14 August 2009

Media Releases

This Sunday a free and fun day out at Holyrood Park offers families the chance to take part in a unique scientific survey - and find out all about the amazing range of wildlife and plants to be found not only in the Park, but also throughout Scotland and further afield. BioBlitz - which has been jointly organised by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers Scotland (BTCV Scotland) and Historic Scotland - is a fusion of science and community engagement involving hundreds of volunteers descending on a nature hotspot to record all of the wildlife species that can be found there over a 24-hour period. Expert recorders will be carrying out scientific-led studies on Saturday (when the 24-hour recording period commences at 3pm) and on Sunday, the BioBlitz event is open to the public from 11am to 4pm. All the volunteers who come along then will be being invited to participate in a range of surveys of wildlife species. They will also be able to join survey walks led by an expert, to log any species identified and location details.

14 August 2009

Media Releases

Scotland is a country graced by an enviable legacy of historic buildings and monuments. These buildings and monuments not only enrich the lives of the people who live in Scotland but which also play a vital role in attracting others to visit our country and enjoy our culture and history. In this way they are an important cultural and economic resource. The interest, both at home and abroad, in our heritage is huge and as well as generating economic benefits through tourism, it can support and encourage investment in businesses, local communities and the wider Scottish economy. All of this means that Historic Scotland, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, has a crucial role to play in managing our the historic environment in partnership with others.

13 August 2009

Media Releases

A team of experts will be visiting sites in Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde to assess monuments of national importance. The team from Historic Scotland is responsible for identifying the most important archaeological sites and monuments in Scotland. Dr Sally Foster, Head of the Scheduling Team, said: “We are all very much looking forward to visiting these sites and meeting the owners in the coming weeks. We have identified about 120 out of the known 5000 or so sites in the area that we would particularly like to visit, ranging from early prehistoric monuments through to military remains from the Second World War. Our aim is to improve the record of existing scheduled monuments as well as identifying the important monuments that still merit legal protection."

11 August 2009

Media Releases

The imposing medieval bastion of Caerlaverock Castle near Dumfries is the dramatic setting for a spectacular celebration of 2,000 years of Scotland’s history on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August. Re-enactors from all over Britain will be converging on the stunning stronghold to present colourful living history displays and performances depicting past eras right up to the 20th century in what promises to be an entertaining event for all the family. Romans, Vikings, Medieval Scots, Redcoats, Covenanters and soldiers from World Wars I and II will all feature in the action-packed programme. Visitors will be able to see exciting chronological highlights from all the eras, with authentic period displays, including weaponry demonstrations, being presented in a central arena.

10 August 2009

Media Releases

If the popular BBC series ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ has inspired you to trace your own family history, an event at Elgin Cathedral might help you find out where some of your ancestors are buried. Members of the Moray Burial Ground Research Group will be at the Cathedral on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August to provide information on the individuals and families whose final resting place is the historic site’s graveyard. Earlier this year, the Group published a book on the memorials and headstones within the Cathedral grounds following a survey of the site carried out over three and a half years.