Issue 2 - Country Lifestyle Scotland

Transcription

lifestyle
C O U N T R Y
Scotland’s rural lifestyle magazine
SCOTL AND
Inside:
Wild Boar
Fishing
Fashion
PLUS
your Royal
Highland
Show
Lifestyle
Preview
In association with
Award winning chef
to The
Tom Lewis heads
Royal Highland Show
www.countrylifestylescotland.co.uk
06
9
772047
Summer 2011
313306
No. 002
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For your FREE e-edition subscription to Country Lifestyle Scotland, register at www.countrylifestylescotland.co.uk
life
C O U N T RY
SCOTLAND’S RURAL LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
interview:
SCOTLAND
food and drink:
Stephen Hutt talks about his Some wild and wonderful
hopes and aspirations for the meat is on the menu from
RH and ASS flagship events Hilton Wild Boar farm
pages 5 to 8
pages 4 and 5
Country sports: fashion:
Exploring why countless men Bespoke designer scarves,
love to head for the hills with from Jennifer Boulton, who
has knitting in her blood
fishing rods in hand
pages 14 to 15
pages 10 to 12
‘Country lifestyle’ previews The
Royal Highland Show:
Find out what is going on at the show in our in-depth
lifestyle preview
pages 21 to 48
For recipe ideas visit
Welcome
to the second
issue of Country Lifestyle Scotland.
This issue will prove to be a little
different from the first, as we have
incorporated a lifestyle preview of the
Royal Highland Show into the pages
– along with an exclusive interview
with the new chief executive of the
Royal Highland and Agricultural Society
of Scotland, Stephen Hutt, who talks
about his goals for the future of the
society.
Before we discuss Scotland’s ‘big’
show, we have concentrated on an
increasingly popular niche product, wild
boar. The taste is described as sublime,
and the photographs alone will keep you
hooked, as they are simply stunning.
For country sports fans, we knew we
couldn’t ignore fishing fans for long. Ken
Fletcher, and friends, explain what keeps
them knee deep in water year after year,
in Scotland’s river and lochs.
For the fashion conscious, we feature
bespoke scarf maker, Jennifer Boulton,
who is knitting up quite a reputation for
herself.
Now, back to the Royal Highland
Show, and we hope you can take
this supplement along with you to
the event, so that you can find some
of the highlights that we recommend
throughout the four days. The show is
not all about livestock – although there
are plenty – it is also a showcase for
all the wonderful rural activities that
Scotland is so famous for. Go along and
get involved.
Enjoy!
Karen
karen carruth, lifestyle editor
karen.carruth@thescottishfarmer.co.uk
PS: for a FREE e-edition of Country
Lifestyle Scotland, log onto
www.countrylifestylescotland.co.uk and
register. Then you have the option to
read it on-screen. Easy!
COUNTRYlifestyle / GEN
www.scotchbeefandlamb.co.uk
Ingliston in Steph
David Dunsmuir, show manager,
doing his rounds at the show, on his
trusty bike,making sure everything
is going according to plan
Agriculture will remain at the heart
of RHASS
‘I can take
no credit for
the success
of the show,
but I will
take all the
responsibility’
are 260 plus events taking place at the
showground, attracting more than one
million visitors, and even at that, it is
IN EARLY April this year, Stephen
nowhere near close to full. The society
Hutt stepped into the role of chief
also has 14,500 members.
executive of the Royal Highland
Of course, one of the well-known
and Agricultural Society of Scotland
arms of the society is RHET, The Royal
(RHASS). In short, he was the new
Highland Education Trust. “RHET is our
man in charge of the Highland Show
unsung hero,” says Mr Hutt. “And it is
and all that goes with it.
how the society fulfills a significant part
When he was first appointed, press
of its charitable objectives.”
releases appeared with the following
RHET’s role is to take education to the
in the first few sentences, “Stephen
countryside, giving schoolchildren the
Hutt is a people person, affable, has
opportunity to understand where food
STEPHEN HUTT,
no agricultural experience...” and when
comes from, how it is grown, and follow
chief executive
we met in the impressive boardroom at
the journey it takes before it is picked up
of RHASS
Ingliston House on the showground, he
at a retailers. This is achieved by taking
appeared to live up to all these claims.
schoolchildren on farm visits, which
At 45, he is tall and welcoming, with
provides some urban children their first
an easy conversational style and an
chance of setting eyes on livestock, as
already impressive grasp of what the
well as taking farmers into schools.
society is about.
“There is a core team here that
So has joining the RHASS been a
works on RHET, then there are regions
huge crash course in the weird and
throughout Scotland with their own
wonderful world of agriculture? “Well,
co-ordinator, who are part funded by RHET (which
yes and no,” he says.
RHASS funds), and part funded by local fundraising.
“I have no agricultural background whatsoever, and
These huge networks organise their own events with
I’m sure I have a rather odd look on my face when
great success.
people start talking to me about the different breeds,
“We should be very proud of this society, the assets
but I honestly feel it is a benefit in one sense not to
it has, the permanent staff, the trustees, the directors
have that kind of background. There are so many
and then all the volunteers would be difficult to match
people here who know everything about agriculture,
anywhere else.”
that I can just concentrate on the challenges that face
Speaking of staff and supporters, does Mr Hutt
the society, and the main challenge that I can see, is to
feel that the members get a good deal out of their
keep the society relevant in today’s changing climate.”
membership?
So what is the major role of the RHASS in the 21st
“We do a survey of members occasionally and the
century?
most recent one came back with 70% of members
Mr Hutt understands that the history and traditions
rating the biggest benefit of being a member is the
that have kept the society in business for 200 years,
tickets they receive for the Highland Show. I do think
are still the basis of what it should be trying to achieve
we could give more to the members and in turn, the
now, without feeling shackled by them.
“There is so much going on at the moment, whether members should get more involved with the society. It
could be a real growing relationship in the future.
it is the masterplan (to further develop the show
“But do we do enough for members? Probably not;
ground, the exhibition and conference facilities), the
membership challenges, or the commercial side, these can we offer more? We probably can. I would like to
see real benefits, whether it’s a mentoring system or
are all key to the future here.”
making more of the career opportunities that exist in
Looking at the benefits of the society, it is surprising
this sector, there is a huge scope now in land based
to learn that a recent economic impact study issued
industries which I feel people are not fully aware of.
by Edinburgh airport suggests that the airport benefits
“If you look at what the society does – last year
the Scottish economy by some £265m and Edinburgh
it funded in excess of £400,000 into trusts, awards
festivals to the tune of £261m. Four years ago, a
of excellence, encouraging people to travel and to
similar study was issued by RHASS and its benefit
understand more about international agricultural
was £249m. You would be unlikely to group the
practices. As a body this is another tangible way that
three together as being in the same league, but the
the society delivers its charitable objectives.
evidence is clear. RHASS is a big deal when it comes
“The major challenge is to make people aware of
to bringing visitors and money into Scotland.
what the society does and the impact it has in both a
Being born and brought up in Edinburgh, Mr Hutt
commercial sense, but also much more fundamentally
admits that until very recently, if you had asked him
in terms of the awareness of the agricultural industry.”
what the society’s main role was, he would have said
It’s not all about agriculture at RHASS these days,
The Royal Highland Show.
and in the current climate Mr Hutt is all too aware
“We understand that we have to work harder at
of the opportunities that owning a 280 acres, easily
getting the message out to the public so that they
accessible, site in the nation’s capital can bring.
understand that the society generates income in order
There is the other ‘leg’ of the society, which
to invest it back into developing and promoting both
generates the funds needed in order to allow it to
agriculture and land based industry.”
deliver all the charitable activities.
Raising the funds needed to achieve such
This is The Highland Centre Ltd, which is the part
objectives comes in many forms. Each year there
By Karen Carruth
hen Hutt’s hands
of the organisation that effectively rents out the society’s
assets 365 days a year. All that stands in the showground
– the exhibition halls, the outside facilities, the office
space, all of which is very significant in size and facilities.
“We have a unique facility, with a striking combination of
indoor and outdoor space – accommodating anything
from beauty shows to pop concerts, gardening shows to
religious conferences, car shows to formal dinners. We
are Edinburgh’s primary large events venue.
However, at the top of the agenda in every meeting
at the moment is, of course, the Highland Show which
starts on June 23 and runs for four days.
Before he took up the post, had Mr Hutt ever been to
the show?
“Yes, I have memories of climbing on tractors and
combines as a child at the show, and then more recently,
maybe two or three years ago, I brought my family here
for a day out.
And? “I suppose what surprised me most was the
shear scope and variety of the show, in the back of my
mind I thought it was all about farm equipment and
sheep, which it has in spades, but it then has a whole lot
of other things going on as well.”
Looking at 2011s show, what does he expect?
“I expect a full and busy show. All the exhibitors space
is full, with a waiting list. The food hall is full as is the
shopping and lifestyle area, the equipment manufacturers
area has had to be increased in size and there is an
ever expanding renewables area, and of course all the
entertainment that makes the show as great as it is. I
know it sounds corny, but it really does have something
that appeals to everyone.”
As the popularity of the show increases, does the
society have the space to expand, or will we see the axe
fall on some of the more unpopular attractions.
“The society has 280 acres, of which 100-120 is
core showground, and every year it is a fine balancing
act. Development is all about making sure the society
has a commercial base, not just for the show, but year
round. Whether it is the new hotels that are planned, the
agricultural business hub, the centre of excellence which
are all part of the master plan, but also about improving
the facilities we have on the showground.
“At the exhibitors level, it’s an ongoing debate that
happens every year – what should we do differently?
What breeds should be allowed in? Popularity dictates
the movements year to year. The show team are very
good, we were full very early on with livestock entries, and
the team have had to ring round and ask exhibitors if they
are bringing all the livestock they had planned, so that we
can free up the space for someone else. Lots of proactive
stuff is going on so that less people are disappointed.
“It’s a constant moving feast in terms of reviewing it
and seeing what we can do better – collective experience
of full time staff and stewards and trustees who take on
a completely different role during the show, who are all
assets themselves, come back and discuss what we can
be improved.”
With just a couple of weeks to go before his first
show in charge, how is he feeling? “Looking forward
to it, with a mixture of slight trepidation, and
excitement; it will be great to see all that is best
about farming and the rural economy brought
together.
Of course, with Mr Hutt just starting in April,
the show was pretty much organised before
he came. “I can take no credit for the success of the
show if it goes well. But I will take all the responsibility for
the show.”
David Dunsmuir, the show manager, has been
threatening to retire for years – would that be a problem
for the society?
“David and his amazing
team have a huge amount of
knowledge and experience
which is very important.
David makes sure the
whole process works
well, and he will be
difficult to replace.
We have been very
fortunate to have
someone of David’s
calibre on side for so
long.”
After the four busiest
days of the year for the
society, what is the next
step for the society.
“Initially, we have lots of
meetings to discuss where
we could improve for next year.
But mainly our long term aim
will be to keep the society fresh.
I’m very conscious of that. We
need to be the best we can
be commercially, so that
we can fulfill our original
agricultural and land
based obligations, as
was our original remit.
You can’t stand still and
hope things carry on.
“We have a great
asset here, and the
masterplan is all
about using that to
ensure our long
term success.”
Stephen
Hutt, the
new chief
executive
at The
Royal
Highland
Agricultural
Society of
Scotland
Wild Bo
niche, b
6 / COUNTRYlifestyle
food and drink
oar - it’s exotic, it’s
but it’s also sublime
By Philippa Stephen
Photographs: Catherine Laurenson
STEVE MCQUEEN’S great escape is the stuff of
legend – and it was certainly cemented as so at
Hilton Farm, following the escapades of ‘McQueen’
the wild boar, which went on the run from the
abattoir in Dunblane almost a decade ago.
The boar’s great escape came when he grasped
a chance to flee from abattoir staff, bolt over a wall,
tear through wire fencing and swim through the fastflowing Allan Water river, before making a dash across
a Dunblane golf course and into some woodland
– evading police, slaughtermen and rangers armed
with tranquilliser guns in the process.
He caught the imagination of the daily and national
newspapers and their readers country-wide, even
gaining celebrity recognition from actor Martin Shaw,
who joined a campaign to ensure McQueen lived out
the rest of his days in an animal sanctuary.
But had he not awarded himself this death-row
pardon, McQueen would had been destined for Perth
Farmers’ Market, where the produce of Hilton Wild
Boar has again become a thing of legend!
On the face of it, the stark economics of wild boar
production might not be all that attractive to pull
potential new producers into the niche industry.
The boar take longer to mature than conventional
domestically farmed pigs, with sows providing just
one litter of only between five and seven piglets in
spring each year – but because of this, boar offer a far
darker, more lean, and dare I say it, tastier meat than
intensive, conventional pork pigs.
And boar meat also boasts marbling which is
similar to top quality beef, adding considerably to the
flavour and texture – giving it its delightfully gamey
taste – which really is sublime.
Now, the British Wild Boar Association has
estimated that thanks to the quality of boar produce
and the popularity of the ‘exotic’ meat at Farmers’
Markets and a high and unrelenting demand from
restaurants, hotels, and specialist food outlets in UK
and France, that the UK wild boar market is worth
somewhere in the region of £2 million.
For the last 15 years, Andrew and Willie Johnston
have had success with the produce of their farmed
wild boar at Hilton Farm, by Bridge of Earn, outside
Perth – breeding descendants and distant relatives
of McQueen for the niche food chain. Their farm is
one of an estimated 30 which produce the meat in
Scotland.
The farm, which covers 320 acres and which
has been in the family for the last three generations,
envelopes the south facing valley which slopes down
to the River Earn floodplain, providing a 45 sow herd
of pure wild European boar with a free-range and
stress free living in small family groups.
The Johnstons are among the founder members
which were instrumental in the inception of Perth
Farmers’ Market, launched in the city in 1999 – and
A selection of Hilton Wild Boar products, from roasts to steaks, casseroles and so on, as well as dry
cured back and streaky bacon, hams and a diverse range of speciality sausages TSF
The Johnston family, clockwise from left, Julie, Angus, Dan, Andrew, Emma
and Jamie TSF
‘Boar meat
boasts
marbling
which is
similar to
top quality
beef,
adding
to the
flavour and
texture –
giving it its
delightfully
gamey
taste
– which
really is
sublime’
COUNTRYlifestyle / 7
Wild Boar - exotic, niche, but also sublime
Continued from page 7
they have remained supportive stall holders at the
market every month since.
But as well as selling at the Farmers’ Market
they can also provide outside catering for parties
and weddings and their jewel feast is a spit
roasted wild boar.
Hilton Wild Boar offers a large selection of fresh
boar meat cuts from roasts to steaks, casseroles
and so on, as well as dry cured back and streaky
bacon, hams and a diverse range of speciality
sausages – available in Cider and Apple, Honey
and Mustard, Leek and Apricot, or Prune and
Claret.
But the success of their business has led the
farming business through a number of periods
of both expansion and contraction – proving that
bigger is not necessarily always better in terms of
diversifying a family farming business.
