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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Scotland stars in The Crown series four

SERIES four of The Crown begins streaming on Netflix on Sunday, with locations throughout Scotland starring once more in the television show. Estates including Ardverikie, Dunbeath and Rothiemurchus were used to film scenes for the series, which charts Queen Elizabeth’s life from the 1970s to the 1990s. Oscar-winner Olivia Coleman plays The Queen, having taken…

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Pollution from pandemic on Scottish beaches

FACE masks and gloves were found on almost a quarter of Scotland’s beaches during recent litter picks. More than two thirds of inland litter picks found personal protective equipment (PPE), according to the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). The charity said 400 volunteers headed to nearly 100 Scottish beaches to clear and survey litter during the…

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How to spot Scotland’s winter wildlife

Paul Sharman, business development manager at Hebridean Adventures, and binocular maker Swarovski offer tips for spotting winter wildlife in Scotland. 1. Be in the right place at the right time for the best chance of success There are some very seasonal highlights as well as localised species to target in Scotland, and a little forward…

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Biggest beaver survey begins next week

SCOTLAND’S largest survey of beavers will begin next week. NatureScot, the government agency previously known as Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), will work with the University of Essex to conduct surveys in Tayside, the Forth valley and Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park during the autumn and winter. Roo Campbell, NatureScot project lead, said: “From sightings…

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Sewing course helps Dundee mum land fashion job

A COURSE that teaches young parents how to sew could become a feeder to the fashion and textile industry after one its first students landed work with a Scottish fashion house. Dundee mum Chelsie Bruce was one of the first 10 students to complete the online pilot “Kindred Clothing” course run by Tayside charity Front…

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Fairways from heaven

Editor Richard Bath visits the outstanding Dumbarnie Links in Fife, that rarest of things – a new golf course that lives up to the hype. I TRAVELLED to Fife determined not to be swayed by the hype surrounding Dumbarnie, but came away as an ardent evangelist for this astonishingly good new course on the banks…

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Love Dougalston opposes Milngavie golf course plans

A COMMUNITY group has been formed to oppose British Land’s redevelopment proposals for the Dougalston golf course at Milngavie. Love Dougalston has rallied against the idea of turning the local 18-hole golf course into nine holes in order to introduce housing, and recreation and commercial facilities. But the group said it has been outmatched by…

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de Burgh Wine Merchants delivers restaurant quality at home

WHEN the hospitality industry was shut down in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, de Burgh Wine Merchants was faced with losing 95% of its business overnight. Such a seismic shock provided the catalyst to accelerate the company’s plans to expand its web shop and home delivery service. “People have been drinking our wines for…

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First drive-in movies unveiled

SUNSHINE on Leith, The Princess Bride, and La La Land are among the titles that have been chosen for the first drive-in movies at Edinburgh airport next month. Thirteen films have been chosen for the first weekend of the series, which begins on 27-30 August. Tickets are now on sale for the movies, which also…

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