NEWS

A perfect holiday retreat for green-fingered enthusiasts will shortly be available for bookings.

The cosy apartment for two overlooks one of the Border’s most glorious gardens, Priorwood in Melrose, making it perfect for garden lovers, or anyone who appreciates good views.

The pretty flat is upstairs in a traditional Border’s sandstone building and is the latest addition to the National Trust for Scotland’s holiday brochure.

Decorated in a country-cottage style, the flat is the perfect base for exploring all that the Borders has to offer, from rugby to hill walking, fishing and visiting Trust properties in the area. The newly-refurbished accommodation comprises a double bedroom, sitting room, well-equipped kitchen and modern bathroom with bath and shower.

Views from the flat take in the National Trust for Scotland’s glorious Priorwood Garden. Priorwood also has a dried flower shop and an orchard filled with historic apple varieties.

Prices for week long breaks (Saturday to Saturday) begin at £400.

To book, or for more information please call 0844 493 2100 or visit www.ntsholidays.com.

 

An operation to make the ship which is currently stranded on St Kilda safer is now underway.

The Spinningdale ran aground on St Kilda, a World Heritage Site owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland, on 1 February 2008.

Marine salvage experts, Mammoet Salvage, are currently unloading equipment on St Kilda and will begin to remove potentially harmful liquids, including diesel and oil, and equipment from the ship in the next few days.

The work is expected to take around a week and should be complete before the majority of seabirds are expected to have returned.

This first phase will help ensure that any risks the vessel poses to local wildlife and the environment are minimised. Once this work has concluded, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the National Trust for Scotland will consider next steps, including removal of the vessel.

National Trust for Scotland Property Manager Susan Bain said:

“Our priority is to ensure that the seabirds are protected from fuels, chemicals and equipment which could cause them harm. The good news is that this work will be completed before most of the bird population has returned to St Kilda, ensuring their safety and limiting the impact of the operation on the breeding season."

For the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Counter Pollution and Salvage Officer Colin Mulvana said:

"The Maritime and Coastguard Agency are working closely with the National Trust for Scotland to ensure the quality of this World Heritage Site is preserved for future generations. Our remit is to ensure that the hydrocarbons, stores and cargo are safely and effectively removed by Mammoet Salvage in the interests of the environment. Following the safe removal of these items the Secretary of State’s Representative in Maritime Salvage and Intervention will be awaiting proposals by the owners or insurers regarding the removal of the vessel."

When the Spinningdale ran aground, there was concern that rats may transfer from the ship onto the island, endangering bird life. So far, there is no evidence that rats are on St Kilda. The National Trust for Scotland continue to monitor this situation closely.  

A week of events to commemorate the battle of Culloden and celebrate the official opening of the Culloden visitor centre have been unveiled by the National Trust for Scotland today.

The centre, which has been open to the public since December 2007, will be officially opened on Wednesday 16 April, the anniversary of the battle.

Events to mark the battle and the opening begin on Sunday 13 April as the memorial cairn is floodlit at dusk for the first time. A lone piper will play laments from 7pm. The cairn will be lit each evening until Saturday 19 April.

A memorial mass at St John's Episcopal Church, Southside Road, Inverness will also take place on Sunday at 7pm. The church has a direct connection to Culloden - its original building was destroyed in the aftermath of the battle.

A private, invite-only ceremony takes place inside the new Culloden centre at 2pm on Wednesday 16 April.

The battlefield will be open to the public throughout the day and a piper will play on the battlefield at 1pm for one hour - the duration of the battle, during which over 1,500 people lost their lives.

Still on 16 April, the visitor centre will be open to the public from 3pm for a series of events. Visitors attending from 3 - 6 pm will enjoy free events involving well-known experts on Culloden and genealogy, including:
· Dr Tony Pollard from BBC Scotland’s Two Men in a Trench, who will lead tours of the battlefield highlighting some of the archaeological work which helped rewrite the history of the battle and uncovered some of the valuable artifacts which feature in the new exhibition.
·Dr Nick Barratt, of BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are, who will offer advice on tracing your family tree, following on from the Trust’s popular search to find youngsters with ancestors who fought on either side at the battle of Culloden.
·Renowned military historian, Dr Christopher Duffy, who will also shed some light on what happened at the battle. Living history actors will give an insight into the lives and traditions of people alive at the time.

