NEWS

Mathias Bliko, Elias Engesvik, Kasper Engesvik, Jonas Bliko and Emil Engesvik made a special discovery when they found a little boat that had sailed all the way from the remote isle of St Kilda. The boat revealed a small piece of the archipelago's history and echoed of a time when the small population communicated with mainland Scotland through the use of mail boats.

The boats were the only method of making contact with the outside world until 1930 when the inhabitants of the remote isle were evacuated by the British Government.

The find among the rocks on the Norwegian island of Karstenoya is thought to be that which was launched by a work party in June 2011.

To make contact with the outside world the island population had their own hopeful postal method. This consisted of small wooden boats marked with the name of St Kilda. The sender placed letters with requests for things to be sent from the mainland like food or medical aid.

The last 36 remaining inhabitants of St Kilda were evacuated in 1930, but it's not uncommon for mailboats to be found among the rocks in places as far away as Norway.

The boys on Karstenoya just happened to be in the right place at the right time, "We were out walking on the stony beach and found the boat in a ditch". It's not every day that you find a sealed wooden boat painted and decorated with a picture of a Puffin, and the writing on the ship's deck hinted at a promising cargo, which read, “St Kilda Mail Boat. Please open”. The boys did as instructed "We took it back to our cabin and unscrewed the lid" explained Elias.

The group of brothers and friends aged between five and eight removed the lid to find a bag containing postcards, a letter, and some money to pay for return postage of the enclosed postcards.

The letter stated that the mail boat had been launched on St Kilda in June 2011. The writer explained that he was a member of a work party who travels to St Kilda every year to maintain its cultural heritage. The archipelago was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1986.

Windswept and barren, the world heritage site just happens to have a similar climate to the islands in Vikna.

The boys have since found St Kilda on an atlas, and all agreed that the little boat did well to travel all the way to Karsten island.

(Thanks to Christine Carrick for translation).

You can see an image of the story which featured in a Norwegian newspaper on The National Trust for Scotland's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NationalTrustforScotland

The company was selected following a competitive procurement process.

The Trust's Arran property includes Brodick Castle, Gardens, Country Park and the spectacular landscape of Goatfell. The purposes of the Signature Project are to find new ways for the public to enjoy the site's priceless heritage, to undertake an enhanced programme of conservation work and to secure the long term sustainability of the property.

Kevin Murray is a leading planner with a background in conservation, regeneration and economic development. He has been involved in a wide range of complex master planning and regeneration projects across the UK integrating policy, design and creative engagement. These have included at Aberdeen Grandhome, Derby City Centre, Edinburgh New Town, various Glasgow neighbourhoods, Newcastle Grainger Town, and recently at Kilmarnock town centre. He has also worked with many rural communities on sensitive development, regeneration and tourism, including at Lanark, Strathaven and Biggar.

Kevin Murray Associates' team for this assignment includes Designer Willie Miller, Landscape Architect Janet Benton, Architect and development adviser Andrew Burrell, Tourism Consultant James Fraser, Transport adviser Andy Cameron and Quantity Surveyors Turner Townsend.

Signature Project Brodick leader Jonathan Bryant said:

"Kevin Murray put forward the best mix of skills for our Signature Project and we are looking forward to him and his colleagues joining our Brodick team for this phase of the project.

"The work will involve extensive consultation and the exploration of new and creative ways for the public to use Brodick's exceptional heritage assets in the future. We will be considering public access from every point of view and finding the right way to provide a safe cycling route."

Kevin Murray, who started his career in planning as a conservation officer, added:

"We are delighted to be working with the National Trust for Scotland on this very important assignment.

"Our review of what the Trust currently does, and what it might do in the future at a significant property like Brodick, represents an exciting opportunity to think about its contribution to the Arran community and economy, and how this can be further enhanced over time."

Find out more about Brodick at www.nts.org.uk/Property/Brodick-Castle-Garden-Country-Park/ and Goatfell at www.nts.org.uk/Property/Goatfell/

Leith Hall garden once had a fabulous Rock Garden that was considered one of the best in Scotland, but very little evidence remains of how it looked when created by the owners.

There is hardly any information about this part of the garden, so an appeal is being made for early photographs, sketches, plans or memories that may help in the restoration.

Henrietta Leith Hay was a keen amateur gardener but it was her husband Charles who designed the rock garden in the early 1900s. He too was untrained but the mix of rock and planting was both masculine and imaginative, being noted as one of the best in the country. The Trust was gifted the property in 1945, and in the 1980s modernisation work was carried out. Now, Leith Hall gardeners are hoping to restore the original design.

There has been a property on the site since medieval times and was home to the Leith Hay family since the 17th Century. Gardens at Leith Hall had been a feature for several centuries but it wasn’t until the 1860s that they were created in their current position. Within the six acres there is a remarkable walled garden and extensive borders, which are currently being renovated, and it has a fine collection of alpines and primulas. Ponds and woodland make it a delight for wildlife and visitors alike.

More information about the garden restoration can be found on a special Facebook page, www.facebook.com/LeithHallGardensAndEstate

Meanwhile anyone with information about the rockery should contact Head gardener, Tim Keyworth on 01461 831 148 or at tkeyworth@nts.org.uk/