Park Life Jan/Feb 2023

New Year, new perspectives

With Christmas behind us, it’s time to turn to what’s new in 2023 around our National Park. We can take the positivity that the return of daylight brings, and take a look at what’s going on and who is doing it around the Park, so this issue highlights a few vistas worth exploring and a few people making things happen.

In the northwest end of the Park, at Loch Katrine, there is a new viewpoint under development. See how this is going on Page 38. Sticking to path news, the redevelopment of substantial parts of the Conic Hill path network is ongoing. This was no small project, and you can read about how it is progressing on Page 26.

We have a feature on Lake of Menteith, using the visit of Springwatch as a focal point. Gordon Buchanan (no stranger to these parts) lead the filming team at the time. Read the potted overview of our only Lake on Page 10. Of course, a New Year brings new opportunities, and you might be thinking about starting a new business. On Page 18, we have a quick summary of the steps you might take, and where to find advice as you develop. And on Page 45, Mairead Hume shares her new business journey from startup to successful Harris Tweed golf supplier.

Twenty marathons in twenty days! From Drymen to London, James Semple took on this physical and

mental challenge to raise money for charity. He shares his experiences on Page 37.

Paul Saunders lets you know how to enter his photography competition on Page 52. He is also generous with his hints and tips for a good shot.

Our What’s On pages, as usual, give you lots of things to do and see as you come out of hibernation after this particularly nippy winter, so make sure to keep cosy and set foot into 2023.

All the best. Happy New Year!

Katrina, Lisa, Simon

The Park Life Team

Katrina

- Director

Lisa - Sales Director

Katrina - Director | e: katrina@parklifescotland.co.uk | m: 07791 976910

Lisa - Sales Director | e: lisa@parklifescotland.co.uk | m: 07792 066706 www.parklifescotland.co.uk

Stunning Nature at Scotland’s Only Lake

The Lake of Menteith is famously Scotland's only Lake, rather than a loch. For some novels of the 1800s the word Lake was substituted for Loch to make it read easier. So, it became known as Lake of Menteith, when officially mapped in 1838.

The Lake is home to the National Fly-Fishing Championship, hosted at The Lake of Menteith Fisheries. Shareholders of the community organisation are riparian or local landowners with historic rights to the Lake granted by the Duke of Montrose.

special scientific interest due to the exceptional flora and fauna.

The Lake has excellent views of Ben Lomond and has three islands, the largest of which, Inchmahome, is home to the ruined priory founded in 1238, whose visitors include Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots. The island, managed by Historic Environment Scotland, has been closed for repairs; hopefully, they it will reopen again soon as it is a popular trip using the on-demand ferry across.

The Lake is renowned as the most well-known stocked trout water in Scotland. 15,000 anglers visit annually, with all 36 fishery boats in action most weekends. In addition, 30,000 trout are grown in ponds and stocked evenly across the 700-acre Lake each week.

No fishing is allowed on the banks as they are protected as a site of

Inchmahome Priory

On the south-eastern corner of the Lake is Lochend Chalets, which was the location for

BBC's Springwatch visit a few years ago. Owners Victoria, brother Topher and husband Chris had been working in one of their holiday lodges during lockdown for Covid restrictions awaiting Gordon Buchanan of Springwatch, who had been given special permission to film. Looking out across the Lake, they witnessed an Osprey fishing from the Lake, a remarkable but not unusual sight as four pairs nest there each year. This time a huge Sea Eagle appeared and stole the catch from the talons of the Osprey, a more unusual and breath-taking sight.

Gordon and the BBC's Springwatch team arrived just 10-minutes after this took place to film start filming. Gordon was philosophical (it must happen not infrequently) to have missed it and set up cameras to be rewarded the next day with the return of the Sea Eagle, this time circling a Red Deer walking through the water. Much to everyone's relief (especially the deer), the Sea Eagle decided against taking it on.

Photographs courtesy of Chris Carrol, Quint Glen and Paul Saunders; thanks also to Victoria Carrol for her help with this feature.

