Agriculture

Landward episode 15 2022: This week Dougie’s in Strathspey, investigating the housing crisis, balancing the need for affordable housing versus holiday lets for visitors. He speaks to local people struggling to find homes in the area and hears how businesses are being compromised. Rosie joins the Highland Raptor Study Group as they ring a nest of goshawk chicks. Arlene’s in Angus finding out why more Scottish farmers should be growing hemp.       Weather presenter Christopher Blanchett visits the wettest farm in Scotland to demonstrate our microclimates, and Anne drops in to see the findings of an excavation of […]

Landward episode 14 2022: Dougie visits a new entrant couple running a deer farm near Port of Menteith, Stirlingshire, while Rosie takes part in a moth-trapping project in the Cairngorms that aims to find out how they indicate changes in the habitat.       Anne helps bring in the last of the harvest the old fashioned way in Caithness, using a binder, building stooks and a haystack, and Cammy heads for the hills of Ayrshire to take part in his first upland sheep gather. And Arlene is at Loch Leven to find out more about the increase of toxic

Landward episode 13 2022: In the last episode of the spring series, Dougie and the team are at Ingliston for the Royal Highland Show. As the show celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, Dougie catches up with the livestock showing and judging. Meanwhile, Cammy follows the Young Farmers’ sheep shearing competitions. He watches with his expert eye as the younger generation of shearers show off their speed, accuracy and skill.       Elsewhere, Anne visits a farm in the Carse of Stirling where they grow the traditional Scots’ Timothy hay, a crop favoured by show-winning horses. As the Highland,

Landward episode 12 2022: In this special episode from Scotland’s east coast, Anne is in Aberdeen finding out why it’s one of the best places to see dolphins in the UK. Dougie visits Coldingham Bay in Berwickshire, where he learns about the lifeguards who keep watch over the beach during the summer months, while Arlene and Shenaz head to Dunbar to get a close-up view of some of Scotland’s most at-risk seabirds – kittiwakes.       Rosie takes a dip to gather seaweed in the East Neuk of Fife, discovering its eating potential in the process, and landscape photographer

Landward episode 11 2022: As competitors make final preparations for the return of a full Royal Highland Show, Dougie visits Falleninch Farm near Stirling. He lends a hand washing Charolais bull show hopeful Stormzy and finds out what the show means to farmers across Scotland.       Cammy is in Moray meeting some of the Valais sheep competing at the show for the first time in a brand new class. Meanwhile, Anne stops off at the Aberdeenshire farm that is offering tours to make you feel good, and Nick cooks up Shetland mussels at a stunning beach location. Scotland’s

Landward episode 10 2022: The fields are bright yellow in Easter Ross as Dougie meets the farmer producing Scotland’s most northerly rapeseed oil. Rosie is in the Angus glens finding out about one estate’s efforts to save the curlew, discovering how land managed for grouse has been beneficial for the wader population and has led to a spectacular rise in numbers.       Arlene is near Killin, in Perthshire, stepping back in time inside a traditional longhouse. She discovers what layers of lost wallpaper reveal about its history. And Nick encounters traditional Shetland beef product sassermaet, bringing some along

Landward episode 9 2022: In this episode, Dougie and chef Nick Nairn head north to Shetland to seek out its distinctive dishes and produce. Dougie meets the farming sisters who are using modern methods to raise sustainable beef, while Nick is on the east coast finding out about a traditional method of preserving cod. They use some of the cod to cook up a delicious fish dish on a stunning beach location.       Meanwhile, Cammy is in the north east of Scotland where she meets the young farmer who is keen to use social media to teach the

Landward episode 8 2022: Dougie and his dog Jessie are visiting Gordon Castle estate in Moray for a special breed gathering of Gordon Setters. Cammy’s in the Borders investigating the growing problem of livestock worrying and attacks by dogs. He finds out about recent changes in legislation to tackle the issue.       Rosie Morton’s in Skye to meet the last remaining gamekeeper on the island. She tries out simulated stalking and finds out about the future of gamekeeping. Over in Glen Roy, JJ meets mountaineer Mick Tighe and gets a tour of his artefacts that make up the

Landward episode 7 2022: In this episode, Dougie visits the Abernethy National Nature Reserve to view a sea eagle nest. For the very first time, a hidden camera has captured a pair of sea eagles looking after their newly hatched chicks and is beaming it live to the RSPB’s Loch Garten Nature Centre.       Elsewhere, Arlene is in Perthshire to learn about the latest weapon in the battle to save Scotland’s native red squirrel population from invasive greys, while over on the isle of Lewis, Anne meets the woman who relocated to pursue her love of tweed. And

Landward episode 6 2022: In this episode, Dougie is on the Isle of Skye visiting the spectacular Fairy Pools, one of Scotland’s top tourist spots. He finds out how visitor numbers to locations such as this have risen dramatically over the last decade as a result of becoming social media ‘bucket list’ destinations. He also finds out what is being done to develop and protect the site, with new paths, bridges and a car park being built.       Meanwhile, Arlene catches up with Clydesdale foal Kahlua as training gets under way for the World Clydesdale Show, taking place

Landward episode 5 2022: This week, Dougie is at the beautiful Loch Dochart Estate in Highland Perthshire finding out how Blue Grey cattle are bred and why they are a popular choice for Scottish upland beef farmers.       As the cost of living continues to rise, Anne is at home on Lewis, hearing how islanders are finding it increasingly difficult to live in a remote rural community. JJ is in Glengarry looking at some of the damage caused by a growing escaped wild boar population, while Rosie Morton meets the man who has carved himself a career as

Landward episode 4 2022: In this episode, Dougie visits Culbin Forest in Moray for a special programme all about trees. He discovers why the pine forest was planted there a century ago on what was the biggest sand dune in the UK.     Anne is in Perthshire to meet the woman keeping an eye on the Fortingall Yew, perhaps Europe’s oldest tree, and discovers the story behind this piece of living history. Following this winter’s storms, Dougie assesses the damage to the forests in the worst-hit areas of north east Scotland. Meanwhile, JJ is in Ayrshire finding out how