The striking visitor will set up her throne amongst the stunning, ornately decorated interiors of one of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s finest creations. The dining room will be set for her fantastic snow banquet, and look out for her sleigh, pulled by a team of polar bears.

Visitors can also pick up some perfect gifts at the craft fair and the onsite shop, which offers a range of present ideas and Christmas decorations, some inspired by the Snow Queen’s winter wonderland.

The Snow Queen’s visit takes place on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December 2008, from noon until 5pm. Entry costs £4.  

Children can pass their lists directly to Father Christmas by the fire in the Billiards room, while parents enjoy some mulled wine. The will be some seasonal songs in the Music Gallery too.

Visitors can also stock up on a fantastic range of gifts for friends and family, including books and toys and games at the craft fair.

The castle is open from 12.00 to 16.00. Entry costs £3.  

Find unusual and beautiful gifts for family and friends from the selection of handmade local crafts on sale. Get in the festive spirit with carol singing and sample the lovely seasonal food - roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and mince pies.

Visitors can also enjoy a demonstration from the authors of the Whisky Kitchen Cookbook, co-authors Graham Harvey and Sheila McConachie of Craggan Mill Restaurant, on Saturday from 14.00 until 16.00.

The Christmas Fair is open from 19.00 to 16.00. Entry £3 for adults and children are free. Admission to the Whisky cookbook demonstration costs £5 for adults.

 

More than 60 individual artworks were sold from Thursday 13 until Sunday 16 November, including a number by the Trust’s very own Chris Mills, the castle’s administrative assistant.

Chris Mills, who helped organised the exhibition along with Sue Tozer, Brodick’s Administrative Manager, said:

“The exhibition was a great success, attracting more than 700 visitors from near and far. We are really pleased that there were so many sales – it demonstrates the high quality of the pieces on show. The castle benefits from the revenue generated – around £2000 comes to us in commission – which will help us in vital conservation work as we prepare for next season.”

Brodick Castle re-opens in Spring 2009. The visitor centre, shop and walled garden are open Friday until Sunday from 10.00 until 15.30, until 21 December. The Country Park is open daily, all year round.  

Trust staff were replacing a tattered flag when the cable on the 120 foot flagpole came loose. The new flag is now stuck at half mast.

Medieval standard bearers held the saltire and Lion rampant high for Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Now, Property Manager Scott McMaster is calling for a standard bearer for the 21st century to help access the flagpole and return the saltire to its rightful spot.

Local heroes, the Raploch Fire Service where unable to reach the flag due to the same problem that thwarted the English - “the lie of the land and a tight circle known as the rotunda”.

Scott said:

“We change the flag regularly to ensure that it is in a state fit for an historic site of this stature. We were shocked when the cable snapped as we hoisted the new flag. We are very grateful to those who have valiantly tried to help so far, but sadly, our saltire is stuck. We would really appreciate the help of a knight in shining armour – preferably one equipped with a cherrypicker instead of a steed.”  

This year, the Trust has a bigger range of gifts than ever to choose from – everything from fabulous, indulgent food to glittering jewellery and quirky homeware.

There is also a fine selection on Christmas decorations and accessories on offer in shops and at www.nts.org.uk/Shop/.

Online, the revamped shop has more than 400 products to choose from. Gift membership can also be purchased online, as well as at Trust properties across Scotland. Members enjoy free entry to the Trust’s 130 properties across the country. Family membership costs from as little as £5 per month.

You can also make gift donations to the Trust on behalf of a loved one – an unusual gift option that makes a contribution to the charity’s work to conserve some of Scotland’s most precious cultural and natural treasures. Visit www.nts.org.uk/Donate/Gift/ to select a gift that supports the Trust’s gardens, historic collections, buildings or mountains.

You can browse the Trust’s gift selections at:

Arran
Brodick Castle and Country Park – open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10.30 to 15.30, until 21 December.

Aberdeenshire
Crathes Castle, Banchory – open daily, 10.00 – 16.30, until 24 December.

Ayrshire
Culzean Castle, Maybole – open Thursday to Sunday from 11.00 – 16.00, until 21 December.

Borders
Priorwood Garden, Melrose – open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 to 17.00 and on Sunday from 13.00 until 17.00, 24 December.

Dumfries and Galloway
Threave, Castle Douglas – open daily from 10.00 –16.00, until 23 December.

Edinburgh
No 28. Charlotte Square, Edinburgh – open Monday to Saturday 9.30 – 16.00, until Christmas Eve.

The Georgian House, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh –open daily in November from 11.00 to 15.00.

Fife
Falkland Palace – open Monday to Saturday from 11.00 - 16.00 and on Sunday from 13.00 until 16.00, until 23 December.

146 South Street, St Andrews – open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 to 17.00 and noon until 17.00 on Sunday.

Glasgow
Pollok House, Pollok Park – open daily from 10.00 to 17.00, until 24 December.

Perthshire
Dunkeld – open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 to 16.30 and on Sunday from 12.30 to 16.30pm, until 23 December.  

The work of eleven Borders-based artists has been on show for more than a month, while the garden has displayed some dramatic autumn colour.

Among the exhibits are Sam Wade’s highly engineered kinetic forms in metal and coloured perspex, Jane Gaze’s new work referencing the activities in Loch Ewe during World War 2 and ceramic works by Lesley May Miller and Su Nutgens.
 

Christmases past will be brought to life for visitors as the castle is transported back to Victorian times. Watch the family and their servants prepare for festive celebrations, 19th century-style.

Visitors can stock up on a fantastic range of gifts for friends and family, including books, toys and games, cards, hand made Christmas cakes and seasonal preserves. Father Christmas is also making an appearance.

The Christmas Fair is open from 11.00 to 16.30. Entry to the castle costs £2.
 

Staff at Greenbank are recreating Christmases from centuries gone by. The dining room will be decked out in the Georgian style, while the library will reflect the more recent past – Christmas 1980.

Visitors can also enjoy home baking provided by the generous Friends of Greenbank group.

The Christmas Fair is open from 11.00 to 16.00. Standard entry charges apply.


 

Lesley’s seascapes were inspired by the stunning views and unusual rock formations found off the coast of the National Trust for Scotland’s property which is well-known for its rich marine life.

The exhibition runs at the Trust’s Gladstone’s Land gallery on the Royal Mile until 23 November. Entry is free.

St Abb’s Head Nature Reserve is open all year round. For more information, visit www.nts.org.uk.

For more information on Lesley and her work, visit www.lesleyskeatesgallery.com/index.htm.
 

Dedicated staff and volunteers are running tours designed to transport visitors to the year 1811, when Britain and France were at war. The tours, which take place on Saturday and Sunday, will give an insight into the lives of the Lamont Family and their household servants. The Lamont family were the first residents of No 7 Charlotte Square, living there from 1796 until 1815.

Property Manager Sheonagh Martin said:

“Visitors are always fascinated by the stories of the former residents of this wonderful house and the lives they led. The Lamont family certainly had some interesting times while they lived here and we are looking forward to bringing this to life for visitors over the coming weeks.”

The tours run on Saturday 15, Sunday 16, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November from 11.00 until 15.00 on Saturday and noon until 15.00 on Sunday. Last tour starts at 2.30pm.

The Georgian House is open daily from 11.00 until 15.00, until Sunday 30 November, last admission at 2.30pm.

For more information or booking, please call 0844 493 2118.  

Tickets for the Enchanted Castle went on sale on Monday 3 November and already almost 1000 have been snapped up.

The events, which sees the beautiful Culzean Castle populated by popular figures from fairytales and children’s stories, takes place on 7 and 14 December. In previous years the event has been a total sell-out.

Property manager Paul Pomfret said:

“The Enchanted Castle is such an exciting event and really gets families in the festive spirit. Tickets are going quickly, so make sure you get in early.

“Although the castle is now closed for winter, the country park is remains open, with the visitor centre, restaurant and our great Christmas shops open Thursday through to Sunday every week.”

Tickets for the Enchanted Castle event can only be purchased in advance. For bookings, please call 0844 493 2100.



 

Pollok House, which is open all year round, has welcomed almost 62,000 visitors between 21 March and 31 October. That adds up to an increase of eight per cent compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Holmwood, has played host to more than 5000 people – an increase of more than 6 per cent on 2007.

This is encouraging news in a summer where tourist attractions across the UK were hit by poor weather, increasing petrol prices and the credit crunch.