Having seen the wood carving skills of Victoria's talented husband Chris from his business, presenter Gordon challenged him to produce a life-size carving of the wingspan of a Sea Eagle to help viewers understand the impressive size of the bird. Chris carved this in record time, with it and him featuring on the programme. Another claim to fame of the Lake is the occasions when it has frozen over. The Great Bonspiel of 1979 is unlikely to be repeated on that scale again. Organised by the Royal

Caledonian Curling Club, it saw around 2,500 curlers playing on 8.5-inch-thick ice, with so many enjoying some drams whilst doing so that cars were left around the banks for days on end waiting for their drivers to sober up!

2010 was the last time the Lake froze over to that level; however, the modern-day issues of parking, traffic management, etc., prevented a repeat of the 1979 event.

So famously a lake, but with so much history, nature, wildlife and beauty Lake of Menteith has so much going for it.

BBC’s Springwatch at Lochend Chalets

se our Grab Hire service for quick, effective and efficient removal of large volumes of waste, where space on site for Skips is limited, or access is difficult. Loading waste directly onto the lorry avoids additional machinery or equipment on site.

With a 7-metre reach capacity from the vehicle, the grab bucket can remove waste from over walls and fences, around stationary obstacles and reach awkward or tight spaces when collecting your waste. Our grab lorries are modern 8-wheel, 32-tonne vehicles capable of carrying up to 16-tonnes of waste, making them the perfect option for all commercial and trade construction site clearance projects in Scotland. No need to organise Skip Permits where located on a public highway Space will not be blocked and, or out of use for a long periods

At Mac Grab we offer delivery of quarried and recycled type 1 for your sub-base immediately after excavation.

Mac Grab is a fully licensed waste carrier and our drivers and operators are fully trained and experienced.

Park Life Magazine

2023 Business Tips New Year, New Business?

Will

2023

be the year that you fulfil a dream to start your own business?

You may want to take control of your working hours, or perhaps you would prefer to be the boss! Hopefully you’ve got a fantastic idea for an exciting new business.

Could your idea be the next big thing? If so you could join the growing list of our amazing local businesses.

To help you make your business

dream a reality here are some helpful tips.

Where to start?

The place to start of course is with a plan. Once you start writing it, it looks real and takes shape. Keep updating the plan, adding detail, especially any research and financial forecasting.

Get some help

Now you've articulated your business idea seek out some free professional help from Business Gateway.

Each council area has a local Business Gateway office, and their advisors are very knowledgeable and helpful. They'll meet with you and offer expert advice about your proposition. They’ll be able to identify available funding support and courses.

Research your idea

Test your idea, evaluate the potential market for it and determine whether there is significant demand for it.

Review the competition

What is the existing competition, how good are they, what gaps are there and how easily could your proposition fill those gaps? Don’t be afraid of the competition, there is often space for more options you just need to make sure you’ve got a strong angle and can do things better!

What's the USP?

That brings us onto defining the USP (unique selling proposition), vital as this will make your business idea stand out. For example, if you are opening a pizza takeaway, then maybe it's the type of crust, the flavours, or that you will deliver in 30 minutes or not charge the customer. Whatever the differential it needs to be clear and compelling.

Get some moral support

Ensure your family and friends are on board with the idea. Get them to be honest and see if they can be part of your journey with some practical help and support.

A word of warning, though, often entrepreneurs can imagine what their business will look like better than others, so be prepared to listen to caution, but if you have a fantastic idea that is strong on detail and market desire don’t be put off.

Local Business Hubs

Many villages have a business hub, they are a great place to work on your business and to hold meetings with clients and suppliers. In addition, they are useful places for networking.

Embrace digital

The way to run a business effectively is through digital technology, embracing social media, video, websites, apps etc. Get some advice on how to best manage and promote your business digitally if this is an area you know little about.

Creating a brand

Ensure your chosen brand/company name isn’t already being used. Ideally, you will be able to secure (before you launch) all the website addresses, social media handles etc. Do invest in a good logo/brand identity as that will ensure you have consistency in all your marketing.

Plan, Plan and plan some more!

Have purpose

We're getting into all the exciting parts of the business idea, thinking about how it could start and operate. First, however, do consider why you want to have a business. If it's to make lots of money and work fewer hours you might find the opposite to be be true!

