Strathallan School launches exclusive new gin

Strathallan School is toasting its collaboration with The Perth Distillery Co, the makers of Perth Gin, as they launch a special edition, small-batch handcrafted gin. The partnership offers an exciting new opportunity for the Perthshire school as senior students will get hands-on experience in the craft of distilling and all profits from the gin will…

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Bumblebee trust asks people to Bee the Change

The Stirling-based Bumblebee Conversation Trust is on a mission to help everyone Bee the Change in their local area, with a new campaign asking people across the UK to take simple, quick micro-actions to make their postcode more bumblebee-friendly. Bumblebees are familiar and much-loved insects that pollinate our crops and wildflowers. But bumblebees are in…

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Horses must be given more attention on the roads

An estimated three million horse riders in the UK use public roads, so it is inevitable that accidents will happen. But is enough being done to prevent them? Recent figures reveal an alarming trend. The British Horse Society (BHS) has received more than 2,000 reports of road traffic incidents involving horses in the last five…

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Celebrating 90 years of Scottish hostelling

Hostelling Scotland celebrated its 90th birthday on Scotland. Previously known as the Scottish Youth Hostels Association, to mark this major milestone the self-funded charity is introducing all babies born in the month of February 2021 to the world of hostelling by offering them a free lifetime membership (worth £150). Since 1931, the organisation’s mission has…

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Pledge to redouble fight for Galloway National Park

The Galloway National Park Association has pledged to fight on after being turned down in its bid to create Scotland’s third national park. Emma Harper MSP put a motion to the Scottish Parliament to support moves towards the creation of a new National Park in Galloway and received all party backing, to join Loch Lomond…

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Red squirrels put on a diet to help them survive

A Scottish council’s ranger service is putting red squirrels in the area on an diet. Aberdeen City Council’s countryside service ranger service is teaming up with Carnie Woods Community Group and the Scottish Wildlife Trust on a diet plan for the woods’ red squirrel population and other wildlife in the area. The plan follows discussions…

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Seton Castle on the market for offers over £8million

Seton Castle, a late architectural masterpiece designed by Robert Adam in 1789 and built using stone from Seton Palace (said to be Mary Queen of Scots’ favourite residence), has been launched onto the market. Presented by Savills and Rettie, and situated within 10 miles of Edinburgh in the lush East Lothian countryside close to the…

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Shooting body calls for restraint during cold snap

THE British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC) is calling for voluntary restraint in Scotland during the cold snap. Britain’s largest shooting organisation highlighted the need for voluntary restraint when hunting ducks, geese, wading birds – including woodcock – coot, and moorhen. BASC Scotland director Colin Shedden said: “We are fully aware that the current…

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Calls to ‘care for the countryside’ this Christmas

SCOTTISH Land & Estates (SLE) – which represents farmers, land managers and rural businesses – has called on Christmas walkers to take litter home, not disturb wildlife, and keep dogs under control near cows and sheep. The organisation’s plea follows high-profile issues of littering, anti-social behaviour, vandalism, and flytipping in rural Scotland during the pandemic.…

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Scottish countryside dominates ‘best kept secrets’ list

SCOTLAND has dominated a series of lists of the “best kept secrets of the UK countryside“. Scottish locations finished top of the tables for beaches, parks, and routes for hikes. Newburgh in Aberdeenshire topped the beach list, followed by Polin near Kinlochbervie, and Embo near Dornoch. The Berwickshire coast path was the top hiking route,…

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