Helen Needham discusses The Book of Birds with illustrator and artist Jackie Morris

Helen Needham discusses The Book of Birds with illustrator and artist Jackie Morris

The Book of Birds with Jackie Morris

Mark visits NatureScot’s Forvie National Nature Reserve in Aberdeenshire where little egrets have bred in north-east Scotland for the first time. They are a welcome addition to the reserve although as manager Catriona Reid tells him, climate change is thought to be the reason that these once Mediterranean birds have travelled further north.Rachel meets the fourth finalist in the environmental category of the BBC Scotland Make a Difference Awards. EPIC, Enabling Projects in Clackmannanshire, volunteers are nominated for their efforts in improving biodiversity and access to nature across their area. Rachel catches up with some of them as they carry out work clearing pathways.With the impact of the Cairngorm wildfires still being felt, attention has turned to how similar scenarios might be tackled in the future. Earlier this week Mark met Wildfire Consultant Michael Bruce at his estate at Glentanar in Deeside. Michael is also Chair of the South Grampian Wildfire Group and was involved in tackling the Glenmore fire. He tells Mark about the different aspects involved in tackling wildfires and what we might have to consider in the future in terms of land management.Rachel is in Dunfermline meeting some of the famous peacocks of Pittencrieff Park. The avian celebrities are well looked after by a group of volunteers including warden Carlyn Cane who tells Rachel about how they came to call the park their home and what’s involved in looking after a muster of peacocks.Morven Livingstone visits North Kessock Primary School and meets up with Liaison teacher Laura Dorantt who's joined by JJ Gladwin founder of Go Flourish, a charity whose aim is to reconnect children with nature.This Saturday is the World Stone Skimming Championships on Easdale Island in the Inner Hebrides. We’re joined live by one of the competitors, Andy Reynolds, who came to stone skimming after suffering a stroke when he was just 44. He chats to Mark and Rachel about what it is about skimming stones that’s helped his recovery.Artist and outdoor enthusiast Steven Sinclair currently has a collection on display at Dundee Rep titled Landskein. It’s a term that was coined by an artist in the western isles and gained popularity through Robert McFarlane's work to unearth lost words to describe nature. Rachel met him to take a look at his work and hear more about what inspires him.And in this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast Helen Needham chats to illustrator and artist Jackie Morris about her latest work, The Book of Birds. We hear an excerpt where Jackie tells Helen about her admiration for the cuckoo.

Mark visits NatureScot’s Forvie National Nature Reserve in Aberdeenshire where little egrets have bred in north-east Scotland for the first time. They are a welcome addition to the reserve although as manager Catriona Reid tells him, climate change is thought to be the reason that these once Mediterranean birds have travelled further north. Rachel meets the fourth finalist in the environmental category of the BBC Scotland Make a Difference Awards. EPIC, Enabling Projects in Clackmannanshire, volunteers are nominated for their efforts in improving biodiversity and access to nature across their area. Rachel catches up with some of them as they carry out work clearing pathways. With the impact of the Cairngorm wildfires still being felt, attention has turned to how similar scenarios might be tackled in the future. Earlier this week Mark met Wildfire Consultant Michael Bruce at his estate at Glentanar in Deeside. Michael is also Chair of the South Grampian Wildfire Group and was involved in tackling the Glenmore fire. He tells Mark about the different aspects involved in tackling wildfires and what we might have to consider in the future in terms of land management. Rachel is in Dunfermline meeting some of the famous peacocks of Pittencrieff Park. The avian celebrities are well looked after by a group of volunteers including warden Carlyn Cane who tells Rachel about how they came to call the park their home and what’s involved in looking after a muster of peacocks. Morven Livingstone visits North Kessock Primary School and meets up with Liaison teacher Laura Dorantt who's joined by JJ Gladwin founder of Go Flourish, a charity whose aim is to reconnect children with nature. This Saturday is the World Stone Skimming Championships on Easdale Island in the Inner Hebrides. We’re joined live by one of the competitors, Andy Reynolds, who came to stone skimming after suffering a stroke when he was just 44. He chats to Mark and Rachel about what it is about skimming stones that’s helped his recovery. Artist and outdoor enthusiast Steven Sinclair currently has a collection on display at Dundee Rep titled Landskein. It’s a term that was coined by an artist in the western isles and gained popularity through Robert McFarlane's work to unearth lost words to describe nature. Rachel met him to take a look at his work and hear more about what inspires him. And in this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast Helen Needham chats to illustrator and artist Jackie Morris about her latest work, The Book of Birds. We hear an excerpt where Jackie tells Helen about her admiration for the cuckoo.

