<description>&lt;p&gt;The Scottish Wildlife Trust has just acquired a piece of land which will double the size of one of its wildlife reserves. Rachel joins Reserves Manager Rab Potter at Gight Wood near Methlick to discover why the site is so significant.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A new survey has revealed that the number of peregrine pairs in the breeding season within Cairngorms National Park has declined by 56% since 2002. Mark meets Chief Executive Grant Moir near Grantown to discuss the pattern.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cattle droving was once commonplace in Scotland, moving animals on foot to market and to higher fields for grazing. Rachel meets farmer and ecologist Richard Lockett near Dingwall to discover how he led a modern-day cattle drove across the Highlands.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels team in the North East are working with specially trained dogs and their handlers to detect the last remaining grey squirrels in the city and surrounds. Mark visits a search and signal demonstration.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rachel heads to the open air swimming pool in Stonehaven, host of the International Ice Swimming Association GB Championships. She gets pool side with Stephen Gould from IIS GB and Gillian Wood from Aberdeenshire Council.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mark takes a wander in Aberdeenshire to consider the nuances in the colours of squirrels' fur.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mark and Rachel are joined by Joanna Peaker of Montrose Basin Visitor Centre to chat winter wildlife behaviour.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone join Jonathan Caddy to discover how an extraordinary chain of events led to the founding of the world-renowned Findhorn Foundation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Forestry and Land Scotland’s Newton Nursery near Elgin has recently opened a glasshouse which could more than double the number of trees they can grow. Mark explores with Glasshouse Team Leader Emma Ritchie.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust has just acquired a piece of land which will double the size of one of its wildlife reserves. Rachel joins Reserves Manager Rab Potter at Gight Wood near Methlick to discover why the site is so significant.A new survey has revealed that the number of peregrine pairs in the breeding season within Cairngorms National Park has declined by 56% since 2002. Mark meets Chief Executive Grant Moir near Grantown to discuss the pattern.Cattle droving was once commonplace in Scotland, moving animals on foot to market and to higher fields for grazing. Rachel meets farmer and ecologist Richard Lockett near Dingwall to discover how he led a modern-day cattle drove across the Highlands.The Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels team in the North East are working with specially trained dogs and their handlers to detect the last remaining grey squirrels in the city and surrounds. Mark visits a search and signal demonstration.Rachel heads to the open air swimming pool in Stonehaven, host of the International Ice Swimming Association GB Championships. She gets pool side with Stephen Gould from IIS GB and Gillian Wood from Aberdeenshire Council.Mark takes a wander in Aberdeenshire to consider the nuances in the colours of squirrels' fur.Mark and Rachel are joined by Joanna Peaker of Montrose Basin Visitor Centre to chat winter wildlife behaviour.Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone join Jonathan Caddy to discover how an extraordinary chain of events led to the founding of the world-renowned Findhorn Foundation.Forestry and Land Scotland’s Newton Nursery near Elgin has recently opened a glasshouse which could more than double the number of trees they can grow. Mark explores with Glasshouse Team Leader Emma Ritchie.

Squirrel Detection, Ice Swimming and Cattle Droving

<description>&lt;p&gt;Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone meet up with Jonathan Caddy at the Findhorn Foundation.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone meet up with Jonathan Caddy at the Findhorn Foundation.

Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone meet up with Jonathan Caddy at the Findhorn Foundation.

The Findhorn Foundation

<description>&lt;p&gt;In the summer, Mark met Euan Tomes, Assistant Woodlands Manager at Moray Estates, in the aftermath of a wildfire that spread through Dava Moor. Mark catches up with Euan to find out how the land has been recovering and what happened to the osprey chicks Euan helped to save.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In the heart of Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway is an organisation called A’ the Airts. Rachel meets Aileen Sim and Kate Sloan to find out how it's working to protect the craft of knitting.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mills Observatory in Dundee has reopened for this year’s season and the historic dome is also celebrating its 90th anniversary. Mark meets Anna Day of Leisure and Culture Dundee to find out how the Observatory was recently saved after it risked closure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark and Rachel speak to delegates at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network Conference near Perth.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In Aberdeenshire, craters left by a WWII decoy airfield form the basis of a successful rewilding project. Mark meets Gavin Drummond on his farm Harestone Moss to discover how he’s giving parts of the land back to nature.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Back in the south west, Rachel takes a trip to Wanlockhead - the highest village in Scotland. Rachel joins Jon Evans, chair of Wanlockhead Museum Trust, to explore a miner’s subscription library.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone head to the Cairngorms to meet outdoor survival expert Zeki Basan who introduces the ancient craft of using urine to extract vibrant natural dyes from lichen.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In Glen Prosen, Mark takes a wander with Molecular Fungal Ecologist Dr Andy Taylor to explore the fungal species found in the area.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rachel and Mark are joined by Anna Grunden of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to talk about Sweden’s approach to outdoor access and shared challenges with Scotland.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors

