14/11/2009

On Out of Doors this week

What should Scotland's land be used for? We get an insight into the latest thinking on the future shape of rural Scotland from the Rural Land Use Study, which aims to ascertain the most economically viable and sustainable way of using our land for the benefit of the environment and the people who live in it.

Grouse shooting viewed positively by rural dwellers. A new study looking at the perceived social benefits of grouse shooting in one rural village show a high level of support for the activity, not least because of the contribution made by gamekeepers to the wider community. But concerns over conservation, and bird of prey poisonings in particular, are still evident.

2009 is the International Year of Astronomy. Galloway has become a hotspot for stargazers who like to take advantage of the lack of light pollution in the area. Mark visits the Galloway Star Camp which takes place this week, where astronomers gather share their knowledge of the universe.

Euan gets the latest on a remarkable archaeological dig on Skye, where Bronze Age artefacts have been unearthed from a building site at Armadale.

Helen hears about the results of Scotland's first comprehensive badger survey, a two year project involving around 600 volunteers. We also get tips on how to spot badgers.
Plus, anglers will be converging on Loch Sunart and Loch Etive this weekend to try and tag some of Scotland's endangered shark species. We find out how you can get involved.