Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland's History and Nature

Jackie Bird heads to Glencoe with the National Trust for Scotland’s Derek Alexander and Lucy Doogan. To mark 330 years since the massacre of the MacDonald clan at Glencoe, Jackie Bird heads north to see how work on a recreated turf house will help to tell the full story of one of the most harrowing moments in Scottish history. On 13 February 1692 38 men, women and children were murdered in cold Scottish army companies of Argyll’s Foot Regiment. For two weeks prior to the bloodshed, clan members had played host to the soldiers in their modest turf-dwellings on the slopes of the glen. As the Trust opens its faithfully restored turf house at the site, we hear how a better insight into the way the clans of Glencoe lived will bring the history of the massacre to new generations of visitors. Also in this episode, Cameron hears about a wonderful plaything on show at Helensburgh’s Hill House.

Located just outside of Glasgow’s Southside, Greenbank Garden is an urban oasis with woodland walks and more than 3600 species of beautiful plants – including over 500 varieties of daffodil. Our host Jackie Bird heads to Greenbank to talk daffodils and see the first signs of spring. Jackie chats to the property’s Head Gardener, Andrew Hinson, about the highlights and challenges of caring for Greenbank’s impressive horticultural collection, why the yearly arrival of this bright yellow flower never gets any less exciting, and the signs we should look out at Trust properties across the country that tell us spring is well and truly springing.    Find out more about Greenbank Garden at: www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/greenbank-garden Also in this episode – Cameron hears about the traces of beavers living along the banks of the River Tay, as part of our regular slot, Hidden Secrets.

This year, the National Trust for Scotland’s Burns Big Night In returns. Radio DJ and personality Edith Bowman will be presenting a night of music, song and verse direct to living rooms across the land from Burns Cottage in Ayrshire. For Love Scotland, we join host Jackie Bird for a very special chat with two of the Burns Big Night In guests – leading contemporary poets, Janette Ayachi and Michael Pederson.  Janette Ayachi is based in Edinburgh, born in London, with Scottish and Algerian heritage. She’s a regular on BBC Scotland arts programmes and has published work in nearly a broad range of literary journals. Michael Pederson writes in English and Scots and performs at festivals everywhere from Edinburgh to Indonesia. He co-founded Neu! Reekie!, an arts collective that spans events, publishing and a record label.  Janette and Michael tell how Burns and how his legacy has found a place in their poetry – and read some of their new poems. Find out more about Burns Big Night in at www.burnsbignightin.org And in Hidden Secrets, Cameron speaks to Ann Middleton (tour guide) who discusses two etchings recently discovered around Drum Castle.

Back in 2019 the National Trust for Scotland launched an unprecedented fundraising campaign to protect the Charles Rennie Mackintosh masterpiece, the Hill House, from the weather. The result was the Box – a ground-breaking steel structure that was built to shelter Mackintosh’s architecture from the elements and allow time for conservators to come up with new ways to safeguard it for the future. Two years on, Jackie Bird visits the Hill House. She meets the Trust’s Head of Building Conservation, Bryan Dickson, to hear how the Box, and the house it protects, have fared – and what comes next. Find out more about the Hill House, and the history of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s architecture at www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/the-hill-house Also in this episode – Cameron hears about Brodie Castle’s mysterious and ancient Egyptian figures, as part of our regular slot, Hidden Secrets.

For this special episode of Love Scotland Jackie Bird heads to Glasgow’s Pollok House to meet the one and only Mrs Claus. Yes, that’s right, every year Santa’s better half comes to Pollok to make children’s Christmas wishes come true – all thanks to longstanding Trust volunteer Jennie MacLeod. Jackie Bird meets Jennie (and her alter ego, Mrs Claus) to hear about the magic of playing such an important role, and what it’s taught her about the true meaning of the festive season.  Also in this episode – assistant producer Cameron Angus Mackay hears a fascinating story from Culloden Battlefield, as part of our regular slot, Hidden Secrets. Find out more about Pollok House, one of the National Trust for Scotland’s grandest properties, at www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/pollok-house

All across Scotland, National Trust for Scotland staff are making the most of the winter months to clean, conserve and maintain the properties in their care. For this episode, Jackie Bird heads to the Enlightenment mansion of Newhailes where she meets visitor services supervisor Eleni Kolokytha to learn about the rhythms, rituals and routines of keeping Trust places amazing for generations to come. You can find out more about the National Trust for Scotland's work and how to support them at: www.nts.org.uk

Who doesn’t love a dram? Call it uisge beatha, the water of life, whisky… Scotland’s national drink is known worldwide as a very special part of our culture. But what does it have to do with archaeological digs and the National Trust for Scotland? In this episode, Jackie Bird chats with Trust archaeologist Dr Daniel Rhodes and The Glenlivet’s Master Distiller Alan Winchester about Pioneering Spirit, a unique project to unearth the real history of whisky.  You can find out more about the National Trust for Scotland's work and how to support them at: www.nts.org.uk

If you haven’t got your walking boots on yet, you will do by the time you’ve listened to this episode. Jackie Bird hears from rangers Ciaran Hatsell and Ruth Alexander about the National Trust for Scotland’s cold weather wonderlands that are great for body, mind and soul – from Perthshire’s big tree country to the seal pups of St Abbs.  You can find out more about the National Trust for Scotland's work and how to support them at: www.nts.org.uk

For a special Halloween episode Jackie Bird follows in the path of blockbusting TV series Outlander to the historic village of Culross, where she finds out why some former residents can still be encountered today. Visitor Services Supervisor (and expert in all things supernatural) Linda Whiteford is her guide. You can find out more about the National Trust for Scotland's work and how to support them at: www.nts.org.uk

It took three years, copious amounts of gold leaf and a team with a keen eye for detail, but now Alexander Greek Thomson’s domestic masterpiece, Holmwood House, is restored and in full glory. Jackie Bird asks curator Emma Inglis just why the Glasgow home is so special. For more information about Love Scotland, go to: www.thebiglight.com/lovescotland You can find out more about the National Trust for Scotland's work and how to support them at: http://www.nts.org.uk