News
Scotland’s first ‘vertical distillery’ takes shape
CONSTRUCTION has begun at Scotland’s first “vertical distillery”. Foundations have been laid for the £12 million Port of Leith distillery. The site sits next door to the Ocean Terminal shopping centre and the Royal Yacht Britannia. The 40-metre tall tower will include a double-height whisky bar at its summit. The project is the brainchild of…
Read MoreScots folk band releases US book shop tour album
A FOLK band that takes its inspiration from book shops has released its latest album. The Bookshop Band’s Live in American Bookshops long-player has been released as a limited edition vinyl record. Folk duo Beth Porter and Ben Please are from Wigtown, Scotland’s national book town. They have forged their reputation by creating songs inspired…
Read MoreGifford woodland gets help from quarry
ACCESS and drainage at Gifford Community Woodland in East Lothian has been improved by a local quarry. Longyester quarry, which is just three miles from the site, helped to maintain the drainage ditches in the wood. Neville Kilkenny, project manager for the woodland, approached Tillicoultry Quarries, which owns Longyester, for help. “They didn’t disappoint and…
Read MoreMorrison’s Academy pupils win technology contest
A TEAM of four pupils from Morrison’s Academy in Crieff has won a competition to create technology that can be worn. The OpenUK Kids’ Competition and ten-week coding project involved pupils creating wearable technology and learning software and development skills using MiMU gloves. Nine judges chose four regional winners, with Morrison’s Academy then being selected…
Read MoreJames McAvoy backs Royal Conservatoire campaign
X-MEN actor James McAvoy is today launching the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s (RCS’s) scholarship campaign. McAvoy – who graduated from the RCS’s predecessor, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama (RSAMD), in 2000 – has narrated a film entitled #WeAreStillHere to kick-off the fundraising campaign. “At this time, possibly more ever, the arts and…
Read MoreUnion Chain Bridge champion wins award
ONE of the people behind the campaign to preserve the historic Union Chain Bridge linking England and Scotland across the River Tweed has been chosen as the winner of the Tweed Forum River Champion Award. Edward Cawthorn from Berwick was a founding member of the “Friends of the Union Chain Bridge”, which was formed in…
Read MorePerth curry maker expands team of chefs
DEMAND for restauranteur Praveen Kumar’s frozen curries has soared during the pandemic. The Perthshire-based entrepreneur launched Praveen Kumar Authentic Indian Cuisine in April 2019 and has expanded his workforce to 18 people to cope with the demand. His curries are being delivered throughout the UK and two of his dishes – kodi koora and butter…
Read MoreIs love in the air for Scotland’s eagles?
POTENTIAL courtship has been spotted between two golden eagles that were moved to the South of Scotland. John Wright, eagle officer at the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, spotted the birds displaying behaviour often used to communicate prior to mating. Wright watched as female Beaky, who was moved to the area in 2018, and…
Read MoreEdinburgh celebrates links with Norway
A SIXTY foot Sitka spruce will be erected on The Mound in Edinburgh on Saturday to celebrate the city’s links with Hordaland in Norway. Hordaland has given a tree to Scotland’s capital city each Christmas since 1949 to remember the help given to Norwegians by Scots during the Second World War. Since 2008, the tree…
Read MoreBotanics invites heroes to lights show
HEROES from the emergency services are being invited to the opening of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s Christmas lights display. Some 200 “Blue Light” card holders will be asked to come along to the launch of the trail, which will be open for 32 nights. Regius Keeper Simon Milne said: “The opening of Christmas at…
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