0:00:02 > 0:00:05Hello and a very warm welcome to Landward, where we travel all over
0:00:05 > 0:00:08Scotland to bring the best stories from the countryside right to you.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30This week, I will be indulging my love of tweed
0:00:30 > 0:00:33and meeting the folk who are taking traditional estate tweeds
0:00:33 > 0:00:36and spinning them with a 21st-century twist.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42Also on the programme, we meet the people who bought their own island.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47Sarah and her son Robbie are on the hunt for wildlife.
0:00:47 > 0:00:48I can see it now.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51And the food van hits Aberdeen, where Nick and I
0:00:51 > 0:00:54will be serving up wild garlic and nettles.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Nick Nairn at the back can't even give it away, look.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59- People are refusing. - Pasta?- No, thank you, mate.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13As regular Landward viewers will be aware, I like a bit of tweed.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16It's been the fabric of the Scottish countryside for generations
0:01:16 > 0:01:19and here in Aberfeldy, it has been at the heart of the community
0:01:19 > 0:01:21for hundreds of years.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28In the 19th century, it became fashionable for Scottish
0:01:28 > 0:01:31sporting estates to commission their own tweed,
0:01:31 > 0:01:35an estate tweed worn by everyone from the gillie to the laird.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41The mill here has been part of that tradition for 150 years.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45I'm meeting owner Michael Gates-Fleming, who knows his stuff.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50- Michael, nice to meet you. How are you?- Hello, morning.- Good morning.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Now, this is an absolutely incredible room here.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54How many tweeds do you have in here?
0:01:54 > 0:01:59Well, we've held in stock about 80 different patterns and then
0:01:59 > 0:02:04we have a number of estate tweeds that we also hold here as well.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Your company is known for estate tweeds,
0:02:06 > 0:02:10but it has become a very popular fabric to use these days.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12Are you involved in weaving modern tweeds as well?
0:02:12 > 0:02:15Absolutely, and traditionally some of the older tweeds
0:02:15 > 0:02:17were muddy greens and dirty browns
0:02:17 > 0:02:20and it's actually become very much more exciting
0:02:20 > 0:02:22over the past few years.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24New colours have been introduced
0:02:24 > 0:02:28that have never been seen before in the mill before in its life.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33As the fashion side of it has blossomed, you know,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37it's not just those people that are wearing it out on the hill.
0:02:37 > 0:02:42Now people are wearing it in town, which they weren't years ago.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47But it's not just about bright colours.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51I'm heading into town to check out some other new spins
0:02:51 > 0:02:54on the old fabric.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56This outfitter here has been making country clothing for men
0:02:56 > 0:03:00and women since 1801, but the current owners are doing so
0:03:00 > 0:03:02with a slightly more contemporary feel.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07Artist Ryan Hannigan has brought his talents
0:03:07 > 0:03:09to this traditional business,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12marrying classic tweeds with bold designs.
0:03:12 > 0:03:13What are you actually doing here?
0:03:13 > 0:03:18We are inking up to put this into linings and trims alongside
0:03:18 > 0:03:20the tweed stuff that we design.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24So this is a bike woodcut that I did a long time ago,
0:03:24 > 0:03:28but it's one of the ones that keeps coming back and people like it.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32This is just a simple lining fabric that, you know, would be used
0:03:32 > 0:03:36on the backs of waistcoats, that type of thing.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39But the transference of it is really good.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42So it's just a matter of laying that down...
0:03:42 > 0:03:46- Sticking a bit of card on top. - Yeah, these are like...
0:03:46 > 0:03:50It just keeps the back of the fabric clean, as well.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55- As simple as that?- Simple as that.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59And then the grand reveal.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05That's beautiful, isn't it?
0:04:05 > 0:04:07That gold and red works very well together.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Yeah, I mean, what we were taken with when we started was...
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Look how sharp the line is.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16You sort of think you're going to get bleeding with the cloth,
0:04:16 > 0:04:18but the print came up so well.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21And, you know, you get the new instances of...
0:04:21 > 0:04:24You never get it perfect - it's never machine done, so...
