Farm buildings aren’t what they used to be. Today they’re more likely to be housing holiday makers than horses, cows and pigs. You might have looked at a piece of your land or an outbuilding lying empty and wondered how you could turn it into money. How do you get started down the route of diversification, holiday cottages and lets? I talked to Katie Williams at Sykes Cottages who specialise in this area. What’s the situation now and how has it changed in the last few years? Changing times Katie said: “The way in which we take holidays is changing. Whereas ...

Gut health is a keen topic these days and according to ZOE research: "Fermented foods can benefit your health in a variety of ways, such as improving digestion and lowering your risk for certain diseases, like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Crucially, they promote a healthier and more diverse gut microbiome, the collection of microorganisms living in your gut." Join Amy Rankine, an expert forager and wild food specialist, for a hands-on fermentation workshop. In this session, you will learn the fundamentals of lacto-fermentation and create your own kraut-based ferment to take home. Book your place here.    View this post ...

2024 is a major milestone for Murray Beith Murray LLP, as we celebrate 175 years as ‘trusted advisors to generations’ of clients. Our leading boutique private client practice was established in 1849 by Andrew Murray and Donald Beith, later assuming George John Murray; and since then, the firm has specialised in meeting the legal, financial, and administrative needs of individuals and families, family trusts, charities and private companies. Advising landowners and farmers has been at the core of the firm’s business since the start. Today, Murray Beith Murray has one of the most experienced specialist rural teams in Scotland, acting for ...

Mordor Gundogs, renowned for its expertise in training and showcasing exceptional gundogs, is set to make a triumphant return to the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Scottish Game Fair, which takes place from Friday 5 to Saturday 7 July at Scone Palace, Perthshire. Ahead of the show, we caught up with Charlie Thorburn, owner of Mordor Gundogs and Head Trainer, Ash Cunliffe for their top tips on training your dog to be as obedient as a gun dog. Led by an expert team, Mordor Gundogs offers a wealth of knowledge and experience in professional training for pet and working dogs ...

In a world where our homes have become more than just places to live, creating spaces that reflect our personal style, needs, and aspirations is more important than ever. Mozolowski & Murray, Scotland’s leading specialists in high-quality glass and hardwood structures, offers the perfect solution with their bespoke garden rooms. These aren’t just any additions to your home; they are tailor-made sanctuaries designed from concept to completion, with the option to integrate modern technologies like sound systems, lighting, and roof vents. Let’s explore the unique benefits of opting for a bespoke garden room or suite by Mozolowski & Murray. Tailored to ...

The Scottish Game Fair unveils expansive food and drink offering at summer event with celebrity studded chefs The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair (SGF) is set to heat up Perth’s food and drink scene this July (5-7) with an array of gourmet dishes and celebrity chef performances at Scone Palace, spotlighting a new buzzword – Weganism, veganism with a game twist. This renowned industry event will be shining a light on the benefits of wild-harvested meats, including the sustainability and conservation involved in the sourcing, the nutrition gained from lean game meat choices, and the incredible flavour ...

Do you know somebody who should be nominated? NFU Mutual and Scotland Food & Drink’s ‘Inspirational Young Person Award’ is now open The award shines a light on talented youngsters within the industry Nominations will close on July 12 Nature's larder Scotland is bursting with the best locally grown food and drink. NFU celebrate this bounty and encourage budding food and drink stars by holding the NFU Mutual’s ‘Inspirational Young Person Award’. Nominations are now. The award, launched by the commercial insurer in partnership with industry leadership body Scotland Food & Drink, is now entering its sixth year and aims to uncover ...

Here's a bit of good news if you live in a rural area in Scotland. A report published by our sponsors, rural insurers NFU Mutual, has revealed that the cost of rural crime has fallen by 48%. The figures are taken from NFU's 2023 Rural Crime Report. Rural crime cost Scotland £1.4m in 2022, a fall of 48% from 2021.* The countryside is fighting back. The welcome decrease comes after Scotland was hard hit by thieves targeting quad bikes in 2021, with the cost of rural crime in the country rocketing to £2.6m that year compared to £1.7m in 2020. Soaring ...

Scotland is a beautiful country, blessed with stunning mountains, rivers, lochs and coastlines. The GWCT Scottish Game Fair is a place you can learn more about the countryside in Scotland and talk to those who live there and work in the landscape. As part of this, we have teamed up with various individuals from the worlds of fishing, stalking, working dogs and wild food. All of whom will be at the Fair to answer your questions and give fascinating talks on their subjects. Here's a little bit more about our Ambassadors. You can follow their activity on Instagram, Facebook and on ...

As the festive season approaches, the excitement in the kitchen is palpable. Christmas is a time to celebrate, indulge, and create memorable culinary experiences for family and friends. For me, this joyous occasion is not just about the final feast but the entire journey of preparation, from sourcing the finest ingredients to orchestrating a symphony of flavours on the plate. Abundant local produce One of my guiding principles for a truly exceptional Christmas meal is the emphasis on local produce. The bounty of the season is abundant, and there's something magical about incorporating ingredients that are not only fresh but also ...

What better Christmas card could there be to send a fieldsports lover than this scene of a pair of winter grouse, painted by talented artist Jason Lowes? The image was donated to the GWCT for Christmas card use by Jason, who says of the charity: "We should all do what we can to support the GWCT, it's an excellent organisation that does valuable work. More people should be helping them." Jason lives in County Durham in a village just six miles from where he was born and never wants to live anywhere else. It's the ideal setting for his art and ...