NEWS

The letters – to be found at www.burnsletters.wordpress.com - reveal many sides to Burns and his character as he writes to friends, colleagues, literary magazines and other companions he encountered throughout his rich, colourful life.

More than 90 letters will appear online on the dates they were originally written. Visitors to the site will be able to leave their thoughts and comments underneath each newly added letter.

Fresh content will be placed online regularly, until the new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum opens in July 2010.

The site also contains links to the National Trust for Scotland’s fundraising pages at www.nts.org.uk/Donate/Type/ where people are encouraged to donate a sum in order to help the Trust raise the last £4million needed to fully realise the £21 million Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

The museum will be one of the UK’s most culturally significant and impressive visitor destinations. This world-class attraction will be the largest project the National Trust for Scotland has ever undertaken and will epitomize Scotland’s proud heritage, celebrating the life and work of one of Scotland’s greatest figures – Robert Burns.

Chairman Shonaig Macpherson said:

“Placing Burns’ letters online will give historians and the general public another fascinating insight into Burns, his work and his viewpoint of the times he lived in.

“In the period from 1787 to 1789 we see many sides of Burns in his letters. The great love poet can seem cold in his correspondence with friend Robert Ainslie, but he is then flowery in his love letters to Mrs Agnes McLehose - codename ‘Clarinda’ - while a more factual and reflective side is seen in other letters.

“One of the aims of the new museum is to show every side to Burns and these letters are an early way of people seeing how complex a character he truly was.”

It is the latest stage in the Trust using social media and web2.0 to increase Burns’ appeal to a new generation. It joins the Trust’s Twitter project at www.twitter.com/ayrshirebard where people receive up to three lines a day of Burns’ poetry on mobile phones, laptops, computers, iPhones and iPod Touch.

In his foreword to the site, Project Curator for the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum David Hopes said:

“Reading Burns in the prose of his letters is a completely different experience from dipping into the poetry which made him such an icon. His letters share the freshness and variety of his poetry and musical lyrics, but reveal more of the man.

“Burns wrote to an astonishing variety of individuals from James Cunninghame the 14th Earl of Glencairn and David Erskine the 11th Earl of Buchan, to notable literary figures – Dr John Moore and Dr Thomas Blacklock, to bosom companions such as Robert Ainslie.

“Burns also chooses the letter at this time as a vector for his political opinions and to broadcast his work, writing to the editors of newspapers of the time such as the Belfast News-Letter and the Gazeteer.

“The protracted correspondence with James Johnson, Mrs Dunlop of Dunlop, Alexander Cunningham is always stylish and one could tell that Burns enjoyed the challenge of writing on some of his favourite subjects – politics, philosophy, music, and women – to people he clearly respected.

“Burns evidently took great pride in letter writing which developed studiedly over this period as he became perhaps more conscious of his reputation as a published poet. The letters become more consciously crafted and knowingly artful.”  

The National Trust for Scotland’s historic burgh, Culross in Fife, will beam into thousands of living rooms tomorrow night (Sunday 28 December), as it provides a stunning setting for the BBC One’s big festive drama – The Thirty Nine Steps.

Culross, which is cared for by the conservation charity, is one of the best surviving examples of a 16th and 17th century burgh. It was used as a location by the BBC as they filmed the adaptation of the famous novel by John Buchan.

Stars Rupert Penry-Jones (Richard Hannay) and Lydia Leonard (Victoria Sinclair) spent time at the Trust’s coastal property in September, filming. The crew were also accompanied by two vintage cars – a Morris Oxford and a Darracq - which play a crucial role in the dramatisation of the famous spy thriller.

Property Manager Bill Lessels said:

“Culross is such a stunning location and we are sure that it will really add something special to this drama. We can’t wait to see how it all looks on screen. It’s a great opportunity to show Culross, its charm and history to a really wide audience and to show off the treasures that the National Trust for Scotland cares for, on behalf of the nation.”  

As with many other organizations, the Trust is feeling the impact of the current recession on all of its operations.

The charity needs to identify new revenue generation opportunities and reduce costs at all of its properties and centrally.

In conducting such a review, the Trust will focus on providing a sustainable future for all of its properties that ensures their heritage value is maintained.  

Plan your rural retreat to a remote cottage, grand castle apartment or mountain base camp, enjoy Scotland’s stunning scenery and help support Scotland’s leading conservation charity at the same time.

To receive a brochure, please contact 0844 493 2108, or visit www.nts.org.uk/holidays for more information.  

The National Trust for Scotland’s David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre is ending the season on a high, after new figures showed that visitor numbers increased during 2008.

