Slime Mould, a Musical Pilgrimage and the Tattie Holidays
Mark Stephen and Euan McIlwraith with stories from the great outdoors.
This week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast guest is author Iain Cameron. Iain is THE expert on snow patches in the UK. Until recently snow patches could be found in certain parts of the Scottish mountains all year round. Mark went to meet Iain to find out how the snow survives the summer and where they can still be found.
Wildlife photographer Andy Howard tells us about an extraordinary experience he had watching what appeared to be glow in the dark dolphins.
After a listener got in touch about a strange slime that they had spotted, Euan has been investigating. Could it be the delightfully name dog vomit slime mould? He speaks to Dr Joanne Taylor at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh to find out more.
As we approach COP26 in Glasgow next month, Out of Doors is teaming up with some programme makers in Cornwall. Over the next few weeks we’ll get perspectives of climate change from their area as part of a project called Celtic Conversations. This week we chat live to Rebecca Gregson who came up with the idea and hear from an organic fruit and vegetable grower from the Isles of Scilly.
Inspired by St Columba to mark the 1500th anniversary of his death, musician, composer and broadcaster Mary Ann Kennedy has been undertaking a 200-mile musical pilgrimage from Iona to St Andrews. Mark caught up with her as she neared the Tay Road Bridge to find out more.
October school holidays are still affectionately known as the ‘tattie holidays’ in parts of Scotland, particularly in the North East, as many children would spend their October half term helping with the local potato harvest. The advent of mechanised potato harvesters made the job of picking tatties obsolete, but it still holds memories for many as Mark recalls.
And Euan has another avian brainteaser for us. Can you figure out what this week’s mystery bird is?