Podcast
Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland's History and Nature
Hosted by National Trust for Scotland · EN
Love Scotland is a fortnightly podcast series from the National Trust for Scotland.
Hosted by TV star, expert broadcaster and National Trust for Scotland president Jackie Bird, Love Scotland features big names, experts and enthusiasts from all walks of life. Each episode delves deep into the detail of Scotland’s history, its wildlife and its landscapes.
21episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Inside the Trust's Plan for Nature
2w ago00:32:12Tap to summarizeThis week, Jackie is at Ben Lomond to dig into another strand of the National Trust for Scotland’s work: its Plan for Nature. Joined by the Trust’s head of nature conservation, Jeff Waddell, Jackie discovers some of the nature conservation work being done across the country, including at Mar Lodge, Canna and St Kilda. And, while surrounded by a cloud of midges, Jeff shares some of the success stories from recent years, including increased populations of corncrakes. You’ll also hear how the Trust talks about the wildlife it conserves, how new technology is helping with the Trust’s work, and what goes on behind-the-scenes to care for Scotland’s landscapes and wildlife. To find out more about Ben Lomond, click here. To take part in the Scottish Animal World Cup, visit the Trust’s Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. A winner will be crowned on 19 July. Find out more about the Trust’s Plan for Nature progress by clicking here.
Transcribe →
Henry VIII and Scotland
4w ago00:41:15Tap to summarizeArguably one of the best known monarchs of all, Henry VIII casts a long shadow through British history books. But, what influence did Henry have on Scotland? That’s the focus of this week’s episode, in which Jackie and her guest explore the complex and dramatic relationship between Henry and the kingdom that lay to the north. Author Dr Steven Veerapen talks us through the politics and religious influences that shaped Henry VIII’s rule and its impact on Scotland, and how an Auld Alliance prevented war from breaking out. To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Transcribe →
A beginner's guide to Andrew Carnegie
May 1300:45:54Tap to summarizeHis name may be familiar – but how much do you really know about Andrew Carnegie? In this week’s episode, Jackie and her guest introduce you to a man who was once the richest individual on the planet, explaining both how he made his wealth and why he started to give it away. Whether you’re familiar with his origins in Scotland or know only of some of his achievements in the US, this episode will introduce you to a fascinating entrepreneur of the past. Joining Jackie is author, biographer and historian David Nasaw, and we take a trip to the Trust’s own Weaver’s Cottage to discover what life would have been like for Andrew and his family. To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Transcribe →
Your questions answered!
Apr 2900:38:58Tap to summarizeIn this week’s episode, it’s not Jackie who’s asking the questions: it’s you! Historian and author Professor Murray Pittock joins us in the studio to answer some of your burning questions spanning the Jacobite Uprisings, Nessie, and more. Murray also discusses his new book, The Shortest History of Scotland, which covers the full gamut of the nation’s past and present in just over 200 pages. To get involved in future episodes like this, send us your questions on Scottish history via email to nts.editor(@)thinkpublishing.co.uk, or as a comment or review on this episode. To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Transcribe →
The storied history of Alloa Tower
Apr 1500:38:15Tap to summarizeThis week, Jackie’s stepping back in time at Alloa Tower: the ancestral seat of a family that played a pivotal role in the history of Scotland. Now surrounded by two housing estates and a supermarket, the tower has, in the past, been part of the stories of Mary, Queen of Scots, the Jacobite Uprisings, and James VI. Join her as she meets the Trust team at Alloa Tower and unpicks some of these interconnected tales, and how a fortified tower came to house opulent 18th century interiors. Find out more about Alloa Tower here. To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Transcribe →
LISTEN AGAIN: Doug Allan's Antarctica, Attenborough and a changing climate
Apr 900:38:35Tap to summarizeWe were saddened to hear the news of Doug Allan’s passing. This episode, first recorded in 2023, features Doug sharing some of his favourite stories from his career. We hope you enjoy it. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. - Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan became world-renowned with film credits for some of the most influential documentaries ever made and a trophy cabinet full of BAFTAs and Emmys. He contributed to David Attenborough’s Blue Planet and Frozen Planet, and spent more time than nearly anyone else diving into the world’s iciest oceans in search of wildlife. In this episode of Love Scotland, he sat down with Jackie to discuss an eventful career, including a dangerously close encounter with a walrus. He also revealed his eyewitness account of how a changing climate is affecting underwater wildlife, and some of his favourite experiences shooting in Scotland’s wild places.
Transcribe →
A beginner's guide to Preston Mill
Apr 100:33:56Tap to summarizeJoin Jackie on a trip to this 16th century watermill in East Lothian, made famous to modern audiences through its appearance in Outlander. Jackie meets the Trust team responsible for the day-to-day running of the mill and uncovers the layers of its past. Preston Mill was being used commercially as recently as 1959, when it was the last to operate in the region. Its Dutch-style conical roof makes it stand out from other Scottish mills, and as a mill has existed on the site since the 18th century, there’s a deep sense of history here. Find out more about Preston Mill here. To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Transcribe →
Retelling the stories of Robert Burns
Mar 1800:33:13Tap to summarizeEven now, artists and creatives take inspiration from the works of Robert Burns some 230 years after his death. Last year, theatremaker James Clements explored the Trust’s Burns collection and brought it to life in a new production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His show, The Burns Project, sold out for its entire run and is now touring the US. It uses the bard’s letters, poems and personal items to tell the story of Burns in an intimate setting. Jackie chats to James about his creative process, the enduring legacy of Burns, and what he learned along the way. To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Transcribe →
Horrible Histories: and how it has inspired new generations
Mar 400:32:01Tap to summarizeFor many history enthusiasts today, it all began with Horrible Histories. Whether the book series or subsequent TV adaptation – or, indeed, stage shows and films – the huge franchise has sparked many a love of the past through its gruesome, entertaining and, most importantly, accurate storytelling and songs. Today, Jackie sits down with two of the brains behind Horrible Histories to learn more about how they’ve managed to capture the imaginations of several generations of children and young people, the process of bringing book to the stage, and some of their favourite Scottish characters to appear. Horrible Histories – The Concert is touring now, including stops in Edinburgh and Glasgow. To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Transcribe →
A beginner's guide to birdsong
Feb 1800:31:48Tap to summarizeCan you tell your blackbirds from your blue tits? Do you know the difference between a collared dove and a wood pigeon? This week, Jackie is here to help you improve your understanding of British birdsong. Alongside naturalist and influencer Lucy Lapwing, Jackie explores the sounds of Greenbank Garden in Glasgow. Discover some top tips for memorising which calls come from which bird, and get Lucy’s advice for expanding your knowledge as the dawn chorus ramps up once again. For information on Greenbank Garden, click here. To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Transcribe →