Day: May 18, 2022

Over a third of adults say they’re unable to afford adult education

The biggest barrier to British adults continuing their education is cost, with more than a third (35%) saying they’re unable to afford to study, while almost a fifth (19%) say they don’t have time.

A YouGov survey of 2,109 GB adults commissioned by distance learning provider Oxford Opening Learning found that, although  69% of respondents said they could be motivated to learn for any type of new qualification – from GCSEs to PHDs and industry certificates – only just over a quarter of Brits (27%) are likely to actually do so.

The five most common issues that stop adults continuing with education in the future are:

  1.    Lack of affordability (35%)
  2.    Time constraints (19%)
  3.    Not needing any further qualifications (18%)
  4.    Lack of motivation (17%)
  5.    Lack of energy (17%)

Almost half of millennials (25–34-year-olds) say they are likely to consider studying for a new qualification in the future.

The other barriers that Brits said most commonly stop them studying are that they don’t have the time to devote to it (19%) and feeling that another qualification would be unnecessary because they feel they are educated enough (18%).

As well as respondents also saying that they lack the motivation to study (17%), the same number also said they lack the energy. Many Brits also commented that they deem themselves too old.

The research also revealed that many British adults would be happy to continue learning if they felt they could. Receiving a boost to their pay packet is only the third most common incentive, agreed by three in ten (30%) of  Brits , whereas 42% would be more likely to take a course simply out of their own general interest in the subject.

Greg Smith, Head of Operations at The Oxford Open Learning Trust, said: “The fact that so many would like to study further but don’t feel they can points to a lot of misconceptions that people have about adult education.

“For those who think they’re too old, adult learning isn’t only about furthering a career – it’s also extremely beneficial in terms of mental health. There’s evidence to show that, not only does keeping the brain active combat depression and anxiety, but also helps prevent dementia in later life and boosts confidence.

“Studying for a new qualification with a distance learning course is also vastly different to a classroom and can be spread over a longer period to fit in with your current work or lifestyle.

“The initial cost is often far outweighed by the benefits of gaining a new qualification, through an increase in pay, a promotion or a career change.”

Oxford Open Learning’s Top Tips for Adult Learners:

  • Make the learning experience as relevant and useful as possible. Draw on your personal experiences and link the subject matter to real world benefits for your work and personal life
  • Make learning as engaging as possible to boost motivation. Use a variety of learning stimuli, such as images, activities, videos, lectures and podcasts to find what works for you
  • Breaking down information into bite-sized chunks can also help to make it easier to process, and don’t forget to take regular breaks to help you maintain concentration
  • Master your skills by playing an active role in your learning experience. Exploring the subject matter through self-study and active participation can help you to learn in a way that is meaningful to you
  • Let learning occur through mistakes. Trial and error can make the learning experience more effective, while the sense of overcoming a challenge can help to boost confidence

More advice on how to overcome perceived barriers to adult education can be read here:

Successful Studying – It’s all about time

BVA President praises Scottish vets for sterling efforts to keep animals healthy in difficult times

British Veterinary Association (BVA) President Justine Shotton last night (Tuesday 17 May) celebrated the work of veterinary teams across Scotland to make animal health and welfare a top priority despite contending with multiple pressures in recent times.

In her speech to around 70 guests at BVA’s Annual Scottish Dinner at the Scottish Parliament, Dr Shotton said that Scottish vets had worked incredibly hard to keep animals healthy, protect public health and keep the food chain moving against a backdrop of Covid, Brexit and a recent surge in pet ownership. 

However, she cautioned that this has been an incredibly challenging time, saying: “But we also need to acknowledge that this has come at a significant – and ultimately unsustainable – cost to the profession’s capacity and wellbeing. 

“If we are going to cope with ongoing and new or unforeseen challenges ahead, we need action now to improve recruitment, retention and rates of return to veterinary work, to ensure that all existing vets can feel supported, safe and rewarded in their careers, and to encourage future vets from all walks of life to follow in our footsteps.”

