Banffshire Coast Photography Prizes Have Been Snapped Up

Banffshire Coast Photography Competition Winners

The Banffshire Coast Photography Competition has recently been snapped up by keen amateur photographers from throughout Scotland, capturing the natural beauty of the area on film. The competition was expertly judged by the Scottish Professional Photographic Association and the prize giving will take place at 3pm on Thursday 8 June at Duff House in Banffshire.

The competition was judged in two categories, open to all and a specific category for under 16’s. Top snapper Graeme McHardy of Keith managed to capture the essence of the area and has won the £400 first prize for the open to all category. Runner up Ian Flory of Edinburgh will receive the second prize of £200, and Morton Gillespie of Nairn receives £150 for third.

The under 16’s prize was snapped up by Erin Wesmorland of Stirling who will become the proud owner of a state of the art Fuji camera to the value of £250.

Town co-ordinator for Banff and Macduff, Michael Roy says, “We were very happy with the response to the competition, receiving entries for as far afield as Malmesbury in Wiltshire, England and from entrants of all ages. The success was not only in the fine photographic art that we have received, but also the number of visitors the competition has brought to the Banffshire area.”

“Entries came in many different forms and everyone who entered the competition managed to capture some of the ‘essence of the Banffshire Coast’. The winners should be very proud of their achievements, as there was stiff competition, but they truly managed to capture the rugged beauty of the area.”

The Banffshire coast has a lot to offer and more details on the area can be found at www.banffshirecoast.com or by calling 08708030251.

Local Biodiversity Action Plan Moves to New Premises

Local Biodiversity Action Plan

The team responsible for the North East of Scotland Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) has moved to its new base at The Macaulay Institute in Aberdeen. Formerly managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and based at the Scottish Agricultural College in Craibstone, the move to The Macaulay Institute comes at the start of a three year plan focused on developing an increased number of new projects in partnership with the Institute. The move looks set to benefit local wildlife by establishing closer links between local conservationists and scientists.

Justin Prigmore, Biodiversity Co-ordinator at LBAP said the move aims to make use of the wealth of expertise and knowledge available at the Institute. He said: “This is an exciting opportunity for the LBAP to work with relevant experts in the scientific field to enhance the work carried out by the partnership. I am confident that the LBAP will greatly benefit from the research carried out at the Institute, which will help to guide the work of the LBAP and provide a solid scientific base for the targets and actions of each plan.”

The LBAP has been involved in various successful projects in the north east for the last nine years. One such project surveyed rivers to look at the decline of the water vole. This small aquatic rodent is the UK's fastest disappearing mammal, and in a bid to counter the loss of voles, the team employed a full time conservation officer to raise local awareness of its plight, and the threat of predation by the American mink, and to also advise land owners on how to help. Since the inception of the project the long term decline of the water vole in identified key areas has stopped.

Current projects are underway in a number of different habitats, including river banks and surrounding woodland, marine areas and wetland sites, many of which will be supplemented by research from The Macaulay Institute.

Wildlife and Landscape Ecologist at the Macaulay, Dr Pete Dennis said: "We feel that this relocation will increase dialogue with researchers at the Institute who offer a breadth of expertise in ecological, social and geographical sciences. This should generate exciting opportunities to adapt future Scottish Executive-sponsored research to deliver essential ecological information about the habitats and wildlife species of greatest conservation concern to the LBAP Partnership".

The Macaulay Institute is the premier land use research institute in the UK. Two hundred and seventy staff are based at The Macaulay Institute at Craigiebuckler in Aberdeen. The Macaulay Institute aims to be an international leader in research on the use of rural land resources for the benefit of people and the environment and is involved in research across the globe - from Scotland to Chile and China. More about the Macaulay Institute can be found at www.macaulay.ac.uk

The North East LBAP was created as part of the UK's response to the United Nation’s Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 1992. The UK committed to the Convention on Biological Diversity along with more than 150 other countries worldwide. The purpose of the North East LBAP is to implement UK biodiversity directives and highlight locally important issues through a partnership with related environmental organisations.

What’s On - Banff, Scotland

The Deveron Music Festival

On Thursday 8 June until Sunday 11 June 2006 The Deveron Music Festival will take place at Duff House, Banff, Scotland and Macduff Arts Centre, Banff, Scotland and Banff Academy, Banff, Scotland.

Enjoy a fantastic weekend of music in the beautiful surroundings of Duff House and the surrounding countryside of the River Deveron estuary with its superb sunsets that distinguish this part of the Moray Firth coastline. The North-east’s 11th annual classical music festival, whose theme is ‘… into the light’, will play homage to the 250th anniversary of Mozart with various musicians such as Emma Johnson MBE (clarinet) and the Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo. The child-friendly Deveron Festival Orchestra concert also offers a zone for children with a free pack of crayons and paper

Cost is £8 for adults and £2 for children or a Festival Pass to all concerts can be purchased for £24.