0:04:24 > 0:04:28With hand printing, you get a lovely sense of the block
0:04:28 > 0:04:31but also the humanity.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Ryan's wife Debbie then uses the prints alongside tweed
0:04:34 > 0:04:38in a range of products and they are not the only people doing this.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42All over Scotland, designers are broadening the market
0:04:42 > 0:04:44for this remarkable fabric.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Who are your customers?
0:04:49 > 0:04:52This is quite surprising, but we have young people coming in,
0:04:52 > 0:04:56teenagers buying the same bag as their granny buys.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59What we've realised is that it is a product lasts for ever.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01It seems that we have people coming in with jackets
0:05:01 > 0:05:04that are 30 years old and they look brand-new,
0:05:04 > 0:05:07so it's doing us out of a job, probably, eventually, but it just...
0:05:07 > 0:05:10The quality is there and nobody can dispute that.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20Ryan and Deborah may be putting a 21st-century spin on tweed
0:05:20 > 0:05:23but of course, it has always been associated with the landed gentry.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25And who owns Scotland is pretty high
0:05:25 > 0:05:27on the political agenda at the moment.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30A new Land Reform Bill is going to be introduced to
0:05:30 > 0:05:31the Scottish Parliament pretty soon.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35The government aims to increase community ownership of land
0:05:35 > 0:05:37and Euan has been looking into the pros and cons.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Ownership of Scotland's hills, glens, moors
0:05:44 > 0:05:47and beaches has been fought over for centuries.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52These days, it's thought half of our privately owned land
0:05:52 > 0:05:57is in the hands of just 432 people, families or trusts.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01The Scottish government want to change that.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Their target is to have one million acres
0:06:04 > 0:06:07under community control by 2020
0:06:07 > 0:06:12and they're promising £10 million a year towards achieving it.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Whilst you might think the current owners would be unwilling to give up
0:06:15 > 0:06:19their land without a fight, it's not always the case.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27Sometimes, landowners and communities can work together
0:06:27 > 0:06:30to bring about change, like here at Findhorn.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34Here, the community are on the cusp of purchasing more than 2,000 acres
0:06:34 > 0:06:39of land which have been part of the Novar Estate since 1767.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42That includes this beautiful stretch of the bay.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45- Donald.- Euan.- How are you?
0:06:45 > 0:06:49Donald Watson and Jo Harris helped run the campaign to buy
0:06:49 > 0:06:52the land and were surprised by the owner's response.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56We were a bit scared to approach them in the beginning.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58We didn't know what the reception was going to be.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- Yeah, we didn't know. - I don't think any of these buyouts
0:07:01 > 0:07:04in the rest of Scotland have been quite as amicable as ours.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06They were a willing seller.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11Yeah, they have dropped the price because it's the village buying.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13They've supported us.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16£500,000 of government money helped buy the land.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19It means more control for the community over what is done
0:07:19 > 0:07:22to the area - something they didn't have before.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26Things would happen in the village which we had no notice of.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Bits of ground would suddenly be sold.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32With the village now owning this ground, nothing can happen
0:07:32 > 0:07:34unless the village agree to it.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37For starters, they plan to move the play park nearer the beach
0:07:37 > 0:07:39and they will be asking local people what else
0:07:39 > 0:07:42they want to do with the land.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45The Findhorn experience shows that with a willing seller
0:07:45 > 0:07:49and a keen community, land reform can be easily achieved.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55Now the Scottish government want to push things a step further.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57The law allows communities to register an interest
0:07:57 > 0:08:00in land before it is even on the market.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Then, if the landowner decides to sell up,
0:08:02 > 0:08:06it's the community that are given the first chance to buy it.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08But the Scottish government want to strengthen the law
0:08:08 > 0:08:12to allow ministers and public bodies to force a landowner
0:08:12 > 0:08:16to sell if they are seen as a barrier to social and economic development.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22And that is creating some tensions.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29This is probably your typical image of a landowner -
0:08:29 > 0:08:31a laird who lives in a vast house
0:08:31 > 0:08:35and spends most of his day hunting and fishing on his big estate.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41But today, this can be the reality for estates.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48For estates like Alvie and Dalraddy near Aviemore,
0:08:48 > 0:08:51hunting, shooting and fishing have been largely replaced
0:08:51 > 0:08:53by forestry, farming and tourism.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57These 13,000-acre estates have been
0:08:57 > 0:09:01in laird Jamie Williamson's family since 1927.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06And he sounds a note of caution about the new proposals.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08What do you feel about government plans
0:09:08 > 0:09:12to double community land ownership by 2020?
