This is not just wine… this is a first look at M&S’s £5 range

Peter Ranscombe relives his youth as he dips into Marks & Spencer’s latest releases. DERVLA Kirwan has a lot to answer for. Whether it was putting the “kiss” into Balykissangel on BBC One or making the Noughties truly naughty with her sultry voiceovers for Marks & Spencer, the Irish actress’s dulcet tones enticed a generation.…

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Batten down the hatches

Batten Down the Hatches, an appropriately-named online exhibition of new paintings by the excellent Ross Ryan, opens at The Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh on Wednesday 29 April. This solo exhibition is the result of two years of chasing gales, sailing to offshore lighthouses on his boat Sgarbh and discovering the people and their islands. His…

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Loch Lomond and the Water of Life

In a welcome reminder that there will be economic life after the lockdown, Glen Luss Distillery has announced an initial round of crowdfunding for the company’s new micro-distillery at Luss on Loch Lomond. When it opens in May 2021, it will be the first distillery and brewery within the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National…

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Pizza of the action

More news of another Scottish Field favourite doing their bit for the community during the lockdown. This time it’s outdoors events organiser David Fox-Pitt, the man who gave us the Caledonian Challenge and the KIndrochit Quadrathlon – who has stepped up to the plate. Fox-Pitt has been making pizzas at a primary school in Dundee…

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Haunting memories of Culloden

To mark the 274th anniversary of the Battle of Culloden on Thursday 16 April, the National Trust for Scotland has shared rare snippets of haunting Gaelic songs inspired by the Jacobite cause online. The original audio recordings are of a series of Gaelic songs collected by noted Gaelic archivist John Lorne Campbell from Canna. The…

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Whisky Unscripted

Ian Macleod Distillers are doing their best to lighten the mood during the lockdown with their new “Whisky Unscripted” podcast, which launches at 12pm UK time on Wednesday 8 April. Hosted by global brand ambassador Gordon Dundas and experiential ambassador Gordon Dallas, the idea is to offer a fun, informative guide to the whisky industry.…

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A biscuit and a Blether

With the Corona virus lockdown causing a spike in loneliness, particularly amongst the retired population, Edinburgh charity project Vintage Vibes has launched a phone-based service to help vulnerable over-60s cope with self-isolation. Seniors who normally meet at least weekly with a dedicated volunteer will instead receive phone calls, with Vintage Vibes also extending the service…

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This year’s Borders Union Show is cancelled

The Border Union Show 2020 has been cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus situation. The Border Union Agricultural Society directors, trustees and staff, after taking careful account of the latest UK and Scottish Government and public health guidance, have announced the cancellation of the show, due to be held on July 24 and 25. With…

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Scotland’s horticultural firms on the brink

A major part of Scotland’s horticultural commercial grower industry could be destroyed following the UK coronavirus shutdown. The Horticultural Trades Association say the sector is worth up to £50 million, which supports a total sector worth £1.2 billion, including family businesses up and down the country. Peak season has only a matter of weeks left…

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NHS staff being given free fruit and veg

Lidl will be donating thousands of its fresh fruit and vegetable bags to NHS staff across the country in an effort to help provide frontline health workers with fresh produce. The initiative comes through the retailer’s partnership with Royal Voluntary Service, which is committed to supporting those who need it most in hospitals and communities…

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