It's important to know why you're doing it and be sure that it's the best way forward for you and your family as it is likely to be a considerable amount of hard work.

Know your numbers

To 'know your numbers' sounds like a Dragon's Den line, but it is important to understand costs and margins to ensure that your hard work can deliver a profitable, viable and sustainable business.

Start with strong values

Think about the values, ethics, and customer standards you wish to deliver. Commit to providing fantastic customer service through strong and consistent values and behaviours. Think also about the environment and how your business can help the climate emergency.

All this information, including (importantly) the numbers, need to be in a straightforward business plan that demonstrates the viability of your concept.

Talk to Park Life!

A quick plug for the Park Life team, we can help you with advertising, marketing, branding, and much more. We can hook you up with valuable contacts and help you promote yourself through advertising in the magazine. Over the years, we've been on a journey with many local businesses, helping them succeed. We'd love to help you!

Contact lisa@parklifescotland.co.uk

january gardening tips

January might be the middle of winter but as the days lengthen the garden starts to grow. Now is a great time to plan for the coming gardening year and to order seeds and plants. Enjoy the fresh air, on dry sunny days, and check your winter protection, stakes, ties and supports are still working after any severe weather. Also put out food for birds and leave some garden areas uncut, a little longer, to provide shelter for wildlife in your garden.

1Prune apple and pear trees

It's time to prune deciduous shrubs and fruit trees, before the sap starts to rise and the buds break. Cut out anything that's dead, diseased or damaged. Also look at the shape of trees and shrubs – rounded is usually best, with no crossing branches. However if you're dealing with a large tree it's probably better to leave it to a tree surgeon.

4Plant

out

Vegetables

Potatoes, onion sets and shallots can be planted in a few weeks so it's a good idea to order them now.

5. Cut back autumn-fruiting raspberries. These flower and fruit on this year's growth, so if you cut back the old stems, you'll encourage new growth and get a better crop.

7Sow Tender Vegetables

If you have room under cover, you can sow tender vegetables such as tomatoes, chillies, peppers and cucumbers.

8Sow Hardy Vegetables

You can also start on some of the more hardy vegetables that just need a bit of protection, such as broad beans, beetroot, carrots and early peas.

9Hedges

This is a good month to plant hedges. It's worth looking out for bare-root plants as they're cheaper than potgrown ones. They're dug up from the field and posted directly to you so they miss out on all the costs of watering and re-potting that bump up the price of container-grown plants. The availability of bare-root plants depends on the weather but they should be around until the end of February and into March.

10 Roses

2Inspect stored tubers of Dahlia, Begonia and Canna for rots or drying out

3Shrubs

6Sow

early crops of hardy broad beans outdoors

If you don't have much space, investigate dwarf vegetables. Keep going with successional sowings of hardy broad beans.

If you didn't do it in autumn, this is the time to prune roses and other summer-flowering shrubs such as late clematis and buddleias. This pruning is for flowers and there's a simple way to approach it; every time you make a cut, and always cut just above a bud, imagine a new stem coming from that bud with a season's growth with a flower on the end of it. So if you want your flowers dotted around the plant, prune as far down to the ground as you can get.

major conic hill pathway repairs

It is estimated that up to 250,000 people climb Conic Hill each year. With increasing numbers, its path is under significant pressure. A path survey in 2020 recommended replacing the existing path with stone pitching. As a result, this winter, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Park Authority is investing around £420,000 in a package of works to repair and improve the Conic Hill path from Balmaha, with a similar level of investment likely to be made next winter to complete the works. This essential repair work has been scheduled for winter to cause minimum disruption, especially during the West Highland Way peak months. Thanks to the terrain and difficulty of access, there is the significant challenge of transporting stone. A helicopter is needed to lift and position heavy bags of stones close to each section of the path.

Towards the end of last year, around 500 helicopter trips transported around 450 tonnes of stone to the site. 350 tonnes will be flown up during mid-January. The path will be closed

for safety reasons during the uplift and again for 8 to 9 weeks to replace timber steps with 2m wide stone pitching.

By the end of March this year, phase one of the project will be complete, renewing the path from the gate at the forest edge to the first ridge. The stone steps will be long-lasting and make climbing easier for everyone. Work will resume from October of this year to March 2024 to complete the remaining pathway to the summit.