The centre, which pays tribute to the life of the intrepid Scot, welcomed almost 20,000 visitors this year – a ten per cent increase on the same period last year.

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

The centre, which is managed by the conservation charity, is a haven for wildlife including bees, bats, butterflies and wildflowers and has run a series of successful wildlife walks throughout the season.

Property Manager Karen Carruthers 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 the high quality experience that the David Livingstone Centre offers our visitors that we have had such a strong season, despite some challenging circumstances.”

The David Livingstone Centre closes for the season on 24 December 2008 and re-opens in Spring 2009.  

Work to improve the safety of the railway line that travels through the National Trust for Scotland’s Pass of Killiecrankie will benefit the local flora, according to conservation experts.

Network Rail have been carrying out work on trees close to the train tracks in the area, to help prevent branches and old, rotten trees from falling onto the track and causing a safety risk for railway staff and passengers.

A benefit of this work is that is opens up more space for important native wildflowers to grow. It also means that both train passengers and visitors to Killiecrankie will enjoy a better view as they head down to the Soldier’s Leap viewpoint.

Problem trees were felled, in close consultation with the conservation experts at the National Trust for Scotland.

Emma O’Shea is the Trust’s ranger for Perthshire. She said:

“We worked very closely with Network Rail to make sure that the felling would be handled sensitively. Killiecrankie is an important site –both historically and naturally. In fact, the work has improved the area, as it means there is more space for wildflowers to come through in the summer. This is very important as the habitats where Scotland’s wildflowers once flourished are in decline and anything we can do to halt that trend is to be welcomed.”

David Simpson, Route Director for Network Rail in Scotland added:

“Throughout autumn, we have been carrying out a programme of tree and plant clearance near the railway in Scotland. Fallen leaves and branches can cause serious issues for trains and the railway infrastructure, so it’s important that we carefully manage that. That said, we are sensitive to the natural heritage of the Scottish countryside and we are pleased that this work with the National Trust for Scotland has proved successful.”  

For the first time in over 200 years, salmon have reached their spawning grounds on the Coy Burn (a tributary of the River Dee) under their own steam – thanks to a salmon ladder that is unique to Deeside.

Conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland worked closely with a range of partners, including the River Dee Trust, the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board, and the neighbouring Leys Estate to create the ladder in the Coy, just ½ mile from the 16th Century Crathes Castle – the National Trust for Scotland’s historic Aberdeenshire property.

The ladder deploys a sophisticated counting and measuring system that allows for the critical monitoring of salmon, as well as sea trout and brown trout, as they tenaciously battle their way back to spawning grounds upstream from the estate's Mill Pond.

This ladder is attached to the dam on the Coy Burn, which holds back the water which creates the Mill Pond. There has been a dam in one form or another on the pond since at least the 1590s. With modifications over the centuries, the existing dam has been a permanent structure since the late 18th Century.

Before the ladder was built, salmon were caught in nets downstream of the dam and lifted into the Mill Pond to make their way through it to join the Coy Burn again, swimming further upstream to spawn. A great deal of development work has also been undertaken on neighbouring estates to ensure that there are further suitable spawning grounds.

Fiona Milne, Senior Ranger at Crathes Castle Estate is very happy with how the ladder is working. She said:

“Earlier in November, I had the joy of standing with the Fishery Board’s Water Bailiff watching some of the first salmon in over 200 years making their way to their spawning grounds under their own steam – 45 fish had gone through in one week alone.

“This is a complicated project as the dam has obviously historical and ecological importance, so it not only involved the nature conservation staff, but also the archaeologist and building surveyors.”

The £70,000 project was part of the Conservation of Atlantic Salmon in Scotland Project and funded by the EU LIFE Nature fund. The work began in 2004 and was complete in August 2008.

Mark Bilsby of the Dee Fisheries Board said that the installation of the ladder became a real community project.

He commented:

“We drew in 17 local schools to be closely involved and created seven fish passes around the Dee catchment area. Overall, we also created 37 kilometres of riverside buffer strips and coppiced 21 kilometres too.”

Fiona added:

“The movement of these wonderful fish is indeed a thrilling spectacle that will, once seen, leave a lasting impression. Here at the Rangers office on the Crathes Castle Estate, we are very keen that the public share the wonder of the noble migrating fish, especially when they are running to their spawning grounds – through November and December. Come and share the spectacle in a family day out at Crathes Castle.”  

Conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland, is looking for volunteers with a talent for sewing to make simple bags to help save lost puffin chicks on the Dual World Heritage Site, St Kilda.

Every year, dozens of pufflings become disorientated by lights from the buildings on the isolated island of Hirta and end up inland, instead of out at sea. Ranger staff, who live on the island throughout the summer, regularly rescue pufflings by placing them in small, cotton drawstrings bags to keep them safe, take them to the coast and release them out to sea.

