Craft distilleries call for clarity on covid support

EIGHT of Scotland’s craft distillers have written to the Scottish Government seeking clarity on whether they qualify for support during the coronavirus pandemic. The group of spirit producers said that some of its members have been turned down by their local councils for the 12 month business rate holiday promised by Scottish ministers, while others…

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Glasgow artists turn tattie display into community food project

ARTISTS Angus Farquhar and Rudy Kanhye have turned what was intended as a display at the SWG3 complex in Glasgow into a community food project. As part of “An Empty Gunny Bag Cannot Stand”, 120 brightly-coloured hessian sacks have been distributed around the area, allowing households to grow potatoes on their doorsteps. The bilingual title…

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Leith Theatre gets ÂŁ11,000 grant and support package

WORK to reopen Leith Theatre is taking a further step forward after the category B-listed building was awarded a grant from Theatres Trust. The theatre, which lay empty between 1988 and 2016, has been awarded ÂŁ11,000 to support Leith Theatre Trust with business planning, leadership training and a package of consultancy work to strengthen its…

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Unexpected online benefits for Glenalmond College

SWITCHING to distance learning has brought a range of unexpected benefits at Glenalmond College, according to the head of the Perthshire school. The independent institution, which has around 360 pupils aged between 12 and 18 on its roll, reported “a very positive response” from parents, including an “exceptionally strong” attendance at its first online parents’…

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Louis Latour looks beyond Burgundy for promising pinot

With the price of making wine in Burgundy continuing to rise, Peter Ranscombe finds out why one producer is turning to other regions. FEW names are as synonymous with Burgundy as Louis Latour – the wine producer traces its roots in the prestigious French region back to 1768, when Jean Latour planted vines at Aloxe, continuing…

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Hive of activity as World Bee Day takes flight

Perthshire is all abuzz for World Bee Day, with Kinross-based Webster Honey placing more than 100 new hives at sites including Crieff, Dunning and the Strathallan Estate. As well as producing honey, the hives will be used in beekeeping workshops for schools and nurseries once they reopen, and to give businesses sponsorship opportunities. Meik Molitor,…

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Tourism firms cry out for help from ministers

Pressure is growing on the Scottish Government to provide further help for tourism businesses – especially in the Highlands – so they can get ready to welcome back visitors. Marc Crothall, chief executive at the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), which represents more than 250 members, has warned that the industry is “on the brink of…

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Horse trials will gallop back with ‘special’ 2021 event

Organisers of the Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials have promised that 2021’s event will be all the more special after being forced to cancel this summer’s meeting due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s event, which had been due to take place on 27-30 August, was cancelled last night. In a joint statement,…

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Attack of the aliens

People are being urged to get involved in a new lockdown assault on invasive non-native species – whether that’s flora such as Japanese knotweed or fauna such as non-native plant species and American mink – from the comfort of their own homes.

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