For further information or to book tickets log onto www.deveronfestival.org.uk or contact Duff House on 01261 818181.

Become A Star Courtesy Of Grampian Hospital Radio

Grampian Hospital Radio

Grampian Hospital Radio will be attending the Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre this weekend (27-28 May 2006), selling raffle tickets to raise funds for the station. For one lucky winner it will mean the chance to become a star for the day, as one of the many amazing prizes includes taking to the mic and presenting their own show.

The raffle includes many prizes kindly donated by local and national sponsors. Top prizes include a DAB Radio donated by Stewart Milne, silver jewellery from Finnies The Jeweller and £100 worth of shopping vouchers donated by Marks & Spencers of the Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre.

Frank Sutherland, centre manager for the Bon Accord Shopping & St. Nicholas Shopping Centre, says, “We really hope that the people of Aberdeen become involved in this fundraiser. Not only are the prizes worth buying a raffle ticket for, the money raised is going towards a really worthwhile cause. We hope that Grampian Hospital Radio raises a substantial amount of funds for the station, because of all the good work that it does raising the spirits of its patients.”

Thorntons Gives Kind Donation to Orphanage in Sierra Leone

Thorntons Aberdeen

Following the recent visit to Aberdeen by two orphans from Sierra Leone, during which two young girls were treated to various pampering and shopping sprees in the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre, the centre’s Thorntons outlet has donated £142 to their orphanage in Sierra Leone.

Mariama (15) and Rosemarie (12) came to visit Aberdeen from their orphanage in Sierra Leone which was founded during the Civil War, during which both girls were orphaned.

A great number of the shopping centre’s outlets, as well as the shopping centre’s management, Land Securities, came on board to treat the girls in April, including Primark, Dorothy Perkins, Boots, Espiro, Woolworths, The Bear Factory, Superdrug, the Early Learning Centre and Bookworld. The shops provided free products and sent the girls home with bags of goodies, containing new outfits, towels, face cloths and school books, in addition to a £510 donation raised by a collaboration between the shopping centre and local chocolate fountain supplier, Chocolate Indulgence.

Jackie Rumbles, Manager of Thorntons, met the girls during their time in the shopping centre. She says: “Meeting the girls was an eye-opener for all us. They were incredibly grateful for all the treats and their humble nature was remarkable, given the difficulties they must have faced in their childhood. I hope this donation from Thorntons can help contribute to a happy future for them both, not only for their remaining time in the orphanage but also when they are old enough to be making their own way in the world.”

Centre manager Frank Sutherland said: “It was a great honour to meet Mariama and Rosemarie, who have had to come to terms with so much in their young lives. Their compassion and unassuming nature was quite remarkable; the shopping centre management got to know them quite well in a short space of time and were all sad to see them go! However, we are happy in the knowledge that we helped to provide a memorable trip to Aberdeen for the two girls, and I know that this generous donation from Thorntons will help to bring more happy times to Mariama and Rosemarie, and the other orphans in Sierra Leone.”

Jam and Jeopardy

Doris Davidson Book Signing

Local Aberdeen author
Doris Davidson will be signing copies of her latest book, Jam and Jeopardy at Bookworld, Upper Mall,
Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre on Saturday 27 May 2006 from 1:30 – 3:00pm. Admission and free and this is a rare opportunity to chat to one of Aberdeen’s highly respected and popular authors.

Jam and Jeopardy

Jam and Jeopardy is a change from Doris Davidson’s usual writings of romantic novels set in Aberdeenshire – this is a detective novel with a Scottish twist and a book I’m eager to read. It tells the tale of spinster Janet Stouter who wishes to test her nephews with the temptation of poisoning her with arsenic to see which one wishes to inherit her fortune. Unfortunately others in the village are open to temptation!

Over the years I’ve enjoyed reading her novels and been given a real taste of how life in rural Aberdeenshire and the City of Aberdeen was throughout the 18th, 19th and early 20th Century. Her characters spring to life and you just can’t help falling in love with them and reading their life stories.

Is Doris Davidson about to become a modern day Agatha Christie?

Jazzy Re-opening of Summer Season on the St. Nicholas Deck Will Ensure Swinging Time for City Shoppers

Bandstand Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centers Aberdeen

Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre will kick-start the busy summer shopping period with the re-opening of the St. Nicholas bandstand this weekend (Sunday 28 May 2006). The centre hopes to attract local acts to perform a series of roof-top concerts at the venue, spearheaded this Sunday by the acclaimed Harlaw Academy Jazz Band, with a free open air performance of some of their finest numbers in Jazz, Swing, Funk and Blues, from 3-4.30pm.

Built in 1985 to create a pleasant open space for city centre pedestrians, the St. Nicholas Deck and Bandstand was a key focus for shoppers in summer months, where they could relax on the benches and enjoy the various entertainments such as band performances and children's entertainers.

