|
|
Future secure for two more Trust properties
03/07/2009 |
| Two National Trust for Scotland properties that could have been closed to the public have been reprieved, thanks to the generous support of external funders.
The David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre and Inveresk Lodge Garden in Musselburgh were facing closure if further funding could not be sourced to support the properties.
South Lanarkshire Council have stepped in to significantly increase the support that they provide to the David Livingstone Centre. That, combined with contributions from the David Livingstone Trustees and from a generous donor, means that the Trust will continue to manage the centre, in partnership with the council and the DL Trustees. The staff will continue in employment.
At Inveresk Lodge Garden, East Lothian Council have also confirmed annual support for the garden, which with cost savings and local support from the Inveresk Village Society, will allow the garden to remain open. There will be no staff redundancies.
National Trust for Scotland Chief Executive Kate Mavor said:
“We are very pleased that all of these properties will remain open and that visitors will be able to enjoy them for years to come. The Trust is hugely grateful to the local authorities, communities and individuals who have pledged their support to the charity and these properties. We hope that people will continue to show their support for our organisation and our work to protect and preserve Scotland’s treasures by visiting our properties, becoming members and volunteers and supporting our appeals. We need your support to succeed.”
South Lanarkshire Council Leader Eddie McAvoy said:
“It is great news for the area and for Scotland that the David Livingstone Centre will remain open. The council is pleased that the package we have offered will contribute to securing the future of this iconic centre celebrating the life of the world famous Victorian doctor and missionary.”
East Lothian Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, Cllr. Stuart Currie, said:
“Inveresk Garden is a popular attraction for local residents and visitors. We had a very constructive meeting with National Trust for Scotland and have put funding in place for an immediate solution. We will continue to work together to secure the future of the garden over the longer term.”
A decision on the future of Barry Mill, near Carnoustie is expected in the next few weeks. |
| More><Less |
 |
Rare moths booming on Burg |
01/07/2009
The Slender Scotch Burnet, one of Scotland’s rarest moths, is thriving on the National Trust for Scotland’s property at Burg on the island of Mull, according to new figures.
A survey carried out by one of the conservation charity’s Thistle Camps found a healthy population of the moths which live only on Mull and Ulva. A total of over 300 moths were seen, which is a record for the site.
Volunteers taking part in the week-long Thistle Camp learned to identify the moth and distinguish it from two other similar species found nearby, before conducting a full census of Burg.
The survey was also extended into some of the more remote areas of the Ardmeanach Peninsular and re-located another large colony at a site which had not been monitored for over 10 years.
Senior Nature Conservation Advisor for the National Trust for Scotland, Dr Richard Luxmoore said:
“This is an incredibly rare species, confined to a small area of Scotland. The Trust has been working to manage the habitat for the moth by controlling bracken encroachment and ensuring appropriate levels of grazing on the flower-rich coastal grasslands. This survey shows that the management action has paid off and is reflected in burgeoning numbers of moths.
“We are very grateful for the hard work of these dedicated volunteers in helping to collect this important information that confirms the success of our conservation efforts.”
The volunteers also tackled a number of other important tasks on the property such as repairing tracks and clearing bracken from archaeological sites.
More><Less |
 |
Southern hemisphere trees head north |
30/06/2009
Inverewe Garden, the National Trust for Scotland’s west coast garden, undertook some historic gardening on Tuesday 30 June, when it completed the creation of the most northerly planted grove of Wollemi Pine in the world.
By planting the new trees, the conservation charity is helping to preserve one of the world’s oldest and rarest tree species for generations to come.
The Wollemi Pine hails from Australia and is believed to date back to the time of the dinosaurs. It is extremely rare - there are fewer than 100 trees in the wild.
Eight Wollemi Pines have been planted at Inverewe – the final went into the ground today when BBC’s Beechgrove Garden presenter Jim McColl dropped in to the garden.
Property Manager Roy Dowsett said:
“Inverewe is honoured to be playing such an important part in preserving this ancient species. The garden is famous for its exotic plants, but the Wollemi Pine is something else. The scale alone tells you that you are dealing with a plant that originated in the Jurassic period. Our tallest specimen stands at 7 feet, but they can grow to a mighty sixty metres and live for more than 1000 years.
