A Soutar's Shop, Jigsaws and Gorillas

Scotland Outdoors

BBC

Nature, Society & Culture, Science

4.7 • 709 Ratings

🗓️ 22 February 2025

⏱️ 83 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Winchburgh in West Lothian is expanding rapidly, with several new housing developments underway. At the heart of these new developments is the 85 acre Authcaldie Park, where Mark visits a group of volunteers who are building a new centre piece for the area – a model cathedral made entirely out of willow.

RSPB Loch Leven has recently hosted the Convention of Migratory Species, a UN convention with 130 member states involved. Rachel meets up Sarah Scott and Professor Des Thompson to find out about the aims of this convention, and the impact that climate change is having on our migratory birds.

The Glasgow Seed Library is an initiative which aims to collect and share seeds within the wider community. Helen Needham went along with one of the seed librarians Rowan Lear, to find out more about the purposes of a seed library, and the huge diversity of seeds they have in store.

Back at the Convention of Migratory Species, Rachel hears from some of the international experts present at the meeting, and what their worries are for other migratory animals worldwide.

The Ballogie Souter Shop was once a humble timber shack where generations of Deeside villagers went to get shoes made and repaired. Since its closure in 1941, the shop has been stuck in time, almost completely untouched. Now owned by the Birse Community Trust, Mark heads along to see what artefacts he can discover, and the plans to preserve and protect the collection.

The Scottish Mountaineering Trust has announced they are the sole beneficiary of the estate of Scottish mountaineer and innovator, Hamish MacInnes. Mark and Rachel are joined by the John Hutchinson from the trust to find out how they hope to honour Hamish’s legacy.

The work of Scottish biologist and polymath Sir Patrick Geddes is being explored and celebrated this weekend as part of the Edinburgh 900 events calendar. Helen Needham met up with the Director of the Scottish Storytelling Festival Donald Smith to learn more about him, and his impact on the study of natural sciences.

Ian Redmond is a biologist and conservationist best known for his work with mountain gorillas and elephants, but was also one of the delegates at the Convention of Migratory Species. He explains to Rachel why people in Scotland should still be concerned about the impact of climate change on animals like apes, that live thousands of miles away from us.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, you're about to listen to a BBC podcast, so I'd like to tell you where you'll find more just like it.
0:05.5	I'm Izzy Lee Poulton, an assistant commissioner for BBC Sounds, which means I'm involved in the whole podcast making process.
0:12.0	Whether that's developing fresh formats or facilitating eye-catching artwork, I helped project manage all the details that make our podcast stand out.
0:19.0	At the BBC, we've got access to storytellers
0:22.0	and experts across a huge range of subjects. It could be psychologists, comedians, celebrities or
0:27.7	journalists. No podcasts or day looks the same here. So no matter what you like, check out BBC
0:33.4	Sounds. There's probably another podcast on there that you're absolutely love.
0:38.1	This Scotland Outdoors podcast with Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart from BBC Radio Scotland.
0:48.2	Hello and thank you very much for choosing to listen to this. This week our mystery sound has been on fire. We've had the most guesses we've
0:56.7	ever had. Out of Doors with Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart from BBC Radio Scotland.
1:07.8	Morning, I'm Mark Stevens, sitting across the other side of the far. Rachel Stewart.
1:11.9	I'm basically dodging sparks from the fire. It's windy. It's windy. The fire has a life of its own this morning.
1:18.8	It's going in all directions, Stuart. There's no matter which way you stand. It's coming to get you.
1:22.2	It is. And you had a day yesterday where you were just soaked the whole bay. One of the most beautiful locations in Scotland. Plotton, I was actually down in a
1:29.3	coral beach. It could not have rained
1:31.3	heavily if it had tried. I had a different
1:33.3	type of day. I was in Hopman and Murray.
1:35.5	Of course, Murray basking in its own wee
1:37.4	microclimate. Which it always does. It was gorgeous.
1:39.5	It was really sunny. It was windy.
1:41.2	It was a wee bit windy, but really, really lovely. I mean, you could go about without your jacket.
1:45.5	Hopeman, the Caribbean of the North.
	...

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