Now, Property Manager Susan Bain is asking for help from keen sewers to produce more of the bags that are needed to aid the rescue of the lost puffin chicks. The bags should be made from heavy, cotton-type material, measure 25 x 30cm and have a drawstring top.

St Kilda is an internationally important seabird colony and hosts thousands of breeding puffins from April until August.

Susan said:

“St Kilda’s seabirds are so important, so we do everything we can to protect their populations. Every puffling is precious and we rescue every one we can. Our staff take great care to keep any lights to a minimum. Despite this, we always seem to find some stray pufflings around the staff housing. It is really important that we make the release of these birds as stress free as possible. The bags really seem to work well and we need to replenish our stock for the summer season.”

Anyone interested in playing their part in providing these rescue sacks for next season’s pufflings should contact Susan Bain on 01463 232034.  

The new Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre has been a huge success this year, according to the staff and volunteers who have guided the new, world-class facility through its first twelve months.

The building opened to the public on 20 December 2007, concluding the biggest ever building project taken on by the conservation charity.

Already more than 130,000 people have visited the new centre, experiencing the highly praised exhibition which aims to dispel some of the myths surrounding the battle.

Many visitors have been welcomed by Culloden’s two dedicated volunteers – Ian Campbell and Peter Cowe – who devote precious time to support the conservation charity and its Culloden property.

Ian Campbell from Nairn spends two mornings each week at Culloden. He returned to Scotland in July 2007, after living in Yorkshire for years.

Ian has volunteered at Culloden since his return to Scotland, so has experienced the exhibitions and visitor reactions at both the previous centre and its stunning replacement. There is, he says, no comparison.

Ian said:

“The exhibition at the new centre is incredible. The technology really adds to the experience for visitors, for example, the battle table shows exactly how the battle was fought and why it was lost and won."

The £9.5 million project to revamp the battlefield restored important features and provided a cutting edge visitor centre, which really brings the reality of the battle to life for the 21st century.

Culloden has had a successful year, attaining accolades and commendations from a wide range of sources, including taking top prize in the ‘Use of Technology’ category at the prestigious Museums and Heritage Awards in May for its innovative battlefield guides. The centre was also awarded a ‘Gold’ in the Green Tourism Business Awards. Recently, an influential All Party Group at Westminster commended the site for its high archaeological standards.

Property Manager Deirdre Smyth said:

“Culloden is a site of tremendous importance in Scottish and global history, it deserves a truly world class facility to ensure that the story of that battle is understood and passed on for future generations.

“This past year has been a great experience for everyone involved with the centre, especially the 130,000 visitors who have enjoyed our cutting edge exhibition which gives them an insight into what it was like for soldiers on both sides of the battle. The centre has had a very successful first year and we hope to continue this for many years to come, bringing the battle to life for thousands more visitors.”  

The wonders of the festive season at the National Trust for Scotland charity’s Pollok House in Glasgow have been brought to life for the digital age.

A video podcast featuring Radio Clyde presenter Gina McKie sampling the delights of the beautifully decorated 18th century house has been produced for the first time. Gina enjoys the whole experience in period costume, complete with powdered wig.

The ‘vodcast’ is available on the National Trust for Scotland website, the Radio Clyde website and You Tube and gives visitors a flavour of what they can expect from a visit to Pollok House over the Christmas and New Year period.

Marketing manager Carly Lamberty said:

“The festive experience at Pollok is really fantastic and we are always looking for ways of attracting people who have not yet sampled it to come along. Video podcasts are a real asset to the Trust, as they enable us to show the beauty of our properties. They help us to reach out to a whole new audience and spread the word about our work, looking after some of Scotland’s most precious natural and cultural treasures.”

Gina said:

“The whole experience at Pollok House and meeting Mrs Claus really brought the true spirit of Christmas home.”

The video podcast is available to view at: www.nts.org.uk/Multimedia/

Keeping Christmas at Pollok House runs until Sunday 4 January 2009. Mrs Claus will be available to receive children until Christmas Eve. The house is open 10am until 4pm daily, except 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January.  

The National Trust for Scotland has learned with the deepest sadness of the death of the 12th Earl of Wemyss & 8th Earl of March, who was at the forefront of the Trust for five decades. He passed away in Edinburgh on Friday 12 December, aged 96.

The Earl of Wemyss and March was elected onto the Trust’s Executive Committee in 1944 and two years later was elected to Council. He held his first meeting as the Chairman of Council, the Trust’s decision-making body, in February 1948 in his early thirties, a position he maintained until 1969.

