Bowhill... a work experience

Through out my summer holidays I have been working at Bowhill. So far I have started work on a scarecrow with Jim & Rachel, I have helped out with ranger events such as den building and crafts as well as a pond dip with a group of kids from Chernobyl.

I always enjoy working here and it lets me see a different side or the ranger work when Bowhill is open.

Michael Paton, Volunteer

In the hut

In my little hut each year
I spend many a happy day
Meeting and greeting all the folks
Hoping they will enjoy their stay
 
People come from near and far
To experience Bowhill's charm
It's important to make them welcome first
A bit of "patter" does no harm.
 
A good warm welcome is the main job
Although you have to stay aware
There's lots of prices, tickets and advice
That all add up to " Customer Care!"

Gilbert, Kiosk Attendant

July, July

After an extremely busy June with school visits (well done Sam) the team at Bowhill House and Country Estate are looking forward to Thursday 1st July with much anticipation as this sees the house re-open for the 2010 season.

The house will be open every day in July and August with tours every half hour by our highly skilled and knowledgeable guides. (Please see our Visitor Information section for further details).

Why not pop in and see the Portrait Miniatures; a display of outstanding masterpieces from one of the world’s greatest private collections. Some of the miniatures on display attracted 10,000 visitors in two and a half weeks while on view at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in 1997.

Trish Gray
House Manager

Orienteering at Bowhill

Primary School Orienteering Competition - Thursday May 27th 2010

 Congratulations to Drumlanrig on winning the Bowhill Orienteering Team Trophy and to Trinity for winning the Bowhill Fastest Pair Trophy on a very successful fun day of orienteering. It was a very closely contested competition with nearly 180 pupils  from 9 primary schools taking part in the event which involved pupils running around a 2.3 kilometre course map reading, finding controls and punching their cards.
However, there was no stopping Sam Finn and Ayrton Sonkur from Trinity winning the fastest pair trophy in a record time of 10 minutes and 2 seconds. Likewise Drumlanrig’s team trophy was also won in a record time of 36 mins and 19 secs.

 These are fun competitions which allow all pupils to take part at their own pace, get some real exercise, make decisions for themselves and have a brilliant time.

The results showed that pupils had learned a great deal from their map and compass sessions and were a credit to their schools.

At the prize giving in front of Bowhill House Mr Catto, the event organiser, thanked all the teachers, parents and school staff involved who helped the event run so smoothly and to Lynsey Menmuir the Ranger at Bowhill who helped prepare the course and coordinate the day.

Trish

The problem with the Scottish Weather…

It is said that the British always talk about the weather and when I look back at the blog I see that we do in fact mention it quite a lot; probably because it matters so much for the success of some of our events.  I always manage to get caught out somehow – last weekend in the heat I planted lettuce in my garden which will no doubt have died following the cold spell this week.  Also last week some friends and I walked the West Highland Way, in glorious sunshine and unbothered by that traditional Scottish pest the midge.   I had taken midge repellent but no sunscreen…  Ah well.  Come and enjoy Bowhill in any season.  You can even find Skin So Soft for sale.  Though not promoted as an insect repellent it seems to do the trick.  See you soon

Helen

What a buzz at Bowhill!

We had great fun last Saturday at our BBC Springwatch Wild Day Out at Bowhill.  We looked at butterflies, bees, plants, fungi and mosses with our wildlife experts who helped us identify and record species.  

Cathy, our bumblebee expert, showed us how to catch a bee safely and how to look at its bottom to help find out what species it was!  There are 6 common bumblebees in the UK and we found 4 of them – the White-tailed, Early, Common carder and Buff-tailed. 

 As I was writing this today we were visited by another bumblebee in the office and I took a photo of it settling on Helen’s Theatre file!

 Our Visitor Centre is currently full of great leaflets, free bookmarks and information kindly sent to us by the BBC, so do drop in and pick up some freebies at the weekends and Bank Holiday Monday this month.