Addressing guests including Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, MSPs, key representatives from animal health and welfare organisations and colleagues from across the veterinary profession, BVA’s President called on Scottish and UK governments, animal owners, the profession itself and vets of the future to take a range of actions to help create a “flexible, resilient and future-proofed workforce”. 

These ranged from ensuring that new vet schools such as the site proposed by the SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) are adequately funded, to reminding animal owners to “Respect Your Vet” and the difficult decisions that they have had to make to keep colleagues and clients safe during the pandemic. 

Dr Shotton also praised the recent “Vetastic Adventures” project, where BVA teamed up with the Scottish SPCA to showcase veterinary careers in a fun and accessible way for both primary and secondary school pupils in Scotland. 

Reflecting on recent months, Dr Shotton said that the profession’s “resilience and dedication” had really shone through in how vets had responded to and mitigated against recent disease outbreaks in Scotland and across the UK, including the Avian Influenza outbreak. 

She said that with disease control sitting within the scope of the proposed new Scottish Veterinary Service it was important to make sure that systems collaborated closely with the rest of the UK and beyond, cautioning:

“I don’t have to tell any of you around the room tonight that diseases and animal welfare problems don’t respect borders.  It will therefore be critical that the new service has systems that collaborate and liaise with the rest of the UK, and beyond, on disease surveillance, data collection, and information sharing.  We’re engaging closely to ensure that veterinary expertise is at the heart of these new proposals.” 

Turning to animal welfare legislation, Dr Shotton said that BVA was really pleased by the Scottish Government’s commitment to banning the sale and use of glue traps, describing them as “inhumane devices, which subject trapped animals to prolonged pain and suffering and can often accidentally trap non-target species including cats and birds.”  She called for similar action against snares, as they can also cause significant and needless harm to animals, including pets and protected wildlife.

On pet welfare, Dr Shotton acknowledged some significant campaign wins in the past year, including BVA successfully lobbying alongside others for the UK Government to take action against the “barbaric and purely cosmetic practice” of cropping dogs’ ears. 

She said that BVA will now be turning its attention to the rise of canine fertility clinics in Scotland and the rest of the UK, saying: “We are building a picture of the scale and severity of this worrying trend, and already seeing multiple red flags in the clinics, which may be operating with no regulation or veterinary oversight. 

“The recent action taken against a clinic owner in Lanarkshire following a joint investigation exemplifies what can be achieved when we come together to clamp down on unregulated and dangerous practices.”

The BVA President ended her speech by thanking BVA Scottish Branch colleagues for all their support, and welcoming Gareth Hateley, who was formally elected as the new Branch Junior Vice President at the AGM on Tuesday afternoon.

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, responded to the speech as BVA’s Guest of Honour.

What’s On at National Museums of Scotland

Exhibitions & Displays  
 
National Museum of Scotland   
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF  
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

Japanese Contemporary Design
Until 5 Mar 2023
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1
Free Entry


From striking statement jewellery to prints and porcelain vases, this new free display considers how Japanese contemporary makers have combined innovative and traditional art, craft and design elements over the past five decades. 

The star object is Hitomi Hosono’s A Large Pine Tree Pool, a sculptural porcelain bowl with complex hand-carving made and acquired in 2019. Further highlights include Junko Mori’s intricate New Pinecone Silver Organism, and colourful body adornments by jeweller Suō Emiko’s adapted from metalworking and engraving techniques traditionally used in the making of Japanese sword fittings. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/JapaneseContemporaryDesign   

 
The Typewriter Revolution 
Until 11 Sep 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 
 

Inspiring Walter Scott 

Until 8 Jan 2023 
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1 
Free entry 
 
Following the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. In this small exhibition we show how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.  
 
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller and supporting Year of Stories 2022. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition 
 

Book of Hours
Until 3 Aug 2022
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1)
Free

Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display. 