“Hilton is a small farm for three families to
all make a living from, so it was fairly clear that
alongside the cereals we produce for seed, and
tatties, turnips and peas that we would need
to have some kind of diversification to create
additional income after I returned home from
studying Agriculture at Aberdeen Uni in the early
90s,” explained Andrew.
“We had sheep on the farm way back, but a
spring lambing didn’t work with the rest of the
production on the farm so we needed something
different that could run alongside the arable side of
the farm without interference.
“I had looked into Ostriches, but there were no
abattoirs that would be able to process them.”
Relatively low maintenance, wild boar sows
breed only once a year, producing a litter in the
spring, averaging six young and being very hardy,
they can live their entire lives outside.
But joking that if you think within the farming
industry that it is hard to get money out of people –
then getting money out of butchers is even harder,
Andrew explained that they were approached in
1999 and asked to take part in the inception of a
Perth Farmers’ Market.
“The market was brand new and we had never
sold to the public before, we didn’t know what to
expect – so we only took two boars worth of basic
cuts of meat. But the market had been hyped to
the hilt so was hugely well supported by shoppers
and we completely sold out of our produce within
an hour!”
From the success of the Perth Farmers market,
came Edinburgh, Cupar, Dunfermline, Glasgow
and Kirkcaldy markets before the Johnstons
expanded so that they could carry out their own
Sow and piglet enjoying the
outdoor life TSF
butchery with their own shop. But expansion
continued to take over, rapidly becoming
a treadmill with costs spiralling for more
equipment, refrigerated vans and staffing
– too far from its original farming roots.
Finally the decision was made six years ago
to cut back, give up the shop and return to
focusing the business from the farm.
“It’s good to be able to step off the
treadmill and spend more time on the farm
– and spend more time with my family,” said
Andrew, “Because never ending expansion
isn’t always the right way for a
business to progress. At one point
the boar contributed to around
half of the farm’s total turnover
– it has been cut well back
from that now, but is still
a healthy income.
“At one
point we had
expanded to more
than 100 sows, but
now with between 40 and 45
sows there is far less worry about
keeping them all in!”
Now, Hilton Wild Boar produce, from the
cuts of meat to sausages and bacon, is
processed by Steven Mitchell, who is able
to provide the flexible service Andrew was
looking for, from his facilities that have been
developed for his Puddledub Buffalo, in Fife.
“From Puddledub, our produce comes
back to the farm where we have chilled stores
that are able to hold the stock before taking it
to the Farmers Markets.
“The business is far more manageable – so
too is the amount of time that can be spent
as a family – so we are much better placed
to tailor the produce to exactly what people
want and that really matters to us,” explained
Andrew.
Above: Run!
Getting a gallop
on at Hillton
Farm TSF
Sows and
piglets forage
around
outdoors, where
they spend
the entire year,
as they are so
hardy TSF
FIELD FARM TOURS LTD
AT THE ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW 2011
SEE US ON OUR STAND IN
THE HIGHLAND HALL
As official travel partner to the Royal Highland Show 2011 we are proud to offer a
range of travel services to exhibitors and visitors to the show. In addition to
supporting shows and events in the UK and abroad, we offer an exciting programme of
farming tours to worldwide destinations. See our new programme for 2011– 2012.
For more details about the programmes for each of the destinations please visit us on
our stand in the Highland Hall or visit our website at www.fieldfarmtours.co.uk or telephone us on 01636 616060.
HEART OF EUROPE
Tours to:
Through Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic
to see fruit processing/growing, grain, oil crops,
beef and dairy farms, fish farm, cheese production
and city sightseeing of Budapest, Vienna and
Prague. Visits will contrast agriculture since entry
by Hungary and the Czech Republic to the EU.
28 September - 7 October 2011
Costa Rica
7-24 January 2012
Uruguay & Brazil
14-31 January 2012
Morocco
Portugal & Spain
February 2012
12-24 February 012
China
Feb/March 2012
Sri Lanka
Switzerland
March 2012
29 May-6 June 2012
Canada Atlantic
June 2012
AUSTRALIA
19 day tour of South Queensland and Northern Provinces
New South Wales with beef, vegetables, farm
David Richardson Tours:
machinery, flowers, wine, fruit, tropical fruits and
23 Apr-2 May 2012
aquaculture. Includes 2 night stay in Sydney for Holland
Norway
July 2012
relaxation and a 2 night stay in Singapore en-route.
Many people have friends and family in New
Zealand and Australia to visit whilst “down-under”
Short Breaks to:
6-27 October 2011
Ireland
19-24 September
2011
SOUTH AFRICA
(incl the Ploughing Championships)
15 magnificent days starting on the south coast in
3-7 October 2011
Cape Town, driving along the Garden Route to Guernsey
Plettenburg, returning to Cape Town at the end of Shetlands
May 2012
the tour for a 2 day stopover. Fruit, dairy, grain,
sheep, ostrich, wine, safari and, with luck, the wild
flowers are included in the tour.
28 October - 13 November 2011
CHILE & ARGENTINA
Arriving in Santiago, Chile for 10 nights before
spectacular crossing of the Andes. Further 10
nights in Argentina with farm visits including vegetables, cattle ranches, cereals, grapes, an AI station, fruit and dairy. Option to visit the famous
Iguassu Falls.
1-25 November 2011
FIELD FARM TOURS LTD, 3 Stephenson Court, Stephenson Way, Newark, Notts, NG24 2TQ
Tel: 01636 616060. Web www.fieldfarmtours.co.uk Email: info@fieldfarmtours.co.uk
for
Fishing
compliments!
By Ken Fletcher
I OFTEN thought I was in some kind of
piscatorial desert when amongst farmers.
There seemed few who shared my passion for
the gentle art of casting a ‘Blae and black’ to
the far corner of some secluded pool, despite
the fact that many of them either own, or
border on some of this country’s most famous
fishing waters.
But gradually, emerging from their personal
angling closet, a few fishing chums shyly
admitted to a similar passion. We now turn
this into at least a single annual bun fight, with
sometimes two or even three outings a year
from a cast which is getting close to 15 likeminded souls.
As is the way of these things, we never
actually get a ‘full house’, as nearly all have
businesses to run, mouths to feed and women
to pander to! But we’ve had trips where 10 or a
dozen assembled fishermen have conjoined to
put a veritable Glasgow Angling Centres’-worth
of tackle into the back of a Land Rover or pickup and, literally, head for the hills.
There are those who take fishing seriously
as a ‘sport’, but a much wider audience – and
especially groups of farmers – view angling as
an enjoyable pastime.
The former probably have a degree in
entemology (the study of beasties), wear special
glasses to spot the fish and get up with the first
chirp of the day and return in the wee sma’ oors
after a night of catching sea trout.
The latter are much more numerous and
certainly more relaxed. For us, the angling is
merely an excuse for a few days away with the
boys. But when they do tear themselves away
from a cholesterol-packed brekkie, they take
their fishing seriously. It is not much fun returning
to the fishing hut at lunchtime or at the dinner
table later with not a single shake of a fish’s head
on the end of your line, and find the rest of them
parading a fine troot or salmon.
So, for those who are considering taking up
a little gentle angling, the first consideration is to
find some like-minded people, get yourself kitted
out and seek out some tasty fishing in a part of
Scotland that you have always wanted to go to.
The price of fishing ranges from ‘free’ for
brown trout in many rivers across Scotland,
through to a few pounds per day for trout, sea
trout and salmon right up to £1000s for the
rights to fish on some of this country’s most
sought after salmon beats.
Kitting yourself out need not be expensive
either. Some on-line retailers, like the Glasgow
Angling Centre, Sportfish or John Norris, can kit
you out with a full trout fly fishing outfit for about
£100 and even slightly less for a spinning rod
and reel and all the bits and bobs with which to
get in touch with an angry fish!
A salmon outfit would cost nearer to £200
– but can range into the thousands for a rod
alone. But, unless you are one of the ‘serious’
mob, there’s no need to spend any more than a
What it’s all about. A cracking three pound trout caught on Loch Langavat, on Lewis
bare minimum. You can acquire more ‘stuff’ as
you go along.
Remember, too, that one of the biggest salmon
caught this year, at 38lb, was caught on the Tay
by a first time angler using borrowed gear!
Useful do’s and don’ts
Do: Listen to local advice. It’s well worth
plying the local ghillie or fisherman with a few
pints down the pub the night before you fish.
They know where the fish will be lying and what
you can catch them on – but be prepared for
the odd leg-pull!
Do: Take wet weather gear with you. There’s
nothing worse than setting off on a fine day to
find a thunderstorm catching up with you. It’s no
fun being wetter than the fish.
Do: Acquaint yourselves with the local rules of
fishing. Some waters allow you to only catch the
fish but then put them back, some allow a strict
limit and some even specify which size of fish
you can keep. Some will be fly only, some will
allow spinning at only certain water heights and
some forbid bait fishing with the likes of worms.
Do: Enjoy yourself. Take a nice packed lunch
and a bottle of plonk for you and your fishing
companions. It can be a magical time after a
hard morning’s fishing and you can take in the
breathtaking (usually) scenery and a bit of wildlife
spotting. When loch fishing, don’t be surprised
if an osprey steals a fish from right under your
country sport
Donald Biggar with a late autumn run 10lb
salmon from the River Nith caught on the fly.
It was returned to the river to help conserve
stocks
A fine lunch by the river on a
grand day on the River Stinchar, in
Ayrshire ... no water and no fish. But
who cares!
nose.
Do: Take safety seriously. Wading and fishing
from boats can be dangerous. Make sure that
you have a viable flotation device and take extra
care when wading in big waters.
Do: Retain all modesty when you catch the
biggest fish of the day, like myself!
Don’t: Panic.
Don’t: Go home without a fish! Your wife,
husband, partner, wants evidence that you have
actually been away fishing. Make sure a fish
shop is on the way home ... just in case!
something like that.
“It recalls the days when young lads, carefree,
caught trout and cooked them in wet newspaper
on a fire lit with twigs and dried grass – all
washed down with an illicit bottle of Buckie and
a Players No 6.
“Today, for me, a day fishing with real friends
is something to be cherished and a return,
however fleetingly, to those carefree days with a
rusty hook and a bunch of worms.”
Useful fishing tackle contacts:
Neale McQuistin,Glen Luce, farmer and
ardent committee man:
“I can never remember a time in my life when
I never wanted to be an angler. As a wee boy, I
remember my grandfather stopping at our house
to show off his latest catch on his way home
from fishing.
“The anticipation as he opened up the back
doors of his Mini Traveller was almost too much
to bear. Three, sometimes more, huge fish lying
in a neat row was the stuff to make a youngster
dream.
“Little did I know how close I was standing to
an even bigger catch that sadly grandpa let go
without ever knowing what he had on his hook.
The number plate on his innocuous wee car was
BOS 1.
“Grandpa was a fly only man and a talented fly
tier and rod builder. He took his fishing seriously.
No talking or carry-on would be tolerated at the
riverside.
“He also poured scorn on those that would
attempt to capture the king of fish by using
anything other than a fly.
“In recent years, I’ve found myself in the
company of men that will tie all manner of
Glasgow Angling Centre, Port Dundas,
Glasgow, a veritable cattle shed full of
everything piscatorial. Visit its website: www.
fishingmegastore.com for a mesmerising amount
of tackle to suit all budgets.
John Norris, of Penrith, is a popular stopping
off point for Sassenachs from south of the
Border heading north to steal our fish! It’s
another great shop with an on-line facility at
www.johnnorris.co.uk
Sportfish is yet another retailer with a strong
on-line facility. Visit it at www.sportfish.co.uk
Best website: Without doubt this is www.
fishpal.com which gives up to the minute
news on catches across the UK, but especially
Scotland, and you can secure fishing on line.
Why do I go fishing?
Donald Biggar, Castle Douglas, farmer and
former QMS chairman:
“Fishing with pals is a return to the freedom of
childhood. Reflect on Burns, via John Anderson:
‘We twa hae roamed the hills thegither...’ or
Why do I go fishing?
devices, annelids, molluscs and crustaceans
onto the ends of their lines. They will sit on the
riverbank drink beer, tell jokes, play tricks and
sleep in the afternoon and call it fishing.
“Forgive me grandpa for keeping the company
of such rogues and charlatans ... but aw’
heck, they’re great company and that’s just as
important as how or how many fish you catch.”
Joe Stirling, former editor of Scottish Field
and owner of the Horseshoe Gallery, Kelso:
“Engaging in a sport that would take me
to the remote and rugged parts of my native
land was the aim – the Highlands, the Borders,
Harris, Lewis, Islay and North and South Uist
– and shinty just wasn’t an option.
“Fishing is enjoyed best in company
– whether a fishing partner or, preferably, a gang
of kindred spirits. (Think of the campfire scene in
Blazing Saddles and you’ll understand why men
think fishing trips are hilarious, and women ...
well, they just wouldn’t).
“And the sight of a pop-eyed Mel Gibsonish
trout, sea trout or salmon in the boat or on the
bank (we are talking purist sport here) can elicit
the Braveheart in every Scottish hunter-gatherer.
“But why, I ask myself, does my head hurt in
the morning?”
Willie Carruth, Renfrewshire, farmer and
equestrian yard owner:
“Usually, on our trips, it’s more a case of
fisher-’men behaving badly’.
“But, this is the only time the guys can go
back to the roots of mankind and go away
together and be real men. To sit on a boat on
a beautiful hill loch, drink whisky, dabble a line
Continued on page 12
for
Fishing
compliments!
Continued from page 11
in the water in the faint hope of
catching a monster from the deep
and talk ‘man talk’ where anything
and everything is discussed, with
no fear of repercussion, is a GOOD
thing.
“Lunch on the side of the loch
consists of ‘man food’ ... dead cow
in a bun, cooked on a peat hag
fire started with twigs, two bits
of flint and half a gallon of petrol!
There, we have another session of
man talk washed down with grape
and barley juice. Then back to the
boats for an afternoon of mickey
taking, rod breaking and practical
jokes.
“If by chance a rod survives and
a fish is caught, the master hunter
will spend all night strutting about
the dwelling cave with his chest
puffed out telling all how he is the
alfa male. As the night progresses,
so does the size of the fish to the
extent that it could feed a small
Scottish village for a week.
“Only in the cold light of day at
breakfast and the fish is cooked,
the reality sinks in that a half pun’
troot maybe not go quite very far.
“Fishing lets men get back to our
caveman roots. We have not yet
gone back to going out with a club
to gather ‘women’ and drag them
back to the cave by the hair – but
there is always the next trip.”
John Neil, Castle Douglas, land
agent/valuer:
“Well for a start there are no
telephones! It gets you away from
life in the fast lane for a short while
and it’s great to relax with convivial
company and enjoy the craic.
“Within my group of ‘Pisscatorial’
friends, there is a wide range
of characters – farmers (hill and
lowland), journalists, insurance
agents, land agents, riding
instructors, art dealers, refrigeration
experts (retired).
“A typical day starts around 8 am
with the usual grunts and noises
made by those who imbibed the
evening before, followed by an
enormous breakfast.