The last time the path was upgraded was in 2012, when numbers using the hill were significantly less. Using stone and widening the path will help ensure that it lasts much longer and protects the vegetation close to the route. The Access team at the National Park have been working closely with landowners, farmers, and tenants in preparation for the work. Sadly, there have been incidents where dogs have attacked livestock, and new signage will be installed requesting dogs are kept on leads along the path.

The electronic boards in Drymen and the National Park's social channels will advise when closures occur. However, the message won't be not to visit as there are many alternative locations where visitors can enjoy a good walk and views.

As they did during the closures last year, National Park Rangers will be offering ideas for alternative places to walk for visitors when the path is closed. One of the locations is Cashel Forest, which we recently featured in Park Life Magazine. This lesser-known gem of East Loch Lomond has similar views from its paths.

Park Life Recipe STOVIES

Ingredients

• 30g lard or butter

• 1 onion, finely chopped

• � swede, peeled and cut into 2cm cubes (400g prepped weight)

• 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 2cm cubes

• 1 celery stick, finely chopped

Method

STEP

1

Heat the lard or butter in a medium sized saucepan. Add the onion and fry for 10 mins over a low-medium heat until softened. Add the swede, carrot and celery and fry for 5 mins.

Adapt our take on this traditional Scottish stew to your liking.

Try it with a leftover roast, sausage, minced beef, haggis, black pudding or corned beef. Serve with oatcakes or crusty bread.

• 500g leftover roast meat (lamb or beef), or corned beef, cubed

• 700g potatoes, peeled and cut in to 3cm cubes

• 500ml beef or lamb stock

• Oatcakes or crusty bread, to serve

STEP 2

Stir in the meat, if using leftover roast lamb or beef, then the potatoes. Pour over the stock and season generously, bring to the boil, then turn the heat down to a simmer. Cook covered for 1 hr 30 mins or until the vegetables have softened and the potatoes have broken down completely. If you’re using corned beef, add this to the pan 20 mins before the end of cooking. Serve with oatcakes, or crusty bread.

Supporting education in Malawi

Changing Lives Malawi is a charity founded in 2019, run by seven volunteer trustees that live in Balfron and Strathblane. With the driving principle that all children deserve an education wherever they are in the world, the charity aims to support the building of a new secondary school in rural Northern Malawi.

Families, workplaces, and individuals are encouraged to attract sponsorship for their walking, running, cycling, or, indeed, any other activity. The target is for these activities to notch up a total of 13,144 km; the distance the donations the charity collects travels from Balfron to Northern Malawi.

Over 500 orphans and vulnerable children are helped through a variety of projects by the charity in Ibuluma, a village in the far north of Malawi, who live in poverty and desperately need support. The charity's aim, and theirs, is for the community to work towards self-sufficiency.

Fundraisers hope to increase awareness of the charity whilst generating money for a new

secondary school. Excellent progress has been made with both the distance covered and the funds raised.

The fantastic news is that Phase 1 of The Bright Futures Secondary School opened for pupils last year in November. It means the local pupils no longer need to leave their families and board during the term. In addition, the class sizes are smaller than they would be at other schools, hopefully improving their education opportunities. Currently, there are 90 pupils (S1 to S3), but the aim is to grow the school by adding two extra classrooms each year to increase the role to 2 classes of 40 per year.

Secondary education is paid personally in Malawi, but there is little spare money in this rural part of the country. Although the school is funded by a mixture of donations and direct sponsoring of children, it will also give opportunities to the wider community by providing adult literacy and numeracy classes.

20 Marathons in 20 Consecutive Days

On September 13th last year, Park Life and many wellwishers witnessed James Semple leave Drymen Square to run an incredible 20 consecutive marathons in 20 days, culminating in the London Marathon on October 2nd.

Day 3 in Edinburgh was my lowest point during the challenge.

A previous injury flared up, resulting in me limping around Portobello Beach, trying to complete that day's marathon.

It was mentally strenuous as I thought I was a fraud after having to walk parts of the marathon. During these times, the support and encouragement from my family continually kept reminding me how to think about it differently.’