The members of Harlaw Jazz Band, who will launch the Summer revival of the bandstand this Sunday, are regulars to the jazz scene both at home and abroad, having been invited to perform in Denmark in June 2005, and made several appearances at the Aberdeen
Jazz Festival, performing at the Lemon Tree in 2005 and 2006.

Harlaw Academy Jazz Band

The Harlaw Academy Jazz Band has 15 members, consisting mostly of school pupils aged 15 to 18, but with an art teacher and school technician thrown in!

Head of Music at Harlaw Academy and conductor of the jazz band Mrs Pauline Wallace, who also performs with the band on occasions, says: “We love to perform in Aberdeen so are looking forward to doing an open air concert on the St. Nicholas bandstand. On top of our weekly rehearsals the pupils put in so many hours rehearsing and gigging at various events, which they always give 110% to, and several of our members are also in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland.”

The band is made up of trumpets, trombones, saxophones, a piano, a bass, a guitar and drums and has a repertoire which includes traditional jazz numbers, but also extends to swing, funk and blues pieces. Pauline continues: “This weekend we’ll hope to revive the St. Nicholas bandstand with some seasonal tunes like Summertime, as well as the old classics such as The Chicken, It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing, Trumpet Blues and Tuxedo Junction.”

Bon Accord St. Nicholas Centre manager, Frank Sutherland says: “The centre is constantly striving to provide the optimum environment for shoppers. As we enter the busy summer months the Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre hopes to provide a lively and entertaining atmosphere, by allowing acts to perform on the bandstand. Throughout the summer months we have an extensive programme of events which aim to nurture local talent.”

The St. Nicholas bandstand of the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre is available as a free venue for musical performances on weekends throughout the summer; those interested in booking the space should contact Nikki Stewart at Tricker PR on 01224 646491

Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes Courses and Classes

SWRI Study Tours - A Home From Home

The Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes (SWRI) offer many different courses and classes. SWRI study tours are a great way to meet new people, travel as part of a group and to have an adventure with friends. They operate on an annual basis, both abroad and to other parts of the UK and are open to any of the 25,000 SWRI members throughout Scotland.

Many SWRI members of all ages and circumstances attend the Study groups every year such as avid study tour enthusiast Molly Fleming who is a member of the Berwickshire Federation and has attended every Study Tour since 1997 visiting places such as Vienna, Scandinavia, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands and York.

SWRI Study Tours

Molly says, “SWRI Study tours offer me the opportunity to constantly meet new people and catch up with old acquaintances. Unusually this year I am the only member from Berwickshire attending the tour, this isn’t a problem as I know more than half the participants anyway. Once you have tried a study tour you are likely to repeat the experience.”

“Study tours offer the opportunity for me to go on holiday outwith my family and meet enthusiastic people like myself. The tours are very well organised and offer good value for money, I would recommend going on a study tour to anyone with a little time and a sense of adventure; they will have a thoroughly enjoyable experience whilst meeting many different characters with one common purpose, the enjoyment of an interesting holiday.”

May Addison a widow from Ayrshire and member of the SWRI for 20 years shares her thoughts on the study tours, “As I live on my own the study tours offer me the perfect opportunity to get away on holiday. Every detail of the trips organisation has been taken into account, you couldn’t ask for a better holiday.”

“Study tours offer me the chance to get away and meet like minded people in similar circumstances to myself, whether they are newcomers to the trip or regulars that I have previously met, it is a great opportunity to make new friends and visit new places.”

May continues, “The trips are interesting, entertaining and well organised, featuring outings to many places of local interest. The beauty of a study tour is that there is always something on to keep one occupied and new people to share the experiences with.”

The 2006 Study Tour commences on Sunday 21 May where 48 SWRI members will set off for Ireland visiting both the North and the South, taking in both local and historical sites and the opportunity to meet up with members of sister organisations such as the Irish Countrywomen's Association, also a member society of Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW).

The SWRI encourages members to participate in many different activities such as attending classes, events or simply to enjoy the friendship of fellow members at monthly meetings. If you are interested in finding out more study tours and all of the activities available to SWRI members call the National Headquarters in Edinburgh on 0131 225 1724

Dorothy Perkins Aberdeen

Dixie Chicks Launch
Maybe it was Jessica Simpson looking sensational in the Dukes of Hazard as Daisy Duke or just the world’s love affair with the image of a sizzling southern belle, but fashion is going decidedly Dixie this summer. With gingham and faded denim the key to this look, Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre’s Dorothy Perkins store manager, Janet Rowley talks us through this trend that is launching in the Aberdeen store this Saturday 13 May 2006.

