MSPs not told about collapse of funding deal for Scottish nature restoration

Exclusive: Ministers accused of trying to keep investment firm's withdrawal from partnership with NatureScot under wraps

A funding deal to raise 100m from private investors for urgently needed nature restoration in Scotland has fallen through without the Scottish parliament being told.

The Guardian has learned that Aberdeen, the investment firm, decided to withdraw from a partnership with the agency NatureScot to raise at least 100m for conservation projects from commercial and private investors late last year.