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen. 

The book will be exhibited in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery in a display alongside other objects associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Six different pages within the book will be revealed, with a new page displayed every three weeks. A QR code will allow you to scroll through the vividly illustrated pages in detail. 
 
The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life 
2 Jul – 13 Nov 2022 
Member Preview Day 1 Jul 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed 

Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders. 

This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century. 

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy 

Bernat Klein: Design in Colour
5 Nov 2022 – 23 Apr 2023
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free entry

Marking the centenary of his birth, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour will celebrate the work of the influential émigré textile designer.   

Visitors will be able to explore Klein’s creative process and varied career, from providing couture fabrics for fashion designers to his influence on modernist architecture and interior design in the UK and Scandinavia  

Visit nms.ac.uk/BernatKlein   

 
Events 

National Museum of Scotland  
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

How The Nose Got Its Sneeze
11 – 12 Jun 2022
10:00-16:45
Event Space, Level 2
Free sign up on the day

In this fun and immersive play adventure, children will explore what happens inside the nose when things like smoke, dust and pollen get inside and how the nose defends our precious lungs against these invaders. 

Play will start with a story to set the scene, followed by a journey through a giant nose and then continue with lots of loose-part-play within two large lung-shaped domes. A gentle soundscape of music and breathing will surround the hands-on activity. OKIDO play rangers and lung researchers will be on hand to help with questions and fun! 

Sign up on the day for a 45 minute session, starting each hour from 10am until (last session) 4pm. 

This event is for under-fives but parents, carers, grandparents and older siblings are encouraged to join in too! 
 
In partnership with OKIDO Studio. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

National Museum of Rural Life  
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

Bird Bingo 
1 Apr – 31 Aug 2022 
10:00-17:00 
A trail around the museum 
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass  

Come and play Bird Bingo at the National Museum of Rural Life!  

Can you find all the birds hiding around the museum? Using the clues on our family trail sheet, see if you can spot different birds in our museum galleries and learn fun facts about them on your journey.

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/birdbingo 

Woolly Weekend 
28 – 29 May 2022 
11:00-16:00 
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass 
 
Visit the National Museum of Rural life to celebrate the start of summer and all things woolly. Our petting zoo is open from 12:00 – 15:00 with a rabbit, guinea pig, duck and chicken. See our shearer at work with our Scottish Blackface sheep and enjoy wool-themed family crafts and activities.  

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/woollyweekend 

National Museum of Flight   
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF   
Open daily 10:00 – 16:00 

Falklands 40 and the Vulcan at War 

28 – 29 May 2022 
10:00 – 17:00 
Concorde Hangar and Vulcan Aircraft 
Free with museum admission 
 
Learn about the role of the Vulcan in the Falklands War, with talks, tours and displays to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the conflict.  

The Vulcan aircraft on display at East Fortune, serial number XM597, took part in Black Buck missions, attacking Argentinian radar defences. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the conflict, some of the crew members and personnel involved in Operation Black Buck are visiting the museum to share their stories in a series of talks and tours. 

In the Concorde Hangar, visitors will also be able to see a small photography display and some of Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum’s Airborne Forces Collection, and younger visitors will have the chance to make a paper Vulcan underneath Concorde. 

Find our more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Awesome Bricks
18 Jun –19 Jun 2022
10:00-17:00
Ticketed

Join us for one of Scotland’s biggest LEGO events. See a host of unique and inspiring LEGO constructions, including a 3D hot air balloon festival, and get hands-on in our blue brick build zone. 

Awesome Bricks is produced in partnership with Warren Elsmore.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/awesomebricks 


Follow us on Twitter … twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook … facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram … instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789 

Public urged to hunt for woodland moths

MOTH NIGHT 19th – 21st MAY

Moth enthusiasts, conservationists and the public will be heading for the woods for the UK’s annual Moth Night event this week. Running on the days and nights of Thursday 19th – Saturday 21st May, this annual celebration of moths is organised by Atropos, Butterfly Conservation, and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH).