Dixie Chick Range Dorothy Perkins

“We are about to launch the Dixie Chick range within Dorothy Perkins in Aberdeen and judging by the coverage the range has already received in fashion magazines, it looks like it will be one of our top sellers”, says Janet.

This year’s London fashion week, which previewed the couture trends for spring/summer 2006 back in February, was awash with gingham and many incarnations of denim.

“Dungarees and cropped denim trousers are a really versatile element of this look, particularly the cropped denim, which can be dressed up or down and worn by women of all ages.”

Janet of Aberdeen Dorothy Perkins continues, “My trend prediction is that the denim pieces of the Dixie Chick collection will be big sellers, but my fashion favourite and top trend prediction is definitely the gingham cowgirl style shirts.”

Dorothy Perkins Aberdeen

Dixie Chicks Launch
Maybe it was Jessica Simpson looking sensational in the Dukes of Hazard as Daisy Duke or just the world’s love affair with the image of a sizzling southern belle, but fashion is going decidedly Dixie this summer. With gingham and faded denim the key to this look, Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre’s Dorothy Perkins store manager, Janet Rowley talks us through this trend that is launching in the Aberdeen store this Saturday 13 May 2006.

Dixie Chick Range Dorothy Perkins

“We are about to launch the Dixie Chick range within Dorothy Perkins in Aberdeen and judging by the coverage the range has already received in fashion magazines, it looks like it will be one of our top sellers”, says Janet.

This year’s London fashion week, which previewed the couture trends for spring/summer 2006 back in February, was awash with gingham and many incarnations of denim.

“Dungarees and cropped denim trousers are a really versatile element of this look, particularly the cropped denim, which can be dressed up or down and worn by women of all ages.”

Janet of Aberdeen Dorothy Perkins continues, “My trend prediction is that the denim pieces of the Dixie Chick collection will be big sellers, but my fashion favourite and top trend prediction is definitely the gingham cowgirl style shirts.”

Aberdeen Beach Chinese Restaurant Jimmy Chung’s

I was at the beach this lunchtime enjoying a buffet at the pizza hut (still feeling stuffed!) when I saw a huge banner with some great news – Jimmy Chung’s is opening a restaurant at the beach! How wonderful is that!

The new Jimmy Chung restaurant and take away is located at the former site of the Café Continental and the Willie Miller Harry Ramsden Fish and Chip Shop right in the heart of the Beach Boulevard in Aberdeen.

The director of the Jimmy Chung’s restaurant and take away chain has always wanted to open a branch at the beach – and he’s finally got his wish. Well done Mr Chung Wong – my family love your restaurants and the food is always first class. We particularly like going to the
Dyce Jimmy Chung restaurant where we always get a warm welcome and the smiling faces of all the waiters and waitresses always brightens up my day. We’re looking forward to the day we can book a table at the Aberdeen Beach Jimmy Chung’s and sample your menu.

We do have one request – could you please put the honey coated chicken wings back on the menu please!

May Flowers

Floral Trends For Spring/Summer 06

Since ancient times, the month of May has been celebrated as a spring festival all over Europe. It marks the end of the harsh winter months and welcomes the beginning of summer. May is also association with spring, youth and rebirth and that this is traditionally celebrated with flowers. In the past the symbolic flower was a carnation in Austria or Italy, a paper rose in Germany or a poppy in France and the flower was always red.
Amanda Jennings, of Angelic Orchids in the Bon Accord
St. Nicholas Shopping Centre, says, “Traditionally at this time of year many children would parade with garlands of flowers, sometimes fastened to sticks or in the shape of a cross, or fixed to hoops. This was done in the hope of collecting money.”

May Superstitions

Amanda continues, “There are also many superstitions that surround the month of May. In the past young girls used to rush out into the garden to wash their faces in the May dew, this was due to an old wives tale that May dew had magic properties and that anyone who washed their face in it would have a beautiful complexion all year round!”
Floral expert Amanda Jennings gives her top floral trends for spring/summer 2006:

• May is a fabulous time for buying flowers. There is high availability with the onset of spring and a wide variety to choose from. One of the best buys is the large anthurium of the choco variety

• Gerberas are also a firm favourite with my customers as they come in an array of bright colours and the large open heads give a modern feel. This flower is wonderful to accessorise or brighten up any room. A single gerbera in a slim vase is very effective in a minimalist, contemporary environment

• For a more traditional approach a gentle May bouquet of apple blossom, forget-me-knot and other early summer flowers has a gentle beauty and natural simplicity

• Tones of the beautiful spring lilac flowers contrasted with the cool elegance of silver add a more sophisticated style

• For seasonal availability the peony has a short season, usually mid April to mid June. The Sarah Bernhardt variety, named after the famous American actress, is a large showy pink bloom which I would recommend.

To order your spring/summer floral bouquet or for expert advice visit Amanda Jennings at Angelic Orchids, Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre, George Street, Aberdeen or call 01224 637711.