Call for bigger fines and jail terms for wildlife crime

People convicted of wildlife crimes should receive bigger fines and longer prison sentences than currently available says Scottish Land & Estates, the organisation which represents landowners and rural businesses. The Scottish Government recently launched its consultation on wildlife crime, such as deer poaching, hare coursing and bird of prey persecution, and SLE says that those…

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Vital role of grouse moors to Scotland

The vital contribution of grouse moors to jobs, tourism and wildlife conservation in remote areas of Scotland has been heralded on the Glorious Twelfth. As Rottal Estate in the Angus Glens hosted the first party to go out on the Glorious Twelfth, rural communities backed the pursuit as vital to their long-term sustainability. Industry experts…

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Reaping the rewards for tree planting scheme – 20 years on

A strong demand for wood fuel means pioneering Aberdeenshire farmers are now reaping the rewards of trees planted 20 years ago. Planted through the Grampian Forest Challenge Fund, the woods are now being thinned, with farmers pleasantly surprised by the high value of their timber. Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS) says yields are consistently higher…

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Johnnie Walker tourism vision strides forward

The biggest investment programme ever seen in Scotch whisky tourism in Scotland passed a major milestone today (Thursday) with granting of planning permission to transform Cardhu Distillery in Speyside. The green light for the Cardhu plans completes the key regulatory approvals for a range of new Johnnie Walker visitor attractions, including a global flagship visitor…

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First class education and a first class mum

Silvia Divine has managed to juggle the challenges of getting married and having a baby with her studies to gain a first-class honours degree in Horticulture. The 29-year-old was also awarded the prestigious Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland Silver Medal and the SRUC Trust Prize for best fourth year student on her course. Silvia,…

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A look at Scottish trains which is the rail deal

The Scottish Rail Scene gives a whistle-stop tour of the railway services throughout Scotland. From the bustling scenes of Edinburgh’s Waverley or Glasgow Queen Street, to the more remote Highland outposts such as Mallaig or Kyle: John Jackson has visited, photographed and documented them all. Since he first set foot in Scotland in 1968, Jackson…

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Ten fantastic things to do in… Fife

Fife – the home of St Andrews (and in turn the home of golf), incredible Scottish history, and so much, much more. A trip to the Kingdom offers so many things to enjoy – history, nature, and modern attractions. We present 10 of our favourites. ST ANDREWS LINKS Famed around the globe as the home…

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Five fabulous dog walks, as recommended by you

There are plenty of magnificent hideaways in the north east of Scotland, and there’s no better way to explore them than with your four-legged friends.  Providing you with some Sunday inspiration, here are five of your favourite dog walking destinations in Aberdeenshire. So get the car packed with a picnic, throw in the walking boots…

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New farm consultant at Galbraith

The former head of the Scottish Government’s rural payments and inspections directorate for Grampian, has joined Galbraith Aberdeen as a farm consultant. Galbraith is one of the leading land agents in Scotland and has recently expanded into the north of England, and have welcomed Stewart Johnston to their team. The firm handles the sale of…

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North Coast 500 is miles ahead in VisitScotland poll

The creation of the North Coast 500 has been named as one of the greatest moments for Scottish tourism in the last 50 years. The iconic touring route, which brings thousands of visitors to the North Highlands each year, took one of the top positions both nationally and regionally in a public poll created by…

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