Including gift aid, James managed to raise over £14,500 for Mind. In the past two years, he has raised over £25,000 for mental health charities, something to be incredibly proud of. Well done, James and all his family and friends who supported him over the 20 days.

James who was running to share how any physical activity benefits mental health describes the highs and lows of the experience.

‘It was like a roller coaster. There were many highs along the way, getting surprised by my family in Alnwick and Manchester, meeting some amazing physios who shared my challenge on their social media, and even getting to try local foods, especially the Yorkshire pudding wrap in York.

There is one moment that stands out the most, and funnily enough, it was after having a few pints having completed the London Marathon. As we walked to the next place, we stopped by mile 25 to cheer some runners passing. They were 8 hours in with no crowds, yet they were still powering through. I believe you can achieve great things when you clearly understand why you're doing something.

return of landmark loch katrine viewpoint

Artist impression of the new scenic tower

This summer will see this stunning view of Loch Katrine become accessible via a new 188-metre path from the Trossachs Pier car park path. The pathway will feature a lookout tower and two high-quality viewpoints accessed via linking boardwalks.

Work to develop the path and towers is currently underway and is part of a £1.5 million project to upgrade visitor infrastructure and showcase the birthplace of Scottish tourism in the heart of the Trossachs.

The view is at the spot where Sir Walter Scott was inspired to write his epic poem The Lady of the Lake, published in 1810, which is credited with triggering the birth of Scottish tourism. Access to the vantage point overlooking the loch will be much easier, especially for those unable to climb the surrounding mountains.

The site was visited earlier by other literary giants such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and the Wordsworths. They stayed in wicker huts at this jutting headland which was built for 'the accommodation of strangers to admire and sketch this wild and picturesque landscape' and were made accessible by a new road blasted out of the rock in the 1790s.

The project, with pathways and towers, will allow many people to discover and enjoy an iconic landmark viewpoint at Loch Katrine for the first time.

Explore the Trossachs by boat, bike, and foot - for more information visit www.trossachstrail.co.uk

Find a future in caring

At CrossReach we believe all children are unique and deserve opportunities to grow, succeed and be our future. We understand the importance of creating a therapeutic environment with safe and trusting relationships, which can enable children and young people to recover and heal from harm caused by past trauma and negative life experiences. The children and young people we care for are at the heart of all that we do and deserve the best care and education we can provide. For our team to do their best for them, we understand that they need to be valued, well trained, and properly supported.

Rachel is one of the dedicated Support Practitioners that makes it all possible. “I had worked in various roles in the past, but when a member of my family became unwell and needed care, I stepped in. It was really rewarding – it opened my eyes to the possibilities of a career. I found CrossReach and, three years later, I’m still here.”

“I didn’t have any professional social care experience, but Crossreach offered the support to get me started. There was a comprehensive induction and various training to build my skills – like Developmental Trauma and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, which highlight the importance of relationships in helping children who have attachment problems to de-escalating aggressive behaviour. There’s more to come, too. I have the chance to study for an HNC or SVQ in social care, which I’m keen to do.”

Now, as part of the team working in CrossReach’s residential services, Rachel works on shifts looking after the children in small community houses. “If I’m on the day shift, I help them get ready for school and drive them in using one of the service’s cars. We’re then based at the school’s support base, coming out to play and interact at break time, then later sitting with them for lunch.”

“If I’m working later, we welcome them back from school, make their dinner, help them keep their room tidy and get them to bed.” “Either way, it’s all about support and interaction. We make time for games and help them socialise. When they’re ready, we encourage them to join community clubs, like football or swimming.”

For Rachel, it’s a role that gives her the time to look after her own child too. “The shifts are great for my work/life balance, it’s flexible enough that I can swap shifts too.”

To read more about the kind of job that Rachel does – and to see if there’s a role for you too – visit crossreach.org.uk/careers or scan the QR below.

Make a lasting di erence

Support Practitioners

£24,055 - £25,582

• Part time, full time and night opportunities

• Sleepover rate of £52.48 per night

Dumbrock House in Strathblane, Millmuir Farm in Gargunnock and The Old Lodge in Stirling

Playing a game, eating lunch together, visiting a beach. They’re everyday things. But in this job, they’re powerful tools: for building trust, creating memories and improving young lives. Because the children in our care have faced more challenges than most, and it’s our job to help them realise their potential and integrate back into their communities.