Property Manager Joe Bowden said:

“We are very pleased that we’ve managed to attract even more visitors this year. Our city locations are likely to have been a huge advantage this summer, when weather and petrol prices have been so changeable. It is a testament to the efforts of our staff and a confirmation of the quality of the experience at these properties, that we have had such a strong season despite some challenging circumstances.

“And the good news is that Pollok is gearing up for its busiest time of year – Christmas. We have a packed programme of events and look forward to welcoming even more visitors in the next few months.”

Pollok House is open year round, except 26 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January. Holmwood House reopens in spring 2009.

 

The 17th century castle welcomed more than 14,000 visitors between 21 March and 31 October –an increase of almost 6 per cent on last year.

This is encouraging news in a summer where tourist attractions across the UK were hit by poor weather, increasing petrol prices and the credit crunch.

Edinburgh and East Buildings and Gardens Group Manager, David McAllister said:

“We are very pleased that we’ve managed to attract event more visitors this year. It is a testament to the efforts of our staff and a confirmation of the quality of the experience that Kellie offers, that we have had such a strong season despite some challenging circumstances.”

 

The visitor centre at the monument which marks the spot where Prince Charles Edward Stuart raised his Standard in 1745 welcomed almost 21,000 paying visitors between 21 March and 31 October – an increase of almost 7% on last year.

This is encouraging news in a summer where tourist attractions across the UK were hit by poor weather, increasing petrol prices and the credit crunch.

Property Manager Rudy Vandecappelle said:

“We are very pleased that we’ve managed to attract even more visitors this year. It is a testament to the efforts of our staff and a confirmation of the quality of the experience that Glenfinnan offers, that we have had such a strong season, despite some challenging circumstances.”

Glenfinnan Visitor Centre re-opens in spring 2009. The monument is accessible all year round.


 

The Angus Folk Museum in Glamis, the House of Dun in Montrose and the Kirriemuir Camera Obscura all bucked the trend of falling numbers of visitors at tourist attractions this summer. The three properties attracted almost identical numbers of visitors when compared to last year.

This is encouraging news in a summer where tourist attractions across the UK were hit by poor weather, increasing petrol prices and the credit crunch.

The House of Dun continues to be one of the most visited properties in the Angus area, welcoming more than 10,000 visitors to its grand interiors between 21 March and 31 October this year. At Angus Folk Museum and the Camera Obscura, more than 4000 people visited both sites.

Property Manager John McKenna said:

“We are very pleased that we’ve managed to maintain our visitor numbers this year. It is a testament to the efforts of our staff and a confirmation of the quality of the experience that House of Dun, Angus Folk Museum and Kirriemuir Camera Obscura offers, that we have had such a strong season despite some challenging circumstances.”

 

The historic house and estate, which is well known for its beautiful gardens, welcomed more than 5000 visitors between 21 March and 31 October - almost exactly the same number as last year.

This is encouraging news in a summer where tourist attractions across the UK were hit by poor weather, increasing petrol prices and the credit crunch.

Senior assistant Doline Kilgour said:

“We are very pleased that we’ve managed to maintain visitor numbers this year. It is a testament to the efforts of our staff and a confirmation of the quality of the experience that Leith Hall offers, that we have had such a strong season despite some challenging circumstances.”

Leith Hall house and tearoom reopen in spring 2009. The gardens are open daily.  

The William Adam designed house welcomed almost 13,000 visitors between 21 March and 31 October –an increase of more than 35 per cent on last year.

This is encouraging news in a summer where tourist attractions across the UK were hit by poor weather, increasing petrol prices and the credit crunch.

Senior Assistant Tina Low said:

“We are very pleased that we’ve managed to attract even more visitors this year. It is a testament to the efforts of our staff and a confirmation of the quality of the experience that Haddo offers that we have had such a strong season, despite some challenging circumstances.”

Haddo House re-opens in spring 2009.
 

This is the first time that Phytophthora kernoviae has been found in blaeberries in Scotland. There is also suspected infection in two oak trees, but this has yet to be confirmed.

Gardeners at the charity's Brodick Castle have been tackling the P. kernoviae, which is a form of Sudden Oak Death, since it was first detected in February 2008. Significant areas of Rhododendron ponticum have been cleared from the beautiful Brodick gardens in an attempt to contain the disease.

The latest outbreak in blaeberry plants is more than one kilometre from the gardens, fuelling the conservation charity’s concerns that the Scottish Government needs to step up action to tackle the threat of this disease and its sister, Phytophthora ramorum.

The Trust’s Senior Nature Adviser Richard Luxmoore said:

“This is a very concerning development for the Trust and for Scotland. Blaeberry, oak and heather are all susceptible to this disease which could have a devastating impact on some of Scotland’s important natural habitats.

“The Trust has been working hard to raise awareness of these diseases and the need to improve the management of their threat and we feel that there is an urgent need for the Scottish Government to tackle their inexorable spread.”

Ken Thorburn, Brodick Property Manager said:

“Staff at Brodick have been working hard to deal with this very difficult disease. It is having an impact on the gardens, so we are very worried about the impact it could have on Merkland Wood, a very mature woodland that is popular with local people.”

In line with Scottish Government procedures on dealing with P. kernoviae, public access to Merkland Wood will be restricted.  

Placebook Scotland is a web-based project created by the Scottish Landscape Forum. It allows people to submit pictures, film, music and writing that capture the essence of their place. This could be their own backyard or street where they grew up, town centre or local feature; anything that gives their place its identity.

The project was launched at Moncreiffe primary school in Perth, where a group of pupils were among the first to log on and tell others about their place. Joining them was Scottish Environment Minister Michael Russell and Scots actress Daniela Nardini.

Minister for Environment Michael Russell welcomed the launch of the website and said:

"Landscape makes a significant contribution to Scottish identity and our rich natural and cultural heritage.

"Placebook Scotland will seek to cover as much as possible of Scotland's landscapes, townscapes and seascapes through the arts and I would encourage everyone to get involved.

"As Scotland gears up for 2009, the year of Homecoming, it is particularly apt that such a resource now exists to remind Scots both at home and abroad of Scotland's beautiful and diverse landscapes."

Reflecting on her upbringing in Largs, Daniella Nardini said:

"I have many fond memories of the Gogo Burn in Largs as I spent many happy hours with my friends when I was young jumping from stone to stone. And we often fell in as well!"

Ian Jardine, chief executive of Scottish Natural Heritage, one of the 22 organisations behind the project, added:

"It's great to see so much interest in this site already, not least the postings by the children of Moncreiffe primary school. We would urge everyone across the country and beyond to share their place on the website. Together we can create a huge archive of material that will celebrate the close links between people and places. That's what Placebook Scotland is all about."

Conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland is supporting PlaceBook Scotland by playing host to project officer Irene Watson for the duration of the project. Robin Turner, Head of Archaeology for the National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Landscape Forum member said:

"The Trust is lucky to care for some of Scotland's truly awe-inspiring places, from the impressive peaks of Torridon to the dual World Heritage Site of St Kilda. We know the deep connection people can have with places like these, but also with the more everyday places where they live and work. PlaceBook Scotland is a fantastic opportunity for people to express their feelings about Scotland's landscapes and townscapes, and show how much they mean to their sense of place. We hope the project helps people feel inspired by their landscapes, so that they can be protected and enjoyed by everyone."

From today people can submit their material to the Placebook Scotland website at www.placebookscotland.com as well as browse the other entries.
 

This milestone enables the conservation charity to begin work to create the new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum which is due for completion in 2010.

The cottage, an irreplaceable collection of artifacts and original manuscripts, and other assets including the iconic Burns monument, are being generously donated by the Burns Monument Trust.

The land and the Tam o’Shanter Experience is valued at £2.8 million and is South Ayrshire Council’s considerable contribution to the National Trust for Scotland’s ambitious £21 million Burns project.

These newly acquired assets will now form the core of plans to develop the new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

National Trust for Scotland Chairman Shonaig Macpherson said:

“The Trust is thrilled to accept this very generous donation of land and property from both the Burns Monument Trust and South Ayrshire Council, which will allow us to progress our plans for the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

“We are confident that the new museum will attract people from across the globe as well as from Scotland to Alloway, helping to boost tourism locally and to promote the many other benefits of a visit to South Ayrshire. The fans of Robert Burns will undoubtedly be grateful to the Burns Monument Trust and South Ayrshire Council for their role in bringing the new museum into being.