In the summer, Mark met Euan Tomes, Assistant Woodlands Manager at Moray Estates, in the aftermath of a wildfire that spread through Dava Moor. Mark catches up with Euan to find out how the land has been recovering and what happened to the osprey chicks Euan helped to save.In the heart of Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway is an organisation called A’ the Airts. Rachel meets Aileen Sim and Kate Sloan to find out how it's working to protect the craft of knitting.Mills Observatory in Dundee has reopened for this year’s season and the historic dome is also celebrating its 90th anniversary. Mark meets Anna Day of Leisure and Culture Dundee to find out how the Observatory was recently saved after it risked closure.In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark and Rachel speak to delegates at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network Conference near Perth.In Aberdeenshire, craters left by a WWII decoy airfield form the basis of a successful rewilding project. Mark meets Gavin Drummond on his farm Harestone Moss to discover how he’s giving parts of the land back to nature.Back in the south west, Rachel takes a trip to Wanlockhead - the highest village in Scotland. Rachel joins Jon Evans, chair of Wanlockhead Museum Trust, to explore a miner’s subscription library.Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone head to the Cairngorms to meet outdoor survival expert Zeki Basan who introduces the ancient craft of using urine to extract vibrant natural dyes from lichen.In Glen Prosen, Mark takes a wander with Molecular Fungal Ecologist Dr Andy Taylor to explore the fungal species found in the area.Rachel and Mark are joined by Anna Grunden of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to talk about Sweden’s approach to outdoor access and shared challenges with Scotland.

The Super Moon, Fungus and the Highest Village in Scotland

<description>&lt;p&gt;Mark and Rachel speak to delegates at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network conference.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Mark and Rachel speak to delegates at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network conference.

Mark and Rachel speak to delegates at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network conference.

Twenty Years of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code

<description>&lt;p&gt;The Spirit of Adventure Festival is hosted this weekend by Paralympic champion Karen Darke and features Claire Alldritt, who embarked on a 1000 mile trek with her horses in 2022. Rachel joins them to chat next adventures.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark meets climber Guy Robertson whose latest book, The Great Mixed Climbs of Scotland, co-produced with photographer Hamish Frost, highlights winter climbs in the country.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In a few days, Milli Abrams of Tribe Yarns in East Neuk, will start a 3000 mile solo row across the Atlantic. Milli joins Mark and Rachel before the adventure begins.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Few patches of Caledonian pinewoods remain in Scotland. Near Glenmore Lodge, Mark talks to author Dr Ron Summers about future conservation of the pinewoods.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The UNESCO Trail links Scotland's 16 UNESCO sites. Rachel chats about the trail's highlights with Ed Forrest, the Director of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, at the Crawick Water.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A new exhibition at National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait features Alfred Buckham, an aerial photographer who pushed the boundaries of 20th Century photography and aviation. Mark meets curator Louise Pearson to explore his death defying adventures and innovative techniques.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The North Bridge, Edinburgh is currently under repair. In 2024, Maud Start met Benn Isherwood, Technical Advisor for the North Bridge Refurbishment Project, in Leith, where parts of the bridge were being painted.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rachel joins Brian Johnson at the Crawick Multiverse to discover how the land art installation was created.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust's lease at demonstration farm Auchnerran in Aberdeenshire has recently ended. Mark joins Director Dr Nick Hesford at the farm to discuss its legacy of achievements.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The Spirit of Adventure Festival is hosted this weekend by Paralympic champion Karen Darke and features Claire Alldritt, who embarked on a 1000 mile trek with her horses in 2022. Rachel joins them to chat next adventures.In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark meets climber Guy Robertson whose latest book, The Great Mixed Climbs of Scotland, co-produced with photographer Hamish Frost, highlights winter climbs in the country.In a few days, Milli Abrams of Tribe Yarns in East Neuk, will start a 3000 mile solo row across the Atlantic. Milli joins Mark and Rachel before the adventure begins.Few patches of Caledonian pinewoods remain in Scotland. Near Glenmore Lodge, Mark talks to author Dr Ron Summers about future conservation of the pinewoods.The UNESCO Trail links Scotland's 16 UNESCO sites. Rachel chats about the trail's highlights with Ed Forrest, the Director of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, at the Crawick Water.A new exhibition at National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait features Alfred Buckham, an aerial photographer who pushed the boundaries of 20th Century photography and aviation. Mark meets curator Louise Pearson to explore his death defying adventures and innovative techniques.The North Bridge, Edinburgh is currently under repair. In 2024, Maud Start met Benn Isherwood, Technical Advisor for the North Bridge Refurbishment Project, in Leith, where parts of the bridge were being painted.Rachel joins Brian Johnson at the Crawick Multiverse to discover how the land art installation was created.Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust's lease at demonstration farm Auchnerran in Aberdeenshire has recently ended. Mark joins Director Dr Nick Hesford at the farm to discuss its legacy of achievements.

A Daredevil Photographer, a Winter Climber and an Atlantic Rower

A topical guide to life in the Scottish outdoors.

Scotland Outdoors

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