Outdoors
Scottish Game Fair gets ready for its 30th birthday
The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s flagship 30th anniversary Scottish Game Fair has a new main sponsor. The event is being held in association with leading rural insurer NFU Mutual for the first time. This is an exciting new sponsorship for Scotland’s largest outdoor country fair with this commemorative event being held from Friday 29…
Read MoreThere’s far more to school than being in class
Research by the University of Edinburgh suggests that learning experiences outside the classroom can have life-long benefits. In recent years there has been growing debate about the value of out-of-classroom experiences designed to ‘build character’. Some academics have questioned their long-term effectiveness since there are no school-based studies which follow the progress of the participants…
Read MoreNew head of policy is ready for land challenges
Scottish Land & Estates has appointed a new head of policy. Katy Dickson takes on the role as the land business sector faces a wide range of challenges in agriculture, rural business, land management, environment and conservation. Joining Scottish Land & Estates as a policy officer in 2014, Katy was later promoted to a senior…
Read MorePerth tenants are set for wheelie good time
An 81-year-old Perthshire pensioner has teamed up with his local school and council to help older people get back on their bikes. Norman Ridley, a former Salvation Army Officer who resides at Bield’s Quayside Court in Perth, has joined forces with Perth High School and Perth and Kinross Council to bring Cycling Without Age to…
Read MoreOpinion: Reaction to bird control is stark, raven mad
Scottish Countryside Alliance director Jamie Stewart shares his thoughts on raven control. In recent weeks, the Scottish Countryside Alliance and other land-based organisations welcomed the pragmatic approach taken by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in the granting of a five-year research licence for raven control across part of Perthshire, to learn more about the impact of…
Read MoreGearing up for the 178th Royal Highland Show
Country came to the capital as a Scottish Blackface Sheep launched the 2018 Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square. Emily the sheep, one of Scotland’s most iconic native breeds, was in the capital to promote this year’s event, being held at the Royal Highland Showground in Edinburgh next month. Bred by the renowned…
Read MoreMarathon man Gavin puts his best feet forward
A type 1 diabetic who aims to complete 25 marathons in one month across the UK and Ireland has completed the Edinburgh leg of his countrywide tour. Gavin Griffiths from London began the marathon on Easter Road at 9am yesterday, passed Edinburgh Castle around his midway mark and concluded the marathon successfully near the Edinburgh…
Read MoreEstates contributing to the Scottish economy
Scottish estates mean business more than pleasure, according to a speaker at Scottish Land & Estates’ AGM. And the overwhelming majority of Scotland’s 3000-plus rural estates are business ventures making a collective multi-million pound contribution to the economy. Estate businesses continue to be heavily involved in the primary rural industries of farming and forestry, as…
Read MoreA perfect Perthshire spring fishing weekend
In the right conditions, there are few better places to be in the world than Perthshire in the spring – especially if you are a fisherman. I was recently fortunate to wangle a full weekend of fishing and what a tonic it proved to be! I have previously mentioned that I am lucky enough to…
Read MoreThousands got on their bikes at Loch Ness
More than 5000 cyclists descended on the Highlands at the weekend for Etape Loch Ness. The event returned to the Highlands on Sunday, attracting a record 5600 entrants. Official charity Macmillan Cancer Support has also shared in the success, on track to raise a total of £1 million from its five-year partnership with the event.…
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