Here, at CrossReach’s residential service, children live in small community houses and learn at a new purpose-built school, all supported by people like you. It’s a place made with positive experiences and clear structure in mind – somewhere to heal in time, grow as individuals and succeed in the future.

Which makes this a job with incredible impact. You’ll play a vital role in assessing children’s needs, as well as working with Lead Practitioners to implement care plans. As part of a close-knit team, you’ll take a ‘whole-child’ approach – focusing on everything from completing everyday tasks to improving relationships. Ideally, you’ll have an HNC Social Care and SVQ Level 3 qualification, plus some experience in a care or education role. However, if you’ve got an emphatic approach with the ability to see beyond behaviour to the reasons why, we’ll provide full training for the role. You’ll also need a driving licence.

To find out more and apply please visit www.crossreach.org.uk/careers

If you would like to talk to someone about the types of opportunities we have, or have any other questions, please contact recruitment.team@crossreach.org.uk

As we do our work in Christ’s name you must be respectful of our Christian Ethos and be able to work within it. You do not need to share our faith. This post also requires you to gain PVG Scheme membership, and for you to become registered with the SSSC registration.

Park Life What’s on Guide

Here are some events planned for 2023 in the Park Life area, if you have any that you’d to share with us for future editions please email lisa@parklifescotland.co.uk

Sunrise Goose Walk, RSPB Loch Lomond

14th, January 28th & February 11th

Enjoy an early morning walk through the wetlands of the RSPB at Gartocharn at sunrise to watch geese moving on from their overnight roosts and heading off to their daytime feeding spots.

Price from £10.50 book at events.rspb.org.uk

We Are Giants, Callander & Killin

Up to 31/1/23 daily at 10am

An historical walking tour with Eternal Mountain Guide of Killin and Callander. Take a journey from Fingal's Stone, the burial place of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the great warrior from Celtic mythology, to a Neolithic Stone Circle.

Then take a stroll to meet the powerful embrace of Dochart Falls, followed by a former mill founded by the Irish, Gaelic-speaking priest St Fillan. Then take a rest on the shores of Loch Tay and learn of her origin's folkloric tale before finally exploring Finlarig Castle's ruins.

Callander 10K

Sunday, March 12th Races start at midday from McLaren Community Leisure Centre. Enter at tayfitness.com

Calendar Girls the Musical

Gartmore Village Hall

15th - 18th March 2023 7.30pm

Join Forest Theatre Company on an inspiring journey of fun, friendship and female empowerment. Expect great music, loads of laughs and a few tears along the way Tickets available from Ticketsource (link on Facebook @foresttheatrecompanygartmore or via Gartmore Village Hall website.)

Mulberry Bush Montessori Balfron 10k

Sunday, April 30th Enter at balfron10k.org.uk/

Learn Photography at Balmaha

Various Dates

Local photographer Paul Saunders holds 2.5-hour photography training courses for all levels.

Dates: Saturday, April 29th, Saturday, May 20th, Saturday, June 24th, and Saturday, September 2nd. Book at paulsaundersphotography.com

Drymen Show

Saturday 27th May

A highlight of the year is the annual Drymen Show, with lots to do for all the family.

Killearn10k

Saturday, 3rd June 2023 Enter at killearn10k.com

UCI Cycling World Championships, Stirling

3-13 August

Stirling will provide the stage for some of the world's best cyclists after being announced as the time trial venue for the biggest cycling event ever held.

The 11-day inaugural event will create cycling history by combining 13 existing UCI World Championships into one mega-event for the first time, creating one of the world's top 10 sporting events.

Go Swim, Balloch

September 2nd

Multiple competitions for all levels at Loch Lomond Shores. Enter at go-swim.uk

Dukes Weekender Aberfoyle

September 9th and 10th

A weekend of cycling events and competitions for all the family and led gravel rides.