Little Egrets, Popular Peacocks and The Book of Birds

The Denburn car park in Aberdeen city centre is well known by locals, but not many people might be as familiar with what sits on top of it. Around the derelict health centre, a community group, Upper Denburn Gardens, is working to improve the site and use it to hold events. Laura Guthrie catches up with one of the volunteers, Joe, and hears about their plans.In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Mark spent time with former marine Jock Hutchison. Jock and his wife Emma run the charity Horseback UK from their Aberdeenshire farm. We hear an excerpt where Jock tells Mark about how the charity first started working with injured servicemen.Rachel explores the Alva Ice House in Clackmannanshire, which will soon be welcoming visitors as part of Doors Open Day. Susan Mills shows Rachel the restoration work that’s been carried out on the building.Earlier this week, Mark spent some time at Dumfries House, the headquarters of the charity The King’s Foundation. On Wednesday, some of the leading voices in food production and food security were attending a summit, alongside King Charles, to discuss the future of food production. Mark speaks to the organiser and some of the delegates, including Dr Chris van Tulleken, about what needs to happen to ensure a fair and sustainable future of food.This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Millenium Link project which reopened and reconnected Scotland’s lowland canals. As part of the anniversary, the Canal Listening Project has been gathering the rich sounds of the Forth and Clyde and Union canals. Rachel meets some of those involved in the project and hears some of the stories they have collected.We hear live from Dr Anna McGregor, one of the researchers involved in a University of Glasgow project which has rediscovered long-lost oyster beds on the west coast of Scotland thanks to research involving Gaelic and Scots.While he was at Dumfries House, Mark met up with a group of school pupils taking part in the King’s Foundation Food for the Future programme. The project starts off with the kids making compost, and eventually they will grow food and take what they’ve learned back to school. Mark hears how the project impacts the pupils involved.Rachel is on the Aberdeenshire coast hearing about a new food-tourism experience, the Cullen Skink Odyssey, which tells the story of the famous fish soup through a film.And Mark couldn’t resist stopping for a chat with Rosie the Ayrshire Dairy cow at Dumfries House. Although, as he discovered, she’s a bit quieter than your average cow...

The Denburn car park in Aberdeen city centre is well known by locals, but not many people might be as familiar with what sits on top of it. Around the derelict health centre, a community group, Upper Denburn Gardens, is working to improve the site and use it to hold events. Laura Guthrie catches up with one of the volunteers, Joe, and hears about their plans. In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Mark spent time with former marine Jock Hutchison. Jock and his wife Emma run the charity Horseback UK from their Aberdeenshire farm. We hear an excerpt where Jock tells Mark about how the charity first started working with injured servicemen. Rachel explores the Alva Ice House in Clackmannanshire, which will soon be welcoming visitors as part of Doors Open Day. Susan Mills shows Rachel the restoration work that’s been carried out on the building. Earlier this week, Mark spent some time at Dumfries House, the headquarters of the charity The King’s Foundation. On Wednesday, some of the leading voices in food production and food security were attending a summit, alongside King Charles, to discuss the future of food production. Mark speaks to the organiser and some of the delegates, including Dr Chris van Tulleken, about what needs to happen to ensure a fair and sustainable future of food. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Millenium Link project which reopened and reconnected Scotland’s lowland canals. As part of the anniversary, the Canal Listening Project has been gathering the rich sounds of the Forth and Clyde and Union canals. Rachel meets some of those involved in the project and hears some of the stories they have collected. We hear live from Dr Anna McGregor, one of the researchers involved in a University of Glasgow project which has rediscovered long-lost oyster beds on the west coast of Scotland thanks to research involving Gaelic and Scots. While he was at Dumfries House, Mark met up with a group of school pupils taking part in the King’s Foundation Food for the Future programme. The project starts off with the kids making compost, and eventually they will grow food and take what they’ve learned back to school. Mark hears how the project impacts the pupils involved. Rachel is on the Aberdeenshire coast hearing about a new food-tourism experience, the Cullen Skink Odyssey, which tells the story of the famous fish soup through a film. And Mark couldn’t resist stopping for a chat with Rosie the Ayrshire Dairy cow at Dumfries House. Although, as he discovered, she’s a bit quieter than your average cow...