Moth Night highlights the important role played by the 2,500 species of UK moths, unsung heroes of our native wildlife both as plant pollinators and essential food for many other animals.

Woodland, the theme of this year’s event, is a vital habitat for moths because their caterpillars feed on trees, shrubs and lichens, while woodland flowers provide nectar for adult moths. Woodland also provides relatively warm, sheltered conditions, ideal for a wide variety of springtime moths to fly in.

Mark Tunmore, editor of the journal Atropos and Moth Night founder, says: “Common broad-leaved trees such as birches, oaks and willows support hundreds of different moth species here in the UK, which in turn are a vital link in the food chain, particularly for bats and insectivorous birds.

“Great Tits and Blue Tits, for example, depend entirely on moth caterpillars as food for their chicks. At this time of year, woodlands are at their colourful best and so are their moth inhabitants, with a wide range of beautiful species on the wing.

“We are also encouraging daytime moth hunts this year as there are many day-flying species to be seen, including the stunning Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth, Speckled Yellow and Argent & Sable. In Scotland it is a particularly special time of the year for moths, with scarce species such as the spectacular Kentish Glory, Netted Mountain Moth and Small Dark Yellow Underwing flying.”

The abundance of moths has declined by one-third in Britain over the last 50 years and a recent study suggested that declines had been even more extreme in more wooded landscapes. However, some woodland moths have done well, benefitting from the increase in broadleaf woodland in the UK, which has more than doubled in area since the late 1960s.

Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at the charity Butterfly Conservation, says: “Government commitments to increase tree cover are very welcome. Allowing natural regeneration of woodland and more tree planting will greatly benefit moths as well as helping to tackle the climate crisis.

“However, it needs to be the right trees in the right places. Planting non-native trees, such as conifers or Eucalyptus, or planting trees on wildlife-rich open habitats such as grasslands and heaths, will have a negative impact on biodiversity, including for moths.

“In addition, we need to redouble the protection of the UK’s remaining ancient woodlands; unique, irreplaceable habitats of great wildlife, and also historical and recreational, value. At this time of year, our ancient woodland feature moths such as the nationally scarce Marbled Pug, Barred Umber and Marbled Brown.”

Dr David Roy, Head of the Biological Records Centre at UKCEH, says: “For Moth Night 2022 we’re encouraging the public to look for and submit sightings of moths in woodland, but also in their gardens, parks and the wider countryside.

“There are public events that people can attend to see magnificent moths. Moths are excellent indicators of biodiversity and the quality of woodland and other habitats, so by submitting Moth Night sightings, people are doing citizen science and helping understand the impacts of land management and climate change.”

For more information on taking part in Moth Night, which runs 19-21 May 2022, see:  www.mothnight.info

How to take part in Moth Night 2022

While you can buy light-traps that do not harm the insects, specialist equipment is not required to attract moths. Leaving outside lights on, painting ‘sugar’ mixture on fence posts, or draping rope soaked in red wine over bushes can be particularly effective. 

There is advice at mothnight.info/taking-part/

For help identifying moths, people can check guides to species, the What’s Flying Tonight? app or contact moth enthusiasts via the Moth Night Facebook page.

Buffalo Milk ice cream now available at Scotmid stores

Scotmid is bringing a unique Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream, made from Buffalo milk, to stores across Edinburgh and Lothians, notching up another first for the Scottish convenience retailer.

The local community can now purchase the product in store which, until now, has only been available from The Buffalo Farm in Fife.

Founded in 2005, The Buffalo Farm is the third of five Scottish businesses to win the Scotmid Scottish Favourites competition, which is giving the ice cream prominent shelf space in selected Scotmid stores. The competition was launched by the retailer to champion local producers and further demonstrates its commitment to Scottish sourcing.