0:09:12 > 0:09:14I have some concerns.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18If the landowner maybe has sold out or gone bankrupt or hasn't
0:09:18 > 0:09:21the money to invest, I'm quite happy that a community
0:09:21 > 0:09:24takes it over and they are given a help.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27However, a community is very often people living in an area
0:09:27 > 0:09:32who don't necessarily have the expertise or training to run
0:09:32 > 0:09:35what I would say is a rural business, and this can be a problem.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37How would you feel if the community round here said,
0:09:37 > 0:09:41- "We want to buy your land?" - What I am doing in planting trees,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44I won't see the benefit of it - my son or grandson will.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46So there is a huge incentive
0:09:46 > 0:09:51if you can pass it on from father to son to invest in the long term.
0:09:51 > 0:09:56If there is so much threat of expropriation of your assets,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59then there is a big disincentive to actually
0:09:59 > 0:10:01keep investing back in this country.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08You can see why land reform is such a controversial issue.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12You feel inspired by the people of Findhorn who want their area to
0:10:12 > 0:10:16thrive, but as Jamie points out, there are plenty of estate owners
0:10:16 > 0:10:20who really care about the future of their land and the local economy.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Later in the programme, we visit an island which was bought
0:10:22 > 0:10:24by its community more than a decade ago
0:10:24 > 0:10:27to see how they are managing to make it work.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34Not far from the Alvie And Dalraddy Estate,
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Sarah is at Milton Loch in the Cairngorms National Park.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41It is home to an amazing array of wildlife.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44But just how many species are there?
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Helping to find out are Sarah and her son Robbie.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52As a family, we try
0:10:52 > 0:10:56and make the most of Scotland's great outdoors as much as we can.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59So when I heard that Cairngorms Nature Festival were running
0:10:59 > 0:11:02a BioBlitz, I took my youngest son, Robbie, along.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Robbie and I are here to help BioBlitz Milton Loch
0:11:07 > 0:11:09near Boat of Garten and for the next three hours,
0:11:09 > 0:11:12we're going to try and find as many species as we can, aren't we?
0:11:12 > 0:11:15- Yeah.- Have you got the box?- Yeah. - OK, I've got the book.
0:11:15 > 0:11:16- Shall we get busy?- Yeah.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18And here we are again. Ladies and gentlemen...
0:11:18 > 0:11:23A BioBlitz isn't a competition, but it is a challenge.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27It's a kind of biological recording party to hunt down as many
0:11:27 > 0:11:31different types of flora and fauna as you can in a set time period.
0:11:31 > 0:11:32Each family has got a leaflet...
0:11:32 > 0:11:34It's not all about fun.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37At the end of the search, the results are collated to give
0:11:37 > 0:11:40a bigger picture of the variety of species in the area.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41OK? Have a nice morning.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49How many worms can you see?
0:11:49 > 0:11:52Our first stop is the dipping pond and one of the experts on hand
0:11:52 > 0:11:57to help us identify what we find is naturalist Nick Baker.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59You've got a net, you've got a pot,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02you've got a tray and you've got oodles of enthusiasm.
0:12:02 > 0:12:03You don't need anything else.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Just get some water in your tray first and that means that any
0:12:06 > 0:12:08little creatures you get in your net, you can just turn
0:12:08 > 0:12:11straight into your tray and you'll be able to see them immediately.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13What sorts of things can we expect to find?
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Well - and this is the beauty of pond dipping - you just don't know,
0:12:16 > 0:12:20it just depends on the pond and all its little characteristics.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22Get all that goo out your net. Put your hand under there like that.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24You hold the net, I'll do that.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26It rekindles the inner ten-year-old,
0:12:26 > 0:12:28which is vitally important in this exercise.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30But also, you find some of the most amazing creatures.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32What do you think you've got there?
0:12:32 > 0:12:34That's a very, very interesting insect, that.
0:12:34 > 0:12:35I can see it now!
0:12:35 > 0:12:37That is a caseless caddisfly.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41You going to tick that one? Yep. There we go.