“We are grateful to the many people who have played a part in enabling this transfer to take place. This enables us to begin the next phase of our fundraising activities to deliver the new museum. We look forward to achieving our ambitious vision in Alloway and creating the Museum and welcoming the thousands of visitors who flock there every year to learn more about one of our most iconic writers.”

South Ayrshire Council Leader Hugh Hunter said:

“Over the last few years, we have worked closely with the National Trust for Scotland to progress these plans and it has been a very positive working experience.

“I have absolute confidence that the Trust will make this museum one of the UK’s most culturally significant and impressive visitor destinations, celebrating the life and times of one of the world’s most influential cultural and literary figures.

“I am delighted we have played a pivotal role in helping develop something truly extraordinary that will, for generations to come, be inspiring and educational, as well as attracting people from across the globe.

“South Ayrshire Council is committed to continuing our positive working relationship with the Trust to make these fabulous plans into a world class facility.

“Tourism is one of the largest income generators for this area and Burns is going to be a major factor in influencing how we market and promote South Ayrshire in the future.”

The Chairman of the Burns Monument Trust, the Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran, Mr John L Duncan, QPM, said:

“Today marks the end of almost 200 years of work. The Burns Monument Trust has, since its inception in 1814, shouldered the responsibility of preserving the heritage of Burns and building the finest collection of Burns documents and artifacts in the world.

“It is thanks to early trustees’ work that today we, the current trustees of the Monument Trust, are able to pass that responsibility over to the National Trust for Scotland. No safer hands could be found. We are confident that everything that the Burns Monument Trust has preserved, built up and cared for over many years is secure.”
 

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) announced its long awaited report this week and it has been warmly welcomed by the National Trust for Scotland.

OSCR applied what they described as their “charity test” to 30 such organisations, ranging from the National Trust for Scotland, the Robertson Trust through to smaller charities such as the Willows Animal Sanctuary. The test required charities to demonstrate they provide public benefit, resulting in greater transparency and accountability and an increased public understanding of the contribution made by the likes of the Trust.

In the case of the National Trust for Scotland OSCR considered the charity to have the following purposes – “the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science” and the “advancement of environmental protection or improvement.”

The Trust’s Finance Director, Lesley Watt commented:

“As a leading conservation charity we were pleased to be amongst the first to take part in OSCR’s rolling review and pass their assessment. Anything that helps promote a greater understanding of charities is a good thing, especially as in our case many people don’t realise the National Trust for Scotland is a charity, relying on donations, legacies and membership.”

The charities selected for the Rolling Review from Scotland’s 23,500 charities included membership organisations, care providers, housing associations and independent schools and are part of an ongoing OSCR programme for the coming years.  

One of the North-East’s most beautiful castles has been wrapped up for winter. The National Trust for Scotland’s Craigievar Castle in Alford, Aberdeenshire has been swathed in heavy hessian to protect it through the winter months.

The castle is currently closed to the public and is undergoing a major renovation project. The existing cement harling has been removed and replaced with a traditional lime mortar.

Now the building has been wrapped in hessian to help ensure that the new harling sets properly by protecting it from frost and also ensuring that water in the lime mortar evaporates very slowly. The castle is also under scaffolding.

Property Manager Daphne Rose said:

“The old cement harling was damaging the castle by retaining water and causing damp and rot. The newly applied lime mortar is breathable and will ensure that if water gets in to the building, it can evaporate harmlessly. We’re really pleased with the progress that Laing's Traditional Masonry, our contractors, have made over the summer in our project to ensure that Craigievar survives for hundreds more years.

“The cement has totally gone and most of the new harling is in place. Lime mortar needs the right conditions to ensure that it sets well – we need to make sure that it’s protected from frost and that the mortar can dry out slowly. Hessian works well for this as it is a breathable fabric that allows moisture in and out.

“We are virtually finished with the lime work now and are already looking towards carrying out some conservation work on the wonderful decorative stonework that makes Craigievar so special.”

Craigievar Castle has been closed to the public since October 2007. It is expected to re-open in Spring 2010. The grounds are open daily.

 

A film depicting the dramatic events of one of Scotland’s most important historic battles is being updated for the 21st Century.

The National Trust for Scotland is creating a brand new high-definition film of the events of the Battle of Bannockburn to display at its heritage centre in Stirling, which commemorates the 1314 battle, where Robert the Bruce’s army defeated King Edward II’s men.

The film that is currently shown at the conservation charity’s Bannockburn Heritage Centre was made in the 1980s and will be replaced by the brand new version.

Shooting for many of the live action scenes for the film took place this weekend (25 and 26 October), at Dalmahoy Country Estate in West Lothian.

Around 120 battle re-enactors and extras helped recreate the drama and tragedy of the historic battle, with carefully choreographed scenes that depict the brutality of the medieval battle involving horses and authentic weaponry too.

Computer generated imagery will also be used to help create a realistic view of the battle for visitors. Expert historians have been advising on the project too – Dr Fiona Watson and Bob Woosnam-Savage.

The 10 minute film is expected to make its debut at the Bannockburn Heritage Centre in spring 2009.

Colin MacConnachie, the Trust’s Head of Learning Services said:

“The Battle of Bannockburn is central to Scotland’s story and we want to bring that critical event in this country’s history to life, to enhance the visitor experience for the thousands of visitors and school pupils who come to our Bannockburn Heritage Centre every year.

“Recent technological advances mean that the potential to provide a truly awe-inspiring educational film is now a real possibility. Through our experiences with the very thought-provoking affecting film at Culloden, we now have a better understanding of what can be achieved and just how much it adds to the visitors experience and understanding of these significant historical events.

“The new film will give visitors an insight into the historical context of the battle, as well as a taste of what it may have been like on the battlefield almost 700 years ago.”

The film is being produced by NoblesGate, who also made the acclaimed 360o immersive film that is a key part of the visitor experience at the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre.

Film Director Craig Collinson, explained his vision for the project. He said:

“As a Scottish filmmaker, getting to visually interpret the Battle of Bannockburn on this scale is a rare privilege. Scottish audiences hardly ever get to experience an event like this on the big screen, but when they do it can really stir their imaginations.

“My aim is to capture not only some of the sheer drama of how the battle unfolded - the incredibly intimidating site of Edward's vast army, the jaw dropping duel that took place between Bruce and one of the English knights and the awesome site of the Scottish spearman advancing - but also the awful hand to hand brutality and to remind the 21st Century visitor to the National Trust for Scotland site that thousands lost their lives in the most unimaginably horrific way.

“Ultimately though this is about inspiring a younger generation of Scots, who just might, through seeing the battle visualised on this scale, be stimulated enough to take more of an interest in their country's amazing history.”

 

A rare fungus has been discovered at the National Trust for Scotland’s Craigievar Castle in Alford, Aberdeenshire.

Golden Bootleg or Phaeolepiota aurea, is a very distinctive, large mushroom with an obvious ring on the stem. The fungus can grow up to 18 centimetres high. It is thought to be rare in the UK, but is being found more and more in its favoured habitats of roadsides, parks and nettle beds as it likes moist, nitrogen-rich conditions.

Trust ranger Toni Watt found a large troop of the fungus under the cover of nettles while surveying for bats.

Toni said:

“Golden Bootleg is not that common in the UK, so I was surprised to find it at Craigievar. It is very distinctive and large, so is easily spotted though. This fungi is fairly unusual find, so we’d ask visitors to look, but not to touch.”

Craigievar Castle is currently undergoing a major repair and renovation project and is under scaffolding. It has been closed to visitors since October 2007, but the grounds are open daily.
 

The pupils of Kirkhill Primary in Newton Mearns are gearing up to raise funds to help refurbish the ‘Foam’ pond at the National Trust for Scotland’s Greenbank Garden in Clarkston.

The pond was damaged this summer when thieves stole two 20 year old fish from the garden.

Generous pupils from Kirkhill Primary are helping to raise funds for the garden as they celebrate ‘Greenbank Garden Week’ from Monday 27 October. During this week, the pupils will build a paper pond and every class will design a fish for the pond.

Greenbank garden staff will pick a winning class fish and the successful class will join Kirkhill Pupil Council on a tour of the garden to inspect the work that is currently underway to repair the damage. And in April, they will return to release new fish into the pond.

Pupils will also pay to come dressed however they like on Halloween. They can come in a scary costume or in casual clothes and know that their wardrobe choices are supporting important conservation work at Greenbank Garden.