The promotional listing will run for three weeks and will be available in 13 stores in Edinburgh and Lothians.

Steven Mitchell, Founder of The Buffalo Farm, spoke about what winning the competition means to the business:

  • How does it feel to be a winner of the Scotmid Scottish Favourites competition?

We are so excited to be able to see our Buffalo ice cream featured in Scotmid stores across the country and it’s great to be recognised by such a prominent retailer in Scotland.

  • What does it mean for you as a business to have secured this listing?

We are first and foremost farmers and aim to produce the finest produce we can from our land here in Kirkcaldy – with our team, farmland, countryside and animals at the very heart of our business. This listing will provide us with the perfect opportunity to reach new customers who value incredible local produce just like we do.

  • What are you hoping will be the outcome of bringing your product to a new audience? What is special about buffalo milk?

With our Buffalo Ice Cream, produced from milk from our own herd, we believe customers will buy into the brand concept and then be amazed at just how good the product is. We know Scotmid will get a real sense of pride from championing an exciting new Scottish product that their customers will appreciate.

  • It’s not your average ice-cream. How and why did the product come about?

Milk has several unique properties, and we were looking for another way to add value to the product range.  With a slightly higher fat content than regular cow’s milk, it is the perfect core ingredient to make our luxuriously rich ice cream.  Raspberry Ripple was the obvious choice, as one of the nations’ favourite traditional ice cream flavours.

  • How and where do you make Raspberry Ripple Buffalo ice-cream? ‘

Our buffalo milk produces a richer, creamier flavour and texture over traditional ice cream.  Our Raspberry Ripple Buffalo ice-cream is made in our dairy factory in the heart of Fife.  We are growing our production on a weekly basis, which is driven by the volume our buffalo can produce. We offer a real field to fork (or spoon!) solution, with an incredibly short supply chain, from our farm in Fife to Scotmid stores.

  • Describe Raspberry Ripple Buffalo ice-cream in 3 words?

Scottish, smooth and flavourful

  • We know that Scotmid is committed to supporting the local community and local businesses, how do you support the local community?

We have an extremely loyal team of 80 employees who live in the local area, and we are very focused on supporting our local community. Over the years, we have supported numerous community initiatives with fundraising collaborations with schools, clubs and sports teams.

We have also tried innovative fundraisers, such as where groups would receive part of our profits when their supporters used a specific Coupon Code through our website. The more people they encouraged to buy, the more money they raised.

More recently, we are delighted to have chosen Hearts and Minds as our nominated charity for the next six months, a Scottish based charity that uses clowning to help children in hospital, people with dementia, and those with additional support needs. We are planning a number of fundraising initiatives to support their cause.

  • What is next for The Buffalo Farm?

We are very much at the start of our journey with The Buffalo Farm. However, it has the potential to become the next major brand in Scottish Food and Drink. We would love nothing more than to have Scotmid with us on our journey.

Jessica Van Tromp, local sourcing manager at Scotmid, said: “We’re so excited to be able to stock such an innovative and delicious product in our stores across Edinburgh and Lothians.

“It’s great to be able to support The Buffalo Farm, expanding its presence from Fife to key regions in Scotland.”

Keep Scotland Beautiful awards schools for fantastic climate action

Four schools and nurseries in Edinburgh recognised with Eco-Schools Green Flag Award status

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful is delighted to award four schools and nurseries in Edinburgh with an Eco-Schools Green Flag.

The international award recognises nurseries and schools which have demonstrated a commitment to the Eco-Schools Scotland programme and over two years have engaged their whole school community in local climate action.

The schools and nurseries are: Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools, Leith Primary School and Nursery Class, Nether Currie Primary School and Smilechildcare.

All the schools took part in a variety of fantastic litter-busting and climate action activities including litter picks, litter surveys, recycling and community clean ups.