“Tackle readied, we set off for a
favourite pool or a loch with packed
lunch and a drop of wine and of
course a little something else in
Casting a ‘Blae and black’ to a far corner of the pool hoping for a bite
case we catch the ‘Big One’. The
scenery, the ambiance of the place
we fish is breath-taking.
“The first fish of the day is
generally heralded by a small dram
and so to lunch, which can last one
to four hours dependent on the
catch – and was ‘that fish’ caught
on a fly or something more sinister?
“Later, suitably fed and watered,
the day’s proceedings are dissected
and machinations made to catch a
bigger one tomorrow. But the week
passes like a flash and soon we are
back to the daily grind. Aye it’s a
hard life!”
WANTED
OLD FISHING TACKLE
STRATHMORE FISHING TACKLE IS A
FAMILY BUSINESS BASED IN DUNBLANE
We deal in all types of old fishing tackle.
We have special interest in Hardy both old and modern.
Distance is not an issue. We are willing to travel the
length and breadth of Scotland and Northern England.
Clients are of course welcome to visit us in Dunblane.
We are always interested in purchasing items
or collections of vintage tackle.
We pride ourselves on our absolute discretion
and ability to offer best prices.
Please telephone: 01786 823361
Or email: strathmoretackle@btinternet.com
WANTED
HARDY FISHING TACKLE
OLD AND MODERN - also other makes of old quality tackle
Strathmore Fishing Tackle is based in Dunblane near Stirling, Scotland
•
•
•
We BUY in vintage fishing tackle such as:
Reels - brass, wooden and aluminium alloy
Rods - split cane and modern materials
Accessories - knives, scissors, tool kits, oil bottles etc
We are always looking to PURCHASE vintage fishing tackle.
Think of the MONEY in your attic, shed, store
or old fishing box/bag lying in the corner
HARDY and other quality old tackle.
View a selection of the items we sell on our web page
strathmoretackle.co.uk
If there is a specific item you are looking for then please contact us
and we may be able to source it for you.
Fife Country’s 51st year exhibiting at the Royal Highland Show
This will be Fife Country’s 51st year exhibiting
at the Royal Highland Show, Ingliston, having
been present at every single show which has ever
been staged here (as well as many shows prior to
the relocation to Ingliston).
Many regular customers will be familiar
with the extensive range of footwear (much
of it under the Hoggs of Fife label) which
Fife Country offers, and even depend on their
regular pilgrimage to the show to replace old
favourites (whether it be sturdy brogues, work
boots or waterproof hikers) which are now
past their best.
When Fife Country first exhibited at
Ingliston in 1960 it was purely a footwear
business. However, in recent years, it has
widened its range to include clothing and
accessories, which means that an indoor stand
at the Highland Show is no longer practical for
exhibiting such a wide range of products. This
year Fife Country has undertaken a significant
change of location at the show, moving from
its previous location, in the Shopping Arcade,
to a larger outdoor location, on avenue 4 in
the Countryside area, on the site previously
occupied by Cluny Clays. This means that,
for the first time, the complete range of Fife
Country and Hoggs clothing (including Hoggs
Famous Moleskin trousers) will be on show at
Ingliston.
Fife Country has always been renowned for
the quality and performance of its products,
manufactured as they are from only the best
materials, ensuring its products stand up
to the worst that the British climate has to
offer. Nowadays these qualities extend to the
whole of its clothing range, including men’s
trousers, shirts, knitwear and tweeds, as well
as waterproofs, outdoor clothing, luggage and
accessories. This means that a Fife Country
customer can now shop at Fife Country for all
of his country clothing and footwear needs.
Another recent addition for Fife Country
has been the addition of a range of women’s
clothing, from other top country brands, such
as Joules, Musto, Weirdfish and Seasalt, who all
offer exciting seasonal ranges. Also, for those
more interested in country sports, there are the
best from Seeland, Pinewood and Hoggs.
Aside from the Royal
Highland Show, Fife
Country has stores in
Strathmiglo, Fife, as well
as its recently opened store
at 5 Church St, Inverness.
In addition, it offers a mail
order service (first begun
in 1888), and the complete
range can also be viewed
at www.fifecountry.co.uk.
Through the rest of the
summer, Fife Country will
be exhibiting at several
other shows throughout
the country, including
the Scottish Game Fair
at Scone, The Highland
Game Fair at Moy, The
Turriff Show and the
Black Isle Show.
FINE CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR
since 1888
Come & Visit us at the Royal Highland Show,
in our New Outdoor Location on 4th Avenue
(half way between the West gate & the main ring).
Leading stockist of Hoggs of Fife clothing & footwear,
as well as other leading country brands,
such as Musto, Seeland, Timberland & Joules.
If you can’t make it to the show, visit our fully
shoppable website, or phone (0845 607 6632)
for one of our free colour catalogues.
Shops at:
55 High Street, Strathmiglo, Fife.
5 Church Street, Inverness.
www.fifecountry.co.uk
w
Mad over m
By Karen Carruth
WHAT BETTER way to be inspired to follow
your chosen career, than by watching your
mother naturally doing what she, herself,
watched her own mother do as a child.
Jennifer Boulton is creating a niche market
for herself, knitting her designer scarves to her
own design, or to the bespoke instructions of
her loyal customers.
Based at her home in Fort William, this
venture is in the infant stage, having just made
the commitment in April this year to go full time
and dedicate herself fully to her business idea.
With a BA Hons degree in design for textiles,
fashion interiors and art, Jennifer’s heart
always lay in using her hands to create. After
graduating, a couple of work placements gave
her the experience she needed to focus her
mind into what she hoped to do. One month
at Tate and Style in Orkney, which is a knitwear
company, and, at the other end of the UK,
a month at Anne Kyrro Quinn, in London, a
soft furnishings company which specialises in
cushions, and wall panels, using felt and wool.
However, real life has a way of taking
hold and a two
year stint in
administration gave Jennifer the time to think
about which direction to take.
“It was really important to me to be home
based, near Fort William, which is where I
grew up. I enquired about a job through the
graduate placement scheme and I got a one
year placement at Ginger, which is a knitwear
design and maufacture company.
“That made my mind up, and after
completing the placement, I took the plunge
and enquired about some grants. I got some
help from both Highland Opportunity, and
also PSYBT, which has been very helpful, as
they have provided both financial help and a
business mentor who will see that I stay on
track according to my business plan. So I used
the money to create a bespoke e-commerce
website and converted a room at home to be
my studio.”
Jennifer is committed to using British yarn
and other products in her scarves, and enjoys
the process of watching her creations come to
life from an idea in her mind. All her scarves are
machine knitted by her, and she understands
that her customers appreciate the value added
to products made with design in mind – which
is a far cry to the majority of items available
from the High Street. She is trying to
provide a unique product which suits her
customer’s personal taste.
Jennifer adds: “I sell my scarves
through both my facebook page and
also at direct to the public shows,
which have proved successful.
My website is under
construction, but will
hopefully have a fully
automated direct sales
page soon.”
The range at
the moment is, as
mentioned, in the infant
stage, but the next thing
that Jennifer will tackle is a
range of hats and scarves
and little mittens for babies,
and then onto a menswear
range, including snoods. By
next year she hopes to have a
complete range for women, men,
kids and a home collection, which will
include coasters and table runners,
using wool, cotton and silk.
“I sell my ready made scarves
as they are, or I can amend
them to suit customers
tastes, colours, and
textures or I can
design them
completely to
customer’s
direction.
Colours,
sizes, widths, the drape, materials etc are all
discussed, and I would create a fabric swatch
to give the customer. It would take around
4-6 weeks as I have to source the yarn and
then knit it up. But my customers are always
delighted with the end product, as am I.”
Back to her inspiration, and Jennifer recalls
her childhood, when she lived on a beef and
sheep farm in Achnacarry. “We mainly had
Blackies, Cheviots and Jacobs, and my sister
and I, as youngsters, would help at clipping
time. We would roll the fleeces and have great
fun doing it.
“Then as a matter of course, my mother
would sit at her spinning wheel and spin the
wool into yarn which she would then use to knit
all the family jumpers and cardigans. It was
just the most natural thing to use the wool that
we had produced ourselves. My mum’s little
enterprise began to grown and she had her
own little cottage industry called ‘In Sheep’s
Clothing’.
“My mother is still the best hand knitter I
know, it feels so natural to be involved with
wool when I have grown up around it, and
have seen the new thought process of self
sufficiency in action, before it was a buzz
word.”
■ See Jennifer at the Achaderry Estate
Craft and Design Fair, Roy Bridge,
Inverness-shire on June 24.
■ The website will be live soon at www.
jenniferboulton.co.uk
■ In the meantime, check out her
facebook page at www.facebook.com/
jenniferboultondesigns
■ Scarves start at £60.00.
mufflers
mufflers!!
fashion
Photo information:
Model: Rachel Philip
Make up: Gemma Heggarty
Styling: Helen Finlayson
Photography: Luthien Photography
Scarf: Jennifer Boulton Designs, clothing is models own
Frox of Falkirk
Is Relocating
Frox of Falkirk was opened in September
2009 by Fiona Wilson. It is currently located
at 50 Vicar Street Falkirk, but as a result of a
growing business, the need for larger premises
was recognised and is now eminent. Fiona
says “The business has gone from strength
to strength and the need for more space was
becoming noticeable. I have received extremely
positive feedback from my many customers in
regard to the moving to larger premises. This
change in location will allow me to build on
not only my current stock but will allow me
to stock new labels, giving more choice to the
customer”. “Frox”, stocks an exciting range
of day wear, cruise wear, evening wear, and is
renowned for its exceptional wedding outfits
with matching accessories.
You can view a small sample of Fiona’s
extensive range online at: froxoffalkirk.co.uk
On the 01/07/2011”Frox” is moving to:
16-18 Newmarket Street Falkirk FK1 1JQ.
A professional and friendly approach awaits
you, together with expert advice by staff,
committed to delivering a first class service.
Take a visit to “Frox” and you will find outfits
to suit any budget or occasion.…………..
you won’t regret it!
R Watson Hogg
SUMMER 2011
COLLECTIONS
NOW IN STOCK
Beautiful clothes from:
Max Mara Mainline,
Max Mara Weekend,
Marella, Gerard Darel,
Gardeur, Eugen Klein,
Marcona
and Kirsten.
Specialists in
all cashmere
products,
highlandwear
and country
clothing for men.
52 High Street, Auchterarder, PH3 1DB.
Tel: 01764 662151
Sheila Conn Ladies Fashions
Ladies Fashions
7/9 West End, Biggar, ML12 6DA
Tel/Fax: 01899 220245
116 High Street,
Biggar. ML12 6DH
Tel/Fax: 01899 220884
SUMMER SALE
starts THURSDAY 23rd JUNE at 9.30am
FABULOUS BARGAINS
UP TO 70% OFF
Libra ~ Gelco ~ Lebek
Chianti ~ Frank Usher
Gollehaug ~ Eugen Klein
Gardeur ~ Emreco
Shoes by
Vandal ~ Rieker ~ Riva
Gabor ~ Capollini
Handbags by
Suzy Smith ~ Bullagi
Nature Trail ~ Gabor
www.sheilaconnladiesfashions.co.uk
Sheila Conn Ladies Fashions in Biggar is a family business which goes from
strength to strength working along side our shoe shop Sheila Conn Shoes at 16
High Street this enables us to compliment outfits for any occasion with shoes
and bags making your shopping experience so easy.
This year we have had a fantastic reaction to our Spring Summer
Collections where we have dressed ladies for Weddings, Lunches, Special
Events and Royal Garden Parties.
Our New label this season Joseph Ribkoff has been Amazing offering
everything you could ask for in tops, dresses, trousers and skirts and everyone
who puts it on feels a Million Dollars it ticks all the boxes for Comfort, Style
and the Wow Factor!
Next time you are in Biggar be sure and pay us a visit where Shona, Anne,
Elaine or Karin will be only to pleased to give you their time and advise you in
making that all important decision on what to wear, may it be a Mother of The
Bride or Groom or an outfit for smart casual you can be sure to get it right.
Labels
Condici-Joseph Ribkoff
Gardeur- Libra- Cartise
Lebek-Gelco-Sommermann
Sizes 8 - 22
SUMMER SALE STARTS
THURSDAY 23RD JUNE
9.30 AM
FANTASTIC
REDUCTIONS
DONT MISS A VISIT!
Puddle Jumpers
Because kids will be kids
Breathable waterproofs
for ages
12 months to 10 years.
Fantastic fleeces and sweatshirts
with country designs.
New in:
Lazy Jacks Casual Wear
For Adults & Children
For quick ordering, order online at:
www.puddlejumpers.co.uk
or call 01298 83812
Puddle Jumpers childrens clothing is going from strngth to strength they
are still based on the family dairy farm in Buxton Derbyshire but have now
branched out into Adult clothing. Launched last year were the Adult waterproof
trousers, after being asked if the childrens range would fit adults owner Lynne
Hodgkinson decided to make trousers for adults.
The Bestselling colour for adults is bright pink for those females that want
to look a bit different and are fed up with the ranges on offer for men.
Puddle Jumpers now
stocks Lazy Jacks, a
range of clothing for
Ladies
and
children,
comprising
brightly
coloured sweatshirts and
gilets which cean be mixed
and matched to suit any
wardrobe. Check out the
puddle Jumpers website
for more details.
Puddle Jumpers is still
best known for its childrens
range
of
waterproof
providing great value for
money and easy to look
after as they can be thrown
into the washing machine
and tumble dried.
Lynne is now looking
for stockists in and around
Scotland, if you are
interested in selling Puddle
Jumpers waterproofs please
feel free to give Lynne call
on 01298 83812 or mobile
07974 735656.
fashion
Dress to
impress at
this year’s
events
Going to outdoor events
in Scotland provides its
own challenges before
you even leave the house.
Sandals, waterproofs,
jumpers or bikinis, what to
wear?
Check out pages 34
to 36 for our shopping
suggestions at The
Royal Highland Show
where there are clothing
companies galore
exhibiting, and lots with
very special show offers
available.
Clothing featured
clockwise from: Skyeskins,
Holland and Cooper and
Cousins of Cheltenham
which are all exhibiting at
this year’s show
SALE ● SALE
The
Shop
BOUTIQUE
SUMMER
SALE
SUMMER
SALE
THURSDAY
30th JUNE
SATURDAY
2nd JULY
22 Thistle Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1EN
SUNDAY 3rd JULY
commences
at 10am
Tel: (0131) 226 3099
Open Monday - Saturday
10am - 5.30pm
commences
at 10am
Also open
1pm - 4pm
70 Drumlanrig Street
Thornhill, DG3 5LY
Tel: (01848) 330740
Open Monday - Saturday
10am - 5pm
Highland Cattle Society
Pure Highland Beef
“GUARANTEED PURE HIGHLAND BEEF” ™ comes wholly and exclusively from 100% pure pedigree Highland Cattle and
commands a significant premium in specialist retail butchery outlets. The Highland Cattle Society, representing an ancient
breed, is nevertheless firmly in the 21st Century, with fully computerised records, and able to authenticate the complete
traceability of this unique product.