Property manager David Ferguson said:

“The pupils at Kirkhill have been very generous in their support of the garden and we really want to say thanks. The funds they raise through their events next week are very welcome at the garden and will help us to repair the famous Foam pond, which is one of our greatest treasures.”

Anyone interested in supporting Greenbank Garden’s refurbishment work should contact David on 0844 493 2201.  

Conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland is urging keen gardeners and nature lovers to follow its lead and plant patches of wildflowers to boost the bumblebee population.

Wildflowers like bird’s foot trefoil, yellow rattle and red clover were once common in Scotland’s countryside, but have declined in recent years because of changes in agriculture and in the way that roadside verges are cut. These plants are important food sources for many insects, especially bumblebees, whose populations have also been in decline.

The National Trust for Scotland is stepping up its work to create wildflower meadows at many of its properties, including Falkland Palace and Kellie Castle in Fife, the David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre and Inveresk Lodge Garden in Musselburgh. Areas of the grounds, including orchards, will be planted with important native plants to help conserve wildflowers and preserve natural habitats for insects.

And now, the conservation charity is asking green-fingered enthusiasts to plant wildflowers in gardens, allotments, community areas or other green spaces. The call comes as many wildflower seeds need to be planted soon, so that the plants are in place for next summer.

Mr Lindsay Mackinlay, Nature Conservation Adviser said:

“Over the years, the populations of many insects have been in serious decline because habitats like wildflower meadows have largely disappeared from our countryside. Past changes in agricultural practices have been mainly to blame for this and even the wildflower refuges on our road verges have been suffering. It is no wonder that we are all so worried about the future of our bumblebees - they are so dependant on healthy populations of these plants.

“Fortunately, we can all act to conserve both these precious plants and insects. Many farmers now manage areas of wildflowers and a recent survey by the Trust has shown that many of our own meadows are still full of them. Go to Venniehill at Gatehouse of Fleet or Kittochside by East Kilbride and you will be able to experience these special places.

“Keen gardeners can play their part too by planting an area of wildflowers for next summer and the years beyond. Even the smallest space can make a difference. Wildflower seeds are widely available - just make sure you buy seeds from Scottish plants as they grow best. The plants can be grown in pots at first and don’t need too much care and attention. They look and smell fantastic and, of course, you’d be doing your bit to boost our bumblebees.”

 

More than 200 budding detectives have already tried to solve the mysterious case of Johnny Forrest at the National Trust for Scotland’s Crathes Castle in Banchory.

The castle is the scene of a baffling ‘whodunnit’ at the moment and visitors are helping to solve the complex and mysterious murder of a fictional rock star. Visitors track a series of clues as they tour the castle, trying to figure out who is responsible for the crime.

Since the murder mystery event started on 11 October, more than 200 visitors have searched for clues that point to the killer. There are only 10 days left to take part, solve the crime and be in with a chance of winning a fabulous Christmas hamper.

Property Manager Wendy McDonald said:

“The case of Johnny Forest is very mysterious and is proving to be pretty challenging. Already more than 200 visitors have tried to solve the case and win the fantastic Christmas hamper that’s on offer. There’s still time to visit and put your skills to the test.”

Dead on the Lawn – the mysterious case of the death of Johnny Forrest runs at Crathes Castle every day until Sunday 2 November.
 

A spooky walk at dusk in the atmospheric grounds of the National Trust for Scotland’s Culzean Castle in Maybole, Ayrshire sold out in record time last week.

All tickets for the Light into Dark walk were snapped up within ten minutes of going on sale. And it seems likely that the castle’s next big event ‘the Haunted Castle’ will prove just as popular when tickets go on sale, this Friday (24 October) at 9am.

Property manager Paul Pomfret said:

“Culzean is a great place to visit all year round with something for all the family. We are so pleased that our autumn events are proving so popular, but the best is yet to come. This Christmas, Culzean will be truly transformed into a magical experience. Our Enchanted Castle events are a chance to meet your favourite fairytale characters in real life. The success of our autumn events does mean that you should book your tickets early.”

Culzean Castle and Country Park has a packed programme of events all year round.

Forthcoming events include:

National Apple Day – 26 October - embrace all things autumnal and enjoy fantastic fresh fruit from the garden.

Christmas Music in the Castle – 6 December – festive music from Ayres and Graces. Tickets are on sale now and cost £8.

The Enchanted Castle – 7 & 14 December - The Castle will be transformed by music, song and spectacular light. In each room a childhood tale will be brought to life through costumed characters - you may meet and dance with Cinderella and her Prince Charming, have tea with the Mad Hatter, or convince Scrooge to enjoy Christmas.

Tickets are available from 3 November and cost £10 for adults and £25 for a family. Bookings must be made in advance – no tickets are available on the day.

 

Primary pupils from across Fife and beyond are getting ready to see their Falkland-inspired art on show on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October.

More than 100 pupils have submitted entries to the National Trust for Scotland’s art competition, which asked young people to create original artworks using the Pleasure Grounds garden at Falkland Palace as inspiration.

Trust gardener Sonia Ferras-Mana came up with the idea of the competition to help commemorate the 60th anniversary of the garden’s creation by acclaimed designer, Percy Cane.

Pupils from Falkland and Strathmiglo Primaries in Cupar, Letham Primary near Cupar, Balmerino Primary in Newport-on-Tay, Burntisland Primary, Capshard Primary in Kirkcaldy and Hillside Primary in Dundee have all submitted entries which go on show in a free exhibition this weekend.

Sonia said:

“We have had a great response to the competition and there are some very creative young people out there in Fife and beyond. We wanted to use this event as an opportunity to inspire local young people and switch them on to the historic treasures that are on their doorstep. The artwork is fantastic and will be on display at the free exhibition Falkland Town Hall this weekend.”
 

Archaeologists working on St Kilda, the National Trust for Scotland’s dual World Heritage Site have discovered a cross-inscribed slab that had previously gone un-noticed on the island, thanks to the sun.

Staff from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) recently visited the island as part of a special project to investigate and record the rich variety of archaeological evidence that exist on St Kilda.

They discovered the cross on a piece of stone that had been reused as the cover slab of a drain. It had never been spotted before, despite being located in a well-investigated area of the island and experts say they only spotted it when the sun hit the slab as they were passing.

Two other cross-incised slabs have already been recorded in the area – one built into one of 1860s houses, the other into the roof of one of the cleits (the drystane storage sheds that are unique to the archipelago). It is thought that the three stones came from the nearby chapel or graveyard.

National Trust for Scotland archaeologist Jill Harden, who has worked extensively on the island said:

“We are so pleased to have made such an interesting discovery, and almost by chance. The slab would not have been spotted had the sun not hit it just so.

“This find demonstrates just how much there is still to discover and understand on all our properties.

“We are still a little surprised that this has been found here as the settlement area of Village Bay on Hirta is one of the most investigated historic landscapes cared for by the Trust. Nevertheless it is a brilliant discovery and one which will add to our understanding of this amazing location and the unique community it once supported.”

Strat Halliday, the archaeologist from RCAHMS who discovered the cross said:

“I was literally just watching where I was putting my feet, and there it was, clear as daylight. And to think I'd walked across the very same spot less than 24 hours previously. It all goes to show how important it is to visit sites more than once and at different times of the day. You never know what's going to pop up next.”

 

The National Trust for Scotland’s search to find young descendants of Culloden soldiers to open its exciting new visitor centre has been shortlisted for a top UK public relations prize.

The conservation charity worked with Platform PR from Beauly to come up with the inspiring concept that got young people from across the globe involved in learning more about their family history and one of Scotland’s most important historical events.

The campaign is one of only a handful of Scottish entries to make the shortlist at the prestigious PR Week awards which take place in London on Tuesday 21 October. The charity is nominated in the not-for-profit category and is up against stiff opposition, including Blue Rubicon for RNIB, Fleishman-Hillard for World Hepatitis Alliance World and Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The Trust asked young people to research their family trees to find out if they had ancestors who had taken part in the battle. More than thirty entries from as far afield as Australia and Canada were received, but the winners came from closer to home. Scott Hay (11) from Kincraig and Philip Nicol (6) from Inverness took their place in history on 16 April 2008, the anniversary of the battle. They officially opened the world-class visitor centre in front of a distinguished gathering of local and national stakeholders and supporters.

