Douglas MacQueen's blog

The First Minister of Scotland has announced that Scotland will vote in an independence referendum on October 19, 2023. Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled preparations for a legal battle with Westminster (Parliament of the United Kingdom), over indyref2. A referendum bill (proposal for a new law) has now been published

A rare Pictish carved stone, originally discovered by archaeologists in early 2020, has now been excavated. Thought to date to the 5th or 6th Centuries the stone is 5.5ft (1.7m) long and was found by a team from the University of Aberdeen during survey work at Aberlemno, Angus (Scottish Gaelic: Obar Leamhnach, Aonghas). The site is near what is thought to have been the location of the Battle of Dun Nechtain, also known as the Battle of Nechtansmere. This was fought in 685 AD, when the Picts led by King Bridei Mac Bili, defeated an army of Northumbrian Angles.

The Isle of Skye (Scottish Gaelic: An t-Eilean Sgitheanach) is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Now fossil hunters have announced that 170m years ago the Isle of Skye was home to an enormous flying reptile called Jurassic pterosaur (pterodactyl) with a wingspan of about 8 feet (2.5 metres) or larger. 

Inverclyde (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Chluaidh) councillors have voted in favour of Scotland’s flag being flown on council buildings all year round. The national flag of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Bratach na h-Alba) is a white cross against a blue background. It is known as the Saltire and it is hard to imagine any other country in the world having to vote on flying their national flag.  However, it needed Alba councillor Chris McEleny to succeed in having the matter discussed at a full meeting of the council and passed. 

The Massacre of Glencoe (Scottish Gaelic: Mort Ghlinne Comhann) took place 330 years ago but the memory of the horror and infamy of the events that took place early in the morning of 13 February 1692 remain poignant. One of the most beautiful places in Scotland Glen Coe (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Comhann) takes its name from the River Coe that winds and tumbles its way through the glen. It is hard for those who visit this area of great beauty today to think that it was the site of such a treacherous act of murder and brutality against the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe.

A missing hillwalker was clever enough to leave clues in the snow so that rescuers would know where to search. The walker had set out across the Cairngorms (Scottish Gaelic: Am Monadh Ruadh) a mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland. His plan had been to reach Aviemore (Scottish Gaelic: An Aghaidh Mhòr) but was reported as overdue at his accommodation. Although the man had left details of his planned route and was well equipped, once missing the Braemar and Cairngorm mountain rescue teams were deployed to search for him.

Recently commemorations were held to mark 150 years since the death of Greyfriars Bobby. The story of the dog whose devotion became famous across the world. It is centred in Greyfriars Kirkyard the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann). Greyfriars takes its name from the Franciscan friary that was on the site, where the monks used to wear grey habits, and was dissolved in 1560. The churchyard was subsequently founded in August 1562.

The Witches of Scotland are undertaking a campaign for a statement from the Scottish government making a public apology to those accused of witchcraft in Scotland between the 16th and 18th centuries. The campaign seeks a legal pardon for the estimated 2,500 people convicted and executed under Scotland's Witchcraft Act. The law was in force from 1563 until 1736. It has been estimated that of the 4,000 accused of witchcraft over that period 85% were women. 

Hunterston B nuclear power plant in North Ayrshire, Scotland has been shut down for the final time. Construction of Hunterston B began in 1968 and reactors 3 and 4 began operating in February 1976 and March 1977. It has been generating electricity for 46 years which is two decades after its anticipated lifespan. Plans had been made to operate Hunterston until 2023, however hairline cracks found in graphite bricks prevented this. Each of the two reactor cores is made up of 3,000 bricks.

Tree of the Year 2021 winner is a hawthorn tree that stands alone on the coastline of the Solway Firth (Scottish Gaelic: Tràchd Romhra) in Kippford, Dalbeattie in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland. The annual competition is organised by woodland conservation charity The Woodland Trust. Their aim is to highlight how trees for are vital for our landscapes and essential in the fight against the climate and nature crisis we are facing.