Highland Cattle are naturally reared thriving in the hills and uplands of our country without the need for intensive farming
practices, producing an excellent modern beef carcass with the lean, well-marbled, flesh that ensures tenderness and
succulence with a very distinctive flavour.
Beef Producers and Retailers
Ardardan Estate - Mr & Mrs
Grant Montgomery
Ardardan Estate Cardross Argyll
G82 5HD 01389 849188
enquiries@ardardan.co.uk
www.ardardan.co.uk
Mr Gilbert Bannerman
Bannerman Quality Meats
Old Manse Balmaha By Glasgow
G63 OAH
01360 870210
Hilary & Bernard Barker
Barkers Highland Beef
Mid Torrie Farm Callander Perthshire
FK17 8JL
01877 330203
bernard.barker481@btinternet.com
www.barkershighlandbeef.co.uk
Barlochan Highland Beef
Nigel & Angela Taylor
Barlochan Wood Palnackie Castle
Douglas Kirkcudbrightshire DG7 1PE
01556 600221
info@bhbeef.com www.bhbeef.com
CP & CE Bruce
Bogside Farm Shop Bogside King Edward
Banff, Aberdeenshire
01261 821244
Chazz125@hotmail.com
Cedar Cottage Country Foods
AA McIntyre
Cedar Cottage Enterkine Estate By Ayr
01292 520453 M: 07779 311149
cedarcottage@btinternet.com
Highland Drovers Ltd
Number 2/3 Mercian Buildings Shore
Road Perth PH2 8BD
01738 561523
Mr Michael Clifford OBE
Tidnor Fold Highland Beef
Tidner Cross Cottage, Clifford Farm,
Rhystone Lane, Lugwardine,
Herefordshire, HR1 4AP
01432 853211
Glengorm Highland Beef
Glengorm Castle
Tobermory, Isle of Mull PA75 6QE
01688 302321
enquiries@glengormcastle.co.uk
www.glengormcastle.co.uk
J & L Fraser
Jim Fraser
East Tilbouries, Maryculter, Aberdeen
AB12 5GD
01224 732351
jim.s.fraser@talk21.com
H Irvine
Craigluscar Farm Highland Beef
01383 727222
brenda@craigluscarfarm.co.uk
www.craigluscarfarm.co.uk
Hellifield Highland Beef
Robert & Wendy Phillip
Green Farm Hellifield Skipton North
Yorkshire BD23 4LA
01729 850217 07812 105375
hellifield@highlanders.f2s.com
www.hellifieldhighlandbeef.co.uk
Hunters Highland Beef
Barnhill Farm Allanton Shotts
Lanarkshire ML7 5AB
01501 820433 or 07747610513
stephenandrosemary@btinternet.com
Mr & Mrs M McCombe,
Great House Fold
The Great House, Great House Farm,
Earlswood, Chepstow, Monmouthshire
01291 652957
Roddy McDougall
R McDougall Butchers
1606, Paisley Rd West Glasgow
G52 3QN
0141 883 1207
Mossdale Highland Beef
Archie & Kay Aitchison
West Linton Peeblesshire EH46 7AS
01968 661318 or 07702081510
www.mossdalefarm.co.uk
Ormsary Estate Office
Ormsary Farmers, Ormsary
Lochgilphead PA31 8PE
01880 770700 www.ormsary.com
Mr Rowland Robertson
PItgarvie Farm
Fettercairn, Aberdeenshire AB30 1RB
01674 840219 07919541707
RS & JM Tilford
Tigh-na-innis Bogallan Croft Kessock
Invernessshire IV1 3XE
01463 731869
Thistle Fold Meat & Pie Company
Annie Perkins
Clink Cottage Farm Marlcliff Bidford on
avon Warwickshire B50 4NY
01789 490872 - 07816877259
William & Tom Thomson
Woodneuk
Barrhead, Glasgow G78 1ES
0141 881 1438/1538 www.woodneuk.com
tom@woodneuk.com
Yorkshire Highlanders
Mr & Mrs Keith Gascoigne
Holly Beck Farm
Commonside Flockton Nr Wakefield
Yorkshire WF4 4DA
01924 848161
for more contacts and information please go to
www.highlandcattlesociety.com
lifestyle
C O U N T RY
SCOTLAND’S RURAL LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
Lifestyle preview
The Royal
Highland Show
of
SCOTLAND
Whatever it is that the Royal Highland Show has, it
inspires something in the range of 160,000 to 180,000
people to come to Ingliston no matter what the weather.
If it’s livestock you want, it has it in spades ... if it’s the
best in farming, food and countryside, along with some
spectacular displays of craft, design and art, you won’t
be disappointed.
The organisers of the show realise it is a delicate
balancing act to strike the right note with such a diverse
range of showgoers, as year after year they strive to see
showgoers go home with memories of a great day out.
Country Lifestyle Scotland has put together a preview
highlighting some of the many activities that will be
happening across the showground, with some ideas on
how to keep the little ones entertained as well.
Haute cuisine to haggis
who’s cooking at the show?
As you an see from our front cover, even celebrity chefs, like Tom Lewis,
are excited about the prospect of being part of this year’s celebration of
Scotland’s food and drink at the Highland Show.
This year the theme is ‘A Celebration of Scotland’ and, under the
supervision of Wendy Barrie, writer, broadcaster, demonstrator and
director of the award-winning Scottish Food Guide, the food and drink
theatre will stage nine demo sessions daily over the four days of the show.
One of the highlights will be a Friday slot for Lady Claire Macdonald
of the Michelin-starred Kinloch Lodge, on the Isle of Skye. Other top
chefs appearing include Tom Lewis, proprietor of Monachyle Mhor
at Balquhidder, Paul Wedgwood, from his eponymous restaurant
in Edinburgh, the ‘kilted chef’ Craig Wilson, proprietor of the Green
Restaurant, at Udny Green, in Aberdeenshire, and Mikey Prentice, from
the First Coast bistro, in the West of Edinburgh.
The Scotland Food and Drink Theatre is located at the North end of
the Food and Drink Hall.
Have beef will travel ...
Don’t miss...
Nearly 300 primary schoolchildren
will be taking centre stage at
the show when they present
‘Scotland’s Larder Showcase’.
Organised by RHET, the main
ring event – at 2.00 pm on the
Friday of the show – sees pupils
from schools throughout Scotland
featuring a range of Scottish
produce.
At the show, a pipe band will
lead the groups, colour-coded in
different T-shirts, into the main ring.
One pupil from each group will then
introduce the school, while another
recites a rhyme about the produce.
All schools will then march from
the ring to the rousing sound of The
Proclaimers’ (I’m Gonna Be) 500
miles. Can’t wait to see it!
One of the hand picked chefs demonstrating at the
Food and Drink theatre will be Tom Lewis, who is
an ambassador for using seasonal, fresh, and local
food. An award-winning chef, Tom is the talent
behind the Monachyle Mhor boutique hotel and
restaurant success story, at Balquhidder.
“When I plan a menu, the first thing I look at is
what’s in season – because whatever’s in season
is at the peak of readiness and flavour ... so you
know it’s going to be good,” says Tom.
Monachyle Mhor is a well-established destination
restaurant and hotel, winner of a Scottish tourist
board gold award. Food for its restaurant is sourced
as far as possible either from its own farm and
surrounding countryside, or named suppliers. Then
the raw materials are handled with great skill and
commitment to produce memorable dishes.
Thursday, June 23 - Sunday June 26, at Ingliston Showground, Edinburgh
Borders celebrati
BUSINESSES FROM across the Scottish
Borders are set to take centre stage at this
year’s Royal Highland Show after the region
was chosen to be the event’s key focal area
for 2011.
The region’s diversity – from food and drink
production to outdoor activities, events, history,
culture and luxury goods – will be highlighted
during the four-day event.
More than 40 Scottish Borders businesses
and organisations will be in attendance with
an extensive presence in five showcase areas.
The countryside area will feature businesses
involved in recreation and outdoor sports from
quirky camper van holidays and trike tours to
canoeing and high-octane mountain biking. In
the food and drink pavilion, 12 of the area’s top
producers will give visitors the chance to taste
and buy their wares.
The shopping arcade will feature cutting-edge
cashmere and textiles designs ranging from
well-established knitwear producers to awardwinning new-start, Jaggy Nettle, the creator of
the Tweed Hi-Top. Additional Border marquees
will highlight the region’s visitor attractions
including historic houses, gardens and galleries
as well as its vibrant events programme which
features fabulous festivals such as The Festival of
the Horse which celebrates its 10th Anniversary
Each year, the Royal Highland show organisers
choose an area to showcase based on the location
the event would have visited if it still toured the
country, as it did before it became a permanent
fixture at Ingliston in 1960 – this year the Borders
take central stage.
with the Household Cavalry performing at Floors
Massed Pipe Band Day (August 28); and the
Jim Clark Rally.
The businesses are being assisted to exhibit
at the event by the Show’s Presidential Team and
agencies including Scottish Borders Council.
Vicky Davidson, elected member for
economic development at Scottish Borders
Council said: “Last year more than 185,000
people attended the Royal Highland Show
including many overseas visitors so this is
a fantastic opportunity to showcase Border
businesses and the region as a whole. Border
farmers, of course, have always done well at
Ingliston, but this is a chance to highlight the
quality, range and sheer diversity of Borders
produce and design work from across the
region as well as some of our top class visitor
attractions and activities.”
One of the businesses already looking forward
to participating is Thistle Trike Tours from Linton
Bankhead.
Ian Douglas, of Thistle Trike Tours, said: “We
will use the Highland Show as a platform to
highlight our trike tours of the Scottish Borders.
The opportunity to travel through the stunning
Scottish Borders scenery on a trike motorcycle
is unbeatable and being able to exhibit at the
event as part of major showcase is a great
opportunity to get across the message about
the huge range of activities you can enjoy in our
region.”
Fine and Wild -
The Fine and Wild fishing hamper includes local premium foods
SHOWCASING THE finest food
that the Borders has to offer, Fine
and Wild is a new food hamper
company based in The Scottish
Borders.
Shirley Bell, from Blainslie,
and Ally Bremner, from Melrose,
are both trained cooks with an
interest in fine food. Ally trained at
Farthinghoe Fine Wine and Food
and was chef for the British Minister
in Berlin before going on to teach at
Leith’s School of Food and Wine.
Shirley trained at Kendal
College and both have run bed
and breakfast establishments,
and have seen how people really
appreciate locally sourced and
well cooked fresh food.
There are several aspects to
the business: Fishing or shooting
picnics aimed specifically at
showcasing to visitors from
outside the area the amazing
produce that is available from
‘Scotland’s Larder’. Wild game
and smoked fish, cheeses, jams
and chutneys to name just some.
Hot or cold food for one or two,
or for parties, is delivered to the
fishing or shooting hut or cottage.
A friend of theirs who came
royal highland show lifestyle preview
ion!
Gearing up for the Royal Highland Show: Allan
Murray from the Royal Highland Show tries Ian
Douglas’s trike for size as he points businesses
in the direction of this year’s event . More than
40 Borders businesses will take centre stage
at the Highland Show in June including Thistle
Trike Tours, which offer scenic drives through
the Borders by motorcycle trike
showcasing the Borders food
up from Cheshire to fish, suggested
that they make goodie bags of
local products for the fishermen to
take home. In researching this, they
came across so many fabulous
artisan and craft producers based
in the Borders and other parts
of Scotland that Fine and Wild
Hampers was born.
The strict inclusion criteria of the
hampers mean that the produce is
almost entirely Scottish and must
be made in the traditional way.
Their market research showed that
traditional hampers were ‘always full
of things that no-one wants to eat:
they aim to change this! The two
have their own range of AGA baked
shortbread, biscuits and cakes.
A fast growing speciality are
cakes and products aimed at
special dietary needs. Delicious
gluten free, dairy free and diabetic
cakes have been sent all over the
UK and as far afield as Australia and
South Africa.
Find Fine and Wild at the Borders
Food Network stand.
The celebrated Blairquhan Estate
- live the Scottish Country Estate
Experience.
House & Gardens Open
Sundays to Thursday afternoons - 5th June to 7th July 2011
1.30 till 4.00 pm (last entrance to house 4.00pm)
Regency Castle designed by William Burn 1821-1824
3 mile private drive along the River Girvan
Walled gardens : Pinetum : Ice House
Castle Teas included in admission price
Adult: £7.50 Children: £3.50 OAPs £5.00
Special Rates for pre-booked groups
Free! Guide books and postcards
Gift Shop
www.fineandwild.co.uk
A range
of gluten
free, dairy
free, and
diabetic
cakes and
treats are
available
Telephone: 01655 770 239 enquiries@blairquhan.co.uk www.blairquhan.co.uk
kid
Bring on the
What’s on at
Dobbies Children’s
Discovery Centre?
VISIT THE Dobbies Children’s
Discovery Centre on Avenue Q,
where this year’s theme is ‘From
Past to Present’, with activities
designed to encourage thinking
of farming, food and rural life
through the ages.
Bring the kids to enjoy the
hands-on educational activities
open to the general public
throughout the show, run by the
Royal Highland Education Trust
(RHET) and featuring a variety
of activity providers from some
of the best educational teams in
Scotland.
QMS are sponsoring the Scotch
Beef Children’s Cookery Theatre,
giving youngsters an opportunity to
discover for themselves how simple
(and tasty!) it is to cook with fresh,
seasonal produce. Sticking with
the theme of food, RHET will be
welcoming The Taste Adventure
to the 2011 education programme;
this simple yet fun activity, run
by Slow Food and the HGCA,
encourages children to think about
food through five interactive zones,
each with a focus on one of the five
senses. The team from Seafood
Scotland invite you to see – and
taste – different fish, and to explain
the importance of fish in a healthy
diet.
Dynamic Earth will lead your
children on a trail of ancient
beasties, to discover the creatures
that roamed around our land long
ago. The Game and Wildlife
Conservation Trust have a display
of gamekeeping clothing past
and present, with the chance for
children to test their knowledge of
this old profession. Younger kids
can take turns to grind grain into
flour in the traditional way using
quern stones with Gorgie City
Farm and, in the dairy parlour,
milk ‘Mabel’, RHET’s life-sized
fibre-glass cow, to learn the journey
of fresh milk ‘from cow to carton’.
Older children can discover how
science is helping feed the world
and care for the environment, plus
follow the changes in science over
the years with The James Hutton
Institute.
Budding naturalists are welcome
to join the Little Seedlings Club,
run by Dobbies, in a session
looking at the types of flowers that
attract bees and butterflies and
how bees turn nectar into honey.
Children are shown how to plant
sunflower seeds and can take these
home to grow in the garden!
From flowers to vegetables
– come and see how our RHET
Garden is growing different varieties
(hybrids) of produce and compare
the old traditional types to the new.
These are but a taste of the fun
educational activities in store for
your young family during a visit to
the Dobbies Children’s Discovery
Centre. Come along and enjoy the
fun!