0:12:41 > 0:12:42There we are, brilliant.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49- No, it's eight legs. - It's got eight eyes, too.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54From the pond to the hide. Now we are looking for birds.
0:12:54 > 0:12:55It's been very good.
0:12:55 > 0:13:00We've had something like 25, 26 species altogether.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04- The blackcap has just landed there. - He's spotted something. Oh, there.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Robbie, look. Do you want to have a look with the binoculars on?
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Can you see it?
0:13:09 > 0:13:13That's wonderful. Oh, that's wonderful.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17Mmm. Birds don't really seem to be Robbie's thing.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Perhaps bugs will fire his imagination.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Wowee, look at that one! Can you see that? Robbie.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Can I put it in my pack?
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- Found under a log.- So, what are you going to do with it now?
0:13:32 > 0:13:36At the end, I'm going to let him go. I want to keep him as a pet, though.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Three hours later and it's time to catch up with Nick to see
0:13:43 > 0:13:45what everyone has found.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47- Isn't it great? - Have you been surprised
0:13:47 > 0:13:49- by what has turned up today? - Yeah, there's loads of stuff.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53It just goes to show, if you just bother to look carefully
0:13:53 > 0:13:55and close to stuff... And there's so much stuff.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57We've got somewhere... Where's the newt guy?
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Daniel has found this fantastic newt.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03He was a bit surprised because he wasn't entirely sure what it was.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05He sort of knew, you knew in your heart what it was.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08But it's the fact you found a newt outside of the pond,
0:14:08 > 0:14:10and that's what I love about this is that you really...
0:14:10 > 0:14:14You get the chance to share your finds with people
0:14:14 > 0:14:16and you get a chance to record your finds
0:14:16 > 0:14:19and they go into a database, which is actually very useful.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22- We've had a blast today. - Has everyone had a good time?
0:14:22 > 0:14:24- ALL:- Yes!
0:14:24 > 0:14:25A spectacular success.
0:14:25 > 0:14:30The BioBlitz recorded over 170 different species around the loch.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Like all the other kids there, Robbie enjoyed it too.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40We cover a lot of ground as we travel round Scotland
0:14:40 > 0:14:42and as we go, we like to stop
0:14:42 > 0:14:46and ask the folk on the street what is the best thing about their patch.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Earlier on, I visited the old mill
0:14:48 > 0:14:53and now I want to find out what is the best thing about Aberfeldy.
0:14:53 > 0:14:54It's a good area to have horses.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56Lots of lovely places to go and ride.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59The Birks. The Birks Of Aberfeldy and the waterfalls.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05If you want a good night out, The Fountain. That's a good place.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- Yeah, we recommend The Fountain. - It's the wonderful people, isn't it?
0:15:08 > 0:15:09The area is beautiful.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13You must have seen it, you've been wandering about all day.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19The Birks Cinema now, that's really great for folk
0:15:19 > 0:15:20and the kids as well.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Honestly don't know. It's just Aberfeldy to me.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25Some of the best fishing around in Scotland.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29I accept it for what it is and just get on with life!
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Well, for me, the best thing about Aberfeldy is actually two things.
0:15:32 > 0:15:37First up, this magnificent bridge, built by General Wade back in 1733,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40described by him as one of his greatest achievements.
0:15:42 > 0:15:43And this.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Maybe not quite so magnificent,
0:15:45 > 0:15:49but this is the road's first major bridge made of plastic.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52It thinks both sides of Aberfeldy Golf Course.
0:15:56 > 0:15:57Earlier in the programme,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Euan investigated the merits of community land ownership.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02For many years,
0:16:02 > 0:16:05the small island of Gigha in Argyll was in private ownership
0:16:05 > 0:16:09but back in 2002, with the help of a £4 million loan,
0:16:09 > 0:16:13residents took matters into their own hands and bought the island.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Euan describes how they have been getting on.
0:16:18 > 0:16:2210.20am on Gigha and the ferry makes its third arrival of the day.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28It's a vital link to the mainland for the 160 residents
0:16:28 > 0:16:31of the 3,500-acre island.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Come on, then. Come on, son.
