Out of Doors

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BBC Radio Orkney

Factual: Science & Nature

BBC Radio Shetland

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Out of Doors: Dolphins, Wild Swimming and Allotments

Dolphins, Wild Swimming and Allotments

BBC Radio Scotland - Out of Doors, Dolphins, Wild Swimming and Allotments

Mark Stephen and Helen Needham with the latest outdoor activities.

Join Mark Stephen and Helen Needham for the latest outdoor activities from Shetland to the Borders, plus the key stories for those who live and work in the countryside.

Fields of purple flowers popped up across Aberdeenshire recently and Mark was intrigued to find out what it was.  He meets one of the farmers growing the striking cover crop called Phacelia. 

We have an extract from our recent Scotland Outdoors podcast featuring Daniel Browning who is a broadcaster for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.  Daniel is an Aboriginal man and sound artist and he explained to us just how important the connection to the land is for him and other Aboriginal people.

We are joined on the line by dolphin behavioural expert and renowned photographer Charlie Phillips who can tell us what cetaceans are up to at this time of year and where’s best to spot them around our coasts.

Plus, we have a clip from wildlife documentary maker Sally-Ann Wilson who describes some of her encounters with dolphins in various parts of the world.

Our piece from the archive is of a trip that Mark and Helen made back in 2013 when they climbed the iconic mountain of North West Scotland, Suilven.  They paddled in by sea kayak from Elphin before embarking on the climb.

With our swimming pools still closed, there is something very appealing about taking up wild swimming.  Helen Needham went for a dook in a river near her home to experience the joys of swimming outdoors.

And one man who needs no persuading to jump into the sea for some wild swimming is author and broadcaster Philip Hoare who joins us live.	
			
Our walk from around the country this week comes from journalist and broadcaster Paul English who takes us to Pollok Park in Glasgow with his sister, Wendy.

Since this is National Allotment Week we are joined live by allotment enthusiast and Radio Scotland presenter Nicola Meighan who tells us all about the joys of planting and growing your own food.
			
And after hearing some bats in a friend’s attic, Mark learns all about what bats are up to during the summer and where they like to make their homes from Liz Ferrell from the Bat Conservation Trust.

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