The Trust's Culloden project co-ordinator and Countryside and Islands Group Manager for the North East and Highlands, Alexander Bennett said:

“We’re greatly looking forward to declaring the new visitor centre officially open with a programme of events that aims to tell people more about the battle which changed the course of world history and led to a change in the Highland way of life.

“The new exhibition aims to offer a new level of understanding of what happened on 16 April 1746, and we look forward to welcoming visitors.”

Events continue on Thursday evening at 7pm with a special Culloden Songs of Praise service co-coordinated by the Barn Church.

The week of remembrance climaxes on Saturday with a series of events for visitors. The full Saturday programme is:

·12.15pm - Music arranged by Bruce MacGregor of Blazin’ Fiddles and guests
·1.00pm - Find out “What really happened at the Battle of Culloden” with Professor Chris Duffy
·2.15pm - 3pm - Listen to ‘Princely’ stories - especially for our younger visitors
·1.30pm & 3pm - Hear Clann an Drumma play at the Leanach cottage
·3pm - 3.30pm - Enjoy Highland Dancing from Edith Macpherson’s dancing school
·3.30pm - Learn about “Commemorating Culloden - a history of the battlefield and its management - Nicole Deufel, Learning Manager, National Trust for Scotland
·4.15pm - 5pm - Listen to ‘Princely’ stories - especially for our younger visitors
·Live costumed presentations throughout the day in the Battle zone at the visitor centre.
 

Land rover safaris, sea kayaking and podcast tours are just a few of the treats on offer at National Trust for Scotland properties this summer and beyond.

The Trust’s season begins this Easter weekend and as the charity gears up for the busy season ahead, the message from Chief Executive Mark Adderley is that there’s more to the charity than tweeds and tearooms.

He said:

“The Trust has something for everyone - whether you’re interested in arts, the outdoors or good food. To kick the season off this weekend, we’ve got a great programme of Easter events to keep people of all ages occupied. As well as our many Easter egg hunts, you could try your hand at falconry at Fyvie Castle, race rubber ducks at Barry Mill or even learn more about waste awareness at Haddo House.

“That’s just for starters. This summer why not get outdoors and explore one of our 46 Munros with a ranger, spend time paddling round Scotland’s beautiful coastline or get away from it all at one of our more far-flung destinations, like Canna or Inverewe Garden. Keen conservationists can even dedicate their time off to work to protect wildlife and plants through our popular Thistle camps. So why don’t you get out, explore and enjoy!”
 

The National Trust for Scotland will start charging for carrier bags this weekend in a move to encourage customers to ditch plastic and choose more environmentally friendly alternatives.

The conservation charity will ask customers across Scotland to pay five, ten or fifteen pence for plastic bags from Friday 21 March 2008. Paper bags will remain free and a range of re-usable jute and calico bags will also be on sale.

Since 2003, the plastic bags provided by the Trust 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:

“This is an issue which is very much at the forefront of people’s minds right now. We all want to know what small changes we can make to be more environmentally friendly. Switching from plastic bags is one step we can all take.

“The Trust has been aware of concerns surrounding plastic bags for some time now. For more than five years we've been using plastic bags that are non-toxic and biodegradable. We feel the time is right to take this next step, which we hope will encourage customers to choose alternatives that are better for the environment.”
 

The National Trust for Scotland’s hunt for youngsters with ancestors who fought at the Battle of Culloden to help them officially open the new Culloden visitor centre on 16 April has drawn to a close with a last-minute flood of entries.

A call last week for youngsters with Hanoverian connections resulted in several entries, some from people descended from supporters of both the Jacobites and the Government.

Thirty entrants, from California and Canada to England and Northern Ireland, sent in their family trees, many revealing interesting tales and more details of how far families spread after the last battle fought on British soil.

The search also brought to light accounts of some interesting characters, such as Captain Alexander Grant who, after leading the Grants of Glenurquhart at Culloden, escaped to join the East India Company and went on to narrowly evade imprisonment in the Black Hole of Calcutta dungeon in 1756.

Entries also highlight families with divided allegiances such as the Boyds of Kilmarnock, with William Boyd, the 3rd Earl of Kilmarnock, supporting the Government against the 1715 Jacobite Rising and his son executed after joining the Jacobites at Culloden in 1746.