Through the Eco-Schools Scotland programme, Keep Scotland Beautiful aims to make action to tackle climate change and environmental awareness an intrinsic part of the life and ethos of schools, for both pupils and for staff. The programme provides a framework to engage the wider school community in climate action aligned with the purposes of Curriculum for Excellence and Learning for Sustainability.

To complete the Green Flag journey each school has a choice of ten topics to engage with, from climate action, to food and the environment, to litter, to energy. The schools also choose one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to link their Eco-Schools work to.

Catherine Gee, Deputy Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “I’d like to congratulate the Eco-Committee, pupils and staff at each of these schools, who have stepped up to play their part in combatting climate change and achieve their Green Flag Award. 

“It’s great to hear about the progress schools have made towards their Green Flags – up and down the country, pupils and staff are working hard growing, litter picking and learning. Thousands have also engaged with our live lessons recently and the next, on Water, is coming up on 6 and 10 June.

“Keep Scotland Beautiful is committed to supporting all our children, young people and educators through our Climate Action Schools activities to develop the capacities, skills and attributes required to protect our planet and work towards our goal of a Net Zero future.”

More information about the world’s largest sustainable schools programme and Eco-Schools Scotland can be found at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/eco-schools.

Sign up for the next live lesson and see the previous lessons here:

https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/education-and-learning/eco-schools/live-lessons/.

The Royal Highland Show returns

Scotland’s biggest and best display of food, farming & rural life celebrates 200 years

The Royal Highland Show is set to return this year, with the first full Show since 2019 taking place at Ingliston from Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th June. 

2022 is a significant milestone in the Royal Highland Show’s history. With celebrations planned to mark the 200th anniversary since the very first Show was held way back in 1822, this year Scotland’s biggest and best outdoor event is truly back with a bang! 

The four-day event provides a unique opportunity for visitors to get up close to prize livestock, taste an amazing array of premium food & drink, and experience rural life at its most vibrant.  

With a big wheel, newly redesigned food & drink hall, Scotland’s Larder, a bustling Countryside Area, tons of activities for the kids, huge exhibits of machinery, exciting displays of farriery & forestry and shopping opportunities aplenty – there’s something for everyone! 

Changes for 2022 

In a change for this year, all tickets, including car parking, must be booked in advance with no tickets available on the gate. As always, kids aged 15 and under go free when accompanied by a paying adult (free tickets must also be booked in advance). 

This is to allow the effective management of numbers on each day, ensuring the safety of visitors and staff.  The benefit of purchasing in advance will ensure visitors can secure their spot for their preferred day as it is expected that the Show will sell out due to pent-up demand. 

For further information and to purchase tickets please visit royalhighlandshow.org. 

What’s new in the competition rings  

The sights and sounds of the bustling show rings will be a welcome experience for competitors and visitors alike this year – with many having not witnessed them for three years. 

This year, two new sheep classes for Valais Blacknose and Dutch Spotted will feature – widely acknowledged as one of the cutest sheep in the world, the Valais Blacknose are famed for their curly coats and spiralling horns. 

Two new equestrian classes will also make an appearance – Maxi Cob of the Year Championship and Mountain & Moorland Junior 122cm Working Hunter Pony of the Year. This is in addition to a number of classes being upgraded to Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifier status, which will add an extra element of excitement to the show rings! 

To celebrate the Show’s bicentenary, a range of special commemorative rosettes, prize cards, sashes and medals will be awarded this year – including medals with gold finishing, a change from the usual bronze version awarded in other years. The magnificent Fletcher McDiarmid Trophy, an incredibly ornate and historic award, will also return this year to be presented to the Overall Beef Champion.  

Entertainment like never before 

2022 will see an exciting addition to the Showground – a big wheel be taking centre stage for visitors to marvel at the view of the Show from above! The ‘Ingliston Eye’ as it’s being called will be located in the Lifestyle Village and offer a bird’s eye view of all the action.  

And as if the Royal Highland Show wasn’t enough to entertain – The Big Top is coming to Ingliston and visitors this year will have the chance to extend their stay to attend an evening concert. 

