Greens announce Holyrood candidate for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire seat

Dr Harvie is a semi-retired lecturer, specialising in Restoration Ecology and Forestr y.

Announcing her candidacy this week, she said: “The Borders, like the rest of Scotland, needs a Green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic that will generate a strong, resilient society who will invest in its young people and lead them towards positive futures; a Green recovery that will take the opportunity to create lasting jobs by developing and utilising Scotland’s wealth of renewable resources.

"I am very conscious that Scottish Borders is vaguely identified as the area between the rest of Scotland and the north of England and that the strong identities within Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire are largely unrecognised; even South Scotland as a region is often overlooked by both Westminster and Holyrood.

"Scottish Green Party plans for a Green Recovery to combat the climate emergency and emerge stronger from the Covid-19 pandemic are detailed and fully costed.

"Policies include measures to tackle fuel poverty and empty high streets, to support local farming and fishing industries, and the introduction of a Green New Deal for Scotland’s workers."

Dr Harvie studied as a mature student at the University of Edinburgh where she gained a BSc in Ecology with Forestry honours, then went on to research a PhD in Restoration Ecology before becoming a lecturer at Scotland’s Rural College and University of Edinburgh.

"My academic background has created a passionate advocate for the natural environment, but I have been an active campaigner against nuclear weapons since my teens and more recently have extended this to campaigning against fracking, nuclear power and the nuclear convoys that travel through the Scottish Borders,” she said.

Dr Harvie is equally enthusiastic about promoting food security and, as a volunteer, manages the gardens and greenhouses at Selkirk Community Shed to give others the opportunity to grow their own vegetables and improve their mental health through working outdoors.