Eternal Mountain Guide Go Swim Loch Lomond Photography Training Course

winter views in loch lomond & the trossachs

Each season brings its own unique look to the National Park, here to start 2023 is a celebration of its beauty during winter.

www.parklifescotland.co.uk

Pictures from See Loch Lomond –check out seelochlomond.co.uk for ideas of things to see and do in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs

Ben Lomond from The Dumpling

Balmaha Bay

Rest and Be Thankful

Milarrochy Bay

Drymen Square

Tom Weir Statue

Loch Voil

Bracklinn Falls, Callander

into a Business JourneyMairead Hume

In 2022 Mairead Hume took the brave leap of making her hobby a full-time business. Business Adviser Stephen Cranston caught up with Mairead to discuss her journey.

“For centuries the islanders of the Western Isles have woven cloth by hand calling it Clò Mór in the original Gaelic or 'The big cloth'. Originally for home use and protection from the cold, today Harris Tweed® is a cloth that is made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides.

Having been born and raised in Scotland, harbouring a deep passion for golf and the beautiful Island of Harris, I saw a natural synergy between the hand-woven, highly durable, colourful Harris Tweed® and the game of golf. And so, it was inevitable that one day the Harris Tweed® Golf Collection would be created.

That day came in 2014.

While working full-time arranging golf tours I began experimenting with Harris Tweed, as a hobby in my own time. Initially, I designed and made a golf shoe bag for myself.

A few of my friends started asking if I could make one for them, and that led to other designs. I started to win commissions and they wanted to stock my designs in their pro shops and use them as gifts and prizes.

Fast forward eight years later and demand has grown to a level whereby I offer a wide range of Harris Tweed items manufactured locally by a tailoring business in Stirling. I have been able to turn the business into a full-time job and over the next year, I’m going to take another big step in hiring staff to support our growth.

It was great to connect with Stephen from the Business Gateway support team at STEP to introduce him to my business. Stephen took great interest and was able to offer assistance with areas such as trademarks, website performance and help sourcing sustainable materials.

The future is exciting but I still have a long list of challenges to work through in growing the business.

It’s reassuring to know that Stephen, with all his knowledge, experience and resources, is always approachable should I need any assistance.”

Stephen said, “It’s been a privilege to work with Mairead, her enthusiasm for Scotland and growing her business is infectious. It’s always going to be a challenge to start your own business, but Mairead tested the water for her product while still in employment and has now effectively turned her hobby into a sustainable source of income. We want to encourage more people who have a bright idea for a business but aren’t ready to give up their day job and develop their plans so there can be more Mairead Hume’s moving to self-employment and contributing to growing the Scottish economy”.

Today Mairead Hume Harris Tweed Golf Collection supplies some of the world's top golf courses and golf tournaments.

If you need support turning your hobby into a business get in touch at step@stepscotland.co.uk

Jane Meek - Body Control Pilates & Feldenkrais

Online classes will continue into the Winter. Contact Jane for details of face-to-face Pilates classes in Blanefield and elsewhere, 07759 182236 or email janemmeek@gmail.com

Tall Trees - Lindas Body Control Pilates

Linda teaches throughout the week in Gartmore, Killearn and on Zoom. Contact for more details and updates - 07758 496820 email@talltreesaberfoyle.co.uk

Dancercise with Yasmin – Adult Dance Fitness Classes

Morning Classes – Low-impact classes, especially suited for Active Seniors/Beginners

Tuesday 10am – Buchlyvie Village Hall

Fridays 10am – Killearn Village Hall

Evening Class – Energetic class for all ages with all types of dance moves for a full body work-out Thursdays 7pm – Killearn Village Hall

For more info please contact Yasmin 07979 856837 or email yasmin@throthegrapevine.co.uk

Zumba with Jane

Everybody Welcome, Saturdays have returned to live classes at Village Club Strathblane 10am-11am(£6), Just send an e mail via Facebook to get added to the groups and for updates. Tel: 07968 968944

Shona Nicolson Zest Fitness

Strength Circuits Tues 12.15pm - 1pm, Kettlebells Thurs 12.15pm - 1pm, Personal Training, STRONG Nation, Jogscotland Mums on the Run buggy fit group. Westerton Farm, Killearn, Tel: 07725 332893 info@zestfitnesstraining.co.uk www.zestfitnesstraining.co.uk

