Monday, 13 May 2019
Known in Japan as 'shinrin-yoku' which translates as "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing" – was developed in Japan during the 1980s. It may sound simple, but forest bathing offers a timeless truth - time spent in a forest and amongst nature reduces stress and promotes a feeling of wellbeing. There is even a healthy body of research supporting the...
Friday, 03 May 2019
In 2009, the area around Knapdale forest was chosen for a very special project. The plan was to reintroduce a beaver population into the wild in Scotland, and scientifically monitor their impact on the environment. Thus far, it has been a huge success, providing huge amounts of data about these industrious creatures. The original beavers, brought in from Norway as part of the Scotti...
Tuesday, 30 April 2019
The creation of new agencies, Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland, represents the start of a new chapter for forestry in Scotland. It’s a pivotal time in forestry and an exciting one now that forestry is fully devolved to Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Parliament and two new forestry agencies have been created.
Thursday, 25 April 2019
A few weeks back, we ran a short story competition inspired by the Neolithic carvings at Achnabreac. These stunning examples of ‘cup and ring’ marks, carved thousands of years ago by our prehistoric ancestors, have always been something of a mystery. We thought we’d ask you, our readers, to provide a few theories about their origins. Well, we weren’t disappointed with the results! With ...
Thursday, 25 April 2019
Our bird blogs are back in action for 2019! Things are already getting interesting, with two eggs delivered by regular Tweed Valley resident osprey Mrs O. and her partner SS, while our beloved Aberfoyle osprey Clarach has also been seen mating with her partner - we’re sharing news from that nesting site on The Lodge’s Facebook page. The mating season is now in full swing, so we can expect mo...
Tuesday, 23 April 2019
Last week the John Muir Way, the long distance route running from Dunbar in East to Helensburgh in the West, celebrated its fifth birthday. The lengthy, winding route is named after John Muir, a pioneer of conservation who emigrated from Scotland to America in 1848, aged 10. Muir was part of a group of activists that fought to protect Yosemite Valley in California, and helped to create the world...
Monday, 08 April 2019
'The First Foresters' is a free-to-access learning resource combining an inspirational blend of archaeological discussion, creative indoor activities and practical outdoor learning. The beautifully illustrated booklet links today’s native woodlands, the ancient wildwood of the past and the Neolithic pioneers who ventured into it over 6000 years ago.
Tuesday, 12 March 2019
Image: Will Bolding / Unsplash With spring and the Easter holidays just around the corner, now's the perfect time to start planning your trip to Scotland's best loved wild places. Recently, we've looked at kids activities on a budget, the perfect pit-stops for those long car journeys, and even picked our favourite chilled-out forest trails for a bit of 'forest bathing.' This time, we've selecte...
Thursday, 07 March 2019
Image: Alvan Nee / Unsplash Although last week's early flash of warm weather may have blown away in the March winds for now, Spring is most definitely in the air! Scotland’s beautifully rugged great outdoors is just waiting to be explored. Whether you're after a woodland walk with a furry friend, or a longer weekend stroll with the whole family, we've picked ten spots per...
Tuesday, 12 February 2019
Photo: Caroline Veronez / Unsplash Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner… We reckon the forest is one of the romantic places to woo a loved one this February 14th, so we’ve put together a guide on the best places to take a dreamy stroll, plan a woodland wedding or even pop that all-important question!
Monday, 11 February 2019
Photo: Sean Stratton / Unsplash An alarming new study, discussed in The Guardian today, has found that more than 40% of the world's insect populations are now in decline. Coverage of environmental issues tends to focus on more camera-friendly species, but insects are just as vital to our planet's support systems — perhaps even more so. With the total mass of ins...
Monday, 04 February 2019
Photo: Malte Schmidt / Unsplash On one of last week’s episodes of BBC Winterwatch, the team spent some time discussing mental health issues, and how spending time in the outdoors, and re-engaging with the world of plants, animals and trees can help people restore a bit of balance to their inner lives. The team spoke to author Joe Harkness about his book, Bird Therapy, and how he develop...
Wednesday, 30 January 2019
Tucked away in the hills of Argyll, just a few miles from Lohgilphead, are the world-famous prehistoric ‘cup and ring’ marks of Achnabreac. These mysterious patterns were carved into rocks throughout Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales and around Europe, in Greece, Italy, and as far north as Scandinavia... Read on to find out more about our new short story competition for ages 10 and up...
Thursday, 24 January 2019
If you’ve been taking part in RSPB’s 2019 Big Garden Bird Watch (26-28 January), you might already have seen Part 1 of our quick reference guide to some of Scotland’s best-loved birds, commonly found in our gardens. We hope you enjoyed Bird Bingo Round 1 - it's a quick, fun, easy game for the whole family to enjoy! Here in Part 2, we’ll give you another six bird species to spo...