The concerts will take place outwith the main showground on the west side, well away from all areas where livestock and horses are stabled, penned or stalled.  

Of course, there will also be the usual entertainment offerings across the Royal Highland Show itself – expect everything from pipe bands and ceilidhs to choirs and pop music! 

RHS TV & app 

The Royal Highland Show will take to the small screen to livestream this year’s 200th anniversary event across the globe.  

In what has been described as a ‘game changer’ for the Royal Highland Show, organisers have successfully secured £200,000 of funding from the Scottish Government to drive this ground-breaking initiative. 

The free-to-view RHS TV will see a dynamic mix of live and pre-recorded content broadcast throughout the four days, featuring the perfect balance of livestock judging, equestrian classes, culture, interviews, food & drink and of course, the grand parade. 

Not only beamed across the globe, RHS TV will also be transmitted across the showground on giant screens throughout the four days. The content captured will be available to watch back on the Royal Highland Show YouTube channel. 

In another move taking the Show experience digital, this year will also see the launch of the Royal Highland Show app, which will enhance the experience for showgoers – more details on this will be revealed in the run up to the event. 

These innovative additions to the Royal Highland Show ensure that not only Show exhibitors and competitors, but Scotland at large is put on the map as the Show experience is broadcast to an international audience. 

Showcasing Scotland’s food & drink 

This year sees some exciting developments for food and drink at the Show.  

The food hall experience has been completely re-designed – ‘Scotland’s Larder’ as it’s now known, will offer an unrivalled showcase for the very best produce from Scotland and around the UK.  

There is a focus on Scottish produce of course, with over 75% of exhibitors in Scotland’s Larder based in Scotland. 

Tying in with the Highland & Islands Presidential Team initiative, there will be a Bothy placed in the centre of the hall. This will house a café hosted by the team at Mimi’s Bakehouse, serving delicious cakes and coffees. 

This new area has been designed to completely enhance the food and drink experience at the Show, with congestion eased and more opportunities to stop and savour the variety of tastes on offer. 

And with the Scottish Championships taking place, expect to see lovely loaves, beautiful butter, and heavenly honey on display, with well-known names and artisanal producers alike competing for the most prestigious produce awards in Scotland. 

Winners of the 2021 Scottish Championships for Dairy, Bread and Honey products will be celebrated at the Show in the Champions Corner, providing a lunch menu using Championship ingredients. Winners from this year’s Scottish Championships will also be announced and celebrated! 

Brand-new Kids Zone 

Another exciting new feature for 2022 is the introduction of a dedicated Kids Zone in the Countryside Area. 

This interactive experience is sure to delight kids and parents alike and will feature activities like a nature trail, featuring outdoor play equipment and John Deere mini tractors! 

Children will be able to take part in activities and find out more about the history of the Royal Highland Show in a fun, interactive way.  

This is in addition to the ever-popular Discovery Centre, run by the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and designed to help curious young minds learn more about the countryside and where their food comes from! 

To help celebrate the 200th show this year, RHET is producing the ‘Great Big A-Z of Food and Farming’ story. 

A page a day will be released throughout June, with the whole digital book being released on the 26th of June. This story will cover a wide range of topics in a user-friendly way and be linked to various activities to get involved with. 

RHET will also be offering digital engagement via its Showtime Discovery Trail. The trail will take young visitors around several points on the showground to learn more about food and farming. 

The RHET Discovery Centre will also host a grand finale for the charity’s ‘Year of Beef’ project, creating several interactive experiences for families and school pupils around beef farming. 

Getting there 

As usual, there is a comprehensive travel plan in place to ensure visitors can get to and from the Show as efficiently as possible.  

Hopping on public transport remains the easiest and most sustainable option for getting to the Showground. Travel by tram or get dropped off right at the gates by the bus. 

If visitors do want to take the car, booking your parking tickets in advance is required – there will be no parking tickets available on the day! 