He made a further distinguished contribution to the Trust as President for 24 years (1967-1991) and was a source of inspirational leadership and vision.

The Trust’s President the Duke of Buccleuch today paid tribute to Lord Wemyss. “He was a legendary figure, a giant in the story of the National Trust for Scotland whose contribution to the heritage of Scotland was simply immeasurable.

“Through his vision and tireless leadership for over half a century he inspired people across the country to preserve and enjoy their natural and cultural heritage.”

The Trust’s Chairman, Shonaig Macpherson, also paid tribute today, describing the late Earl of Wemyss, who was a life member of the charity for 70 years, as “part of the very fabric of the Trust.” She said:

“The Trust has been blessed with the support of such a special and committed person for over 70 years. His influence and commitment to conservation, particularly in the 1950’s and 1960’s, is still felt to this day and we have so much to thank him for.”

The Trust sends its sincere condolences to Lady Wemyss and family.

Pictures of the Earl of Wemyss and March are available free of charge by contacting Louise Williams on 0131 243 9372

 

As the countdown through the twelve days of Christmas begins, leap into action like the lords in the well-loved carol and give your loved ones the gift of membership at the National Trust for Scotland.

Gift memberships are the perfect present for all ages – from its wonderful castles and gardens to its unspoilt countryside – the National Trust for Scotland has something for everyone.

Head of Membership, John Roots said:

“Trust membership is the gift that keeps on giving – members enjoy free entry at our 130 properties, including the Burns National Heritage Park and the fantastic visitor centre at Culloden. And choosing to give this present makes a welcome contribution to our charity, helping us continue in our vital work to conserve some of Scotland’s most important natural and cultural treasures, for future generations.”

Membership costs from as little as £1 per month and can be bought online at www.nts.org.uk or by calling 0844 493 2100.  

The ground-breaking archaeological work carried out by conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland, at Culloden Battlefield and the innovative approach to telling the story of the battle sets the standard that all UK battlefield sites should strive for, according to an influential All Party Parliamentary Group at Westminster.

In a letter to the charity’s Chairman Shonaig Macpherson, Lord Faulkner said that the All Party War Graves and Battlefield Heritage Group were aware of the detailed research, planning and interpretation of the site that had been carried out as part of the Trust’s project to restore the battlefield and build a new visitor centre.

Lord Faulkner, who chairs the All Party Group, said:

“It is the view of the All Party Group that the work carried out at Culloden is at the forefront of battlefield interpretation, and we therefore have hopes that the high standard the Trust has set will be emulated at other sites across the United Kingdom.”

Archaeology was central to the conservation charity’s approach to the £9.5 million project to revamp the battlefield and build a new visitor centre, which officially opened in April 2008.

Indeed, excavations, overseen and co-ordinated by the Trust’s Inverness-based archaeologist Jill Harden, showed the old visitor centre stood on an important strategic location on the battlefield and influenced the location of the new centre.

One of the innovative approaches to archaeology taken by the Trust during the project was to involve local metal detectorists in a systematic survey of the battlefield. Analysis of the finds helped provide a better understanding of exactly where the battle took place. These discoveries influenced the design of the inspiring exhibition at the new visitor centre which aims to dispel some of the myths surrounding the battle.

Robin Turner, the Trust’s Head of Archaeology said:

“Culloden is such an important historic site for Scotland – we had to make sure that we got it right. We invested a great deal of time and expertise, from both within and outwith the Trust, in doing strong research. There is no doubt that Culloden, both the battlefield and the visitor centre, have benefited from that rigorous work. The new visitor centre has already welcomed well over 100,000 visitors since it opened last December, and the feedback has been very positive. This endorsement from Lord Faulkner and his colleagues is high commendation indeed.”  

One of Scotland’s leading authorities on Bannockburn will visit the National Trust for Scotland’s Bannockburn Heritage Centre on Sunday 14 December to sign copies of his latest work on the battle.

Bannockburn 1314 – a new history by historian Chris Brown was published by Tempus Press earlier this year. The book recreates the battle from the perspective of both the Scots and the English, created by considering contemporary narrative sources and administrative records, as well as re-examining the battle sites terrain. The author will be signing copies and answering questions on Sunday from 1pm until 3pm.

Property Manager Scott McMaster said:

“It is a great honour to be involved in the launch of this exciting new book at this most fitting location. Bannockburn is one of the pivotal moments of Scottish history and we are still learning much about those fateful events, even almost 700 years later.”

Admission to the event is free.  

A seasonal clean up has been underway at Brodick Castle, the National Trust for Scotland’s impressive, 800 year old castle on Arran, as it prepares for a festive visitor – Father Christmas.