Other children’s activities are
located throughout the showground
and details are available from the
Royal Highland Show page of the
RHET website www.rhet.org.uk,
plus some handy hints for what to
see and do when visiting the show
with young children.
The role of RHET
RHET creates the opportunity for
every school pupil in Scotland to
learn about food, farming and the
countryside through organising
farm and estate visits for schools
and arranging classroom speakers
who can explain to children the
environmental, economic and
social realities of living and working
in the countryside. It is a charity
which receives core funding from
the Royal Highland and Agricultural
Society of Scotland and whose
patron is Her Royal Highness the
Princess Royal.
Visiting a farm is an effective and
fun learning experience for both
children and teachers, providing
the chance to get outdoors.
Please note, the Dobbies
Children’s Discovery Centre is
open to school parties and public
on Thursday 23 and Friday, June
24, therefore the centre will be
extremely busy on these days.
If you would like more
information about visiting the Royal
Highland Show with children, or to
volunteer with RHET at the show,
visit our website www.rhet.org.uk.
ds!
children’s activities at the royal highland show
d ro p i n a c t i v i t i e s
Note: these activities cannot be booked in advance.
British Waterways Scotland
Scotland’s canals are teeming with wildlife, rich with history and full of
things to see and do. Come along to our stand and have some fun
trying to walk on water. Countryside area - all ages
The Clan Cycle Stunt Team
The Clan is a cycling display team offering exciting and daring cycling
display shows in the UK. Countryside area – all ages
Gorgie City Farm - “Flour of Scotland!”
Use querns (stone hand mills) to grind grain, and sieve out flour. You’ll
be doing what almost every culture on earth has done over countless
years. Dobbies Children’s Discovery Centre Avenue Q - all ages
Honey Tent
Pop in to experience what it is like to be a beekeeper and try to find the
queen bee or taste some honey!
Countryside Area 4th Avenue - all ages
The James Hutton Institute (formerly SCRI and the Macaulay
Institute):
Discover how science is helping feed the world and care for the
environment. Dobbies Children’s Discovery Centre Avenue Q - age 10+
McDonalds – An interactive, child friendly stand which will focus
on quality and sourcing and McDonald’s commitment to agriculture.
Giveaways available for those who participate in a competition. Avenue
O - all ages
National Sheep Association - An informative and educational
sheep trail. There will be fleeces to look at and touch, plus various
demonstrations, including wool spinning, sheep dressing and even
some knitting! NSA Marquee (rear of grandstand, Avenue O) all ages
Potato Bus
Visit the Potato Council promotional vehicle and find out where food
comes from, how plants grow and how potatoes fit into a healthy
balanced diet. Avenue Q - age 7-11
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS)
QMS’s health and education team will be available to provide
information about the important role of red meat in a healthy diet.
Free publications, posters and recipe books will be available along
with an interactive display, competition and prizes. Dobbies Children’s
Discovery Centre Avenue Q - age 5-18
Scottish Hydro Electric – Come and learn about renewable
energy. Build your own model wind turbine. Have a go on our kinetic
dance floor. See if you can generate the most energy using our special
bikes. Renewables area - all ages
SEARS (Scotland’s Environmental and Rural Services)
Will be providing a variety of forestry themed events and activities
for children including: a mountain bike simulator, face mask painting,
nature tables, finger puppet making and much more! SEARS Tent Next
to Forestry Arena, 4th Avenue - all ages
Wiseman Dairies
Follow the route
of milk from
cow to cup.
This activity
aims to give
children a better
understanding
of where milk
comes from
and the route
it takes from
the farm to the
fridge.
Avenue O - all
ages
Arena demonstrations:
Exact imings will be posted at the
ringside
Mordor Gundogs - Charlie Thorburn
talks about the different dogs and training
aspects, whilst also providing the public
with many useful tips and tricks that apply
to all dog owners’ not just gundogs. www.
mordorgundogs.com
Elite Falconry – The very highest of
standards of both falconry practice and
public presentation will be on show from
Elite Falconry.
The Quack Commandos – Sheepdog and
duck display team are a highlight. Don’t
miss them.
Long Netting and Ferreting – Brain and
Liam Brinded specialise in eco-friendly
rabbit control and the making and supplying
of rabbit catching equipment.
Police and Fire Dogs – Displays highlighting
the superior smelling ability and skill of these
talented canines.
Ochils Mountain Rescue Team (weekend
only) – The Ochils Mountain Rescue Team
spend their time locating and recovering
missing persons or people who have found
themselves in difficult situations.
Rural Skills Displays:
Coracle building – Kevin and Ellen Grimley
has been making coracles for 15 years
Wheelwright – Ian Grant specialises in the
building and repair of all types of wooden
carriage and cart wheels.
Country crafts an
Gundogs uses around 12 to 15 dogs
IF YOU enter the showground by
ranging from puppies at eight weeks to
the west gate, you are in for an
more mature Labradors and spaniels.
early treat, as you will encounter
He will explain the different skills of each
the countryside area and all its
breed and the training requirements.
activities as soon as you get into
There will also be useful tips and tricks
the show..
that apply to all dog owners, not just
This three hectare site
those out on the moors or on a lowland
incorporates a loch with some
shoot.
stunning landscaping. It includes
Falconry is the age old pastime of
trade stands, demonstrations and
hunting wild prey in its natural state using
events reflecting the wide range
trained birds. Elite Falconry explain that
of country sports and activities
they have no plans to catch anything at
available in Scotland.
the show, but will demonstrate the flying
In the great outdoors with its
styles and skills of these magnificent
diverse and beautiful landscape,
raptors! There’s also a static display and
there’s a huge choice of activity
among the team will be eagles, hawks,
that will be demonstrated at the
falcons, buzzards, owls and even a
show. It might be a relaxing walk
vulture.
or more energetic pursuits such as
Roger Beck, from Yorkshire, is a
canoeing, cycling or climbing.
Gundogs show their skill
qualified fly casting coach and for the last
And this year as part of Active
ten years he has worked full-time as a professional
Scotland, these three will feature in the countryside
fly fishing instructor and guide. He demonstrates
area along with some of the more regular
all over the country at county and national events,
attractions.
features in angling publications, has appeared
Those interested in taking up canoeing
on television and writes a monthly column for the
can try their hand on the tranquil waters of the
Yorkshire Post. For relaxation, he goes fishing!
loch, those with a head for heights can scale a
Big favourites at the show are the Quack
specially constructed climbing wall and whether
Commandos, a team of shepherds, Border Collies
it’s mountain biking, BMX stunting or leisurely
and ducks from Kinlochard in the Loch Lomond and
wheeling along, there’s have-a-go biking.
Trossachs National Park. Although there’s a lot of
In the arena within the Countryside Area, and on
fun involved in their displays, the primary objective is
the loch, there will be demonstrations by experts on
to show off the intelligence, ability and agility of the
gundog training, falconry and fly fishing.
sheepdogs. Spectators are invited to try their hand.
In his displays, Charlie Thorburn of Mordor
Wood turning – Gavin and Claire Phillips
will show the pole lathe, shave horse, froe
and convert fresh-felled Scottish timber into
fun and useful things.
Wildlife photographer – Phillip Price of Loch
Visions. Join award winning professional
wildlife photographer Philip Price on a
magical photo safari of the Royal Highland
Show.
Willow weaver – Geoff Forrest of sustainable
designs/Willow Craft Designs
uses traditional techniques to weave willow
in a variety of forms.
Bag pipe maker- Blue MacMurchie is inviting
you to bring your pipes for verbal valuations
and to ask about restoration and repair.
Bill Kelday and Sheena Laurie – The fiddle
and guitar shop, cello and violin makers and
restorers.
Ardival Harps - Our harpmaker Graham
Muir will present different models and
techniques.
Drystone Dyker – Jim Grant showing the
skill involved in creating drystone dykes
Extra Outdoor Activities:
There will be a yurt in the countryside area,
where there will be storytelling sessions (all
days), and on the Thursday and Friday there
will be environmental games and activities.
Hear the chainsaws roar
in the forestry arena
If your looking for a statement piece for in your
garden, get yourself along to the forestry arena for a
display of the country’s finest chainsaw carvers.
Ian Chalmers, of Chainsaw Carving Scotland,
based near the village of Culbokie on the Black
Isle, in the Scottish Highlands, has been sculpting
wood with a chainsaw for more eight years with
literally thousands of chainsaw carvings under his
belt. Examples of his work can be seen popping up
throughout Britain. Ian will be carving for the fifth year
running in the forestry arena, along with another two
carvers.
Carving displays will be on around four times a
day, and you will get a chance to see wildlife shapes
forming from the trunk of his favourite tree, cedar.
Ian also specialises in carving garden benches.
Commissions will be taken at the show, or you
can contact Ian at tel. 07862 717 829 or log onto
www.chainsawcreations.co.uk for more details and
pictures of Ian’s past work.
countryside area at the royal highland show
nd rural skills on show
Also scheduled for action on the Countryside Area
programme will be a police and fire dog demonstration
on Thursday and Friday and at the weekend Tweed
Valley Mountain Rescue will feature.
A range of rural skills will take centre stage over the
four days. Gavin Phillips is a founding member of the
Association of Pole Lathe Turners and has been working
with greenwood since 1988. He will demonstrate how to
convert fresh-felled Scottish timber into every-day items
such as rounders bats, rolling pins, bowls, spoons and
tent pegs - whittling, carving and turning wood using
effective but simple and satisfying methods.
Willow weaver Geoff Forrest, uses traditional
techniques to make a variety of forms from baskets to
living installations. Based at Loch Doon in Ayrshire, he
grows a selection of willows mainly for structures and
sculptures and is a well-respected teacher working with
individuals and groups across Scotland.
Getting out and about and capturing images of
wildlife on camera is increasingly popular. Wildlife
photographer Philip Price, of Loch Visions, will advise
on how to plan, compose and create superb images
using some of the fantastic “wild” subject material
that the show has to offer. Philip’s work features in
magazines such as BBC Wildlife, Scotland Outdoors
and on BBC websites.
For those of a musical bent, there will be bagpipe
making and restoration by Pipe Major David “Blue”
MacMurchie and demonstrations by Bill Kelday and
Sheena Laurie on the making, restoration and repair of
a variety of stringed instruments including guitars, violins
and cellos.
Ardival Harps, who specialise in the manufacture of
historical and traditional harps, will introduce the history
of the instrument with learning techniques from ancient
and traditional repertoires.
Look out too for coracle building with Kevin Grimley
who will demonstrate the making of an Ironbridge
Coracle at the show, and the skills of the wheelwright
with Ian Grant who builds and repairs all types of
wooden carriage and cart wheels.
With story-telling sessions in a yurt, ferreting,
drystane dyking, environmental games and talks from
a countryside ranger plus trade stands presenting
everything from country clothing to paintings, guns,
fishing rods and binoculars and not forgetting the Honey
Marquee, the Countryside Area has something for
everyone with an interest in rural leisure and activity.
There is plenty of fun and quite a lot of skill to observe on the pond
I can see the pub
from here! The pole
climbers are always
a popular site at the
show
Wool, glorious wool!
EVER WONDERED what happens to those
huge bags of wool that leave your farm after
clipping time? The National Sheep Associaton
in conjunction with Scottish Enterprise,
Textiles Scotland and the Campaign for Wool,
take the commodity all the way from the
sheep’s back to the fashion catwalk.
“Rediscover the Wonders of Wool” will
feature on all four days of the show in the NSA
marquee and will include live demonstrations,
competitions and a fashion show.
The aim is to acquaint consumers with
the story of wool, which begins on the farm
and ends in a variety of uses, from knitwear
and clothing to carpets and car seats. The
Campaign for Wool, initiated by HRH The Prince
of Wales, launched Wool Week last October.
“Rediscover the Wonders of Wool will cover
most of the aspects of a natural commodity that
in recent times has faced stiff competition from
other products such as synthetic fibres,” said
Highland Show manager David Dunsmuir. “It is
also a commodity that for several years in the
past had ceased to be an earner for farmers as
the price paid for a fleece was often less than
the cost of shearing the sheep.
“However, with a world decline in breeding
sheep and significant promotion by the
Campaign for Wool, prices are beginning to
increase for what is a very versatile product.
“With the sheep industry being a vital part
of Scottish agriculture, it is only right that we
highlight wool as one of the important products
from that sector and we are delighted to support
the NSA and the other organisations in this
show venture.”
George Milne, NSA’s Development Officer in
Scotland, added: “The more we can persuade
consumers of the benefits of wool as a natural
and versatile fibre, the better it will be in the
long-term for sheep producers. With its mix of
visitors from the farming community and the
general public, the show is an ideal platform to
demonstrate the whole process, from proper
handling of the fleece right through to the
finished product.”
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS:
■ The NSA programme at the Royal Highland
Show will include fleece judging and a
spinning demonstration on the Thursday
opening day.
■ Friday is fashion day with a team of
professional models taking to the catwalk
to show off a range of wool garments, part
of Textiles Scotland’s New Wool campaign.
There will also be a felt making demonstration.
■ Saturday sees the “Baaa’ck to Back”
competition where the race is on to clip a
sheep, spin the wool, knit a jumper and wear it
with pride in the quickest possible time.
■ The Sunday programme includes a lamb
dressing competition, clipping and preparing
sheep for showing plus a video display
and commentary on innovations with wool
insulation.
Hands up if you’re
good enough!
Only the elite have a chance of
winning in the handcrafts section
Judges comment:
Judge of this year’s spinning, weaving and dying classes,
Doreen Marsh, of Lothianburn, is prepared for a long day
of judging when she takes on the role for the second time at the Highland.
“I was totally exhausted after a full day of judging last time. I really wanted to
comment on all the entries, but in the end I just didn’t have the time. I thought it
DON’T SPEND too much time looking for the The Scottish
would be nice for the entrants to know what I thought of their entry, and to give
Women’s Rural Institute’s marquee this year at The Highland
some praise, or even some tips. Hopefully, this year I will manage to do that.”
Show, as our much loved organisers of all things rural, have
Doreen owns Scottish Fibres, which supplies spinning, weaving, dyeing,
decided not to go to the expense of taking on a marquee,
felting,needle felting, and hand knitting products, so she has the credentials to make
when they have a presence at the handcrafts pavilion anyway.
the decisions that matter.
Treasurer, Agnes Paton, explained that with the current
So what does Doreen look for? “Well I have to like the overall item first. It would be
climate being what it is, the added expense of paying for, and
pretty difficult to persuade me to give an award to something that I didn’t instantly enjoy
staffing a marquee was thought excessive for this year. However,
looking at. I suppose I am looking for work of a very high standard, and I can usually
the rural still has a strong presence at the show. As usual they will
see how much work is involved just by looking at it. Items that have been hand
be setting up, laying out, stewarding, and providing the majority of
spun, hand dyed, hand woven could take someone a long time to create, and so
the judges for the wonderful handcrafts competition, which attracts
you have to take the time involved into consideration.”
in the region of 450 entries, attracting exhibitors from all over the
“The entries are anonymous, which is brilliant, as I can’t be swayed by knowing who
world.
has produced them. In general, I always breathe a sigh of relief when
The handcrafts pavilion also hosts the ever popular crooks and sticks
I find that the ones that I have picked as the top entries have
competition, which are provided by the Crook Association.
been winners in previous shows... that shows that there have
Last year’s overall winner Ruby Weir, will be back this year to showcase
been other judges who agree with my results.”
her skills by demonstrating stump work, which bagged her the top prize last
year with a stunningly decorative picture frame (below).
