Scotland
Scotland – home of advanced spirits research
Diageo officially opened the doors of a new state-of-the-art Innovation and Research Centre in Scotland yesterday as part of the company’s investment in the sustainable growth of the distilling industry. The new £6.4 million laboratory building at Menstrie in Clackmannanshire was officially opened by Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform.…
Read MoreA 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…
Read MoreConsider 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…
Read MoreThe velvet underground – the world of the mole
Moles have been a groundskeeper’s worst nightmare for centuries and mole catchers today are still perfecting the best way to dispense with these furry pests. Moles incur wrath – for a society obsessed with immaculately manicured lawns and golf courses, a rash of molehills appearing overnight causes a similar reaction to that of a troubled…
Read MoreCharles Faa Blythe – the last king of Scotland’s gypsies
Over a century ago, in an elaborate ceremony in the Borders witnessed by a crowd of 10,000 spectators that included Lords and Ladies, the last Gypsy King of Scotland was crowned. On Whit Monday, 30 May 1898, some 10,000 people gathered in the Borders village of Kirk Yetholm for the coronation of Scotland’s Gypsy King.…
Read MoreThe perfect boots for riding, stable work and walks
Scottish Field tries and tests the Ariat Torridon GTX Boots. What is it: Ariat Torridon GTX Boots, RRP £330. www.ariat.com I want them because: I want my feet to be comfortable but protected while at the stables or out with the dogs. These boots are sturdy enough to take me over rough terrain with their…
Read MorePick your own pumpkin from a six acre patch
Scotland’s premier pumpkin patch has opened today (Friday 11 October). More than 7,000 pumpkins have been grown across six acres of land at Arnprior Farm, Stirling, in a variety of sizes, perfect for Halloween, making hearty soups or for autumn decoration. The patch will be open every day until Sunday, 27 October, from 9.30am-5.30pm. The…
Read MoreTo eat, or not red meat – that is the question
With red meat consumption a hot topic of conversation, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) is hosting a free event to help people make up their minds about the industry’s pros and cons. Professor Sir Charles Godfray, a population biologist from the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford, will be taking part in From Plate…
Read MoreClimate change and the plight of Scotland’s rainforests
Far too little is known about how Scotland’s native species will respond to climate change, according to new research. Following studies of the country’s unique and globally-important temperate rainforest, scientists at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), say revised thinking is essential for effective conservation efforts. A newly published paper, being highlighted during Scotland’s Climate…
Read MoreDanger and excitement with Darke matter
Action-packed and thrilling, Darke Mission follows JJ Drake, a former MI5 spy, lone parent and now apparently head-down worker in the finance sector. Caladon’s contemporary scenes are set in several places – London, Scotland and North Korea. With the British government at the brink of bankruptcy, the ex-spy is forced to lead an audacious heist…
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