Ninety stag heads have recently undergone their five-yearly clean, so they are looking spick and span ahead of Santa’s arrival at the property on Sunday 14 December.

Every stag head was removed from the towering hallway in the medieval castle, and the team recorded their condition and carefully cleaned them, checking they were not infested with insects, before returning them to the spot where they have hung for decades. It took a dedicated team of conservators and property staff five days to carry out the crucial conservation work.

Brodick’s stag head collection dates back to the period before it was owned by the Trust – with the oldest head dating from 1848. Back then, the castle was a popular hunting base for the Dukes of Hamilton and the island supported a strong population of red deer. The last head was hung in 1937.

Clare Meredith, Head of Collections Conservation Services at the National Trust for Scotland, said:

“Cleaning this number of stag heads is not on everyone’s to do list, but that is the beauty of the National Trust for Scotland. We have an extraordinary variety of historic collections on open display at our properties – paintings, furniture, textiles and clocks as well as taxidermy – and the scale on which we care for them presents us daily with enormous challenges.

“This unusual project brought conservation professionals, property staff and volunteers together, to play their part in helping preserve these important symbols of Brodick’s history for the future.”  

More than 1700 visitors were transported to a festive world of fairytale and fantasy at the National Trust for Scotland’s Culzean Castle in Ayrshire on Sunday 7 December.

The castle was transformed into a magical kingdom, inhabited by popular characters from children’s stories over the years. 48 volunteers and staff from Culzean Castle and Country Park all worked together to create the fantastic spectacle.

Highlights include a huge sleeping giant, a gigantic beanstalk and Rapunzel’s golden locks hanging from a high turret.

Property manager Paul Pomfret said:

“We’ve really created something wonderful at Culzean Castle this Christmas. The castle has such a magical feel that our characters from famous fairytales feel right at home. It has been fantastic seeing visitors’ reactions and watching young princesses dance with Prince Charming or take tea with the Mad Hatter."

Culzean Country Park is open for visitors year round, and the visitor centre, including the restaurant, gift and Christmas shop and toy shop are open Thursday to Sunday until Christmas

Culzean Castle’s Enchanted Christmas also runs on Sunday 14 December. A few tickets remain. To book, please call 0844 493 2100.
 

JM Barrie’s childhood home in Kirriemuir is preparing for a big festive event on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December.

National Trust for Scotland staff, who look after the historic house, are getting ready for a visit from Father Christmas, who will collect children’s letters and take them back to the North Pole in time for Christmas. Children can create their lists on special ‘magic’ paper and follow the fairy trail to the Wendy House, where they can take part in the Christmas quiz and various other challenges in the magic garden.

John McKenna, who manages JM Barrie’s Birthplace said:

“We all know there is a touch of magic in the air at Barrie’s birthplace and we hope that Santa and our visitors will enjoy their time with us.”

The festive weekend takes place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December from 1pm – 3pm. Entry for children costs £3.50. For more information or booking, call 0844 493 2142.  

Two of the leading conservation charities in the UK – the National Trust for Scotland and the National Trust - have today warned that, unless two new plant diseases Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae are effectively controlled, gardens and heathland across the UK could be seriously threatened in the next two decades.

This new warning in a joint letter from the National Trust and the National Trust for Scotland to Environment Ministers in London and Edinburgh comes as Phytophthora kernoviae (otherwise known as ‘sudden oak death’) has been found on bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) at two sites in Cornwall and on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. Vaccinium, or blaeberry in Scotland, is a native plant to the UK.

During the last five years the National Trust has had first-hand experience of dealing with these diseases. It is only in the last year that the disease has been confirmed at National Trust for Scotland sites. Until now, these virulent plant diseases have been confined to our heritage gardens. Rhododendron ponticum has been the main host for this disease and it continues to threaten rare and historically important woody plants. The disease has also been shown to affect heather in laboratory tests.

Jan Haenraets, Head of Gardens and Designed Landscapes at the National Trust for Scotland: “Without concrete action the spread of these diseases poses a real threat to our native plants and species in our gardens, woodlands and heathland. This would have a serious knock on effect for the environment and local economies.”

The joint letter asks that the UK government and Scottish government provide new additional funding and support to help understand the disease and control its spread. Money is also needed to help clear Rhododendron ponticum, which acts as a host for these two new plant diseases.

Ian Wright, the National Trust’s lead advisor on Phytophthora, said: “The fact that Phytophthora kernoviae has made the jump to heathland is deeply worrying. It has been estimated that within twenty years this plant disease could be in every garden in the UK and have a severe impact on our lowland and upland heath.”  

