Re-Wilding the Countryside
Sometimes there is something in the air, a trend that becomes almost compulsory and everyone’s at it and quite often we don’t always know why. One of those trends is re-wilding which is like a snowball gathering pace as it rolls down the hill. Recently bison, beaver and pine martens have been introduced and there’s talk of wolves and no doubt someone somewhere wants to reintroduce Mammoths, Velociraptors (The scary ones from Jurassic Park) or Polar Bears. Yes the bears were here during the ice age! I’ve certainly heard of people who want to re-introduce the brown bear, believe me when I say it’s no cuddly teddy! There is already consultation about re-introducing Lynx to the queen Elisabeth Forest near Glasgow, just to liven up those trips to the woods no doubt. But the great and the good say it’s all for the best.
But not all re-wilding schemes are extreme, some are just great as they seek to bring nature gently back to a place that’s been over farmed over the years. An area near the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews has become the latest re-wilding scheme thanks to a generous grant from the Scottish Parliament. It’s a 100 acre site that will be returned to nature to try and boost biodiversity and lure rare animals to the area. The land is 70 acres of grass fields previously used for farming up until two years ago and 30 acres of cliff. The cliff side is also an area of Special Scientific Interest an SSI. The owners have planted 6,000 native trees with the grant and created 10 wetlands. The new owner wants nature to creep back now farming practices no longer drive out native species like the corn bunting and he hopes to welcome back more meadow pipits, bumblebees, butterflies, skylarks, curlews and grey grouse. That is certainly a wonderful thing to encourage.
And if you want to have wildlife in your drinks cabinet then I can point you to the great savings in our British Wildlife Collection. Kintyre is a stunning British hand cut design truly reflecting traditional craftsmanship, just as you’d expect from James Pirie. Take a look at the Kintyre Whisky Tumbler engraved with a pheasant. The collection is of some of our favourite wildlife animals. They are expertly engraved on hand cut crystal tots and tumblers. The 'strutting’ pheasant is an impressive engraved design, entirely fit for your home.
