Scotland takes 4 prizes at horticulture awards

Scotland has been blooming at this year’s Royal Horticultural Society awards. Perth has been awarded top prize and crowned ‘Champion of Champions’ in the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) 55th annual Britain in Bloom community gardening competition. And there were other awards for Bridge of Earn, Haddington and St Andrews. In the same year that environmental…

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Meeting the maelstrom that is Corryvreckan

The Corryvreckan whirlpool is the world’s third largest and its massive tidal upswellings and boiling waters make for a memorable experience. The dictionary gives the meaning of the word ‘maelstrom’ as a confused, disorientated state of affair; an irresistably overpowering influence for destruction. It is a description that suits the Coire Bhreacain – translated from…

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Culture and heritage bodies urged to take climate action

Arts, culture, heritage and climate leaders have gathered in Edinburgh for the launch of a new Climate Heritage Network. Organisations are being called on to take urgent action against climate change as a new international network launched in Edinburgh today (Thursday, 24 October) at an event hosted by Historic Environment Scotland (HES). The Climate Heritage…

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Driving tips to help you beware deer on the road

With the clocks turning back this week, commuters across south west Scotland are being advised to look out for deer crossing local trunk roads. The deer rutting season is at its peak and Scotland TranServ has identified a number of potential deer strike hotspots. They have therefore recently installed temporary signage for the season at…

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Ethics and beauty at Scotland’s festival of silver and gold

Elements, Scotland’s festival showcase for the finest gold, silver and jewellery will include collections that combine beauty and exquisite craftsmanship with ethical and environmental issues. The event, which is organised by The Incorporation of Goldsmiths of Edinburgh in partnership with fine art auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull and runs from 8 to 10 November, will feature…

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A stunning B Listed home in impressive grounds

Ormiston House is an exceptional Scots Baronial ‘B Listed’ house set in spectacular secluded grounds. Dating from 1851 and presented by Strutt & Parker,  it was built for Archibald Wilkie, to a design by David Bryce, the well-known Scottish architect, whose works include a number of other large country houses, as well as the former…

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The Great Borders River Clean needs helpers

A bid to clean up rivers in the Scottish Borders is taking place later this month. Tom Rawson, a teacher at St Mary’s School in Melrose, is calling on people from across the Borders to join a mass effort to help clean plastic pollution from the region’s waterways. On Sunday 27 October, towns and villages…

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A look at the natural year in the Highlands

‘Nature writers are supposed to be able to summon from the literary ether the precise words to describe their subjects or the feelings they evince,’ writes John Lister-Kaye in Gods of the Morning. ‘Sometimes the Muse attends, but by no means on demand.’ Well, for Gods of the Morning: A Bird’s Eye View of a…

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Glenalmond pupils enter into spirit of squirrel survey

Pupils from Glenalmond College in Perthshire have been entering into the spirit of the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey and counting red squirrels as part of the national initiative. Scotland is home to 75% of Britain’s red squirrels and the staff and pupils of Glenalmond College are proud that the school’s 300 acres of grounds are…

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Consider the carbon footprint of food

Scots are being encouraged to get wise to the full climate cost of wasted food this Climate Week – and it’s not just what actually ends up in the bin. Environmental experts at Zero Waste Scotland say the true cost to the planet of Scotland’s wasted food more than doubles when emissions from growing, processing…

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