The Thrill of The Hill
Scotland is a country synonymous with its rugged landscape, iconic wildlife and diverse habitats, particularly in the uplands.
Threats in climate change and biodiversity decline have brought the management of Scotland’s farmed upland environment squarely under the microscope.
In this podcast series, Thrill of the Hill, the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) explores the multitude of issues facing the farmed upland environment and how we can reconcile priorities in conflict, showcase good practice, new developments, technologies and build resilient, sustainable businesses.
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Click here for series 3.
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Thrill of The Hill - Great Yellow Bumblebee
2017 saw the start of Scotland’s Pollinator Strategy, now in 2022 and half way through a ten-year plan, the role and importance of pollinators has only become more significant. Pollinators play an important role in the provision of ecosystem services across the country, impacting on biodiversity and productive farming in equal measure.
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Thrill of The Hill - An introduction to Geo Parks
Arran Geo Park and Arran Access Trust member, Malcolm Wilkinson introduces 'Geo Parks' in this latest Thrill of The Hill Podcast. We hear more about the process of attaining Geo Park status, what a geo park is, how it compares to national park status, UNESCO support and other Scottish success stories.
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Thrill of The Hill - Hen Harrier Management
A national priority species and apex predator, the hen harrier is a unique and important bird within the farmed upland environment. Despite this, historic bad practices, burning and lack of predator control have placed increased pressure on a vulnerable population. RSPB officer Daniel Brown discusses their importance and function within the uplands and the beneficial management practices farmers and landowners can take to improve and enhance habitat for them. -
Thrill of The Hill - A Wilder Scotland?
For many farmers, crofters and landowners in Scotland rewilding is a new and intimidating frontier, the prospect of rewilding and reintroduction of species previously native to Scotland presents challenges, concerns and opportunities. Hear from Executive Director for Scotland: The Big Picture, Peter Cairns about how rewilding and reintroductions can be part of the answer to Scotland’s biodiversity crisis. -
Thrill of The Hill - Opportunities in Agroforestry
Woodland creation and management is only one of the many avenues Scotland is taking to tackle the climate emergency and woodland has a proven link to increasing carbon capture on the farm. Agroforestry allows farmers, crofters and landowners the chance to maintain agricultural output, with options for woodland grazing and intercropping, meaning productive activity can be promoted at the same time as tree planting. -
Thrill of The Hill - Natural Flood Management
Nature Scot advisor, Ian Cornforth chats about the state of Scotland’s water environment, the need for water retention, green engineering and nature-based solutions to aid good management of our watercourses. Also up for discussion is the introduction of beavers and managing their impacts on the farmed water environment. -
Thrill of The Hill - Sustainable Principles
For years now there has been a steady increase in the number of land managers turning to organics, and regenerative practices are gathering momentum; at the same time the idea of farming holistically is also on the rise. This podcast explores the rise of holistic and sustainable practices and how these can be implemented within your farming business. -
Thrill of The Hill - Working For Waders
Alex Pirie talks to Patrick Laurie from Working For Waders. They discuss the decline of waders in Scotland, the practical steps that farmers can take to counter the biodiversity crisis as well as reflect on good practice, the trees versus waders debate amongst other topics. -
Thrill of The Hill - Nature Friendly Farming Network
Alex Pirie talks to Nature Friendly Farming Network coordinator, Phil Knott about how Scotland is addressing biodiversity decline, the need for a conservation calculator and the effectiveness of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS). -
Thrill of The Hill - Heather Management
Alex Pirie talks to British Moorlands advisor, Dick Bartlett about the state of Scotland’s moorlands, with conversation ranging from hot topics like burning, as well as swiping and grazing for heather management, the carbon holding potential of peat and biodiversity value of these unique habitats. -
Thrill of The Hill - Farming for 1.5 Degrees
Alex Pirie chats to dairy farmer and contributor to the 1.5 Degrees in Agriculture report, John Smith about Scotland’s response to the climate crisis and the untapped potential of the farmed environment. -
Thrill of The Hill - Finishing Well
Beef finishing has long been seen as an inherently intensive activity, however finishing beef cattle at grass can be a productive use of time, while contributing to good habitat management and a lower input, more sustainable system. Beef Specialist, Lesley Wylie joins us for this episode.
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Thrill of The Hill - Concentrating on Calving
Calving is one of the busiest times of the year for those in the beef sector and a crucial time for things to go right! A successful calving has huge business and climate impacts as well as of health, welfare and farmer mindset. Beef Specialist, Robert Ramsay discusses a range of topics in this episode.
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Thrill of The Hill - Flock Resilience
While a Brexit trade deal has taken some pressure off the sheep sector the changing political and agricultural landscape means that it must adapt to the new challenges of climate change and biodiversity decline. Kirsten Williams, SAC Consulting's sheep specialist is our guest for this episode.
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Thrill of The Hill - Lime & Soil Health
Consultant Alex Pirie speaks to Soils Specialist Dr Bill Crooks about the importance and value of applying lime to improve soil health and productivity.
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Thrill of The Hill - Enhancing Peatlands
In this episode of the Thrill of the Hill series we hear from Daisy Whytock, project coordinator for the Ayrshire Coalfield Environment Initiative, about a range of topics and issues, conflicts between woodlands and peatland, the importance of peatland as a carbon sink, responsible peatland utilisation and the role of peatland for pollinators.
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Thrill of The Hill - Common Grazings for Common Good
Common Grazings – and crofting counties more broadly – have a crucial and unique role to play in tackling the decline of biodiversity in Scotland. Listen to what Agricultural & Crofting Consultant, Janette Sutherland has to share about common grazings.
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Thrill of The Hill - Research & Policy
Research and development within Scottish agriculture will be key to a successful green recovery, building an efficient and sustainable rural economy and mitigating against the threats posed by climate change. Hear more from Prof Davy McCracken from SRUC.
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Thrill of The Hill - Deer Farming & Management
Deer farming in Scotland and across Britain is a growing sector with huge potential, whether it is wild deer on the uplands or lowland domesticated units. Listen as Alex Pirie chats with Dick Fairplay, John Fletcher and Allan Sneddon of the Venison Advisory Service.
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Thrill of The Hill - Wildcats
Functionally extinct in Scotland, the Scottish wildcat is an important species on several fronts, ecological, historical, and cultural. In this episode Alex Pirie chats with Keri Langridge about the new 'Saving Wildcats' project.
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Thrill of The Hill - Renewables
Alex is joined by Iain Boyd to discuss the potential of renewables in farms across Scotland.
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Thrill of The Hill - Virtual Fencing
This episode Alex is joined by Consultant Malcolm Macdonald to discuss virtual fencing technology and it's potential applications in Scotland and across the world.
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Thrill of The Hill - Woodlands
For this episode, Alex Pirie is joined by David Eadie, a woodlands consultant, to discuss the potential of woodland planting and management in the upland environment.
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Thrill of The Hill - Beef Upland Grazing Strategies
Consultant Alex Pirie speaks with Consultant Robert Ramsay from SAC Consulting's livestock team about the current state of the Beef Sector in Scotland, and how to create synergy between your farmed upland and your improved grassland. -
Thrill of The Hill - Sheep Upland Grazing Strategies
Consultant Alex Pirie speaks with Daniel Stout about Sheep Upland Grazing strategies and the broader Sheep industry in Scotland.
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