The Wigtown Poetry Prize is launched for 2021

The Wigtown Poetry Prize, an annual celebration of poets and poems in the country’s three indigenous languages, has had its first ever digital launch. The decision follows the success of last year’s online prizegiving ceremony (which was part of the Wigtown Book Festival) in reaching a larger, worldwide audience. It is hoped there will be…

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European Pipe Band Championships cancelled

The organisers of Piping Inverness, which incorporates the European Pipe Band Championships, has cancelled this year’s event. The competition was scheduled to take place on Saturday 26 June, but with uncertainty around COVID-19 restrictions and following the latest Scottish Government guidance, the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA), in partnership with event organiser, LCC Live,…

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Winners of People’s Choice Drinks Awards revealed

Drinks enthusiasts from around the world were able to ‘attend’ the People’s Choice Drinks Awards from the comfort of their own home this year. Britain’s Got Talent finalist Steve Royle handed out awards for wines and spirits for the first time this year in a virtual awards ceremony at Manchester’s Zymurgorium Distillery. Winners in the…

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The 2021 Turriff Show is cancelled by COVID

This year’s Turriff Show, the largest two-day agricultural show in Scotland, been cancelled due to the continued uncertainty of hosting large scale events during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 Show was due to take place on Sunday 1 and Monday 2 August at The Haughs, Turriff. And 2021 President Alan Gaul, speaking on behalf…

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Glen Scotia toasts entrepreneurs

GLEN Scotia will be toasting innovative business owners as part of a new deal with the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. The Campbeltown distillery has signed up as the competition’s “entrepreneurial spirit partner”. Under the agreement, the whisky label will sponors the contest’s entrepreneurial spirit award and will also celebrate an entrepreneur each month on social…

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Hydrogen-powered whisky and gin

TWO distilleries on Orkney are investigating whether they can use hydrogen to make their whisky and gin. Whisky maker Highland Park and gin producer Orkney Distillery are looking at powering their distilleries using hydrogen. Orkney’s European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) is at the forefront of hydrogen technology. The centre is using electricity generated by renewable…

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Edinburgh food blogger wins baking contest

A FOOD blogger in Edinburgh has been crowned as Scotland’s best home baker. Sophie Greig, a student at the University of Edinburgh, was named as the “Contini Bake Off” champion. The competition was run by Carina Contini, who owns The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant at the Scottish National Gallery. Greig, who shares her recipes and…

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Scottish rowan up for European tree award

A ROWAN tree near Moffat will represent Great Britain in a European contest. The Woodland Trust has chosen “The Survivor” at Carrifran to represent Great Britain in the “European Tree of the Year” competition. The public selected “The Survivor” as Scotland’s “Tree of the Year” back in October. It has now beaten off competition from…

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Kids told to play with their food

TATTIE supplier Scotty Brand is launching a mash potato art competition – and has created some spud-tacular examples. Scottish sculptor Natasha Phoenix has sculptured Prime Minister Boris Johnson and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon from mashed potato. Her nine-year-old twin girls, Hope and Talia Phoenix-Hill, also created tattie versions of Minnie the Minx from the Beano…

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Morrison’s Academy pupils win technology contest

A TEAM of four pupils from Morrison’s Academy in Crieff has won a competition to create technology that can be worn. The OpenUK Kids’ Competition and ten-week coding project involved pupils creating wearable technology and learning software and development skills using MiMU gloves. Nine judges chose four regional winners, with Morrison’s Academy then being selected…

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