Scots can’t identify local species as fishmongers go online

SCOTTISH adults have trouble identifying their local fish species, according to a new survey. Some 74% of Scots don’t know that coley is caught and landed in British waters, while 72% don’t know monkfish is local and 68% don’t recognise hake as native. The results came from a poll of 4,000 Britons, conducted by Seafish…

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Kevin McKidd ‘gets the band back together’ for charity

TELEVISION hunk Kevin McKidd’s Speyisde Sessions Band of musicians and singers has recorded a single during the lockdown to raise cash for two charities. Money from the sale of Leave A Light On is going to The Trussell Trust food bank operator and Help Musicians UK. The Grey’s Anatomy star duetted on the track with Northern…

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Outlander star Sam Heughan reflects on his Steiner school days

HOLLYWOOD heartthrob Sam Heughan has spoken about his time as a pupil at the Edinburgh Steiner School during a new online video interview. The star of Outlander, the television series based on the historical fantasy books by Diana Gabaldon, said: “The Steiner education gives you this understanding about the world; that you are not being…

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Record your version of Auld Lang Syne for Make Music Day

BUDDING musicians have until 5pm on Friday to record their version of Auld Lang Syne and submit it to a massive online project. Videos of the public’s recordings will be made into a collage that will be broadcast on Make Music Day on 21 June. Make Music Day UK has commissioned composer Hamish Napier and…

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Podcast serves food and farming home school ideas

WHILE teachers may be starting to prepare their classrooms this month for the anticipated return of pupils in August, one podcast is giving parents some food- and farming-related home schooling ideas. Rural podcast “OnFARM” has teamed up with the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) to produce the advice for parents and teachers. The latest episode…

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Shooting estates ‘could lead rural economic revival’

SCOTLAND’S shooting estates could spearhead a post-covid economic revival in the countryside after not furloughing staff during the lockdown, according to regional moorland groups. A survey of 32 estates found that only three gamekeepers had been furloughed and that no redundancies had been made. All the estates said they plan to maintain staffing at current…

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Glenkinchie is all abuzz as distillery installs beehives

THREE bee hives have been placed in the gardens surrounding Glenkinchie distillery near Pencaitland in East Lothian as the whisky producer gears up to make its own honey. Hoods Honey, based in nearby Ormiston, has installed the hives, each of which will house around 65,000 bees during July’s peak pollen-gathering weeks. Glenkinchie’s honey will be…

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Edinburgh Gin says ‘thank you’ to communities

EDINBURGH Gin wants to hear about communities that have been carrying out good deeds during lockdown – and the winners will receive a “neighbourhood packs” containing cans of its new raspberry gin fizz, a mix of sparking wine and  raspberry liqueur. The limited edition packs of 24 cans are designed to reward neighbours who have…

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Nicola Benedetti prepares 7,000 musicians for online concert

VIOLINIST Nicola Benedetti is preparing for a busy weekend as the first “Virtual Benedetti Session” reach crescendo. More than 7,000 budding musicians in 66 countries have taken part in online tutorials and workshops over the past three weeks, which will culminate in a performance at 4pm on Sunday via YouTube. Pieces scheduled for the concert…

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Judy Murray talks ‘fashion and forehands’

TENNIS coach Judy Murray will co-host an event on Instagram Live on 7 June to celebrate how women in Scotland are juggling work, children and caring during lockdown. The former Fed Cup captain and Strictly Come Dancing contestant will appear alongside Lorna Quinn, owner of The Dress Shop in Milngavie, who has taken her business online…

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