The Trust's Culloden project co-ordinator and Countryside and Islands Group Manager for the North East and Highlands, Alexander Bennett said:

“We’re delighted with the response to our search and the fascinating stories that have been uncovered. It’s particularly interesting to have received entries which really illustrate that Scots fought on both sides and many families were divided by the conflict which had such a profound effect on Scottish and world history.”

Entries to the competition will now be examined and validated by judges Dr Nick Barratt of BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? and George Dalgleish of the National Museums of Scotland.

The winners will be announced at the beginning of April and invited to help officially open the new Culloden visitor centre on 16 April.
 

Primary pupils from St Ronan’s, Priorsford and Walkerburn were transported back in time last week at the National Trust for Scotland’s Robert Smail’s Printing Works, Innerleithen.

More than 120 children got the chance to learn all about the printing trade and get some hands on experience, as part of the centre’s continuing 500 years of Printing in Scotland celebrations.

Pupils became potential apprentices and were transported back in time to 1896 where Mr Robert Cowan Smail had his trusted staff instruct them on all aspects of his family run business, including arithmetic, parcel wrapping, spelling and dexterity.

Property Manager Gen Harrison said:

“This was a real opportunity to bring history to life for these pupils. It’s fantastic to see their enthusiasm and excitement for learning about this fascinating and complex profession. I am sure that many of these pupils would have impressed Mr Smail and made it as apprentices.”

Mrs Davidson, a teacher from Priorsford said:

“We just didn’t realise what you had to offer. It’s great to have such a fantastic resource right on our doorstep. The children were spell-bound.”
 

There are Cadbury Easter Trails taking place at 25 National Trust for Scotland properties from Good Friday to Easter Monday.

Just follow the trail, collect the clues, solve the puzzle and win an Easter egg ! Click here for information on a trail near you!  

The National Trust for Scotland are calling on youngsters with Hanoverian ancestors to get in touch as part of their hunt for children to help them officially open the new Culloden visitor centre on 16 April.

Entries to the Trust’s search for young people with ancestors who fought at the Battle of Culloden have so far uncovered several families with Jacobite connections but none with links to the Government troops.

Ranging from as young as 6 years old and hailing from Canada to Northern Ireland, more than a dozen youngsters have sent in their family trees, revealing that families of Jacobite troops were scattered far and wide after the Battle.

The Trust's Culloden project co-ordinator and Countryside and Islands Group Manager for the North East and Highlands, Alexander Bennett said:

“We always suspected that we’d receive more entries from descendants of the Jacobite troops but we’d also love to hear from people whose family fought on the Government side.

“The myth that the Battle was a conflict between England and Scotland is still alive today. We know however that many Scots fought with the Government troops and some families had members who fought on opposing sides, often against their will.

“The new centre tells the story of Culloden from the perspective of both sides of the conflict and it would be very symbolic to have representatives from both sides help us to officially open the new centre on 16 April.”

The closing date for entries to the Culloden Legacy Search is 19 March. Anyone of school age who would like to take part in the competition should send their family tree by email to the NTS at cullodenlegacy@nts.org.uk or by post to "Search for Culloden's legacy" competition, c/o Platform Public Relations Ltd, The Old Station, Station Road, Beauly, Inverness-shire, IV4 7EG. More information is available now at www.nts.org.uk/Culloden/
 

BBC Scotland’s announcement that it is to launch a major new television series, website and programme of events based on Scotland’s history, provides an unrivalled opportunity to remind the public of the historical treasures on offer, according to the National Trust for Scotland charity.

A ten-part television series, entitled A History of Scotland, shot on High Definition and presented by Neil Oliver, will be screened in November this year. There will also be a new website and several BBC Radio Scotland programmes.


Several of the Trust’s properties, including Falkland Palace, Bannockburn, Killiecrankie, Glenfinnan, Glencoe and Iona, could be used as filming locations, while the new Culloden Visitor Centre may host a related event later this year.


“The Trust has worked closely with BBC Scotland on the development of this project”, says Chairman Shonaig Macpherson, who is a member of the ‘Godparents’ Group’ helping to develop the Scotland’s History project.


“With more than 300,000 members and 129 properties including the sites of some of Scotland’s defining historical moments, like Culloden Battlefield, we’ve offered help and advice in the development of the project and we wholeheartedly support BBC Scotland. We’re sure that Scotland’s History will focus attention on the iconic historical landscapes and buildings the Trust manages across the country.”