Dee McIntosh, Director of Policy and Communications for the Trust said:

“We wanted to find a way of getting young people really involved with our Culloden project and capture their imagination about Scotland’s history. Lots of people are getting really into genealogy at the moment, so we thought that was a good way of making a huge, internationally significant event relevant and interesting to young people. It was an approach that attracted huge attention.

“It was also important that we helped challenge the idea that the battle was a straightforward fight between Scotland and England. In fact, Scottish men fought on both sides and the conflict tore families apart.

“That’s demonstrated especially well by one of our winners. Philip discovered that he is descended from both sides of the battle. His family tree shows that his ancestors, who were three brothers, had split allegiances - two were Jacobite army officers, while their brother fought with the Government troops.”

Jane Cumming, Platform PR Managing Director, said:

“It’s not often consultancies get the chance to work on challenging projects like this which involved young people in really finding out more about their heritage.

“It was a pleasure to work with the National Trust for Scotland on a well-planned and managed campaign which had such great results.”

The shortlisting is the latest in a series of awards for the new centre. The state of the art electronic battlefield guides have already taken the technology prise at the Museums and Heritage Awards in May 2008. The building has also been nominated for a number of other awards, including a World Architecture Festival Award.
 

One of the biggest ever bat roosts on National Trust for Scotland property has been discovered as part of a project by the conservation charity to count and catalogue bats.

More than 350 bats were observed at the roost at Hill of Tarvit in Fife, making it the most populated site discovered during the conservation charity’s eight week survey for bats at 17 of its historic sites. Four roosts were found at the Fife property during a two-day census.

During the project, which was part-funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, conservation specialists found plenty of evidence of healthy bat populations. The Trust discovered 14 new roosts that house a total if 515 bats at eight historic properties, including Culross in Fife and Harmony Garden in Melrose.

In total, bat experts and volunteers recorded over 1200 bat passes from different species including soprano pipistrelle, bandit pipistrelle and brown long-eared during the census which is part of the conservation charity’s ongoing work to protect and conserve the legally-protected mammals and their roosts.

Mr Lindsay Mackinlay, Nature Conservation Adviser said:

“Bats are vulnerable creatures and need our care and protection to ensure that they survive and thrive. Many bat populations have been in decline in Scotland for some time because of roost destruction and changes to their food supply, but there are now signs that some bat species are starting to recover.

“The results of our survey are very positive, showing that the Trust cares for some very healthy populations of bats. In fact, many of the bats spotted were feeding so there is clearly a ready supply of insects for them to eat.

“This shows that our approach of trying to conserve roosts whilst working around them is working. We also think that many of our wildlife conservation projects on our land, such as planting new wildflower meadows and managing our trees and woodland, is increasing the food available to bats and boosting populations, which is great news and will help us in our future work to conserve these fascinating creatures.”

Bat counts took place at Balmerino Abbey, Fife , Falkland Palace, Fife, Hill of Tarvit, Fife, Culross Palace, Fife, Alloa Tower, Clackmannanshire, Provan Hall, nr Easterhouse, Glasgow, Holmwood House, Glasgow, Greenbank Garden, Glasgow, Pollok House, Glasgow, Weaver’s Cottage, Kilbarchan, Geilston Garden, Cardross, Pineapple, Falkirk, Bannockburn, Stirling, Priorwood Garden, Melrose, Harmony Garden, Melrose, Moirlanich Longhouse, Killin and Hill House, Helensburgh.

Roosts were found at Culross, Geilston, Greenbank, Harmony, Hill of Tarvit (4 roosts), Holmwood, Moirlanich Longhouse, Provan Hall.  

Conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland says that measures currently in place to control two potentially devastating plant diseases - Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae (sudden oak death) – are putting important gardens at risk.

In a response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the future management of risks from these diseases, the Trust said that the Scottish Government’s approach of treating individual outbreaks as ‘hotspots’ in isolation could lead to the loss of historic landscapes, gardens and significant plant collections. Currently, in affected gardens, a 2 metre buffer zone has to be cleared around each infected plant within 30 days and all debris has to be burned.

The Trust has direct experience of dealing with the diseases at four of its gardens in the West of Scotland, and is concerned that historic landscapes and important plants are being lost before heritage impact assessments and remedial conservation planning or plant recording can take place.

Significant areas of the beautiful Brodick gardens on Arran have been cleared as a result of the current method of managing these outbreaks.

The charity is also asking the government to put in place financial compensation for nursery businesses and owners of affected land.

Both strains of sudden oak death attack a wide range of plants, especially shrubs like rhododendron and magnolia. The diseases spread quickly and are widespread in South West England.

The Trust is seeking a more strategic and co-ordinated approach that is consistent across the whole UK. More investment in research is needed, as are more inspectors to test for the disease and map its presence across Scotland.

Jan Haenraets, Head of Gardens and Designed Landscapes Services at the Trust said:

“These diseases are very serious for Scotland. The Trust will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to contain them, however, rather than using the present 30 day ‘hot spot’ approach for each site, a range of measures must be developed that take the scale of the outbreak and site-specific concerns into consideration.

“There is a real risk that, in the long term, this approach could cause irreversible damage to important historic landscapes. In some cases it does not give gardeners sufficient time to undertake the required measures.

“The Trust has been working hard with a range of stakeholders to combat the impact of these diseases, and every day, our own expert gardening staff put in huge efforts to control and contain them.

“These diseases don’t only threaten gardens. In England, there is a case where P. kernoviae has been found on heathland, so there are implications for wild landscapes too.

“We need to improve our knowledge of these diseases and their presence across the UK. Co-ordinated efforts to tackle them across Scotland, consistent with the rest of the UK are needed to protect our important gardens and landscapes for future generations.”

The Trust also responded to DEFRA’s consultation on the management of Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae. Both responses are available at www.nts.org.uk/Policy/Work/.
 

The National Trust for Scotland’s Hugh Miller Museum and Birthplace Cottage in Cromarty, has again been awarded Visit Scotland’s five star rating as a top visitor attraction.

This is the third time the property has achieved the top grading. It was first awarded when the Miller House extension opened in 2004.

The new garden at the property which celebrates the life and work of the Scottish geologist, really impressed the assessors. Miller’s Yard opened in June this year and was described as “so beautiful” and “a fabulous new aspect” in the Visit Scotland report.

Reception at Miller House scored highly for “an excellent welcome”, which was continued to other visitors, with children “well catered for – well done!” The exterior appearance of both Miller House and the Birthplace Cottage also scored highly.

Property Manager Martin Gostwick said:

“We have to thank everyone involved in the Yard Project, and our Museum staff, for all the good teamwork which helped us to keep up the gold standard.”

Another Trust property was recently re-confirmed as a five star attraction. Newhailes in Musselburgh is a grand 17th century house with links to the Scottish enlightenment received the good news last month.
 

Writers of all ages are set to get creative and come up with evocative and tragic tales inspired by the Battle of Culloden.

The National Trust for Scotland is launching a competition for potential authors to pen a story inspired by recent archaeological finds at its Culloden Battlefield.

Extensive archaeological work was carried out by the conservation charity as it revamped and restored the battlefield and built a new visitor centre in a £9.5 million project. Many new finds were uncovered as a result, including a Celtic cross pendant and a musket trigger guard.

The conservation charity’s competition ‘Hidden Stories’ which launches on Wednesday 8 October, asks writers to produce stories inspired by these, and the many other, archaeological discoveries made at the site in recent years.

Competition organiser and learning manager at Culloden, Nicole Deufel said:

“Our new visitor centre has transformed the way we tell the story of Culloden. It is so exciting to see visitors inspired by the stories of our interactive characters. We really hope that our recent archaeological finds provide real inspiration to budding writers who can use their imaginations and come up with some very creative stories behind the battle - of the people who took to the field on this historic day, their struggles and their experiences.”

Entrants are invited to send in their stories of less than 1500 words by 21 February 2009. Winners will be selected in the under 14s, 14 – 18 and over 18s categories and entries can be in English or Gaelic and will be invited to read their story at the visitor centre on 18 April 2009, following the annual memorial service.

Further information is available from Nicole on 0844 493 2159 or email ndeufel@nts.org.uk.

Entries should be submitted to:
Nicole Deufel
Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre
Inverness
IV2 5EU.
 

The National Trust for Scotland’s Crathes Castle in Banchory is the setting of a baffling ‘whodunnit’, as Halloween approaches.

