A note from the editor Vanessa Byrne / Managing Director
Winter invites us to slow down and rediscover the world with softer eyes. The crisp air, quieter landscapes and calmer rhythm of nature remind us that even the coldest months carry warmth when we step outside, breathe deeply and move gently through our days. This edition embraces that spirit, beginning with our familiar Culture in Green and followed by Dahabitat’ s look at the EU’ s material footprint on pages 8 to 13, setting the tone for a season of reflection and responsibility.
Our journey continues on page 14, where Creative Events Gibraltar brings a new sense of togetherness to our community. Their social walks, beach Pilates sessions and painting days offer a simple reminder that wellbeing often begins with sunlight, shared moments and easy company. The success of their first Walk and Talk shows how deeply people crave connection in the outdoors.
A very different kind of inspiration arrives on page 22 through Dr. Emma Fieldhouse, whose lifelong love for nature shaped her mission to make climate education accessible and empowering. Her“ Bananas” carbon-footprint game, now reaching Gibraltar’ s schools, is just one example of how small ideas can spark real change. Emma’ s reflections on resilience, inequality and community remind us that sustainability is as much about people as it is about the planet.
Turning to page 28, we shine a light on Gibraltar’ s bats, misunderstood, threatened, yet vital to our ecosystems. Dr. Stewart Finlayson and his Gib-Bats team have spent more than a decade restoring roosts, installing bat boxes and uncovering the secrets of these species. Their new cross-border research with Morocco opens the possibility of understanding whether bats travel across the Strait, revealing a larger ecological story waiting to be told.
Later in the edition, page 38 takes us to Cádiz for
SkålForum25, where leaders explored the future of sustainable tourism. With digital nomads, long-stay visitors and cultural identity at the forefront, Cádiz is positioning itself as a model for regenerative travel. OTWO was honoured to receive second place in the Skål International Tourism Awards 2025, a recognition that strengthens our commitment to environmental storytelling.
On page 48, La Línea’ s Network of Walking Cities Conference shows how walking can reshape urban life. From cooling green corridors to traffic-calming strategies, the discussions highlighted how simple steps can transform cities into healthier, more human places. The symbolic walk to Gibraltar, led by Minister John Cortés, beautifully underscored the shared values within our two communities.
September’ s Active Travel Month arrives on page 70 with a burst of collective energy. Over 800 participants walked or cycled nearly 88,000 km, saving around 18,000 kg of CO 2 while raising funds for Diabetes Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Cardiac Association. The message was clear: a healthier city begins when we choose to move.
From the reflective strolls of our Berlin series on page 80 to the enduring spirit behind Todd Slaughter’ s sculpture on page 90, the stories in this edition remind us that winter is not a time of stillness but of gentle momentum. We also share the healing power of nature prescriptions done in Canada and the meaningful recovery found through volunteering with Clubhouse Gibraltar.
Thank you for supporting us throughout this journey. If you feel called to join the OTWO family, we would love to hear from you at info @ otwomag. com. Sustainable progress is never a solo path, it ' s one we walk together. Peace and love always, V x
OTWO 74 / WINTER 2025 5