Estates vow to continue wildlife scheme

SCOTTISH estates have vowed to continue expanding an international wildlife and habitat accreditation scheme beyond the UK’s European Union (EU) transition. Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES), which builds information on species and land use to improve Scotland’s biodiversity, is based on a European scheme used in 19 countries. WES is celebrating its tenth birthday this month…

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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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Speyside farm lands Harvey Nics deal

WOOL throws made by a farm and woolmill in Speyside are going on sale in department store chain Harvey Nichols’ Edinburgh and London branches. Dalrachie Farm, which rears cattle and sheep in Ballindalloch, is run by Alan and Sarah-Jane Forbes, who sell wool clipped from their flock of 350 North Country Hill Cheviot ewes to…

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Having a ceilidh with Yalumba’s ‘Caley’

Peter Ranscombe rediscovers ‘the Great Australian Red’ – and suggests some affordable stepping stones along the way. THE world of wine is full of odd phrases: multiple glasses are served in “wine flights”, a liquid that hangs to the side of the glass is said to have “long legs”, and smells can sometimes – kindly…

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Blue Skye Thinking: Now is the time to visit The Misty Isle

I’m calling it 20/20 vision. As we clamber into autumn after six surreal months, I realise that seeing Scotland through fresh eyes has been 2020’s almighty silver lining. For many Scots, acquainting themselves more fully with all that this country has to offer has proved unexpectedly enlightening. Entranced by the wildly romantic coasts, crystal-clear waters…

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Mains of Taymouth puts luxury timber lodges on sale

MAINS of Taymouth, the five-star country estate and golf course at Kenmore in Perthshire, has begun marketing phase two of Balloch Park, its residential, holiday and buy-to-let development. Twenty luxury timber lodges have gone on sale, with prices starting at £179,900. The lodges are flanked by Drummond Hill on one side and the River Tay…

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National Trust for Scotland launches walking campaign

THE National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has launched a walking campaign to raise money for its sites. Its “Stride out for Scotland” initiative aims to encourage people to take more exercise while fundraising for the charity. The latest move is part of its wider “Save our Scotland” campaign, which has so far raised £2 million…

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Families tune in for online farm tours

MORE than 10,000 families have tuned in to watch live online tours of Scotland’s farms during lockdown. Almost 100 farmers have guided virtual visitors around their sites via the Go Rural Facebook page. Their “Welcome to my Farm” videos followed on from 14 farmers streaming two weeks of “lambathon” during the spring from their lambing…

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Belhaven Hill School unveils new leadership team

BELHAVEN Hill School in Dunbar has made four senior appointments as it prepares for the arrival of new headteacher Olly Langton. John Marriott, currently the school’s director of studies, becomes deputy head (academic), while head of maths Katie Gale becomes deputy head (pastoral). Anna McGrath, previously resident house tutor and director of drama at Fettes…

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Record results for Belhaven Hill School

PUPILS at Belhaven Hill School in East Lothian have managed to post record exam results during the coronavirus lockdown. All 28 boys and girls aged 12 to 13 were accepted into their first-choice senior schools in Scotland and England. Headmaster Henry Knight said: “Just shy of 80% of all grades at common entrance are A*,…

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