The castle’s brand new murder mystery tour invites visitors to try out their skills of observation and deduction to solve the complex case of the recently deceased rock star Johnny Forrest.

Sharp-eyed visitors will try to spot a series of clues as they tour the castle, while also admiring its stunning interiors and fabulous collections of period furniture.

Property manager Wendy McDonald said:

“Crathes is always an atmospheric place to visit – especially at this time of year. We hope that our exciting new murder mystery proves really popular with visitors, adds an element of intrigue and makes their visit even more fun.”

The mystery event will run every day from Saturday 11 October until 2 November. Normal castle admission prices apply.
 

An appeal to preserve some of Scotland’s most popular and dramatic mountains has got off to a great start, raising more than £40,000 in 40 days.

The National Trust for Scotland’s Sole Trading Appeal was launched on 28 August this year. Already, generous supporters have donated in excess of £46,000 to help the conservation charity continue crucial repair work on pathways at Trust properties including Torridon, Glencoe and Kintail to help prevent erosion and protect the fragile mountain environment.

The conservation charity is aiming to raise £80,000 this year to fund the work of its dedicated upland footpath team, and specialist contractors. These skilled and hardy workers care for more than 394 miles of mountain paths and spend 50 per cent of their work time at altitudes over 2500ft in places like Ben Lawers, Ben Lomond, Mar Lodge Estate, Glencoe and Kintail.

Arthur Martin, Head of Countryside at the Trust said:

“The response to our appeal this year has been fantastic. There are so many people out there who appreciate the work that the Trust does to protect and conserve some of Scotland’s most rugged and remote mountain landscapes.

“We are already more than half way towards our target for this year. This will help us make big strides in carrying on with the ongoing specialist work needed to maintain our mountain pathways in some of Scotland’s most stunning and fragile highland areas.”

Donations to the appeal can be made at www.nts.org.uk/soletrading
 

A rare alpine plant that was in danger of disappearing from the slopes of Ben Lawers forever has been saved after conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland stepped in.

In 1998, there was only one surviving highland saxifrage on the slopes of the Central Highlands highest mountain. This summer, a survey found 12 plants thriving on the hillside, after a Trust programme to re-establish the plant.

Highland saxifrage (Saxifraga rivularis) is a nationally rare species adapted to grow in some of the harshest arctic alpine conditions. In Scotland, it is found in about 20 mountain locations, including Ben Lawers. In the sixties there were around 25 individual plants there but the population has been declining, due, in part, to illegal plant collecting.

Concerned conservationists at the National Trust for Scotland decided to act to stop the alpine plant from becoming extinct at Ben Lawers. In 1998, seeds taken under special licence from saxifrage plants at the Trust’s Glencoe property were used to cultivate new plants for the Stirlingshire site.

Property Manager David Mardon said:

“For more than twenty years, there was a real threat that highland saxifrage would die out from Ben Lawers forever. This would be very sad as the mountain is internationally renowned for its rich and diverse range of alpine plantlife.

“We decided that we must act to conserve this fragile and rare plant for future generations. We are very pleased to see the cultivated plants establishing themselves on the hillside and even producing offspring. We hope this means that the slopes of Ben Lawers will continue to be decorated by the small white blossoms of the highland saxifrage each springtime, for decades to come.“
 

Grateful grandkids can say thanks to their treasured grannies and grandads with a free day out on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October 2008, thanks to the National Trust for Scotland.

Simply by cutting out the coupons in the local press or printing off the special voucher from www.nts.org.uk/grandparentsday children can take a grandparent for free to any of the Trust’s 129 properties across Scotland, when a child pays admission.

National events manager, Jill McNicol said:

“The Trust is packed with perfect places to take gran or grandad this weekend to thank them for all the time and treats that they spoil you with all year round.

“Whether it’s studying the fascinating story of the Battle of Culloden at our hugely popular new visitor centre or taking in a beautiful autumnal woodland walk at the glorious Threave garden, there is something to suit visitors of all ages at the Trust.”

For a full list of Trust properties, visit www.nts.org.uk/Visits.


 

One of Fife’s premier heritage properties will soon look a whole century younger thanks restoration work by the National Trust for Scotland.

The conservation charity’s Hill of Tarvit mansionhouse is undergoing the facelift as part of a programme of work to restore the house to its former glory. The house’s original white limewash exterior from 1906 will soon replace the grey stone that stands today.

Conservation experts at the charity analysed the exterior walls and discovered that up until the 1940s, the house was covered in a white limewash.

Already this year, Hill of Tarvit has had its heating overhauled. As well as restoring the building to its original colour, the guttering and windows are being painted to complete the rejuvenation of the popular property which has welcomed approximately 7000 visitors in 2008.

Property Manager Ruth Burgess said:

“It is quite a transformation to see this familiar façade turn from a mellow grey to a bright and vibrant white. We are still on the first coat at the moment, with another two to be applied over the next few weeks. When that process is complete we’ll be looking at the Hill of Tarvit house as it was in 1906 when it was remodelled by Sir Robert Lorimer.”
 

Archaeologists from the National Trust for Scotland have spent days recording the remains of a 2000 year old rubbish pit on Iona.

The site was discovered eroding out of the sandy bank of a burn on the west side of the island by National Trust for Scotland Archaeologist, Derek Alexander.

The pit, which was cut in half by a burn and a sheep path contained a wealth of prehistoric domestic refuse, including limpet and whelk shells, burnt and unburnt bones from sheep, goats and a grey seal, shards of pottery thought to date from the late Bronze Age or Iron Age. Flint and a large cobble stone tool were also found.

Trust experts say that the remains may suggest there was a nearby settlement.

Trust archaeologist Derek Alexander said:

“Although this is only a small site, the finds are quite exciting as they suggest a settlement close by. Despite the obvious early Christian history of Iona very little is known of its prehistoric settlement, so this discovery is an important addition to our knowledge of this remarkable island.”
 

The National Trust for Scotland is reaching out across the Atlantic to strengthen its ties with the United States and Canada this week, as part of a major fundraising programme for the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway.

Trust Chairman Shonaig Macpherson starts her trip tomorrow, October 1, when she travels to Atlanta, follows onto Chicago on the 2nd -5th and takes the last leg of her trip in Toronto on October 6. Shonaig will meet a number of influential business people, politicians and supporters of Scotland to spread the word about its vital work in protecting and preserving Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage.
In Canada, she will announce the creation of a new fundraising foundation which establishes the first official ties between the National Trust for Scotland and Canada and will help raise the charity’s profile amongst the many Canadians with connections to or affection for Scotland.

The main theme of the trip will be to raise awareness of the plans for the new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum which is planned for completion in 2010.

Shonaig Macpherson said: “Robert Burns has international appeal and this trip is an important step for the National Trust for Scotland, as we take forward our plans for a brand new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. It will appeal to Scots and Burns’ lovers world-wide.

"I was surprised to hear that in Atlanta, there is a replica of the Alloway cottage where Burns was born which I will be visiting during my time in the States. It is a testament to his popularity that such a tribute can be found so far from Ayrshire. In fact, Burns had some very powerful American admirers, including Abraham Lincoln, who commented on his genius.

"This is a great opportunity to promote the National Trust for Scotland to an international audience which identifies strongly with Scotland, its history and heritage. Given how popular Burns is here I am sure many people will be interested in our ambitious plans to create a fitting legacy for this iconic Scotsman who is deeply appreciated on both sides of the Atlantic.”

The Burns cottage in Atlanta was built in 1910 to house the Burns Club of Atlanta. One of the club’s founders was Joseph Jacobs who also owned the Atlanta drug-store where Coca-Cola was first carbonated.

In Toronto, Shonaig Macpherson will be joined by the Trust’s President, the Duke of Buccleuch, Richard Montagu-Douglas-Scott to launch the first National Trust for Scotland Funding Foundation in Canada. The foundation will raise awareness and support for the work of the conservation charity amongst Canadians. A similar foundation already exists in the United States.

The Chairman said: "Many Canadians have strong links with Scotland and are very interested in the culture, history and environment there. This foundation is a great opportunity for the Trust to connect with an audience that cares about Scotland and who could support the Trust’s vital role in preserving and conserving Scotland’s natural and cultural treasures for future generations.”
 

A leading expert on Scotland’s best loved poet Robert Burns will give a glimpse into the impact of Burns’ favourite books upon the bard at a talk at the Wigtown Book Festival on Wednesday 1 October.

