not a member and wish to start an application, please join WLCAN through the button at the top right of this page before applying.

You can also scan the QR codes in the graphic for membership joining form and application form.

Competition time!

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Good with video? We’ve teamed up with West Lothian Youth Action Project for a competition to show off projects based around recycling, upcycling, re-use and re-purposing – aka circular economy. Whether it’s clothing, textiles, furniture, gardens, household items – if you’ve breathed new life into something, we want to see it, in the form of a short video.

You can take part as an individual or with friends if you’re over 13 and based in West Lothian. Under 13s can take part through any youth organisation based in West Lothian. The best part? There’s a prize for the best video – a £50 voucher for individual entries, or £100 for youth group entries. The competition is open for summer 2026. Enter by 7 August.

All the rules and entry form are on our Youth CAN page – click here.

 

West Lothian Eco Gathering – book your place

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We’re looking forward to bringing all our group and individual members together for the third West Lothian Eco Gathering. This will be a chance to meet diverse community organisations all doing something, large or small, to improve West Lothian’s environment, natural resources and amenities for those living and working here.

This will include plans to expand local energy generation, make travel less reliant on cars and fuel, growing more food locally and helping to reduce cost of living when it comes to home energy, food, clothes and household items. Giving people the skills to improve what’s around them is also what the Network is key to.

Helping the region become more resilient to the impact of climate change has numerous community benefits, from improving the supply of affordable energy and food, better land, water and air quality, and implementing flood mitigation measures. Come along and hear what’s been happening to improve West Lothian’s green and blue spaces, make community-owned energy a reality and expand the circular economy. All of these things are making a real difference in West Lothian.

The programme for the day will be finalised shortly. In the meantime, please register for attendance. Entry is free and will include a light lunch and refreshments.

A note of the location and time is: West Lothian Eco Gathering, 10am-3pm, Friday 17 April, 2026, Howden Park Centre, Livingston.

Job vacancy

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We are recruiting for a Development Worker to join the team. This is a fixed term post until 31st March 2027 with possible extension subject to funding. Flexible 18-35 hours. Applications close on Sunday 8 March and interviews will take place the week commencing 16 March.

For more information and the application pack visit Goodmoves.