Several ladies from the rural will also be on hand at RHET’s Dobbies Discovery
Centre to help the children with the cooking demonstration, should you wish to ask for any
information.
Handcrafts judging takes place before the show starts, prizegiving will be held on the Saturday of the
show at 11am.
What? No rural tent?
Left: Ruby Weir’s overall winning entry last year
was this decorated picture frame
Above: Demonstrations are always interesting in
the handcrafts pavilion, learn lots of new skills by
watching the experts
Right: Amazingly intricate crooks and sticks are
judged and displayed in the handcrafts
handcrafts and shearing at the royal highland show
Young Farmers show
their fashionable side
For the last few years at the Royal Highland Show the Scottish Association of Young
Farmers have held a fashion show, showing off the creations they have entered into
their clothing couture competition.
With a different theme annually, last year’s winners Helen and Jemma Bruce,
both Young Farmers from the Udny club, in Aberdeenshire, took the top spot with
their suit jacket, trousers, and jewellery combo, which impressed the judges, as the
theme required was workwear with jewellery.
Helen said: “We were determined to win last year, as we had been third, then
second, and we knew we had to pull out all the stops to get it last year. In the past,
my cousin Jemma and I have entered into various themed competitions as a team,
and we have made things like skirts, tartan scarf, winter warmers, and a handbag,
but last year we spent a very rushed three weeks in the run up to the show having
sleepless nights designing and putting together a suit, and Jemma concentrated on
the jewellery.”
“We both really enjoyed the challenge of entering the competition, it was an
opportunity to try to do something that we would normally never tackle, making a
large item of clothing like a suit, but it was worth it, especially as all our hard work
was rewarded.”
The clubs involved in the competition model their entries either themselves, or
they can ask someone else to model them, on the Saturday afternoon of the show
at 2pm at the West Gate stage.
The ladies of the Scottish Women’s Rural Institute judge the entries and are
particularly interested in the sewing craft involved in the clothing, so no point in
rushing that needlepoint.
This year’s theme is beach wear – which could make for an interesting fashion
show if the weather is living up to Scotland’s usual summer temperatures, maybe
they should think about beachwear with added hat and scarf!
Saturday, 2pm, at West Gate Main Stage
Cousins, Helen and Jemma Bruce, winners of last years YF catwalk
competition with their workwear creation, consisting of a suit and
hand made jewellery
Royal Highland hosts six nations shearing
Top Scottish shearer Hamish Mitchell, from Lochearnhead,
will be representing his country in the Six Nations Shearing
Championship
The six nations rugby tournament at the Highland Show, no, the other six nations,
although there is likely to be tackling all the same.
This is the Six Nations shearing competition which will be held at this year’s show,
and, of course, the home nation will be looking for some of that famous Scottish
support.
Featuring all the skill, strength and speed of sheep shearing, it’s an international
competition to find the best team from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the
Republic of Ireland and France.
This is only the second time the competition has been staged with the inaugural
event held at the Royal Bath and West of England Show last year. The first international
event between shearing nations was held at the Royal Welsh Show in 1963 with
Scotland, Wales and England competing. Northern Ireland joined in 1969 and the
Republic of Ireland in 1980. The Five Nations was hosted by the relevant Royal show
in rotation.
Last year, France came on board but “Les Bleus” struggled to make an impact, with
Wales winning the first Six Nations and Scotland in second place.
Scotland will be hoping to go one better this year. The three-man team reads
like a “who’s who” of shearing – former Scottish champions Hamish Mitchell, from
Lochearnhead, and Gavin Mutch, of Forgue, in Aberdeenshire, plus up and coming
prospect Simon Bedwell, from Garve, in Ross-shire.
Stiff competition is expected from holders Wales with their top man Gareth Daniel,
from Powys, placed third in last year’s world championship to two New Zealanders.
Each team member will be challenged to shear seven sheep against the other five
nations. Although speed is an obvious bonus, the judges – one from each nation – will
be looking for good, clean shearing with no damage to the sheep or the wool the overriding priority.
The Six Nations will take place on the Sunday of the show at 11.15am in the
MacRobert Theatre adjacent to the North Gate entrance.
It is the main event of a programme of competitions which starts with the junior
shearing final on Friday and includes Young Farmers, intermediate, senior and open
contests, Highland Shears, the Scottish National Championship, blade shearing and
wool handling.
Sunday, 11.15am in the MacRobert Theatre
Scotland’s premium
produce
whisky
THE FOOD and drink hall at The Highland Show is a sensory overload, with smells,
tastes and sights to enliven the senses. Premium, artisan, producers showcase the
best food that Scotland has to offer - don’t miss the chance of a free taster at most
stalls. We have featured some of the unmissable taste bud ticklers for you to try.
whisky
Gordon and
MacPhail
LOCATED IN the north-east of Scotland in the heart of the world
famous whisky producing region of Speyside, Gordon and MacPhail
is an independent family-owned and managed firm which has been
bottling Single Malt Whiskies for more than 115 years. From its humble
beginnings as a retailer, Gordon and MacPhail has grown to become
a diverse and dynamic company with a number of different business
interests today which include the retailing, wholesaling, exporting,
bottling and distilling of single malt Scotch whisky. Owned by the third
and fourth generation of the Urquhart family, Gordon and MacPhail
celebrate family values, embracing the philosophy that the future is
shaped by what is done today and today is represented by what has
been done in the past.
In 2010, Gordon & MacPhail made history by bottling the oldest cask
ever released – a 70 Years Old Mortlach, distilled in 1938, launched under
the “Generations” brand. Following the phenomenal success of this
release a 70 Years Old Glenlivet, distilled in 1940, has been added to the
Generations portfolio.
Distilled at The Glenlivet Distillery on February 3, 1940, this unique and
exceptionally rare Single Malt Scotch Whisky was unveiled to members of
the public at an exclusive launch event in Edinburgh Castle in March 2011.
A single Speyside malt of unique provenance and outstanding quality,
Glenlivet 70 Years Old epitomizes the family values of Gordon & MacPhail,
built on generations of expertise in single malts.
The Glenlivet 70 Years Old was matured in a First Fill Sherry Butt, and
bottled at cask strength (45.9% ABV). Only 100 70cl bottles and 175 20cl
bottles will be released in 2011. The 70cl decanter has a recommended
retail price in the UK of £13,000 and the 20cl version has a recommended
Handmade,
homegrown
retail price
in the UK of
£3200. It is
the second
in a series of
extremely rare
malt whiskies
to be released
by Gordon & MacPhail under its
‘Generations’ brand.
To support the launch of this unique product, an additional five whiskies
have been released under the Private Collection range spanning the
decades from the 1950s to the 1990s. These whiskies reflect Gordon &
MacPhail’s long term approach to maturing, selecting and bottling single
malts. This approach is built on knowledge and expertise handed down
between generations of our family owned business.
Today Gordon and MacPhail is also the proud owner of Benromach
Distillery in Forres, home of Speyside’s smallest working distillery and an
exclusive single malt of outstanding quality and provenance. It was always
the ambition of the Urquhart family that one day Gordon & MacPhail would
own and manage a distillery of its own.
This dream became a reality in 1993 when the company purchased
Benromach Distillery. At the time the distillery was virtually derelict, all the
fixtures and fittings had been ripped out and sold by the previous owners.
Drawing upon generations of expertise in the whisky industry, Benromach
was carefully and painstakingly re-equipped ready to recommence operation
before it was officially reopened by HRH Prince Charles in 1998.
whisky
is Spencerfield’s
passion
SPENCERFIELD HAVE a passion for creating great whisky. Believing that great
Spencerfield
are promoting
their new
award winning
Edinburgh Gin
whisky comes from distilleries that put quality first. Distilleries that actually care about
their product, where it’s nurtured every step of way.
“We can spend all day in one maturation warehouse in the certain knowledge that every
barrel will be different. And the difference can be very pronounced, even though it’s a spirit
that’s been produced in the same run. It’s when that spirit has been in the oak barrel for a
few years that the significance of wood on the flavours and resulting smell of the whisky
really becomes apparent.
“Today we insist that our whisky is matured in specially selected first-fill oak casks,
which allow it to absorb a maximum of flavours. The casks are meticulously
inspected before purchase, and a sample taken, which allows us to work
on the perfect balance of our whisky. This is Richard Paterson’s territory,
and we are lucky enough to have him blending for us, ensuring every
bottle we send out to the world’s whisky lovers never disappoints.
“Richard is a world-class blender and the only 3rd generation whisky
blender working today.
“All of our whisky is truly handmade. It may have odd and quirky
names, our office may be a converted stable on a farm, and we may
spend too much time talking to the chickens, but the quality we bottle
for the many markets we deliver to cannot be faulted. Tasting it will
convince you of its quality, much more than all the awards it’s already
received,” says Alex Nicol, MD of Spencerfield.
food and drink
Smokin’ good food
from Deeside
Fat free frozen dessert
- tell us more!
SHOWCASING SCOTLAND’S
natural larder at its finest is the
award winning, artisan producer,
The Deeside Smokehouse.
Nestled in the heart of Royal
Deeside, the Smokehouse
harvests wild game from country
estates in Aberdeenshire which
is then cured and smoked using
traditional methods over whisky
soaked oak shavings from the
Speyside Cooperage.
Visitors to this year’s Royal
Highland Show will be able to
sample a mouth-watering range
of products including its award
winning venison and pheasant
salamis, cold smoked venison,
venison chorizo and Deeside
Glider which is two cured pheasant
breasts stuffed with local haggis, as
well as hot smoked wild pheasant
and beef bresaola, an air dried
salted beef hung for two to three
months.
The newest additions to Deeside
Smokehouse’s product range are
handmade traditional raised game
pies. These delicious pies are
packed full of game and can be
enjoyed hot or cold. Choose from
venison and smoked venison or
pheasant and smoked pheasant;
both go well with a sharp, fruity
chutney accompaniment and
are idea for a picnic lunch or for
shooting parties.
Top chef and former chairman
of Masterchefs of Great
Britain, George McIvor will be
demonstrating how to serve and
cook with some of The Deeside
Smokehouse’s produce on stand
A12 in the Food Hall.
The Deeside Smokehouse was
a winner at the Scottish Food
and Drink Excellence Awards in
2010 for its cold smoked venison,
pheasant salami and Deeside
Glider and is a two times winner
of the Grampian Food Forum
Innovation Awards for its cold
smoked venison, pheasant salami,
roast smoked pheasant, venison
salami and chorizo.
Produce from the Deeside
Smokehouse is available at
delicatessens and specialist
food stores throughout Scotland
including Dobbies Garden Centres
and are also served by chefs
at some of Scotland’s finest
eating establishments including
Gleneagles and Malmaison. The
Deeside Smokehouse products
are also supplied as part of
Deeside Hampers, a sister venture
set up to promote local, artisan
produce from the region. Online
ordering is available at www.
thedeesidesmokehouse.com and
www.vfmuk.com
BELHAVEN FRUIT Farm launches it’s new Fat Free Frozen dessert
at this years Highland Show. Using real fruit grown on the farm and
an old Italian recipe, Ice Delight is made by first pressing the fruit
then whipping it up to make a luxury, soft and creamy dessert. As
well as having all the goodness of real fruit and only 90 calories per
100ml, unbelievably it can even be counted as one of your five-aday! Located in the food hall they will be giving away samples of their
strawberry, raspberry, blackcurrant and lemon flavours as well as
having a few new exciting flavours like gooseberry on trial.
www.icedelight.co.uk
There’s a buzz about
Scarletts’ honey
IF YOU have a sweet tooth and fancy a try before you buy
opportunity, Scarletts honey is always ‘buzzing’ with interested
customers.
Scarletts (Scotland) is located in the heart of Perthshire Scotland, with
some 50 million bees pollinating vast areas of soft fruit, lowland flowers
and from July each year, the heather of the Grampian hills.
Scarlett’s products have become firm favourites with customers of
farmers markets, farm shops, delicatessens and Multinationals. This
popularity has enabled Scarletts to grow steadily into one of the largest
beekeeping companies in the UK.
For more
information and
for a full product
summary,
see www.
scarlettshoney.
co.uk
Blended to perfection
IN THE Winter of 1922 John Scobie
set sail from Glasgow with the
dream of sourcing the finest quality
herbs and spices from the Far East.
For years he repeated his journey,
constantly seeking to improve and
perfect his products.
It was with the same dream that
he formed The Organic Blending
Company manufacturing a range
of organic gifts, grinding herbs and
spices, sprinkles, marinades, gravies
and stuffing mixes. Visit our stand
in the food hall and taste something
amazing.
What’s cooking at
Charismatic celebrity cooks
join QMS celebrations
TWO CHARISMATIC
view sheep, cattle and
pigs on another area
celebrity cooks are set to stir
of the QMS stand and
up the crowds at Quality Meat
hear about the high
Scotland’s stand at this year’s
production standards
Royal Highland Show.
and welfare involved in
The irrepressible Lady Claire
their production.
Macdonald and Hardeep
Quality Meat Scotland
Singh Kohli will be joining in
chairman, Jim McLaren,
the celebration of the 20th
said he was looking
anniversary of the launch of
forward to welcoming
the world-leading assurance
the high profile cooks
schemes which underpin the
and talented young
Scottish red meat industry’s
butchers to the stand.
brands, Scotch Beef, Scotch
“With so much
Lamb and Specially Selected
going on, Quality Meat
Pork.
Scotland’s stand at the
Lady Claire will be tempting
Royal Highland Show
audiences at QMS’s ringside
always creates a buzz,
stand (Avenue O, stand no 599)
and this year the stand
on the Thursday and Friday of the
is set to be busier than
show with some of her favourite
ever as the industry
beef, pork and lamb recipes.
celebrates two decades
Lady Claire runs the Michelinof the quality assurance
starred Kinloch Lodge restaurant
schemes behind
and hotel on Skye with her
Scotch Beef, Scotch
husband and family and was the
Lamb and Specially
winner of this year’s NFU Scotland
Hardeep Singh Koli and Lady Claire MacDonald will be demonstrating their culinary
Selected Pork.
Ambassador Award.
skills on the QMS stand at the show
“Members of QMS
And jetting up to the Royal
staff and farmers will be
Highland Show from London
look set to prove a hit with show goers.
available to answer every question and ensure
to dazzle show-goers attending the weekend
The QMS stand will host butchery sessions
no-one leaves the stand without feeling a real
cookery demonstrations at the QMS stand will
involving some of the country’s top young
sense of the reasons behind the industry’s pride
be Hardeep Singh Kohli. Hardeep’s hilarious
butchers and school children and members
in its labels.”
banter combined with his sheer love of cooking
of the public will also have the opportunity to
Big and little stars
join the
fun at Scotch
Beef children’s
cookery theatre
More than 1000 children will get
the hands-on opportunity to cook
simple, healthy and nutritious
dishes including beef, pork and
lamb at this year’s show.