Work by East Lothian-based artist Sheena Phillips goes on show at the National Trust for Scotland’s gallery at Gladstone’s Land in Edinburgh from Tuesday 9 December, until 14 December.

Sheena is known for her sensitive and evocative watercolours. Her love of the countryside and East Lothian shines through in her paintings of coastal scenes with panoramic skies, rolling farmland and rugged moors.

This exhibition also features cityscapes of Edinburgh with autumnal scenes and crisp cold days, but also has a selection of Scottish highland and West Coast scenes.

There will also be a selection of limited edition prints, including Bass Rock, churches in East Lothian and Craigmillar Castle.

Throughout the exhibition, the gallery is open daily from 10am until 4pm.  

Festive celebrations get underway at the National Trust for Scotland’s Castle Fraser in Inverurie from 8 December with a series of fun festive events, some involving real camels.

A Christmas Carol Festival runs from 8 December to 12 December at 7pm. There will be a carol concert every night with a different choir in the atmospheric Great Hall.

Follow the Star is a celebration of Christmas at Castle Fraser on Saturday 13 December and Sunday 14 December from 11.00 to 16.00. It really brings the nativity to life. The three wise men will travel to the castle - on real camels – to visit a full size manger. Children can take part in the procession and add to the festive atmosphere by dressing up as shepherds and angels.

Another special visitor will be onsite - Father Christmas will be in his grotto checking who is naughty and who is nice. The castle will be beautifully decorated for Christmas and will be the venue for children’s games.

Julie Lorimer from Castle Fraser said:

“We are all getting very excited as Christmas approaches. We have decorated the castle to look at its Christmassy best and we’ve organised Christmas events so our visitors and Santa will have a really festive time. It is not often that camels come to Aberdeenshire, so we are sure we are really offering our visitors something different this festive season.”

Booking is essential for the Christmas Carol Festival. Tickets cost £10, including mulled wine and a mince pie. Please call 0844 493 2164 for reservations.

Follow the Star runs on Saturday 13 December and Sunday 14 December from 11am until 4pm each day. Entry costs £8 for adults, £5 for children and a family ticket costs £20.  

Festive celebrations get underway at the National Trust for Scotland’s Alloa Tower on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 December from 7pm until 9pm, with a wonderful Christmas Fair.

Christmases past will be brought to life for visitors as the 14th century tower house is transported back to Victorian times, and decorated throughout.

For those still searching for the perfect presents, there will be a wonderful range of festive gifts and food on sale too.

Property Manager Scott McMaster said:

“Alloa Tower has seen many Christmases over the years. We want this year’s to be the best ever. The tower house will be beautifully decorated and I can’t think of a better way to start off the festive season, than in one of Scotland’s most interesting historic houses.”

The fair takes place on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 December 2008, from 7pm until 9pm. Entry costs £3 for adults and £2 for children.  

Festive celebrations get underway at the National Trust for Scotland’s Broughton House in Kirkcudbright on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December, with a wonderful Christmas Fair.

Festive activities for all ages, including face painting, will be on offer to visitors looking to get into the seasonal spirit. Music and hot chestnuts will add to the festive experience too.

For those still searching for the perfect presents, there will be a wonderful range of gifts and food on sale too.

Property Manager Sally Eastgate said:

“Broughton House is such a great setting during the festive season. It looks lovely at this time of year and we hope we are continuing the artistic traditions of the house and Hornel, with our beautifully decorated tree.”

The fair takes place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December, from 11am until 4pm. Entry is free.

The house is also playing host to a fantastic carol concert on Thursday 18 December. John and Delya Wilkinson will lead the carol singing and Trust staff will carry out a range of seasonal readings. The concert begins at 2.30 and costs £2.

For more information, contact 0844 493 2246.  

Festive celebrations continue at the National Trust for Scotland’s Fyvie Castle near Turriff on Friday 12 December, with a seasonal carol concert.

Under the atmospheric glow of candles, visitors will enjoy some wonderful Christmas favourites in the beautiful surroundings of the castle’s Billiards Room. The Fyvie Parish Church choir will perform a series of readings and solos with a festive theme.

Property Manager Robert Lovie said:

“We are in full festive swing at Fyvie Castle now. The carol concert will be such a festive event - what better way to begin the countdown to the twelve days of Christmas than an evening of beautiful song in wonderfully decorated surroundings. Even Scrooge himself would be won over.”

The concert takes place on Friday 12 December at 7pm. Tickets cost £6 and bookings can be made by calling 0844 493 2182.  

Festive celebrations get underway at the National Trust for Scotland’s Brodick Castle on Arran on Sunday 14 December, with a wonderful Christmas Fair.

Christmases past will be brought to life for visitors as the castle is transported back to Victorian times.