Be sure to visit the Royal Highland Show website to view the full public transport travel plan. 

RHASS Chairman Bill Gray commented: “To be able to celebrate the 200th anniversary of that first Show is really special – not just for us as directors, staff and members of the Society but also for the wider communities that have missed the opportunity to get out and about and meet one other.  

“The absolute highlight of this year’s Show will be the chance to show off our new pavilion to our members and guests. It is a wonderful building and fitting to be at the heart of our showground at Ingliston. Let’s meet there, celebrate and be proud to be a part of this wonderful event.” 

Supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, the Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, on 23-26 June 2022. 

For further information and to purchase tickets please visit royalhighlandshow.org. 

Edinburgh College selected to host major national skills competitions

Edinburgh College has been confirmed as one of six venues across the UK, and the only Scottish college, to host WorldSkills UK 2022 National Competition Finals in November.

WorldSkills UK sees the country’s top students and apprentices compete in a wide range of competitions for medals and a potential place at a global WorldSkills finals event in France in 2024.

Designed by industry experts, WorldSkills UK competitions help young people grow personally and professionally by developing their technical and employability skills, as well as shining a light on the skills potential across the UK.

The finals are the culmination of a seven-month process including regional heats and intensive training.

The College is hosting eleven finals at its Granton Campus, including Forthside building, during the week commencing Monday 14 November.

Students and apprentices will descend on Scotland’s capital to participate in the following finals: Bricklaying, Carpentry, Foundation Skills: Woodworking, Furniture and Cabinet Making, Joinery, Painting and Decorating, Plastering, Plastering and Drywall Systems, Roofing and Tiling, Stonemasonry, Wall and Floor Tiling.

The week culminates with a live medal ceremony broadcast presented by Steph McGovern who will reveal who winners are from her Packed Lunch studio on Friday 25 November.

Young people across the region will be able to attend competitions and experience the spectacle of the finals at Granton Campus, and drop-in to events showcasing what the college offers as well as gain careers advice and the opportunity to talk to employers and industry experts.

People who cannot attend local events will get the chance to follow things online through a special broadcast featuring live finals action, as well as interviews and advice from previous winners, experts and career advisors.

Other venues across the UK hosting finals are as follows: Barking and Dagenham, Belfast Metropolitan, Blackpool and the Fylde, Cardiff and Vale, and Middlesbrough colleges.

Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “We’re thrilled to have been selected as one of six venues to host finals of WorldSkills UK. We’re looking forward to welcoming students, apprentices, visitors and other stakeholders to our Granton Campus in November.

“Skills competitions like WorldSkills UK are enormous spectacles and provide a platform for skilled students to thrive, and for other young people and those perhaps looking to change jobs to learn more about careers which these highly-skilled disciplines provide. WorldSkills sets the bar extremely high with globally recognised standards and businesses increasingly looking to employ students reaching the heights the standards set. 

“More than that, in the context of plugging future skills gaps and the requirement for more skilled workers to be produced to meet national targets across a range of issues including house-building, sustainability, digital infrastructure, to name a few – it is vital that we continue to highlight skills training with events like these.”

WorldSkills UK Deputy CEO Ben Blackledge said: “We are really excited to be taking the show on the road with finals hosted by colleges across the UK. We hope witnessing the drama of the finals live will inspire young people to keep developing their technical and employability skills.

“With 62 finals spread over six venues there should be something for everyone, but we will also be providing loads of online content for people who are unable to get to one of the host venues that week.

“We are looking forward to producing our special broadcast with live action and top tips from industry experts and careers advisors. We are also delighted to confirm that Steph McGovern will be doing the duties on awards night and revealing the winners live from her Packed Lunch studio.

“With skills at the heart of UK government plans to level up and rebuild the economy, we are delighted to be playing our part and giving more young people the opportunity to explore the many opportunities and careers that high-quality skills offer.”