David Hopes, project curator for the National Trust for Scotland’s Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway, will focus on the influence of Burns’ favourite books upon the poet’s own work at the McNeillie Tent from 10.30am.

David Hopes said: “It’s a pleasure to be participating in the Wigtown Book Festival and to continue spreading the word of Burns, who is still so inspiring to many, almost 250 years after his birth.

“I’ll be looking at the significance of Burns’s early reading during this talk. There is no doubt that Burns was heavily influenced by his favourite writers who helped him develop the style for which he is now so celebrated.

“It’s also a great opportunity to talk to some real Burns enthusiasts about the museum collection in Alloway which holds some real literary treasures that are such a significant part of our Scottish heritage.”

David will also discuss plans for the new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, which is due to be completed in 2010.

David Hopes ‘Burns’s Books’
Wigtown Book Festival
Wednesday 1st October, from 10.30am
Price: £6
For more information visit: www.wigtownbookfestival.com/  

A dedicated volunteer who has given thousands of hours over a thirty year period to the National Trust for Scotland has been presented with an award.

Willie McKnight from Ramsgate in Kent is this year’s recipient of the George Waterston Memorial Award which is presented annually to a volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to the conservation charity.

Willie has been volunteering with the National Trust for Scotland's Thistle Camp programme since 1973. Thistle Camps are residential working holidays organised by the Trust to help in the conservation and management of its countryside properties. Willie has led many groups of volunteers in vital conservation work that has benefited Trust properties all over Scotland, giving more than 5000 hours to the charity.

National Volunteering Manager Violet Dalton said:

“We could not run Thistle Camps without the hard work of dedicated volunteer leaders like Willie. As well as working alongside the volunteers on the conservation projects in hand, he takes care of all the behind the scenes work like driving the minibus, sorting out meals and taking care of health and safety.

“Willie’s exceptional leadership skills mean that his Thistle Camps are among our most popular. Returning volunteers often request his camps by name. He takes a group of ten or twelve strangers and turns them into a team of friends within hours by paying attention to the needs of each individual and using his terrific sense of humour to defuse any potential problems. Because volunteers have such wonderful experiences working with Willie, they want to come back and donate their time to the Trust again.

“We are immensely grateful for the contribution Willie has made to the Trust over the past thirty years or so and hope he continues to do so for many more years.”

While Willie’s contribution to the Trust is evident across Scotland, he feels most at home in the west.

He said:

“I like the west coast properties. I like the landscape, the seascape, the wildness, the remoteness. I couldn’t pick a favourite - they’ve all got something special.”

Some of Willie’s other achievements include helping establish the Trust’s Corporate Challenge programme which enables companies and their staff to get involved in conservation volunteer work and contributing to a project to preserve habitat for Corncrakes on Iona.

For the first time, a runner-up award was also presented. Alice MacNeil (18) from Edinburgh spent 6 months with the Trust’s Policy and Communications team as a ProjectScotland volunteer. She worked on a project to improve information for visitors on how to reach some of the Trust’s most popular properties on public transport, on foot and by bike.

Director of Policy and Communications Dee McIntosh said:

“Alice’s contribution to the team was outstanding and she helped us make great strides in an important project. She is an impressive young person who clearly has a bright future ahead of her. We very much hope that her time in the Trust will encourage her to put her talents to use in an environmental or conservation sphere in the future.”

The awards were presented at the Trust’s Annual General Meeting in Aberdeen on Saturday 27 September 2008. Willie could not attend and his award was collected by Kim Safianoff, outdoor action co-ordinator with the Trust.

 

Mel Houston joins a small team of specialists today in the Trust’s Collections Conservation Team. She is undertaking a 12-month internship in preventive conservation as part of a UK-wide programme organised by the Institute of Conservation (Icon) and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Conservators work to protect and preserve objects such as textiles, paintings, books and monuments for the future. They provide advice on managing temperature and humidity, light levels and controlling pests that could damage collections.

As one of the few organisations in Scotland which employs a permanent staff of conservators, the Trust felt it was important to contribute to this crucial and highly-specialised profession.

The Trust’s Head of Collections Conservation Services, Clare Meredith said:

“As a conservation charity, we are committed to protecting and preserving some of Scotland’s most important treasures for future generations. That means we must also play our part in developing the specialist professional skills involved in caring for those treasures.

“We are very pleased to be involved in the third year of this prestigious scheme which is already making a significant contribution to the heritage sector by helping ensure that there is a ready supply of qualified conservators in the UK with the necessary breadth of experience.

“The Trust is superbly placed to offer a newly-qualified conservator an exceptional firsthand experience of delivering preventive conservation. Our collections are so varied and we care, quite literally, for hundreds of thousands of items on open display at our properties. This is an enormous challenge for the Trust’s conservators and Mel will learn much from being part of the team.”

Mel, who was previously a seasonal assistant at the Trust’s Tenement House in Glasgow, will work on a wide range of conservation projects, including helping to develop a pest management plan for all Trust properties. This is an important issue for heritage properties due to an increase in pests which is thought to be linked to changing weather patterns.

Mel said:

“This is a terrific opportunity for me to gain work experience in preventive conservation. I feel very lucky to be the first Trust intern funded by this scheme and am looking forward to working with all the Trust conservators over the next year.

For the next 12 months, Icon is facilitating 10 specialist internships hosted by different heritage organisations across the UK. Icon’s ground-breaking programme, which encourages entrants from non-academic routes into the conservation profession, is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The internships come with an annual education stipend of £14,750 and a range of support, development and networking opportunities.

Carol Brown, Development Manager for Icon, said:

“The success of this scheme depends on the calibre of supervision and range of professional experience provided by host organisations. Icon is delighted that the Trust has joined the programme and is offering such an exceptional opportunity to a newly-qualified conservator.”

 

Stephanie Evans, 22, from Banchory has just completed her LLB at Aberdeen University, where she obtained first class honours.

She has now been awarded the inaugural Colin Donald Environmental Law Prize which the conservation charity ran in conjunction with leading law firm McGrigors LLP and the University of Glasgow.

The prize is given in honour of the lawyer, the late Colin Donald, who had a distinguished association with the Trust, McGrigors LLP and the University, spanning a period of four decades.

As part of her prize, Stephanie will take up summer placements with both the National Trust for Scotland and McGrigors LLP in summer 2009.

She attended the National Trust for Scotland’s Annual General Meeting in Aberdeen on 27 September 2008, where she was presented with an engraved jug by Mrs Theresa Donald, wife of the late Colin Donald.

Entrants were asked to write an essay on an issue of environmental law. In her entry, Stephanie examined the relationship between renewable energy development and the wider aim of sustainable development in Scotland. The young lawyer impressed judges with her strong and well-articulated ideas.

Trust chairman Shonaig Macpherson said:

“Stephanie is a worthy recipient for our first ever Colin Donald Environmental Law Prize. She is an impressive young woman with a clear commitment to the law.

“Her entry demonstrated a real understanding of the complex areas of environmental law, as well as a passion for the wider issue of the environment – something that is obviously important to a conservation charity like ours and characteristics that Colin Donald himself would have very much appreciated.

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming her to the Trust next summer, where she will undoubtedly make a big impact. We already have an important project on the Trust’s compliance with environmental legislation in mind for Stephanie.”

Stephanie said:

“I am honoured to be the first winner of the Colin Donald Environmental Law Prize. This is an important area of law which the wider public need to be alerted to. The relationship between sustainable development and the renewable energy drive in Scotland is a complex matter. Failure to adequately address these concerns could have detrimental implications for the environment.”

Mrs Donald said:

“I was delighted to learn that a prize in environmental law had been launched in honour of my late husband. The prizes neatly combines his three greatest interests, namely the law, the Trust and last but by no means least the University of Glasgow.

“It has been a great pleasure to be a lay member of the judging panel. All of the submissions were interesting and instructive and I have learned a great deal myself about environmental law!

“Stephanie wrote an excellent, Scottish-based essay on renewable energy and I had no hesitation in agreeing with the rest of the panel that she as a worthy winner.”

Jennifer Ballantyne, a partner with McGrigors LLP said:

"Congratulations to Stephanie. I look forward to welcoming her into my Environmental Law team at McGrigors for her work placement and I am so pleased the Colin Donald Memorial Prize in Environmental Law has had such a successful inaugural year."