Other festive fun includes a very special visitor - Father Christmas. There will also be carol singing and roast chestnuts to add to the seasonal celebrations.

Property Manager Ken Thorburn said:

“We are all getting very excited by Santa’s imminent arrival. We have been working hard to make sure the castle looks at its Christmassy best, so that Santa and our visitors have a really festive time.”

The event takes place on Sunday 14 December 2008, from noon until 3.30pm. Entry costs £12 for a family.  

Festive celebrations with a creative bent get underway at the National Trust for Scotland’s Falkland Palace on Saturday and 13 and Sunday 14 December, with a wreath making workshop.

The two-hour events give visitors the chance to create their very own festive wreaths and decorations, under the expert guidance of Sonia Ferras-Mana, Falkland’s Head Gardener. Holly, ivy and other greenery from the gardens will be used in the demonstration of the traditional method of wreath-making.

Sonia said:

“Falkland Palace has seen many Christmases over the years, so there is a lot of tradition for visitors to enjoy. We hope that the wreath workshops will provide a fun, festive activity for green-fingered visitors and everyone else too.”

Mince pies and refreshments will also be served. The event costs £10. To book, call 0844 493 2186.  

The National Trust for Scotland has decided to relocate its 14 members of staff currently based at Northgate House in Peebles, to Edinburgh.

The sale of the Peebles office accommodation will raise valuable additional income for the charity.

The 14 employees will be offered suitable alternative roles and it is anticipated the process will be completed by April 2009.

The staff will be based either in the Trust’s main Edinburgh base at Wemyss House in Charlotte Square or work from the Trust’s historic Stenhouse Mansion property, 2½ miles southwest of the city centre.

This 17th century property, acquired by the Trust in 1937, is currently occupied by Historic Scotland, who have now been served notice to vacate the building.  

A generous Glasgow designer is helping to bring history to life for visitors at the National Trust for Scotland’s Pollok House in Glasgow, with a donation of period-style gowns valued at more than £15,000.

Moira Withers, owner of bridal and eveningwear design business Glitterati in King Street in Glasgow, decided to give the gowns to the conservation charity to use in activities and events for visitors, young and old.

The gift of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian style dresses came in response to an appeal to local businesses by Alison Burke, the Trust’s Pollok House learning officer. Alison wrote to local businesses asking for donations to help the charity re-instate popular themed historic events, where staff take tours of the 18th century house in exquisite period costume.

Moira was keen to help the charity, and Alison’s appeal for assistance came at just the right time. Moira explains:

“I have always donated to charities and I get a lot of letters, but there was something about the National Trust for Scotland letter - it asked but didn’t. I believe in the synchronicity of events. We knew we were moving and I had stock that I didn’t want to take.

“I had been to Pollok House many times before and I could picture particular dresses there. When I met Alison and she explained about the children’s workshops, I loved the thought that the children wearing the dresses gave them a second life.”

It is fitting that Moira’s creations can now be seen at one of the nation’s most important historic houses, as Moira takes lots of inspiration for her designs from the past. She said:

“For inspiration, I’ll look backwards. I research costume design and shape – including how the inside of dresses are shaped and engineered. A lot of bridal wear is influenced by the past because they are grand gowns, but it is also about finding a modern interpretation of an historical style.”

And already, the charity is reaping the rewards of this generosity, hosting two successful period themed events in the last few months.

Alison Burke, learning officer at Pollok House said:

“The gift of the dresses has allowed us to stage a Victorian weekend and a Georgian weekend, which we will be repeating in 2009. The visitors were astounded by the quality and magnificence of the dresses, and, set in the sumptuous surroundings of Pollok House, it seemed as though they had always been designed for the house.”

As well as the beautiful gowns, Moira also sent a consignment of girls’ dresses and a large bag of bows, which have been turned into bow ties and Victorian dresses for school workshops.

Other local shops and experts have also offered the charity valuable support and expertise - Juliette’s Bridal Wear in Paisley donated a beautiful Victorian dress and Fionna Herdman, a bridal designer based in Hamilton, is helping the team at Pollok adapt the dresses.

More dresses are still needed, especially in size 14 and above. If you can help, please call Alison on 0141 616 6410.

Pollok House is also available for weddings. The beautiful house and grounds provides the ideal location for a period style wedding dress. For more information, please visit www.nts.org.uk/Functions/Weddings/.  

Threave, the National Trust for Scotland’s glorious garden and estate in Dumfriesshire is getting ready for some festive fun on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December.

Visitors can enjoy the garden in all its festive splendour, with real holly and ivy on show. A very special visitor – Father Christmas – will be in the garden checking who is naughty and who is nice too. Carol singers will add to the magical atmosphere in the 64 acre ornamental garden.