Sounds of the Canal, Rosie the Cow and a Garden on a Carpark

Mark visits Glasgow’s Queen’s Park Glasshouse which was threatened with closure earlier this summer. He speaks to some of those involved in the campaign to secure its future which seems to have been successful.Rachel tries her hand at Nordic Walking which may look gentle but actually involves a full body workout! She went along to a group in Blair Atholl run by Eilidh Paterson who explained what’s involved and showed Rachel the best techniques.Over the next few weeks on Out of Doors, we’ll be chatting to the finalists of the BBC Make a Difference Awards Scotland in the Environmental Category. The awards recognise people who give their time voluntarily to help others and make a difference in their communities. This week Mark met John Smillie who was nominated for his effort in clearing litter, supporting wildlife habitats and raising money for charity through recycling.Earlier this week Mark donned his eye protection to gaze skywards and try and get a good view of the solar eclipse. We find out if the clouds parted for him and hear a bit about the science behind an eclipse.The Scott Monument is one of Edinburgh’s most recognisable landmarks and this year it turns 180 years old. To mark the occasion, Edinburgh City Council are issuing 12 free tickets every day between 12th and 17th August for anyone wishing to climb the famous monument. Mark went along to scale the 221 steps to the top and hear about the monument’s history.The Fowlsheugh Nature Reserve south of Stonehaven is the largest mainland seabird colony on the East Coast of Scotland. Most people visit the reserve by walking along the cliff tops, but recently for a Scotland Outdoors podcast, Helen Needham was lucky enough to experience it from the water on a skiff belonging to the Catterline Coastal Rowing Club. We hear part of her row to take a look at the kittiwakes.Stonehaven Open Air Pool is the UK's only art deco Olympic sized sea water lido. It was opened in 1934 and is run by Aberdeenshire Council along with charity group, Friends of the Pool Stonehaven. Rachel went along to very popular ‘midnight swim’ and met Steve Harris from the Friends group to hear about what makes it such a popular attraction at 102 years old.And Mark meets naturalist, conservationist and author Polly Pullar at her farm in Perthshire to chat about her upcoming book, In the Company of Sheep. Polly tells Mark what it is about sheep that has fascinated her since she was a child.

Mark visits Glasgow’s Queen’s Park Glasshouse which was threatened with closure earlier this summer. He speaks to some of those involved in the campaign to secure its future which seems to have been successful. Rachel tries her hand at Nordic Walking which may look gentle but actually involves a full body workout! She went along to a group in Blair Atholl run by Eilidh Paterson who explained what’s involved and showed Rachel the best techniques. Over the next few weeks on Out of Doors, we’ll be chatting to the finalists of the BBC Make a Difference Awards Scotland in the Environmental Category. The awards recognise people who give their time voluntarily to help others and make a difference in their communities. This week Mark met John Smillie who was nominated for his effort in clearing litter, supporting wildlife habitats and raising money for charity through recycling. Earlier this week Mark donned his eye protection to gaze skywards and try and get a good view of the solar eclipse. We find out if the clouds parted for him and hear a bit about the science behind an eclipse. The Scott Monument is one of Edinburgh’s most recognisable landmarks and this year it turns 180 years old. To mark the occasion, Edinburgh City Council are issuing 12 free tickets every day between 12th and 17th August for anyone wishing to climb the famous monument. Mark went along to scale the 221 steps to the top and hear about the monument’s history. The Fowlsheugh Nature Reserve south of Stonehaven is the largest mainland seabird colony on the East Coast of Scotland. Most people visit the reserve by walking along the cliff tops, but recently for a Scotland Outdoors podcast, Helen Needham was lucky enough to experience it from the water on a skiff belonging to the Catterline Coastal Rowing Club. We hear part of her row to take a look at the kittiwakes. Stonehaven Open Air Pool is the UK's only art deco Olympic sized sea water lido. It was opened in 1934 and is run by Aberdeenshire Council along with charity group, Friends of the Pool Stonehaven. Rachel went along to very popular ‘midnight swim’ and met Steve Harris from the Friends group to hear about what makes it such a popular attraction at 102 years old. And Mark meets naturalist, conservationist and author Polly Pullar at her farm in Perthshire to chat about her upcoming book, In the Company of Sheep. Polly tells Mark what it is about sheep that has fascinated her since she was a child.

Inside The Scott Monument, Midnight Swimming and Nordic Walking

Mark visits the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen where researchers are carrying out a project to restore, preserve and digitise irreplaceable soil and peat maps, aerial imagery, field notebooks and survey records collected since 1947. Mark hears why Hutton Unearthed: A New National Soils and Peat Map Archive is so important for the future of soil health.Stirling is busy this weekend as Radio 2 in the Park rolls into town but one of the other popular locations near the city is Dumyat. Rachel visited recently to see the work of the Future Forest Company which has been planting thousands of trees on the estate.In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast Mark spent a morning with wildlife photographer Karen Miller. They spent some time trying to spot voles.This week, a new path was officially opened at Ben Rinnes in Moray. Rachel went along to test out the new route, which was funded by a local windfarm, alongside Ella Grant from Friends of Ben Rinnes, Marion McDonald from Foundation Scotland and Ewan Watson from the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland.Becoming a worm farmer is perhaps not an obvious career choice, however Scott Baxter has turned a lifelong fascination with the invertebrates into his job. Mark went to visit his wormery near Balmedie in Aberdeenshire to hear how business is booming.We hear live about Earth Matters, the exhibition at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh which is a multidisciplinary salute to soil.Phil Sime is on Nairn beach trying out some outdoor cooking alongside influencer Etta May who tells him about moving from Harris to the mainland to launch her social media profile which aims to inspire other young people to get active in the outdoors.Mark is in Tranent visiting the Heugh Community Garden which is located on the site of an old gas works. He hears how the area has been transformed and meets some of those involved.And Rachel visits an exhibition at the National Library for Scotland which explores Scotland's relationship with rain. Curator Sarah Mackay shows her around.