Professor Tom Mullen from Glasgow University said:

"Stephanie Evans wrote an excellent essay. The judges were impressed by the quality of her research, her grasp of both the policy and legal issues, and her ability to make complex issues of law and policy understandable for the reader. We were pleased that the first year of the prize produced such a distinguished contribution to the debate on environmental issues."

Eager applicants for next year’s award can contact Professor Tom Mullen, School of Law, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ or by email to t.mullen@law.gla.ac.uk for more information.

 

The conservation charity recently installed the composting toilet and revamped the car park at Linn of Dee in Aberdeenshire as part of a programme of work to improve facilities for Mar Lodge Estate’s 120,000 annual visitors.

Judges for the Aberdeenshire Design Awards said the design was well thought out and worthy of commendation.

The toilet was built with as many locally sourced and environmentally friendly materials as possible, including non-toxic linseed paints for the exterior and larch shingles for the roof.

National Trust for Scotland Property Manager for Mar Lodge Estate Chris Hewitt and project architect Dave Chouman collected the award earlier this month at a ceremony in Aberdeen.

Chris said:

“We are so pleased that our careful planning has been recognised. Thousands of people use Linn of Dee as their gateway to the Cairngorms and we knew that our facilities had to be high quality, so that visitors would come back again and again.

“We also had to ensure that the car park and toilet were modern, sustainable and appropriate for the surroundings. Obviously, plumbing is an issue in this location, so we decided that a compost toilet was an environmentally sound and safe option. We are pleased with how the project has turned out and how it is already improving the visitor experience at Mar Lodge Estate.”
 

The National Trust for Scotland’s Newhailes is celebrating success as a top-quality visitor attraction today.

The grand 17th century house, which boasts an impressive library built by Sir David Dalrymple has been confirmed again as a five star tourist attraction by Visit Scotland.

Newhailes was first awarded the five star rating in 1997 and has undergone assessments every two years since then. The latest evaluation took place in August 2008.

The property has already welcomed more than 6000 visitors since March this year.

Newhailes is linked to the Scottish enlightenment and has an impressive collection of early 18th century decorative Rococo interiors and decorative art. The grounds are extensive and include 18th century designed landscape woodland walks, open parkland, remains of water gardens and a shell grotto and summer-house.

Property manager Karen Caldwell said:

“Newhailes is a fantastic destination for visitors from near and far and we are pleased to have that confirmed again by Visit Scotland. We are lucky to care for some of the most wonderful 18th century interiors, artworks, gardens and woodlands in Scotland and we know that visitors get a great deal out of trip here.

“The dedicated team of staff and volunteers work very hard to ensure that our visitors have the best possible experience and it is great to have that recognised.”
 

The Trust introduced charges for plastic bags in March to encourage customers to choose more environmentally friendly alternatives to carry home shopping from the Trust’s 49 retail outlets.

Since introducing the charges of five, ten and fifteen pence, the conservation charity says demand for plastic bags has decreased by over 80 per cent compared to the same period last year. In total, the Trust issued around 175,000 plastic bags in 2007.

The new approach has been successful in the last six months. As well as issuing fewer plastic bags, sales of sustainable jute and calico bags increased by more than 10 per cent.

The charity has long been aware of the issues around plastic bags – since 2003 its bags have been amongst the most environmentally friendly options available - totally non-toxic and biodegradable, breaking down within 18 months.

National Retail Manager for the Trust, Kevin McElroy said:

“As a conservation charity, we are very pleased with the results of our drive to encourage customers to ditch plastic bags and choose alternatives that are better for the environment. There has been a significant reduction in the number of Trust carrier bags being consigned to the rubbish heap, which is really good news.”
 

Conservation experts at the National Trust for Scotland have harnessed the help of a heavy horse as the charity undertakes crucial forestry management work at Meikle Wood on the Threave Estate in Dumfries and Galloway.

Billy the Belgium Ardennes is working with owner Jim Johnstone and National Trust for Scotland Ranger, Karl Munday to fell trees and remove them from the sensitive woodland area.

Meikle Wood is the site of a scheduled ancient monument - a prehistoric crop mark enclosure that is thought to be a high status farmstead of Iron Age date. That meant that the Trust had to satisfy Historic Scotland that the work would not impact on the site and obtain a permit before commencing in August.

The Trust’s Dumfries and Galloway Countryside team realised that horsepower was the most effective way of ensuring that this work could take place with minimum impact on the land.

Karl Munday, Senior Ranger for the National Trust for Scotland said:

“Regular tree-felling is an important part of good forestry management and we are undertaking this work to ensure that Meikle Wood thrives in the future. There are sensitivities around our work here though. The wood is important both as a site of a scheduled ancient monument and as a habitat for a wide range of wildlife too.

“We decided that using horses was the best approach. This traditional technique has been used in forest management for centuries. Horses can extract timber effectively and safely through the trees without causing any damage, which is ideal for our circumstances here. We were lucky to find the expertise we needed nearby and it is great to learn more about the techniques and traditions of this vibrant profession.

“As well as the archaeological issues, we also carefully considered the potential impact upon wildlife in the area. We had to apply for a license to work near a badger set and conduct bat and bird surveys prior to and during the works. We have also timed our work around minimising disturbance to the wildfowl reserve. Using Billy is helping us to keep any disruption to a minimum, as he is a lot quieter and easy to manoeuvre than heavy machinery.”
 

At a meeting today in Glasgow of the National Trust for Scotland’s Council, Shonaig Macpherson was confirmed as Chairman of the charity’s Board and Council until 2010.

She also delivered a robust account of the circumstances behind last week’s departure of its Chief Executive and briefed council on inaccurate press reports on pay issues.

Today’s meeting asked Council to consider debating, in the coming months, whether there was a need for a separate Chairman for the Council and the Board. This followed recent comment in the press that there was a need to review the Trust’s current governance structures. However, members decided overwhelmingly there was no need for such a debate and that Shonaig Macpherson will continue to chair both bodies.

The Chairman took the opportunity to remind Council today that the Trust is in the process of implementing a three year plan to ensure its long term financial sustainability, at a time when the wider macro-economic picture of recession is affecting all institutions, including a national heritage conservation charity such as the Trust.

Shonaig Macpherson said:

“We can only conserve if we have funds available to do so, through our trading activities, our investments and legacies and donations. Our sources of income are under threat as the credit crunch begins to bite. Despite all of this in our current financial year we are faring better than our competitors.”

It was within this context and the Board’s concern about the progress of a new strategic plan, that they and Chief Executive Mark Adderley concluded different leadership skills were now required and Mr Adderley stepped down.

The Chairman clarified that base pay for all staff was increased by 5% from 1 June 2008. The Union recommended the pay offer and it was approved in a ballot of all staff by a margin of more than nine to one.  

One of Angus’ most unusual properties will be open to visitors on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September from 12.30pm until 5pm.

Logie Schoolhouse, near Hillside - a rare example of a mud building – has been expertly restored, renovated and turned into a lovely one bedroom home by the National Trust for Scotland.

The schoolhouse, which dates from the 19th century, is one of the most complete surviving examples of mudwall buildings in the Angus area. In the past it was used as a school and a church. It fell into disrepair and was ear-marked for demolition. However, Angus Council realised the importance of conserving this unusual building and developed a proposal to save it from demolition.

Experts from the National Trust for Scotland’s Little Houses Improvements Scheme took charge of the renovation project which is now complete. The house is now ready to receive visitors and is on the rental market too.

The house comprises a large open plan living, dining and kitchen area, one double bedroom, a bathroom, cloakroom and utility room. There is also a small garden area.

Inside, the early decorative schemes have been reinstated, with traditional limewashes in warm colours in the main building.

Siân Loftus, Little Houses Improvement Scheme Manager said:

“Buildings made from mud and clay were found across parts of the Angus and Kirriemuir area in the 19th century, but few remain. Logie Schoolhouse is a fantastic example of these unusual buildings which make great modern homes. In many ways, this is one of the most environmentally friendly homes possible, made from natural, sustainable materials. It looks really good too.”

Logie Schoolhouse is open to visitors on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September from 12.30pm until 5pm. Visitors should congregate at the House of Dunn, Montrose DD10 9LQ, where free transport shuttles will run regularly to and from Logie. Visitors are requested not to travel directly to the schoolhouse as parking is very limited.

For information on disabled parking please contact the Buildings Department on 0131 243 9449 or email lhis@nts.org.uk.