Aspiral

One to one tailor made Gyrotonic sessions. Suitable for people from all walks of life regardless of age or physical ability. The best way to describe it is think of a mix of Pilates, yoga, swimming and dance carried out on specialized equipment. Contact 07500 213473, lorna.aspiral@gmail.com

Loch

Paul Saunders Photography is running the competition. The prizes are a large wall art version of the winning photograph, presented to the winner, along with a £50 voucher to spend on photography books and the chance to attend one of Paul's Loch Lomond Photography Workshops. We will share some of the entries in future editions of Park Life Magazine, and you can also see them on See Loch Lomond's website and Facebook page. The competition is for amateurs, and submitted photographs must have been taken within Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Apart from that, the content is up to you. To enter and find out more, please visit: paulsaundersphotography.com/win The deadline for entries is 31/07/23.

tips from photographer paul saunders

•Keep the resolution of your photograph as high as possible. Be careful with camera phones, as the pictures can look great on a small screen, but when blown up, images cannot be high-quality.

•Don’t feel you need to wait for spring and summer, as winter is when the sun is low in the sky and is a great time to photograph stunning light.

•The first and last hour of the day often provides wonderful photography light.

•Be inspired by what you can find online, but also look for the out-of-the-ordinary and extra-ordinary.

• The National Park is 720 square miles of amazing villages, lochs, mountains, hills, valleys, and forests; you’re spoilt for choice!

Good luck!

wild goose chase

Every winter RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond welcomes skeins of wintering geese, migrating south from their breeding grounds in Scandinavia and Greenland, to take advantage of the milder temperatures and better feeding here. Much of the conservation work done at the reserve is to restore the grassland and meadow as low intensity grazing pasture. Historically, the site has been under-grazed, and these habitats had fallen into poor condition. Over the past five years the reserve team have worked with local farmers to restore habitat for many species of plants and animals.

or few signs of disease in infected wild birds. By contrast HPAI, which is causing the current outbreak, can cause severe disease and high mortality. This strain originated in 2005 from intensive poultry operations in East Asia and has spread into wild birds through the movement of poultry and associated equipment and also through the movement and migration of wild bird populations.

In winter 21/22, HPAI was primarily affecting overwintering geese, swans, ducks and raptors but has now been found in 60 different species in the UK with northern Scotland and costal sites most greatly affected. This summer the impact has been different for different species, and in different places so we do not have a comprehensive assessment of the situation, but we do know that this is the largest outbreak the UK has ever seen. You can visit the RSPB or DEFRA website for more information. The main advice if you live in Scotland is ‘Do not touch or handle any dead birds you find and keep dogs away from any carcasses. If you find three dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks), a single dead bird of prey, or five or more dead wild birds of any other species (including gulls) in the same place at the same time, you should report them to Defra's national helpline: 03459 33 55 77’.

In particular, the grassland management has improved the feeding and roosing grounds for the wintering wildfowl that visit us, including geese. There are several goose species that can be found in or around the reserve including thousands of Pink-footed geese, hundreds of Greylag geese, and the occasional Barnacle goose. We are also lucky to host an internationally important population of Greenland white-fronted geese each year, constituting around 1-2% of the global population.

A serious issue that is causing concern across the country to such species, is Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) also known as avian or bird flu. It is a virus that causes a disease in birds including poultry and wild species. Like other viruses there are lots of different strains, most of which cause no

Writing in early December, there have been no confirmed cases of HPAI at RSPB Loch Lomond and we are delighted to be running our sunrise ‘goose walks’ this winter. These magical early morning walks take visitors across the reserve, through the wetlands and down to the loch shore in time for sunrise, to watch the spectacle of skeins moving off from their overnight roosts and heading off for a day’s foraging nearby. For those looking for a more bespoke experience, we offer an exclusive ‘hire-a-guide’ service. This gives you the opportunity to join an expert guide who will take you on a wild goose chase including a dawn or dusk guided walk, light breakfast by the fire and a 4x4 safari to help with monitoring and surveying of the geese with warden staff. For more info visit events.rspb.org. uk/lochlomond

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I

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