Quality Meat Scotland is this
year sponsoring the Scotch Beef
Cookery Theatre located in the
Dobbies Children’s Discovery
Centre in Avenue Q of the
showground.
During show week an estimated
15,000 children will visit the
centre, run by the Royal Highland
Education Trust, to learn more
about where food comes from.
Over the four days a number
of celebrities will also be joining
the children to lend a hand in the
Scotch Beef Cookery Theatre.
Among these will be one of
Scotland’s most inspirational
sportsmen rugby ace, Chris
Paterson, the country’s highest
point scorer and most capped
player.
Chris has been working
with Quality Meat Scotland on
a butcher’s shop campaign
highlighting the important role of
red meat in a healthy diet.
Chris Capaldi, also known as
“Glen” the face of Scotch Beef’s
advertising campaigns will also be
visiting the cookery theatre.
Dietitian Jennifer Robertson,
Quality Meat Scotland’s Health and
Education Coordinator, said QMS
was delighted to be sponsoring the
cookery theatre at this year’s show.
“Our new partnership with the
Royal Highland Education Trust at
the show very much ties in with
the work we do throughout the
year to encourage young people
to appreciate the importance of a
balanced diet and red meat’s role
in that.
“We are looking forward to
welcoming children of all ages to
the Scotch Beef Cookery Theatre
to show them how easy and fun it
is to make delicious, nutritious food
using produce from Scottish farms
and underpinned by world-leading
quality assurance.”
Lets go shopp
First time at show for
Cousins of Cheltenham
COUSINS OF Cheltenham, owned by Anne and Alan
COCOON
WATERPROOF, WASHABLE,
long-lasting raincoats - made to
measure raincoats, which will
last a lifetime are available to
order at this year’s show.
These unique raincoats come
in 14 different styles for women
and men and in a range of
nine great colours. Matching
accessories include hoods, hats
and warm, detachable, wool rich
linings.
Cocoon began in 1985 in
Alexandria and are now made in
a converted granary workshop
in the heart of the Oxfordshire
countryside.
Special Offer
FREE leather and canvas
weekend
bag (worth
£69) to
all The
Scottish
Farmer
readers
who order a
Cocoon
Raincoat at
the show
Cocoon is on
Avenue 13
Bag measures 41
x 30 x 19cms
This offer is also open to mail or web
orders. Just quote ‘The Scottish
Farmer’ in your order. Offer closes
June 30. Tel. 01869 337770
www.cocoon-online.com
Cousins, have a fashion shop based in Cheltenham, are
new exhibitors to The Royal Highland show.
Cousins have been doing events and shows around the
counties for many years, but are really looking forward to this
show, as they have heard so much about the scale of the
show. The couple have been buying ladies fashions for more
than 30 years and source fashion from all over Europe to
add to their range.
Together, Anne and Alan’s understanding of style, their
skill in selecting only the best in fashion design, fabric,
and quality and their eye for evolving labels has meant the
fashion business has continued to grow over time.
Cousin’s exclusive tweed collection quality and price
points are unbeatable.
When you purchase one of their Tweed garments, you
are purchasing absolute quality and style. Produced from
100% British Wool sourced from traditional woollen mills
throughout the UK, and manufactured in Europe exclusively
for Cousins of Cheltenham, in the time honoured process of
tweed weaving through to garment tailoring, backed by the
expertise of our in house design team.
They make no apology for setting a high standard in both
fabrics and garment design, and take great pride in being
able to offer their customers these products at affordable
and competitive prices.
Pampeano Argentinian
style
PAMPEANO FUSES the quality of Argentinian leather and crafting
techniques with European style and elegance. Established by an
Anglo-Argentine family, much time and effort is spent sourcing the leather and
the craftsmen that creat the products.
Pampeano is proud to offer its customers the finest cowhair patchwork rugs and cushion,
Argentina has to offer. Made to exact specification, their craftsmen in Argentina can produce
any size, colour combination or design.
Of course Argentina is famous for its love of polo, and Pampeano’s premium polo
products are highly regarded by patrons and professional alike. Through the knowledge of
one of Pampeano’s founders, Luis Ferrarese, you may be assured that you are purchasing some
of the best polo equipment available in the UK.
A range of beautiful leather products is also available. Items in the lifestyle range include a striking accessories
range for both men and ladies alike.
www.pampeano.co.uk
ping...
Gillian Kyle
celebrates all
that Scots love
THE YOUNG
Glasgow-based
designer Gillian
Kyle has captured
the attention of
Scots (and fans
of Scotland) both
at home and
abroad, with a
range of designs
celebrating a nostalgic snapshot of Scottish popular
culture.
In the three years since setting up her printed textiles
company, Gillian Kyle has created a strong identity
with a variety of interior accessories, gifts and fashion
– now selling through her website and in shops across
Scotland.
This will be Gillian’s third year exhibiting at the RHS,
although it will be the first time she has exhibited in the
shopping arcade. (Stand number 842, just left of the
entrance to the arcade). This year also sees the launch
of her new red foiled teacake art prints,
along with greeting cards, kids t-shirts and
cute babygrows.
SHOW DISCOUNT:
We are offering an exclusive discount to
The Scottish Farmer readers, at the RHS
and on our website (www.gilliankyle.com)
for a week after the show.
Please quote the discount password/code
‘FARMERJUNE2011’ to receive
10% off any purchase
shopping
Skyeskins provide
tactile luxury
SKYESKYNS, MANUFACTURERS and suppliers of
finest quality sheepskins and sheepskin products, is a family
business established in 1983 in the dramatic setting of
Waternish, North West Skye.
It is one of only two remaining commercial sheepskin
tanneries in the UK and last year was awarded VisitScotland’s
5* visitor attraction grading.
All year round, visitors to Scotland’s unique exhibition
tannery can witness time-honoured methods of making leather,
possibly the oldest craft known to man, and browse perhaps
the most comprehensive range of luxurious
natural sheepskins and sheepskin products
to be found anywhere. The recently extended
showroom display area allows increasing
emphasis on ideas for homes and interior
design, with room for the larger impact fleeces
including the new exclusive line of mosaics
which will be on view at the Royal Highland
Show.
The product range available covers a
wide range of uses, from clothing – gilets,
hats, gloves, sheepskin boots and slippers,
and more, to baby care, pet mats as well as
stunning floor or bed throws and stylish interior decoration. New additions to the range this year
include snuggles (luxurious sheepskin hot-water bottle covers) and Hamish Haggis, the children’s
hand puppet.
This year, in addition to the Royal Highland Show, Skyeskyns is exhibiting at the Grand Designs
Exhibitions in London and Birmingham, the Country Living Christmas Fair in Glasgow and Blair
Horse Trials. Those unable to get to Skye or any of these venues can view ideas or shop online at
www.skyeskyns.co.uk
See our new line in Mosaics, snuggles and Hamish Haggis at stand 851 at Royal Highland
Show.
Cut out this feature to claim a
on any double or single
sheepskin offered to readers of The Scottish Farmer.
10% discount
Holland Cooper
‘Quintessentially Brititish’
THIS YEAR Holland Cooper has taken city influences, combining
London’s glamour, British eccentric and country chic to create her most
exciting tweed campaign to date.
All Holland Cooper tweed garments are made in Britain, and all their
tweed sourced from Scotland. It is this kind of promotion of British
industry that is getting Holland Cooper noticed. In a world where
primary industry hops from one
country to the next depending
on the cheapest possible
labour, it is truly refreshing
how
Jade Holland Cooper, the founder
supports British manufacturing. Jade
started the company back in 2007, with the
goal to bring London to the countryside, and bring
heritage Scottish tweed into the 21st Century.
The brand combines bright tweeds and
sumptuous suedes to create a range of miniskirts,
classic longer skirts, tailored waistcoats,
long-coats and jackets for women.
They also have a thriving menswear
collection of sports jackets, gilets,
waistcoats and breeks. Both the
women’s and menswear are
then mirrored for flair with the
popular sportswear collection of
hoodies, trackies, polo’s, and
t-shirts.
shopping
Angela Davidson brushes up on wildlife
IN APRIL of 2010 Angela Davidson, the ever popular
artist, was diagnosed with breast cancer. In March of
this year she returned to work keener than ever to put
some fabulous new artwork on the wall of her stand at
The Royal Highland Show.
This year, however, Angela will have more than just
artwork of cows, dogs and horses on her stand. The
Highland Show also sees the launch of the first of her
wildlife range of prints: a study of a tiger’s head entitled
Burning Bright. This new original is also the largest pastel
painting Angela has ever produced.
Those who prefer Angela’s more traditional range of
work will always be catered for, as she also previews her
newest livestock picture: Goliath; a study of a stunning
Shorthorn bull. Other new work includes Flat Oot (she
named it the way she says it); a whippet study, and
Skidaddle; a roe deer fawn. The final picture produced
by the artist before the show deadline was Only Foals and
Horses: a picture of… only foals and horses!
Angela’s stand is located, as always, in the shopping
arcade, but get there early as her stand is usually extremely
popular.
Molehole
THE MOLE Hole has
had a huge success in
Scotland with its original
country kitchen, range
cooker roller towel. So
much so it has now
manufactured three new
designs to show case
at The Royal Highland
Show. All towels are
attractive, hard wearing
and being 100% pure
cotton are very absorbent
and completely colourfast
on washing. See them
at The Royal Highland
Show and browse
the huge range of
moleskin clothing, at the
Countryside Area on 4th
Avenue.
Farming Life
A fascinating internet web-catalogue of farming and country heritage pictures
appears on-line at farmingpictures.co.uk from specialist fine art publishers
Hood and Broomfield of Newcastle, Staffordshire.
Their amazing choice of affordable, collectable, high quality artist-signed prints are
beautifully reproduced from the paintings of renowned artist, Anthony Forster. This
unique, lifetime collaboration
pictorially records the workaday
environment of our changing
landscape, recalling the horseplough and the smithy, the
arrival of the tractor age and
the ubiquitous Land Rover,
the vital relationship between
farming families, their working
animals and livestock.
Picturing various breeds
of cattle, working dogs
and horses, this web-site
categorises and illustrates the
“The Highlanders”
huge choice available.
Visually attractive and easily navigated, farmingpictures.co.uk shows
prints, original paintings, and gives a distinct choice of framing presentation,
with exquisite, hand-painted picture mounts.
Hood and Broomfield have supplied via Mail Order for many years.
Superb, prompt service and well-packed goods bring repeated orders from
customers appreciating a company in touch with modern technology while
still welcoming personal contact through telephone enquiries and visits to the
gallery showroom, making friends countrywide and abroad.
Visitors to large Countryside events and Shows have met the artist on occasion,
with many paintings commissioned after seeing some of these wonderful pictures
actually painted under the ‘public eye.’After many such shows, Hood and Broomfield
are re-adjusting the demands of time and are presently unable to revisit the Royal
Highland Show, instead looking forward to maintaining continued customer contact
online, in person, or by telephone and post where customers prefer.
Stirling Stove Centre
Stoves are available with heat output ranging from 3kw up to 40kw, the
firm cater not only for the domestic market – but also for commercial
and industrial settings. And with fairly swift payback on installations,
it’s clear to see why the cost savings are attractive. And with fairly
swift payback on installations, it’s clear to see why the cost savings are
attractive especially with the latest announcement of a 19% rise in fuel
cost.
Ewen Todd of Stirling Stove Centre explains: “As a rough calculation,
it is possible to achieve payback within two years of installing a wood
burning or multi-fuel stove – especially true when the option of using a
stove with a back boiler integrated with the central heating or hot water
supply, leading to considerable cost savings for the long term.
“The installation of a Woodburning stove is surprisingly
straightforward and can be taken care of within a few days with
minimal fuss.
“An exciting development, allowing us to further penetrate the
marketplace, is our ability to supply stoves with minimal emissions
that can be installed and used in ‘smoke controlled zones’. These are
DEFRA approved. They allow households who previously thought
they couldn’t have a wood burning or multi-fuel stove installed, to take
that step.” He continues
“We place great importance on the fact that we have a base, that
customers can visit the showroom, enjoy a cup of coffee, ask us
questions and even phone us up with any additional queries they might
have on the spec of a product. We welcome that interaction. When
purchasing a stove, the aesthetics as well as the functionality of the
product is equally important. So too is the comfort of the knowledge
that there is an aftercare and warranty agreement in place with a local
supplier that you know by name. When you are selling high quality
products, it makes sense that the service the customer receives mirrors
these standards at all stages of the buying journey.”
CAIRNGORM STOVES
www.cairngormstoves.co.uk
Over 80 Woodburning Stoves on display in a suite of showrooms
Riva Studio Freestanding Stove
Morso-Jotul-Stovax-Riva-Aga-Dunsley-Franco Belge
Dovre- Nordpeis-Barbas-Charnwood
PERGE LOG BOILER
Telephone: 01479 873772 / 873493
Strathspey Industrial Estate, Grantown-on-Spey, PH26 3NB
Open Monday-Friday 8.30-1&2-5; Saturday 8.30-12.30
“Making Life Warmer”
With ever escalating fuel costs
and the need to care better for
the environment, a woodburning
stove is without doubt a worthwhile
investment.
Cairngorm Stoves in Grantownon-Spey has on display one of the
largest selection of multifuel &
woodburning stoves in Scotland.
Traditional
&
contemporary
styles are on show from the best
manufacturers in the industry
including: Morso, Jotul & Barbas.
The stoves are attractively laid out
in a suite of pleasantly appointed
showrooms with lit models adding
to the general warmth & ambience.
Cairngorm Stoves offer an
installation service & are happy to
advise on the suitability of stoves to
meet customers requirements. Their
team of installers are all HETAS
trained & registered ensuring that
all stoves are fitted safely & in
accordance with current building
regulations.
The Perge log boiler, available
from Cairngorm Stoves, provides
a complete cost effective home heating solution for rural properties as an
alternative to oil, gas or electric central heating. Perge log boilers, made in
France, have been in use in Europe for over 40 years. Their design is robust in
construction, easy to operate and simple to maintain.
Cairngorm Stoves look forward to your visit and assure you of a warm welcome!
3D/2D - the
for individ
By Karen Carruth
HAVING A look around the ‘craft tents’, as they are affectionately known
at the show, has always been a pastime of the interested showgoer,
and locating a quality find from really talented exhibitors depends on
where you start your shopping trip.
If you are looking for art, craft and design items that have been
produced by the person who is standing behind the stall, you can’t go
wrong when you visit the 3D/2D marquee.
Basically if you haven’t produced it yourself, then you won’t be allowed to
exhibit with the 3D/2D name tag.
With around 90 exhibitors, this marquee has fairly strict criteria to observe
before you are offered a place in the marquee formerly known as ‘Crafts from
Scotland’.