There will also be a range of family activities on offer, a fantastic puppet show and nature workshops. A fun gnome trail will give children the chance to explore the garden too.

Property Manager Sheila Innes said:

"We have some special guests joining us this weekend. Come along and be 'At Home with the Gnomes'."

"With your gnome-guide by your side, you can wander the grounds or maybe soak up the entertainment of our special puppeteer. You should also look out for the naughty gnomes too."

The event costs £5 per head (under 12s free).  

As the festive season fast approaches, the annual transformation of Pollok House into a magical family Christmas experience has taken place. Every year, the Georgian mansion assumes a different Christmas façade with every major room displaying a different Christmas décor.

Set in the grounds of Pollok Park, in the south of Glasgow, Pollok House was home to the Maxwell family for over 600 years. Today it is also home to a magnificent art collection, including Blake, Goya and El Greco. The National Trust for Scotland took over the management of the property in 1998 and over the years, it has created the tradition of being a Christmas focal point for thousands of visiting families.

Joe Bowden, Property Manager, has overseen their festivities for a number of years. He explains what Christmas visitors can expect:

“This year, our special family of teddy bears have returned and they are featuring in a special tableau of Aladdin. Something that has not been done before - they help bring the whole house alive all the way through to 4 January 2009.

“And there is one thing that remains the same here - that’s the visit of our special Mrs Claus. Children will be able to see her all the way through to Christmas Eve - every day from 11am to 5pm, and for £4 per child (up to the age of 12), they will be welcomed into her snug sitting room strewn with gifts and toys amongst, unusually, some of the finest house antique furnishings.”

Joe Bowden has a special invitation: “For a special treat, visit our famed servant’s quarters in the basement – they are home to the Christmas-themed restaurant. Here, you can eat the finest of Christmas lunches or maybe book a Christmas dinner.”

 

First Minister Alex Salmond is today backing the National Trust for Scotland’s major fundraising plans for its brand new Burns Museum, in the build up to next year’s Homecoming 2009 celebrations.

Today marks the first of many exciting fundraising initiatives planned by the Trust, to attract Burns enthusiasts world-wide, families young and old, and Scotland’s entrepreneurial talent, to get behind the world-class Burns museum to be built in Alloway.

Next month’s 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns launches Scotland’s Homecoming celebrations and the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Ayrshire will offer a fitting legacy to the bard.

The conservation charity’s ambitious appeal, launched today (Monday, 1 December), includes “Put On A Pound For Rabbie,” and gives everyone the chance to pledge their support to help deliver the museum for Scotland. Online donations are also being accepted, from anyone who wants to contribute, at www.nts.org.uk/Donate/Type/.

The Scottish Government is contributing £5.5m towards the Trust’s £21m Burns project and the First Minister today lent his personal support to the public and corporate appeal to raise the final £4m.

First Minister Alex Salmond said:

“Robert Burns is Scotland’s favourite son and it’s important that we continue to celebrate his work, which is why the Scottish Government is contributing £5.5 million towards the National Trust for Scotland’s Burns Museum.

“Next year we will mark the 250th anniversary of the Bard’s birth with Homecoming Scotland 2009. This will be a fantastic celebration of Scotland’s contribution to the world and an opportunity for Scots through the world to reconnect and engage with their heritage.

"Burns is my Scot of the Millennium and the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum will ensure we preserve his legacy so that future generations can learn more about Scotland’s greatest cultural icon.”

Today’s “Put on a Pound for Rabbie” concept reaches out to Scottish businesses across the country, inviting them to add an extra pound to meals, concert tickets or hotel rooms and pledge the excess to the Burns museum. Discussions are already well underway with a host of businesses and companies, whose involvement will be recognised at the new museum and online.

The charity has already contacted many of its members, with supporters donating £30 or more having the chance to add their names to a commemorative scroll at the museum’s entrance. 1372 names are already pencilled in.

The National Trust for Scotland’s Chairman Shonaig Macpherson said:

“Burns was a poet of the people and this way everybody can feel involved in the building of the new museum and feel ownership of Burns and the whole project.

“Today marks the start of our public fundraising campaign and there will be much more to come in the weeks and months ahead.

“2009 is the year of Homecoming and Burns will be uppermost in many people’s minds. The Trust will never have a better chance to reach out to Scots everywhere, who already hold the bard in great affection and will want to play their part in delivering this incredibly exciting project.”

The museum will form the main part of the Burns experience in Alloway, alongside the Birthplace Cottage, the Burns Monument and Gardens, Brig o’Doon and a connecting walkway to all the sites. The project is due for completion in 2010.