WALK into the centre of a volcano and see the lava flow - all within cappuccino distance of the Royal Mile. The volcano in question has of course been out of action for 350 million years and is more commonly known now as Holyrood Park. But geologist Dr Angus Miller is promising to bring it all back to life in his new guided walking tours of Arthur's Seat. Fresh from studying volcanoes in Iceland and the Caribbean, he was involved in the monitoring of the Montserrat Volcano. Dr Miller promises the first regular tours of the area. He can be contacted on 0131 228 2410.

Shell UK has underlined its commitment to greater corporate responsibility with the publication of its first report, To Society. The report sets out the company's position on a range of issues and does not duck some of the more contentious. On oil spills the company admits it has fallen well short of its 1997 target. In 1996 the company spilled 38 tonnes but last year that figure soared to 111 tonnes - including two incidents totalling over 72 tonnes. Dr Chris Fay, Shell UK's chairman and chief executive, says the company has a duty to release statistics which make

for less than comfortable reading.

''We are not claiming that everything in the garden is rosy - we've never done this in the past and we're not about to start now. The rise in figures for oil spills is completely unacceptable. I have already taken steps to ensure that further resources are devoted to addressing this issue, that procedures are tightened up and that individual staff are clearly reminded of their responsibilities.''

A new campaign to enthuse primary school children about the countryside has been launched by the RSPB. Its

Habitat Action Pack contains posters on threatened wildlife habitats: farmland, wetland, heathland and hills and mountains. Alastair Lavery, RSPB education officer, says: ''We hope the packs will foster an interest in the countryside and the wider environment - which along with numeracy and literacy will be an essential quality for citizens of the 21st century.''

A team from the Scottish Wildlife Trust will create a natural garden for wildlife on a 5m by 4m piece of tarmac at Strathclyde Country Park during the Royal Horticultural Society's National Gardening Show this weekend. The team will take their inspiration from nature's designs and hope to show the general public how easy it is to attract wildlife to any garden.

Fiona Stewart, the trust's urban wildlife officer, says:

''By creating small wildlife habitats in your garden, you can offer Scotland's wildlife a number of valuable places to live, feed and breed.''

WE welcome any comments, suggestions,

or contributions. As well as our normal postal address, telephone and

fax numbers, you can

e-mail us on environ@cims.co.uk