 Sam, Countryside Education Ranger

A suprise visitor - 18 April

After the good weather for much of the Easter holidays, Sunday 18th April was a damp cold day.  We did have one surprise visitor to the adventure playground to lift the spirits - an otter came up behind the kiosk and made its way across the road and up into the wood!

Gilbert, Kiosk Attendant

Drystone Dyking

During the first week of March the Countryside Rangers and Volunteer Rangers attended a two day drystone dyking course in Lauder with Neil Moffat.

On the first day we were lucky to enjoy the first warm and sunny day of the year which reflected in our enthusiasm for the task.  By the end of this day we had demolished a rather neglected section of wall and rebuilt it in the solid, roman-esque structure that can be seen in the photo.  Big smiles all round!

However, the second day was a slightly different story!  Strong winds, plummeting temperatures and persistent rain!  Although this only added to our determination to complete our second section of wall in record time!

We were delighted to receive our “Beginners Stage 1 Dry Stone Dyking Course”.  Neil’s expertise and great patience helped us to achieve a level of competence which we did not believe would be feasible at the start of the course.

All of us really enjoyed the two days and are now utilising our new skills on the reconstruction of the Victorian water garden.

Jim & Rachel, Volunteer Rangers

Pond Dip

We had a fantastic sunny day on Saturday for pond dipping in the Upper Loch.  We found water louse, water boatman, freshwater hoglouse, leeches and lots of caddis fly in cases made out of bits of plants and pebbles to protect their soft bodies.  We knew we had lesser water boatman as they were swimming on their fronts…..greater water boatman swim on their backs!  A special find was the bright red non-biting midge larvae and some of us also caught shrimps.  Did you know that shrimp eyes are on the top and bottom of their heads to help them see what is above and below them?  Perhaps that’s why they shimmy as they move?  We had a great treat in finding lots of toads and saw their spawn in the water.  As the summer comes the spawn will hatch into tadpoles before changing into a toad – lots to watch out for on your next visit to Bowhill.  More pond dipping planned for August 4th – hope you can come along.

Sam, Countryside Education Ranger

Easter Fun Day - Cash for Kids

The Way Fort-ward - 29 March 2010

Yesterday Bobby the Beaver from Radio Borders and pupils from Knowepark Primary School officially opened the newest addition to Bowhill's adventure playground - A Fort!

The fort was built by local craftsman Calum Flanders and has everything from a climbing wall to fireman's poll.  Why not come along in the Easter holidays to see it yourself!

Award Winners!

Using our Initiative!

The team at Bowhill are delighted to announce that the Buccleuch Heritage Trust was the winner in the Homecoming Scotland Initiative Award category at the prestigious Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards held at the Scottish Borders College Campus at Heriot Watt University on Friday 19th March.

The award was given in recognition of the outstanding contribution to the local economy, during the Year of Homecoming 2009, with a series of events celebrating the first ever international Clan Scott Gathering held at Bowhill last September.

We would like to thank everyone who helped to organise all the events especially the Estates management team at Bowhill who worked tirelessly throughout and helped to make the Muster such a success.

The New Season Approaches

With only two weeks to go to public opening all across the estate small teams of people are working hard to make sure that everything is in place. The gift shop now stocks many local crafts and the Minstrel tea room has an updated menu.   The Victorian kitchen and Visitor centre have had their annual spring clean and  the gardeners have been hard at work clearing around the upper loch which has been opened up to give breathtaking views from the front of the house.

You can be assured of a warm welcome from everyone when you visit.

Trish

Marley & Me

I’m beginning to feel that Spring is on its way at long last.  One of the pleasures of working here is the ability to walk in the beautiful Estate and watch the seasons changing.  Today I walked rescue dog, Marley, around the upper and lower lochs and was astonished to see ice still on our top loch, so we’ve a way to go yet.  The snowdrops are still blooming and the daffodils are beginning to poke their heads above the soil, nicely in time for Easter we hope.  The swans have returned to the upper loch too, always a welcome site, even if they did make Marley quake in his paws!

