Poetry and photos from the Hebrides

The Spirit of the Hebrides combines poetry and photography to explore the land and seascapes of the islands in all seasons and weathers. It does this whilst paying homage to the Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean. This is a lovely book that will bring an instant sense of tranquility every time you decide to delve into…

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Research your Scottish family history at home

Scottish Ancestry Through Church & State Records is a thorough guide to Scotland’s genealogical landscape and is a useful tool for researchers of the diaspora to have at hand. Chris Paton examines common records used by family historians, including censuses, tax records and registers of land ownership. A basic knowledge of the legal system is…

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Keep your dog on the lead as lambing season begins

Several Scottish organisations have united in an urgent plea to dog owners across the country to keep their dogs under proper control around livestock. Lambing season is already well underway in Scotland, and most of the ewes we see now grazing the hills and fields are heavily pregnant at this time of year. Already farmers…

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Parliament to debate third Scottish National Park

A campaign to create Scotland’s third national park is to be discussed at the Scottish Parliament this week. The Galloway National Park Association has welcomed the news that the Scottish Parliament is to debate a motion by SNP South Scotland MSP Emma Harper on Thursday, 11 February, in support of a National Park for Galloway.…

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New initiative makes it easier to fish in lockdown

The Scottish salmon fishing season begins today, February 1. Angling clubs, charities and a fishery board have come together to remove barriers for angling enthusiasts and those curious to know more about fishing this year in the Forth basin as a pilot project to reinvigorate some of Scotland’s best loved rivers is launched. With preparations…

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Beaver appeal raises £60,000

CONSERVATION charity Trees for Life has raised nearly £60,000 through a crowdfunding appeal to help protect Scotland’s beavers. The fundraising effort sets the scene for a court challenge to the Scottish Government’s beaver policy, which the charity claims is causing “needless loss of beavers’ lives”. Trees for Life and rewilding charity The Lifescape Project claim…

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Helping nature: Scotland’s successes and challenges

A NEW report reveals what progress has been made towards tackling biodiversity loss in Scotland – and the challenges that lie ahead. NatureScot, the Scottish Government agency previously known as Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), has published its biodiversity duty report covering 2018 to 2020. The document details the work carried out to tackle the loss…

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Calls to ‘care for the countryside’ this Christmas

SCOTTISH Land & Estates (SLE) – which represents farmers, land managers and rural businesses – has called on Christmas walkers to take litter home, not disturb wildlife, and keep dogs under control near cows and sheep. The organisation’s plea follows high-profile issues of littering, anti-social behaviour, vandalism, and flytipping in rural Scotland during the pandemic.…

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Fife’s Feragaia on Harrods’ shelves

FIFE non-alcoholic brand Feragaia has secured a listing at Harrods. The drink, which is made using 14 botanicals from the land and sea, hit the London department store’s shelves earlier this month. Bill Garnock, co-founder of Feragaia, said: “Our inaugural year has not been without its challenges, but it is wonderful that a conversation I…

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Gizzi Erskine: ‘Soil can be sexy’

CHEF and food writer Gizzi Erskine teamed up with dairy farm Yeo Valley to mark World Soil Day on Saturday. Data released by the United Nations showed that the equivalent of one football field of soil is eroded every five seconds across the world. Yeo Valley invited Erskine to its organic farm to shine “the…

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