Christmas recycling – an easy guide

IT’S a question that will plague hundreds of households this afternoon – can I recycle my Christmas crackers? Fortunately, recycling firm Biffa has come up with a handy guide to help sort out the landfill from the recycling. Steve Oulds, the firm’s national commercial manager, said: “We know it can often be tricky working out…

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Conifox donates Christmas trees

RESIDENTS and staff at Murrayfield House Care Home in Edinburgh have received an eight-foot Christmas tree following a public vote. Conifox Adventure Park, which sells Christmas trees and sourced the 60-foot tree for The Mound, donated the tree to the care home after holding a poll on its Facebook page. The business has also donated…

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Review: Tigerlily’s festive afternoon ‘T’ service

AFTER an extremely tough year, there’s never been a better excuse to indulge in some epicurean delights. It’s one of the few things we’ve been able to enjoy in 2020 and, while we might not be able to dine exactly the way we’d like, there are a huge variety of businesses that have adapted to…

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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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Brewers go direct as pubs close

SCOTLAND’S breweries are stepping up direct sales to consumers amid the latest coronavirus restrictions on pubs. Bars cannot currently sell alcohol indoors, with those in the Central Belt closed completely. Alva-based Harviestoun Brewery has lifted the lid on how the latest restrictions are hitting its business. Joint managing director Stu Cook said: “This is a…

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Fiona Kennedy releases ‘remembering’ EP

SINGER Fiona Kennedy drew on inspiration from Robert Burns, the Highland clearances, and the death of family friend for her latest extended play (EP), The Maple Tree (I’ll Remember You). The EP was produced by award-winning musician Calum MacColl, one of Kennedy’s friends and long-time collaborator. Kennedy said: “The theme of the EP is ‘remembering’ –…

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When you discover a murderer in the family

When writer Cal Flyn discovered the dark secret in her family’s past it started a long but cathartic investigation. In the summer of 2011 I made a discovery about my family history that has dominated my work and thoughts ever since. I learned that I was the great-great-great niece of Angus McMillan, who left Scotland…

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Former farmhouse on the Kintyre peninsula

A hidden gem of the Kintyre peninsula is now on the property market. Presented for sale by Robb Residential, Achnafad Farm (Achnafad – which means Long Meadow) is a delightful former farmhouse with attached stone steadings, the buildings are arranged to form a pretty courtyard. The house stands in lovely parkland type garden grounds which…

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A Monster Calls ready for its Scottish debut

The stage adaptation of A Monster Calls is making its Scottish debut next week in Aberdeen. Patrick Ness’s piercing novel is brought vividly to life in the Olivier Award-winning production by visionary director Sally Cookson, at His Majesty’s Theatre from 17-21 March. The production will also play at the Edinburgh Playhouse from 7 April-11 April.…

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100 trees planted to branch out into agroforestry

A hundred trees have been planted on upland research farmland run by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) to demonstrate the benefits of agroforestry. The half-hectare block of trees was planted in one of the improved fields at Kirkton and Auchtertyre farms in Perthshire after SRUC was awarded funding from Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.…

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