Douglas MacQueen's blog

Buccleuch, one of Scotland's biggest landowners, has been seeking to sell land in southern Scotland for some time. Now two bids to take moorland  into community ownership have secured significant support. The Langholm Initiative and Newcastleton and District Community Trust (NDCT) is being given £1.85m to purchase the Buccleuch-owned land. An award of £1m from the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) is going to the Langholm Initiative. They hope to buy more than 10,000 acres and plan to create a Tarras Valley Nature Reserve.

Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie have said they need to reopen as soon as possible to avoid serious financial problems.  On the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) website the wildlife conservation charity has appealed for donations. They have confirmed that they have had to to borrow £5m due to the measures taken during the coronavirus pandemic. The organisation points out the valuable work in science, education and conservation that they undertake.

Peebles (Scottish Gaelic: Na Pùballan) a lovely town nestled into the west corner of the Scottish Borders. It lies at the confluence of the River Tweed (Scottish Gaelic: Abhainn Thuaidh) and Eddleston Water.  The oldest building in Peebles is the tower of St Andrew's Church, which was founded in 1195. Another ancient church in the town is the Cross Kirk, founded in 1261. This church plays a prominent part in the town's annual Beltane Festival.

An ornate prayer book that once belonged to Mary Stuart (Mary Queen of Scots) is to be auctioned at Christie’s in London in July of this year. The manuscript contains 40 exquisite paintings. It also includes a short verse written by Mary in French to her great-aunt and includes her monogram and motto. The prayer book was made for Mary’s great-aunt, Louise de Bourbon-Vendôme. She was Abbess of the The Royal Abbey of Our Lady of Fontevraud in the 1530s. It is believed that she gave it to Mary around the time of the reign of Mary’s first husband, King Francis II of France.

Planet Earth has five great oceans and 113 seas. They represent 72 percent of the surface of the globe. More then ever before people are becoming increasingly concerned about marine pollution. People have a special relationship with the sea and sea creatures. It has been the inspiration for poems, speeches and all kinds of philosophical thoughts and self-analysis. Perhaps not least because when we think of the sea and look at the ocean we are being drawn back from whence we came. 

The hills and mountains of Scotland are beautiful. The lure of Scotland's upland areas for hillwalkers, climbers, snowsports enthusiasts and those that love the outdoors is very strong. So it is clear that the present constrictions in place due to the coronavirus pandemic is a disappointment to many. However, the reasons are clear and the adherence to the advice given by the Scottish government is demonstrated by the fact that this is the longest period in almost 20 years without a mountain rescue incident.

The island of Eigg (Scottish Gaelic: Eige) is one of the Small Isles (Scottish Gaelic: Na h-Eileanan Tarsainn), a small archipelago of islands in the Inner Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan a-staigh) off the west coast of mainland Scotland. A possible origin of the name Eigg is the Scottish Gaelic for 'notched island' (eag). The island is 5 1⁄2 miles (9 kilometres) long from north to south, and 3 miles (5 km) east to west. This year  from 17-20 April, it will hold its first film festival with birds as the theme for the inaugural event.

St Kilda (Scottish Gaelic: Hiort) is an isolated volcanic archipelago and the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides (Scottish Gaelic: Na h-Eileanan Siar).  Noted for its spectacular landscapes the archipelago comprises the islands of Hirta, Dun, Soay and Boreray.  A community has existed in the extreme conditions that exist on St Kilda for at least 4,000 years.  The evidence of which is found in the remains of built structures and field systems, the cleits (unique stone storage buildings) and the traditional Highland stone houses.  Items pointing to Neolithic settlement have been found

The remains of Pictish art, language and society can be found throughout north and eastern Scotland. The Picts were a Celtic society of farmers and hunters and were a major force in the establishment of the Scottish nation. There is a growing interest in Scotland's Pictish history, which has given increased impetus to archaeological study. A fascinating legacy of the Picts are the beautiful and sometimes mysterious carved headstones that continue to be found.

King’s Seat Hillfort in Scotland is located to the north of Dunkeld (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Chailleann) on a major bend in the River Tay (Scottish Gaelic: Tatha). The name Dùn Chailleann means Fort of the Caledonians. The 'fort' part of the name is thought to be the hill fort on King's Seat. Dunkeld is said to have been founded or by Caustantín, King of the Picts from about 789 until 820. The Picts were a Celtic society of farmers who played a crucial part in going on to help forge the kingdom of Scotland.