“We are very grateful to the generous supporters who have enabled us to bring this ancient and fascinating species to its most northerly location in the world.”
More><Less |
 |
Summer season of exhibitions underway at Gladstone Gallery |
30/06/2009
The first in a series of art exhibitions at the National Trust for Scotland’s Gladstone Gallery at Gladstone’s Land on the Royal Mile gets underway on Tuesday 1 July 2008.
Artwork produced locally, by artists inspired by Scotland, its landscapes and wildlife dominate the programme in the conservation charity’s city centre exhibition space, but there are is also work inspired by countries and lifestyles from far beyond Scotland.
Gladstone Gallery is an unusual exhibition space, based in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. It is on the second floor of Gladstone’s Land, a restored 17th century tenement where visitors can discover what life was really like in Edinburgh almost 400 years ago.
Fiona Murray, Property Manager at Gladstone’s Land, said:
“We wanted to pull together a programme for our summer season that would showcase the best and breadth of local talent. Many of the exhibitions are created locally by artist who live or studied in Edinburgh and cover a wide range of media and subject matter to meet everyone’s taste. There is no admission charge for the Gladstone Gallery, so feel free to come and browse and buy at your leisure.
“We are lucky to have such a rich pool of artistic talent to draw on and hope that these exhibitions add a little extra to anyone visiting Gladstone’s Land over the summer.”
The full programme follows:
30 June – 5 July
Craig Jefferson
Edinburgh College of Art graduate Craig Jefferson’s work focuses on landscape and figure studies, using a variety of materials to capture the mood and beauty of his subject.
7 July – 12 July
Michael Stirling-Aird - Large format landscape photography of Scotland
Michael's images have been made in exceptionally beautiful parts of Scotland, often well off the beaten track.
14 July – 19 July
Zanna Wilson and Kari de Koenigswarter
Zanna Wilson and Kari de Koenigswarter are two painters who will be exhibiting watercolours, inks and oil and beeswax paintings. Both Zanna and Kari explore landscape as their theme but respond in contrasting styles.
21 July – 26 July
Three Scottish Photographers
After last year’s popular exhibition, Ed Fielding, Paul Johnston and Hamish King return to Gladstone’s Land for their 2009 exhibition featuring Scottish landscapes and townscapes as well as wildlife images.
28 July – 2 August
Art 309
Art 309 is an exhibition of original artworks by a number of talented artists from Dundee, Fife and Angus. The exhibition will be an eclectic mix of around 50 works in oil, watercolour, pastels acrylic and mixed media, covering a wide range of subject matter. In addition to the original, framed artworks, there will be a selection of unframed pictures, prints, cards, and jewellery offered for sale at the exhibition.
4 August – 9 August
Vera Coghill's Edinburgh: Its people and the unique flavour of the place
This exhibition contains sixty images, each one foot square. Vera has spent the past year creating these paintings, which reflect her thoughts and reactions to Edinburgh. They range from portraits of some of its people and places to more abstract interpretations of its ambiance.
11 August – 16 August
East Meets West – Indian Art Exhibition
This unique exhibition is brought to you by ‘Gecko Gallery’ promoting Indian Art and Culture in Scotland. It includes up and coming contemporary Indian artists, Sharmila Rathore and Durshit Bhaskar, amongst many others. There will be traditional folk art and contemporary sculpture by Indian artists, all original and affordable, giving the opportunity for people in Scotland to experience some of the exciting talent India has to offer.
18 August – 23 August
Craig Jefferson
Another chance to catch the opening exhibition.
25 August – 30 August
‘Homecoming & the Sea’ paintings by Mike Turpie and Roberta MacRae
Colourful paintings working the themes of migration, homecoming and the sea using vibrant imagery based on studies done in New Mexico, Ireland, Australia and the West Coast of Scotland. Mike is a Scottish artist whose recent work is based on time spent in New Mexico and the West Coast of Ireland, while Roberta is an Australian artist whose work is based in Scotland. Together, they look at landscapes and people with a foreign eye, and in a new way, bringing home the migrant, the sea and the land.
1 September – 6 September
Vera Coghill's Edinburgh: Its people and the unique flavour of the place
Another chance to see this exciting exhibition.
More><Less |
|
 |