Richard Green, who runs 3D/2D crafts, says: “My core activity is
organising events that provide makers, designers, craftworkers and artists
Cabbie
Kids
Angus Clyne
woodturner
ANGUS CLYNE is a professional woodturner living and
working in rural Perthshire, producing wooden vessels
and sculptures using native woods, from his workshop
and showroom in Murthly, and will be exhibiting this year
in the 3D2D marquee.
Angus has always always strived to produce work of the
highest quality and integrity using locally sourced native
wood. He has been in the Register of Professional Turners
since 1999 and have exhibited widely throughout the UK
and has work in the permanent collections of the Shipley
Art Gallery as well as the Scottish Parliament.
Angus had numerous professions before finding his path
into woodturning, including; fisherman, busker, carpenter
and chef.
“I still have many interests outside woodturning and in
my free time I’m a keen gardener, forager and preserver
of wild food as well as a DJ and semiprofessional
photographer. All these interests contribute to and influence
my creativity as a woodturner as I continually draw on my
surroundings for inspiration.
“Over the years I have developed many unique tools
and techniques and now offer one to three day courses
from my workshop in Perthshire. I am also available for
demonstrations.”
His woodturning can be viewed in galleries throughout
Scotland or from his workshop in Perthshire.
IF YOU’RE looking to treat the
younger members of your family with a
personalised gift, go along to the 3D2D
marquee at the show and seek out
Cabbie Kids.
Now in her third year of exhibiting at
the Highland Show, Carol Ann Makin, is
just putting the finishing touches to her
range of quality, humourous children’s
clothing.
Based in Crossgates, in Dunfermline,
Carol Ann specialises in making
quirky slogans to attach to clothing,
personalising them to suit all occasions.
Along with her husband Alistair, they
both saw the potential in working for
themselves while their kids were young,
and as Carol Anne had a background in
design, having graduated from Edinburgh
Art College, it was natural to try to focus
their business on designing kid’s clothes.
Working from home, using all British
products, they make the slogans,
create the patches on domestic sewing
machines, and then heat press the
transfers onto the clothes.
This year at the show, you can have a
personalised item created while you wait,
adding that extra special element to your
purchase. The range consists of t-shirts,
baby gift sets, bags, blankets, vests,
with an age range going from newborn
to 10 years old.
Carol Ann is delighted with the interest
in her clothes, and this year her business
has ‘exploded’ with stockists ranging
from local boutique shops to the high
brow Jenners, which has given her the
inspiration to try out an adult’s range
of clothing, which she hopes to bring
along to the show. Costs from £14.00,
however, there is a special show offer,
slogan t-shirts will be just £12.00 this
year. www.cabbiekids.co.uk
art and craft
e showcase
dual talent
with venues where they can exhibit their work and sell directly to the
public. The origins of the organisation go all the way back to 1981.
The first fairs were held in Edinburgh in the Assembly Rooms. Fairs
in Glasgow began in early 1983, with other towns and venues added
later that year. Since then 3D/2D has established a strong, reliable
reputation for quality and diversity with both the public and potential
exhibitors.
“Currently all the events that 3D/2D organises, or participates in,
are based in Scotland. 3D/2D’s exhibitors are drawn from all over
Britain, with the majority living and working in Scotland.”
Here we have selected a few of the exhibitors that you can find at
this year’s show, just to demonstrate the quality of work that you can
expect to find in the marquee.
www.3d2d.co.uk
Annie Smith
hand made
jewellery
ANNIE SMITH jewellery was established in 1995
in Edinburgh by husband and wife team,
Annie and Ariel. They design and make
their own original, highly individual
pieces of jewellery from a workshop
within their gallery shop in
Stockbridge.
The jewellery is beautifully
pared down in design. It has
strength in the simplicity
of the design with an
emphasis on “less is more”.
The ethos leads to a classic,
minimal style using subtle
organic and geometric forms.
Annie Smith quality is distinctive and stunningly
effective. All their jewellery is finely crafted using
silver, 18 carat gold and platinum with diamonds,
freshwater pearls and semi precious stones.
Bespoke pieces can be commissioned for a
special occasion and client-specific ideas can be
incorporated to create original and very personal
one-off pieces.
A sense of continuity and longevity has been built
up over the years with a devoted client base.
The first Annie Smith premises were opened in
2000 in the funky Stockbridge area of Edinburgh
and a second shop was opened in fashionable
Bruntsfield in 2005.
This dynamic creative team are looking forward
to more successful years following their passion for
making jewellery, and look forward to welcoming you
to their stand at The Highland Show.
Kate Davison
milliner
KATE’S COMPANY is now in its 11th year, and has a devoted
customer base both in the UK and abroad. Her gorgeous creations
have been seen at occasions as far and wide as family weddings in
Rio de Janeiro, exotic parties in Paris and even the other side of the
world at the races in Australia.
Each of the pieces in her collection Kate believes is a work of art,
individually designed and crafted by Kate. Her hats and fascinators
trimmed with cut feathers are wonderfully feminine affairs, the large and
elaborate pieces designed to stand out in an Ascot crowd, while others
are subtly chic for a more demure and vintage look.
Kate has developed a keen eye for colour and if you already have
an oufit in mind, she will dye the elements of your chosen headpiece
to match it beautifully. Which creates a truly bespoke accessory to
complement your look.
Kate’s reputation is for a unique style and a friendly service and she
now has quite a following with many of her ladies coming back year after
year to let her create a new masterpiece for their latest engagement or
wedding.
Posthorn stands
the test of time
YOU WON’T find a farmhouse in the land that
doesn’t boast a Borders Fine arts, which come
from The Posthorn of Castle Douglas, which has
always been associated with world renowned
names in quality gifts and collectables such as Border Fine Arts, Moorcroft, Royal Doulton,
Spode, Wedgewood, Waterford Crystal etc. The Posthorn was one of the first retailers of
Border Fine Arts and has helped with the design and development of many exclusive collectable
figurines that Border Fine Arts have produced over the years.
The Posthorn will be taking it’s regular stand at the Highland show this year in the Countryside
Area. There will be a large collection of Border Fine Arts and the new introductions for June will be
on display. A new limited edition tractor by Ray Ayres called ‘Fine Weather Work’ along with new
limited edition ‘Blackfaced Sheep’ and ‘Reluctant Ewe’ figurines by Hans Kendrick. The Posthorn
will be offering special discounted figurines and you will also receive a free gift with every
Border Fine Arts purchase over £50.
LAWRIE & SYMINGTON
COUNTRY SUPPLIES
LANARK AGRICULTURAL CENTRE
Come and visit our country supplies shop for a wide selection
of country clothing including an extensive range of
Sherwood Forest clothing, a new season Joules range,
Horseware Ireland and new Toggi.
All at very competitive prices save on Joules with 20% off
on the entire range for a limited period.
Also animal feed, animal health equestrian range, pet food,
gardening, footwear, hardware and general supplies,
household goods, jams,etc.
Open Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm ● Saturday 9am – 1pm ● Sunday 10am – 2pm
All enquiries - Tel: 01555
660 099
Award winning furniture designer returns to Scotland
Contemporary furniture designer and maker Daniel Lacey has fulfilled his long term ambition
of returning home to Scotland to set up a new studio and workshop based in Langholm.
Daniel, who was recently named as one of the top up and coming designers in the world by
renowned expert David Savage, has been based in Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire for
the past 10 years where he has created exquisitely designed furniture for exhibition and for
commission by private clients.
Daniel said: “My passion is designing and creating functional works of art from beautiful
wood. I enjoy working with wood, taking it on a journey from tree to finished piece of
furniture. Returning to Scotland gives me an opportunity to come home to the landscapes
and the lifestyle that first encouraged me to explore wood.”
Daniel’s passion for working with wood began at a very young age. He built his own
workshop on the family farm in Galloway whilst still at school, before becoming one of
the youngest students to attend the prestigious Parnham College where he was trained by
world acclaimed furniture designers including John Makepeace and Robert Ingham.
An understanding of, and respect for, the natural world is central to Daniel’s working
practices. Wood used in the construction of each piece is carefully hand selected from
sustainable sources and Daniel’s long term goal is to build a woodland workshop powered
mainly by hydro-technology.
Daniel holds five Bespoke Guild Marks from the Worshipful
Company of Furniture Makers, the recognised mark of excellence
in design, materials, craftsmanship and function, reflecting Daniel’s
dedication to creating works of art that perfectly complement and
enhance contemporary interiors.
Daniel’s work has been widely exhibited at many prestigious
events throughout the UK and overseas and he has been featured in
numerous publications. Daniel added:
“My aim is to produce work of the highest quality, both in design
Pirate treasure chest in
and craftsmanship: work which exceeds my clients’ expectations and
laminated oak and bog oak
makes them ask, ‘how did you do that?’ “
(photo - John Gott).
Daniel has recently become a member of the Scottish Furniture
Makers Association and will be taking part in their tenth anniversary
exhibition at Dovecot, Edinburgh in October. Daniel is delighted to meet with visitors
at his showroom and workshop by appointment.
For more information about Daniel Lacey, call 01387 380193 or you can view his
work at www.daniellacey.com
Cantilevered wall shelves in ash – detail
(photo - Peter Davey).
Wall hung drawers
in olive ash
(photo - Peter Davey).
Dining room – a city flat (photo - Guy Sargent).
Unique contemporary furniture, designed
and created to order.
Buccleuch Mills,
Glenesk Road,
Langholm, DG13 0ES
www.daniellacey.com
info@daniellacey.com
Providing a lifetime of holidays – without leaving Scotland
Jules Verne may have encouraged Phileas
Fogg to get around the world in 80 days,
however Farm Stay UK can offer nearly
80 ways to overnight in a different location
without ever leaving Scotland. As Farm
Stay UK approaches its 30th Anniversary,
Scotland has consistently remained one
of the most popular destinations for its
discerning guests looking for the a farm
or countryside holiday. The organisation
is a rare breed as it is a farmer owned cooperative and officially a “not for profit”
company, ensuring that Scotland’s famers
get the best value for money from being
part of the group, yet run by tourism
professionals.
Thereisahugevarietyof accommodation
offered by the farms and the choice has
continued to evolve over those 30 years.
The fact that all of Scotland’s Farm
Stay properties are graded and assessed
by VisitScotland or the AA ensure that
the accommodation has changed and
improved at the same rate as their guests
needs. From classic farmhouses offering
Bed and Breakfast, stone cottages in remote
glens or the Scandinavian style lodges with
hot tubs for the latest in comfortable selfcatering, there is something to suit all of
Farm Stay’s guests. For even greater value
for money, unlike most branded B&B or
cottage operators guests book directly with
their hosts so that there are no expensive
commissions being charged to their guests
– or taken from the farms!
From the Islands
and Highlands to the
Borders, guests can
expect a Farm Stay
property in every corner
of the country. Split
into eleven separate
areas guests can search
by region or if using
the State of the Art
website, by any region,
town or village known
to
Google
maps
helping to maximise
the exposure for guests
seeking the countryside.
Andy Woodward, Chief
Executive of Farm Stay
said “We invested heavily in a new website
in 2009 and we are now seeing the results.
Visits to www.farmstay.co.uk/scotland.dot
are up by over 20% this year and it reflects
the popularity of visitors looking for the
perfect countryside experience and, as
your readers can testify, Scotland has some
of the best, if not the best countryside in
the whole of the UK. For those looking
to base themselves just outside one of the
major cities, or seeking the remotest retreat
Farm Stay’s guests can expect the warmest
welcome and the best local produce.”
For more information on becoming
a member of Farm Stay UK please call
02476 696909 or go to:
www.farmstay.co.uk/get-listed.dot.
International visitors to the Royal Highland Show 2011
Field Farm Tours Ltd is delighted to have been appointed as the official
travel partner to the Royal Highland Show in its first year of operation and
is honoured to support such a prestigious event. However, the people behind
Field Farm Tours Ltd have a long association with the Royal Highland Show
that goes back over 25 years.
Those same people have been supporting the show in a variety of ways, from organising
and marketing hotels and accommodation, assisting with travel needs and promotional
work for the show to supporting international groups to visit the Royal Highland Show.
The international reputation of the show is such that many foreign groups, especially from
Commonwealth countries, enjoy visiting the show as part of a UK agricultural tour.
This year we are supporting 3 international groups to visit. Farmers and their
families from Croatia, Canada, and New Zealand are in the UK and the show will
be the centre piece of their tour itinerary. Our role is to design the programme to
include a variety of farm visits so that they can learn more about UK agriculture
plc, plan their route, organise overnight stays, plan meals, book tourist visits,
organise coaching and appropriately qualified language and travel guides.
These farming groups are drawn to the UK by the reputation for quality and
efficiency that UK agriculture enjoys abroad. It may also be the chance for
many to visit the land of their ancestors. Delivering interesting programmes
that ensure that UK agriculture is showcased at its best requires our company to
know and be known within the farming community. We enjoy successful working
relationships with many of the cattle societies, sheep societies, show organisers,
regional and national farming unions, agricultural societies and individual
farmers. Thanks to their generous support we are able to identify visits that will
satisfy challenging objectives set by international groups. They learn about the
technical developments, economic changes and agricultural advances that they
can compare with the activity in their own countries and they meet the men and
women who make it successful.
Field Farm Tours is dependent on the spirit of co-operation that exists in the
farming community and the determination to keep farming at the centre of the
UKs production activity. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than at the Royal
Highland Show. We wish the committee every success for the future.
Whether you want
the Dales...
...the Glens ...the Fens ...the Wolds ...Uplands ...Lowlands ...Moors or Coast
Major new
12 part TV series
the Dales
Farm Stay has the solution.
Over 1200 fully inspected properties
Meet real country people
Enjoy farmhouse meals with fresh produce
Visit www.farmstay.co.uk or ring 01271 336141 for your FREE guide
LAT-Lodge Luxury
LAT-Lodge Limited is a company specialising in the design and construction of high
quality, well insulated log buildings for permanent and holiday accommodation. A
full service from Planning Application to final completion is available. Alternatively,
erection of the superstructure only, on prepared foundations, with internal fit-out by
the customer is available as an option.
We source best quality materials for the structural shell, doors and windows
and, once on site, our own construction squads complete the superstructure
quickly and efficiently. Local contractors are used to lay foundations and ground
slab, do electrical installation, plumbing and heating, roofing and timber fireproofing. Our objective is to provide best value for money, not lowest cost.
Because our buildings comprise mainly timber, the most sustainable construction
material, they are ideally suited to achieve the higher code levels of the Code for
Sustainable Homes when renewable energy sources such as ground and air source
heat pumps are used to provide space heating and domestic hot water.
Durability of our houses is ensured by using modern protective stain on
the exterior to give a period between re-coating of 8-10 years. The life of a log
structure, with proper maintenance, is almost limitless and so represents a sound
investment.
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Country Lifestyle Scotland?
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Issue 2 - Country Lifestyle Scotland

Transcription

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Issue 1 - Country Lifestyle Scotland