Mark visits the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen where researchers are carrying out a project to restore, preserve and digitise irreplaceable soil and peat maps, aerial imagery, field notebooks and survey records collected since 1947. Mark hears why Hutton Unearthed: A New National Soils and Peat Map Archive is so important for the future of soil health. Stirling is busy this weekend as Radio 2 in the Park rolls into town but one of the other popular locations near the city is Dumyat. Rachel visited recently to see the work of the Future Forest Company which has been planting thousands of trees on the estate. In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast Mark spent a morning with wildlife photographer Karen Miller. They spent some time trying to spot voles. This week, a new path was officially opened at Ben Rinnes in Moray. Rachel went along to test out the new route, which was funded by a local windfarm, alongside Ella Grant from Friends of Ben Rinnes, Marion McDonald from Foundation Scotland and Ewan Watson from the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland. Becoming a worm farmer is perhaps not an obvious career choice, however Scott Baxter has turned a lifelong fascination with the invertebrates into his job. Mark went to visit his wormery near Balmedie in Aberdeenshire to hear how business is booming. We hear live about Earth Matters, the exhibition at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh which is a multidisciplinary salute to soil. Phil Sime is on Nairn beach trying out some outdoor cooking alongside influencer Etta May who tells him about moving from Harris to the mainland to launch her social media profile which aims to inspire other young people to get active in the outdoors. Mark is in Tranent visiting the Heugh Community Garden which is located on the site of an old gas works. He hears how the area has been transformed and meets some of those involved. And Rachel visits an exhibition at the National Library for Scotland which explores Scotland's relationship with rain. Curator Sarah Mackay shows her around.

Scottish Rain, Productive Worms and an Archive of Soil

Swarms of honeybees, algae, a fairy glen and the dwarfie stane of Hoy

Swarms of honeybees, algae, a fairy glen and the dwarfie stane of Hoy

Mark Stephen and Anna Massie discover swarming honeybees, algae, a fairy glen and the dwarfie stane of Hoy

Helen Needham talks to Katharine Norbury about her anthology of nature writing by women.

Helen Needham talks to Katharine Norbury about her anthology of nature writing by women.

Katharine Norbury on Women Writing about Nature

Mark Stephen visits a labyrinth and Helen Needham conquers her fear of hens.

Mark Stephen visits a labyrinth and Helen Needham conquers her fear of hens.

Insects, Seaplanes and Chickens

Euan McIlwraith chats to ornithologist and naturalist, Roy Dennis.

Euan McIlwraith chats to ornithologist and naturalist, Roy Dennis.

Roy Dennis on Reintroducing Sea Eagles, Red Kites and Beavers.  Plus the prospect of Wolves and Lynx in Scotland.

The Royal Highland Showcase, the river Devon, Fair Isle Bird Observatory and rare bees

The Royal Highland Showcase, the river Devon, Fair Isle Bird Observatory and rare bees

The Royal Highland Showcase, Fair Isle Bird Observatory and a community orchard

Inge Thomson talks about her native Fair Isle with Mark Stephen and Helen Needham.

Inge Thomson talks about her native Fair Isle with Mark Stephen and Helen Needham.

Fair Isle - the Island of Inspiration for Musician and Composer Inge Thomson.

The paddle steamer, Waverley, the art of dowsing and wildlife photography

The paddle steamer, Waverley, the art of dowsing and wildlife photography

Wildlife photography, dowsing and the paddle steamer, Waverley

Mark Stephen and Helen Needham meet Andy on the Beauly Firth near Inverness.

Mark Stephen and Helen Needham meet Andy on the Beauly Firth near Inverness.

The Secret Life of the Otter - Photographer Andy Howard on Capturing these Elusive Creatures

Mark Stephen and Euan McIlwraith with the Scotland Outdoors Podcast.

Mark Stephen and Euan McIlwraith with the Scotland Outdoors Podcast.

Squirrels, Trees and Swallows

Mark Stephen meets naturalist and writer Polly Pullar at her home in Perthshire

Mark Stephen meets naturalist and writer Polly Pullar at her home in Perthshire

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