Out of Doors

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Factual: Science & Nature

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Out of Doors: Wildcats, Wych Elms and Chinese Dragon Boats

Wildcats, Wych Elms and Chinese Dragon Boats

BBC Radio Scotland - Out of Doors, Wildcats, Wych Elms and Chinese Dragon Boats

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors.

Rachel is at the Highland Wildlife Park, where a major Scottish Wildcat conservation effort is underway. She chats with David Barclay of Saving Wildcats, to find out when the kits are going to be released into the wild. 

Mark heads to Alyth, where he learns all about a remarkable man named James Sandy, known through history as the Alyth Genius. Local storyteller Neil Patterson sets the scene. 

The graveyard at the Cathedral Church of St Machar in Aberdeen is being carefully coaxed into a wildlife haven. Rachel meets Ian Tolboys and Katherine Williams, to find out about the ‘no mow’ method they are using on the grounds.  

The Beauly Priory Wych Elm, believed to be the oldest Elm in Europe, has fallen, after succumbing to Dutch Elm Disease. Producer Phil heads to Beauly to pay his respects to the magnificent tree. 

We chat with Max Coleman, from the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, about how Dutch Elm Disease is spreading, and what can be done to save the species. 

We hark back to last week, where we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Union Canal. Mark meets Helen Marsh and Lindsay Kaney at the Port Edgar Dragons boat shed, where a team of women have been rowing to combat the effects of breast cancer. 

At Sweeney’s Bothy on the Isle of Eigg, artist Calum Wallis has been completing a residency with the Bothy Project. We hear from him, how he has been creating a full scale copy of the cliffs of Eigg onto canvas.

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