Minister appalled by abuse of gamekeepers

SCOTLAND’S new rural affairs minister has condemned “the abuse and unfair harassment” of gamekeepers and their families. In a letter to the British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC), Ben Macpherson said he was “appalled to hear of the experiences” reported by Scotland’s gamekeepers. Almost two thirds of keepers have experienced abusive behaviour, according to…

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Wee Smoky – a whisky for people who don’t like whisky

WHISKY industry veteran Rory Gammell has launched a bottle of Scotch – for people who don’t like whisky. Wee Smoky is made by ageing single grain whisky in a cask that used to hold peated single malt. Gammell describes the result as “smooth, fruity, and lightly smoky”. His initial run of 400 bottles went on…

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Point of no return?

A recent study of 121 black grouse leks (breeding sites) by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust has shone a light on the parlous state of numbers in Scotland. The black grouse population has now declined to the point where the species is a high conservation concern and action is needed to halt their decline.…

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Scottish public values its iconic heather moorlands

Scotland’s bonnie purple heather is one of the country’s most characteristic habitats with heather, berries and grassland accounting for around 50 per cent of all Scotland’s uplands. But how much do we love it, and expect to see it in bloom in late summer, and do we know the many benefits it brings? With the…

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A taste of conservation with NTS charity gin

Conservationists for the National Trust for Scotland are celebrating 25 years of protecting and restoring the ancient pine forests in the heart of the Cairngorm National Park with the launch of Pinewood Gin. Produced by the conservation charity that cares for Scotland’s national and natural treasures, the gin is created using botanicals from the pinewoods…

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Parliament to debate grouse shooting – again

A petition on grouse shooting will debated by MPs in Westminster. The debate has been triggered by an online petition that has attracted 111,965 signatures – more than the required 100,000 clicks – and comes just four years after a similar debate saw the case for banning grouse shooting totally dissected by MPs. In an online…

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£4.5m Perth Creative Exchange officially opens

Perth Creative Exchange, a £4.5 million creative hub which will help boost the Perthshire arts economy, was officially opened this week. The Provost of Perth and Kinross, Dennis Melloy, unveiled a plaque to commemorate the success of this partnership regeneration project by Wasps Artists’ Studios and Perth and Kinross Council, in transforming an empty school…

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Famous Grouse mark Leap Year with new video

The Famous Grouse has launched a new digital campaign, Extra 24, to encourage drinkers to make the most of their bonus leap year day by spending it in ‘Grouse Country’ with closest friends and loved ones. Extra 24, will live on the brand’s social channels and launched with a short film showing four different individuals…

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Famous Grouse was top-selling whisky at Christmas

The Famous Grouse has overtaken Jack Daniels to become Britain’s top-selling whisky by value. The whisky enjoyed an outstanding Christmas in the UK off-trade, with sales topping £71m – making it the number one whisky in the UK, according to figures from Nielsen ScanTrack, with Off-Trade Total Coverage. The whisk(e)y category in total was valued…

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The biggest secrets of the Cairngorms revealed

I defy anyone to look at the front cover of the beautiful The Secret Life of the Cairngorms and not have a wee smile on their face. Illustrated with a stunning selection of Andy Howard’s photographs, the book celebrates the wildlife and landscape of the Cairngorms National Park in all its glory. Anyone who has visited…

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