Trig Points at 90, Dippers, Gannets and Lapwings

About this episode

The episode explores a new poetry and artwork trail, challenges in the forestry industry, wildlife conservation efforts, and the role of detection dogs in managing invasive species.

Dr Shane Strachan has written a poem which encourages people to explore a new poetry and artwork trail along the 53-mile Formartine and Buchan Way. Rachel meets Shane to find out how he got involved. In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark is in Glasgow with Professor Dee Heddon and Dr Rachel Clive of Glasgow University Theatre Studies to hear about the play Three Words for Forest. The play explores the challenges, hopes and fears of those working in the forestry industry at a time of climate crisis. Rachel joins photographer Richard Cook on the River Dee to search for dippers and to chat about his book Dippers on the Dee. Mark looks for lapwings with Warden Lorna Dow at RSPB Loch of Strathbeg and learns about how semi-feral conic ponies are helping manage the wetlands to encourage the birds to use the site. Mark is near Fort William to discover how a detection dog is sniffing out an invasive marine species known as ‘sea vomit’. Dr Texa Sim explains how her labrador, Uisge, tracks down the carpet-like sea squirt. Mark and Rachel are joined by Mark Greaves from Ordnance Survey to talk trig points as we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the iconic pillars. Mark hops on a catamaran to…

People in this episode

Host: Rachel

Guests: Dr Shane Strachan, Professor Dee Heddon, Dr Rachel Clive, Richard Cook, Lorna Dow, Dr Texa Sim, Mark Greaves

Topics covered

• poetry
• art
• forestry
• climate crisis
• wildlife
• conservation

Keywords

• Formartine and Buchan Way
• climate crisis
• dippers
• lapwings
• sea squirt
• gannets
• trig points
• conservation
• Scottish wildlife

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Scottish Seabird Centre

Books & works: Three Words for Forest, Dippers on the Dee

Places: Glasgow, River Dee, RSPB Loch of Strathbeg, Fort William, Bass Rock

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