During the Covid lockdown, Tom Kelly decided to stroll along the Water of Leith Walkway every single day and take photographs of the wildlife in the area. The photographer from Edinburgh has always had a keen interest in nature and he wanted to explore what was living in his own neighbourhood. The result is a huge collection of photographs showcasing what lives on and near the river at different times of the year.
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24:37
A Soutar's Shop, Jigsaws and Gorillas
Winchburgh in West Lothian is expanding rapidly, with several new housing developments underway. At the heart of these new developments is the 85 acre Authcaldie Park, where Mark visits a group of volunteers who are building a new centre piece for the area – a model cathedral made entirely out of willow.RSPB Loch Leven has recently hosted the Convention of Migratory Species, a UN convention with 130 member states involved. Rachel meets up Sarah Scott and Professor Des Thompson to find out about the aims of this convention, and the impact that climate change is having on our migratory birds.The Glasgow Seed Library is an initiative which aims to collect and share seeds within the wider community. Helen Needham went along with one of the seed librarians Rowan Lear, to find out more about the purposes of a seed library, and the huge diversity of seeds they have in store.Back at the Convention of Migratory Species, Rachel hears from some of the international experts present at the meeting, and what their worries are for other migratory animals worldwide.The Ballogie Souter Shop was once a humble timber shack where generations of Deeside villagers went to get shoes made and repaired. Since its closure in 1941, the shop has been stuck in time, almost completely untouched. Now owned by the Birse Community Trust, Mark heads along to see what artefacts he can discover, and the plans to preserve and protect the collection.The Scottish Mountaineering Trust has announced they are the sole beneficiary of the estate of Scottish mountaineer and innovator, Hamish MacInnes. Mark and Rachel are joined by the John Hutchinson from the trust to find out how they hope to honour Hamish’s legacy.The work of Scottish biologist and polymath Sir Patrick Geddes is being explored and celebrated this weekend as part of the Edinburgh 900 events calendar. Helen Needham met up with the Director of the Scottish Storytelling Festival Donald Smith to learn more about him, and his impact on the study of natural sciences.Ian Redmond is a biologist and conservationist best known for his work with mountain gorillas and elephants, but was also one of the delegates at the Convention of Migratory Species. He explains to Rachel why people in Scotland should still be concerned about the impact of climate change on animals like apes, that live thousands of miles away from us.
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1:22:05
The Glasgow Seed Library with Rowan Lear
Helen Needham meets seed librarian Rowan Lear
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23:39
Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Snowdrops and a Beaver MOT
Auchnerran Farm is run by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust as a demonstration farm to test and trial conservation and land management strategies. Mark visits the farm to hear about their projects and how they manage these alongside a profitable enterprise of sheep farming.It is the 20th anniversary of the opening of Five Sister’s Zoo this year, and the facility has grown from very small beginnings to now housing over 160 species on site in West Calder. Rachel chats to Brian and Gary Curran about their growth over the last two decades and their recent attempts to rescue zoo animals from Ukraine.2025 marks 20 years since the Scottish Outdoor Access Code came into force, and Mark is joined by journalist and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch to look at exactly how this has impacted Scotland’s relationship with the outdoors.Rachel is on the banks of Loch Lomond visiting a project attempting to combat erosion on one of Scotland’s most popular hills. Conic Hill has undergone a £900,000 path restoration, and access officer Dave Robinson meets her to explain why such a project is so necessary.Mark is at Dunnottar Castle, one of the locations featured in Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s novel Sunset Song. Speaking to Emily Cruickshank, Mark finds out the history of the castle and spots some of the wildlife that surrounds it.Mark and Rachel are joined by a lifelong scholar of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s work, Bill Malcolm, to find out more about the author’s background and the incredible impact he has made on Scottish literature, even 90 years on from his death.It is the height of Snowdrop season, with many gardens across Scotland opening their gates for visitors to enjoy the carpet of white flowers. Mark visits Bruckhills Croft in Rothienorman and meets Helen Rushton, whose garden boasts nearly 600 different varieties of the plant.Back at Five Sister’s Zoo, Rachel finds out about the important work the zoo does in partnership with the Beavers Trust, managing populations across Scotland.Mark heads to Charlesfield Farm and meets Trevor and Lorna Jackson, the couple behind Border’s Bubbly, who are hoping to be the first sparkling wine producers in Scotland
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1:23:41
Sunset Song - Exploring The Mearns - Part 2
The 7th February 2025 marks 90 years since the death of Scottish writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon, author of Sunset Song. In 2016, it was voted Scotland's favourite novel. In this archive programme, Mark Stephen explores the area it was set in, the Mearns.
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