Helen

Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards - 8 March

We have been nominated for a 2010 Scottish Borders Excellence Award under the Homecoming Scotland 2009 initiative.  This has been sponsored by Homecoming Scotland and is a special award to recognise an outstanding contribution to the local economy during the Year of Homecoming.

Winners are to be announced on March 19th.  Fingers Crossed!

Sarah

London - bright lights, big city

Well, the visit to Windsor and London was certainly memorable.  The Earl of Wessex was charming and it was fascinating to see the State Apartments of Windsor Castle and to see the refurbishment after the fire there some years ago.

We stayed in a very comfortable hotel too – a real treat.  The day following the presentation we headed into London.  We hadn’t bargained on it being half term and it was even busier than we had imagined.  At one point I was trying to get from Piccadilly to Kings Cross and the underground platform was so busy no more folk were allowed down.  I joined a huge queue and when the gates finally opened it was just a boiling mass of humans pushing and shoving to get to the trains.  It was an experience I was glad not to miss, but give me the peace of the Scottish Borders any day. I didn’t get to the Van Gogh exhibition either as the waiting time was 3 hours and it was pouring it down. I decided my dedication to the artistic cause wasn’t enough for that so took myself off to the V and A instead.  And my clever plan to travel light with just a rucksack on my back was very clever at the time, but my shoulders have been sore ever since.  Note to self: there is no comfortable way to enjoy London.  Unless, perhaps, you are the Earl of Wessex…

 I met Lynsey at Kings Cross in time for the train back and she was equally exhausted.  We congratulated ourselves on getting to the train on time and were really quite glad when the beautiful scenery of the Northumberland and Berwickshire coasts came into sight

Helen

Sandford Success

Last week Lynsey (Countryside Ranger) and Helen (Education and Events Manager) travelled to London to receive our Sandford Award for Heritage Education. 

Here is Lynsey receiving the award from the Earl of Wessex.

First Impressions

It has been a great first month working at Bowhill and getting to know the people and wildlife here!  I have been trying out some of the great walks around the estate as research for a new Ranger Service leaflet. Our snowdrops have arrived and our swans are back on the Upper Loch as the ice continues to melt.  Most days I hear woodpeckers hamming on the trees near the house, but so far the red squirrels remain elusive.  What a wonderful place to work!

Sam, Countryside Education Ranger

Special Delivery - 12 February

Spring Summer Leaflet 2010

This morning our brand new joint Theatre and Events leaflet was delivered, remember to get yours or if you can't wait download the above pdf!  If you would like us to send one out to you by post please email bht@buccleuch.com

Sarah

The Big Smoke

Lynsey and I are off to Windsor on Monday to be presented with our Sandford Award for Heritage Education by Prince Edward.  Yippee!  A little reward for a lot of hard work. Lynsey plans to do the tourist thing on a big red bus round London afterwards (I think you’d be better on the horse Lynsey!) but the older half of the duo is visiting the Van Gogh exhibition at the Royal Academy. Wonder how two rural folk will survive in the big smoke?  Watch this space…….

Helen

Green Tourism. A step too far?

A viable way to lower our carbon footprint?

 Not sure...

New Start for the NewYear

We are delighted to welcome Sam Ranscombe, our new Countryside Education Ranger, to the team at Bowhill.  On her journey to work Sam has had to contend with the worst snow fall and icy road conditions in the Borders for a very long time.  Things can only get better Sam!

12th January 2010 - The early bird..

The bird table at home is extremely busy at first light and again in the early afternoon.  Regular appearances by a woodpecker, robins, chaffinches, tits of all shapes and sizes, blackbirds and the ever resourceful jackdaws provide some entertaining viewing.

Trish

The Journey to Work 11 January 2010

Listening to the radio and hearing the struggles others are having on the roads, I feel fortunate to live close to work!  The walk from home today was magical albeit a bit slippy.  On walking up the drive I came upon a flock of blackbirds looking for something to eat and although they stopped and looked at me they continued to search as I passed by.  They were there again on my walk home, so tommorrow I will make sure that I have something in my bag to give them.

Trish, House Manager

Happy 2010