Gardening experts shared their skills at Ayr Flower Show

A team of gardening experts from an Ayrshire estate have shared their knowledge and expertise with hundreds of horticulture enthusiasts at a popular flower and garden exhibition. Brian Corr, head of gardens at Dumfries House, led a team of staff gardeners from the estate including Kris Muir, Julie Shaw and Scott Caddis to create an…

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Castle opens its gardens to the public this Sunday

A Scottish castle is opening its garden to the public this weekend. On Sunday, 16 September, Kilbryde Castle in Stirlingshire will open its gardens on behalf of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, from 2-5pm. The Kilbryde Castle gardens cover some 12 acres and are situated above the Ardoch Burn and below the castle. The gardens are split…

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High spirits could be in store at paranormal night

A Scottish hotel is teaming up with paranormal sleuths to host exciting paranormal night of spiritual investigations this month. The Tinto Hotel, near Biggar, will host an event will see the Lanarkshire Paranormal team explore the century old hotel using high-tech equipment to find the veracity behind reported detections, sightings, and reports of supernatural activity.…

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A fun September lies ahead at Drumlanrig Castle

Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate’s team of Countryside Rangers are getting ready to host a range of activities every Sunday in September. Families and youngsters are invited to a variety of workshops including egg experiments, survival bracelet making, bird box building, fire lighting and cave art at the Dumfriesshire Estate next month. Starting on Sunday…

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A garden that’s a labour of love and a tribute too

Dr Ian Wallace moved to Rivaldsgreen House in Edinburgh with his wife 36 years ago. And although some of the garden was well established there were areas that required work.  Ian and his wife, who was a keen gardener, worked together to create a really special garden. When Ian’s wife passed away six years ago he…

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Book festival authors put in the picture

Between the Lines – Portraits of Authors is a unique exhibition running during the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Since 2009 photographer Chris Close has completed a unique body of author portraits at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Described as a ‘live’ exhibition he photographs on site in Charlotte Square Gardens and the work is hung…

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Property market took a beasting from poor weather

The Ayrshire property market was hit by the Beast from the East earlier this year, causing a significant slowdown in house sales. However, the sector is bouncing back after very poor weather earlier this year, according to independent property consultancy Galbraith. The firm has published its Ayrshire sales report for the second quarter of 2018…

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Celebrating 40 years of the Beechgrove Garden

For 40 years, the team at the Beechgrove Garden have been advising us on how to keep our gardens in shape. It has been a perennial fixture on the mantlepiece of Scottish life since 1978. To celebrate, BBC Scotland is to screen The Beechgrove Garden Story next Sunday, 19 August. Old video tapes have been…

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Search our castles to find marching butterflies

Scottish history aficionados are being asked to take a closer look at castles this summer. It’s part of a bid to track the changing fortunes of one of the UK’s most striking and overlooked butterflies. The Small Copper is in long-term decline, with almost half of the UK’s population being lost over the last 40…

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How one Scots family’s idea has helped thousands

Five years ago, a family sat around a kitchen table in Edinburgh with an idea that would change the way we all think about accessibility. The MacDonalds’ idea was to create a website where disabled people could recommend accessible places to go, but little did they know that Euan’s Guide would become an award-winning charity…

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