Scotland Outdoors

The iconic ash tree on Glasgow’s Argyle street won UK Tree of the Year last year and is now nominated for European Tree of the Year. Mark looks up at the giant ash with arborist David Treanor and discovers why the 170-year-old tree is so cherished.
Fresh efforts are underway to save critically endangered fresh water pearl mussels in the Cairngorms National Park. Rachel catches up with Freshwater Restoration Manager Dr Sally Mackenzie on the River Spey to discuss the fascinating life cycle of the species and the projects aiming to save it.
New research suggests that tawny owls, which normally rely on sound to hunt, are adapting to noisy urban roadsides by hunting in areas lit by streetlights. Mark meets Glasgow University PhD Researcher Giuseppe Orlando in Milngavie to find out how he studied the bird’s nocturnal movements.
In this week’s midweek podcast excerpt, Rachel takes a wander in the Kinrara Estate near Aviemore with storyteller Sarah Hobbs to discover how women have shaped the Cairngorms.
A Brush with Fungi is a compilation of new watercolours produced by artist David Mitchell. Mark joins David in Kirriemuir to explore the process behind painting the intricate detail of hundreds of species of fungi.
Glasgow Film Festival will host the Scottish premiere of nature documentary, Super Nature, directed by Ed Sayers. The film was shot collaboratively across 25 different countries using Super 8 cameras, including footage from Richard Davies who filmed Atlantic Salmon in Scotland. Rachel and Mark are joined by Director Ed Sayers.
Fyrish Hill, close to Alness in the Highlands, entered the wider public consciousness recently when it featured in the Traitors. Morven Livingstone meets Fiona Stephenson who was inspired to write a poem about Fyrish.

Rachel Stewart meets storyteller Sarah Hobbs to hear how women have shaped the landscape.

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors

Mark Stephen visits the Murmurs of Spring art exhibition at the Scottish Ornithologists Club in East Lothian

The swift population has seen a significant decline in recent years. Now, Scotland has become the first country in the UK to introduce a legal requirement to install swift bricks in all new buildings. Rachel meets Cally Smith of North East Scotland Swifts to discover how the bricks will help to protect the birds.
The historic Palm Houses at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh are newly restored and the team are beginning to move the plant specimens inside, starting with the largest. Mark meets Glasshouse Manager Fiona Inches to find out what it takes to move hundreds of specimens.
Rachel is at the Herpetofauna Workers Meeting in Glasgow to find out about the work being done to help our reptiles and amphibians. She chats to volunteer Cally Ullman-Smith and his mum Janet of Saving Scotland’s Amphibians and Reptiles.
Recent stormy weather is causing puffins and other seabirds to struggle and many are being washed up on Scotland’s coastlines. Rachel and Mark are joined by Paul Reynolds of New Arc Wildlife Rescue, Aberdeenshire, to discuss the pressures seabirds face.
In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark meets master wood carver David Robinson at his studio in East Lothian to learn more about how his work is inspired by nature.
Back at the Herpetofauna Workers Meeting, Rachel speaks to ecologist and survey volunteer Stephen Corcoran whose work is related to adders and restoring peatland.
Orkney based artist Anna Charlotta Gardiner is undertaking a month long residency in Aberdeen as part of the Royal Scottish Academy’s 200th anniversary. Mark meets Anna near Aberdeen harbour to explore how her work takes inspiration from the city’s maritime heritage.
Mark takes a wander in Aberdeenshire to check out potholes exacerbated by stormy weather.