NEWS

Commissioned by STV in honour of Robert Burns after the public voted him to be The Greatest Scot, the £25,000 piece is the latest addition to the Poet’s Path which leads from the museum building in Alloway to the cottage where Burns was born.

Inspired by Burns’s work A Fragment (On Glenriddel’s Fox Breaking his Chain), Glasgow-based artist Kenny Hunter has created a stunning work called Liberty Regain’d. Cast in iron and as described in the poem the sculpture depicts a fox, a chain and a tree stump, it also creates a partner to his awe-inspiring Monument to a Mouse, a not-so timorous beastie that towers over visitors to the site.

Kenny selected this poem as he thought its themes were ones that Burns felt keenly and to which he frequently returned in his writings. Kenny said:

“Liberty it could be argued is a central theme for Burns and he often made poems out of its various aspects, personal, economic, social, ecclesiastical, political, and international, but he always saw freedom concretely, in relation to Scotland's problems and to the paradoxical psychology of her people.”

Rob Woodward, Chief Executive of STV said:

“STV Viewers from across the world voted Robert Burns as the country’s most important, influential and popular Scot of all time as part of our 2009 series, and we are delighted to have commissioned such a lasting tribute to the nation’s bard. Kenny Hunter has created a stunning piece which honours a true cultural icon.”

The statue is the latest addition to the exhibition at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum’s Poet’s Path which is punctuated by a series of installations by contemporary artists and designers, including Glasgow-based Timorous Beasties.

Museum Director Nat Edwards said:

“Kenny's statue does something very special. It combines real, immediate beauty with quite a challenging depth of understanding of Burns's key message. Its themes of real freedom are as meaningful today as they were in Burns's time. I think it will inspire a lot of people to rediscover an important poem.”

Along with the Auld Kirk and Brig o’ Doon, the cottage where Burns was born has been combined with the Burns Monument and the new award-winning museum building to form the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. Generously supported by the Scottish Government and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the museum commemorates the life and works of Robert Burns.

Since opening to the public in December 2010, the museum has welcomed close to half a million visitors and has won a series of accolades including being selected as a finalist for the prestigious Art Fund prize, securing a five star rating from VisitScotland and being named as Horace Broon’s ‘new favourite place in Scotland’.

Find out more about the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum at www.burnsmuseum.org.uk

The Arduaine Spring festival - now in its third year – is the place to see Argyll’s beautiful gardens, stunning scenery and dramatic vistas bathed in spring sunlight this May.

Taking place at the conservation charity’s glorious Arduaine Garden with its exotic and extensive plant collections, and wonderful views to the Sound of Jura, the festival takes place from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 May 2012.

In conjunction with the Loch Melfort Hotel, attendees will be treated to a programme of events and entertainment designed to cater for gardens enthusiasts and heritage fans alike, with special tours of the garden and talks by horticulture and wildlife experts including David Mitchell, curator at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.

As well as the packed programme of heritage focused events, guests will also dine and relax in the wonderful surroundings of the Loch Melfort Hotel. The hotel’s proprietors pride themselves on offering the very best in service, tranquil accommodation, tasteful decor and a gourmet dining experience – the restaurant has been awarded two Rosettes by the AA every year since 2000.

Prices for the weekend start at £295 per person, including all accommodation, meals and a selection of events. Day rates and tours are also available. Some proceeds from the event will benefit the National Trust for Scotland’s Arduaine Garden.

For more information, visit www.nts.org.uk. To book, contact 0844 493 2100.

The picturesque historic mill will benefit from a brand new exhibition, shop and refreshment area from Spring 2012.

Manager Rhiannon Naismith said:

“This is an exciting project to bring Preston Mill to life for visitors, to improve the facilities and tell the fascinating story of this beautiful place which has played such an important part in East Linton’s life over the centuries. We are really keen to hear from local people who might know old stories about the mill, have old pictures or even unusual milling artefacts that they’d be willing to share with the people of Scotland who come to explore the area’s proud heritage.”

The project will also make it possible to introduce new outdoor trails, sculpture and interactive displays for families and will be completed by 3 May 2012.

Please call Property Manager Rhiannon Naismith on 0844 493 2125 or email rnaismith@nts.org.uk as soon as possible to find out how to contribute to this exciting project.

The postcards were found by local farmer Knut Wågø, as he walked his dogs on the beach on 2 January 2012. The cards, which had been placed in a traditional St Kildan mailboat, travelled over 600 miles before reaching land.
St Kilda, which is owned and cared for by the conservation charity, in the UK’s only Dual World Heritage site, designated for both its natural and cultural characteristics. It is believed that the site was inhabited by humans from prehistoric times until its evacuation in 1930.
A St Kilda mailboat is a wooden 'boat', containing a letter, usually sealed in a cocoa tin or plastic box. Traditionally, a sheep's bladder was used as a float, but it is now a fishing float. The first mailboat was sent out as a distress signal in time of famine by John Sands, a journalist, who was stranded on St Kilda during winter of 1876.
Mailboats are now sent by St Kilda work parties as part of the ritual of visiting St Kilda. They are carried by the Gulf Stream and usually reach land in Scotland or Scandinavia.
St Kilda Property Manager Susan Bain said:
“Launching mail boats is a cultural tradition which we keep alive on St Kilda. It reminds us of the remoteness and the difficulties that the islanders faced in communicating with the mainland. Nowadays, things are a little different and we have phones and high-speed internet on the island which makes it a bit easier to keep in touch. Despite these advances though, we are still at the mercy of the weather and its on those days we most closely understand the challenges of living in such a wild and westerly location.”