0:16:34 > 0:16:35Up in the hills,
0:16:35 > 0:16:40retired farmer Kenny Robison is enjoying the fresh air.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42He has lived here for 33 years
0:16:42 > 0:16:46and remembers life under the old laird system.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50We had four landlords in 12 years
0:16:50 > 0:16:52and every one of them had a different agenda.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55The whole island was their investment rather than
0:16:55 > 0:16:57the community and the people.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59We were just decorations, sort of thing.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Before the buyout, the housing was in a terrible state.
0:17:02 > 0:17:0590% of it was in serious disrepair.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Nobody was really interested in doing anything about it.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12If you had asked everybody on the island,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15"Did you see your future on Gigha?"
0:17:15 > 0:17:18I think the majority of them would have said no,
0:17:18 > 0:17:20it was that bad.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Our preferred option would have been a good landlord,
0:17:23 > 0:17:25but they weren't there.
0:17:25 > 0:17:26They just weren't there.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33So the islanders decided to give it a go themselves.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38They set up a trust and raised the £4 million purchase price
0:17:38 > 0:17:41through funds and grants from the Scottish Land Fund
0:17:41 > 0:17:43and other public bodies.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48£1 million had to be repaid within the first year, which they did
0:17:48 > 0:17:51through fundraising and the sale of this prime property.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56After that, top of the to-do list was getting Gigha back
0:17:56 > 0:17:57to its former glory.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Mags McSporran is the current chair of the trust that runs the island.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07The island has been brought a long, long way since the buyout.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Population has reversed.
0:18:09 > 0:18:14We were a round about the 90, now round about the 160-mark.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18What has gone on to develop income has been the wind turbines.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Wind means pennies from heaven for us.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24It's gone towards the refurbishment of properties.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28Those properties have gone on to enable people
0:18:28 > 0:18:32to create their own employment or be employed on the island.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Lunchtime and the village shop is a popular pit stop,
0:18:43 > 0:18:46fuelling islanders, visitors and vehicles.
0:18:48 > 0:18:49- Is that you?- Yep.
0:18:51 > 0:18:522.20, please.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55The shop had been closed for almost a year
0:18:55 > 0:18:59until island resident Joe Teale decided to bring it back to life.
0:18:59 > 0:19:00- Thanks very much.- Cheers.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Not only that, Joe's even done his bit
0:19:02 > 0:19:04to boost the population.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09At the time of the community buyout, there was a real boost.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11There has been a bit of a baby boom
0:19:11 > 0:19:15and I hope I have helped contribute towards that.
0:19:15 > 0:19:16Since the buyout,
0:19:16 > 0:19:20nine other small businesses have started up on Gigha.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23- Nice to see you back again. - Yes, yes. How are you?
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Tourists are a crucial part of the island economy and the hotel,
0:19:26 > 0:19:30which had been in poor condition and closed half the year,
0:19:30 > 0:19:31has been spruced up.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33The bar is open every night now
0:19:33 > 0:19:37and there are plans to open the hotel all year round.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39The trust gets the income from the lease.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44The island was bought for something in the order of 4 million.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46The work that has gone on
0:19:46 > 0:19:49and the projects that have been established...
0:19:49 > 0:19:52The island and its various assets are now worth
0:19:52 > 0:19:55in the order of in excess of 7 million.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Against that is a debt of around £2.7 million,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05some of which is secured against the newest wind turbine
0:20:05 > 0:20:08and some of which Mags thinks can be serviced out of income.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11But not everyone shares her optimism.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15We've been there, we've done it and now...
0:20:15 > 0:20:17There's not a great change yet.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21We'll just need to try and see if it's going to work.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23On a dairy farm in the north of the island, Emma Dennis
0:20:23 > 0:20:28and her sister Jane Clements are hard at it in the milking shed.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Jane has been the chair of the trust
0:20:30 > 0:20:33and she voices thoughts a number of islanders share.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35I want to see Gigha succeed.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37Obviously everybody does that's living here,
0:20:37 > 0:20:42but it's really difficult. Gigha itself will not make money.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45It's a rich man's game, owning an island,
0:20:45 > 0:20:48and I'm afraid we don't have money. People are worried.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53For the government wanting to make big changes in land reform
0:20:53 > 0:20:58all over the place, think twice, because it is hard work and serious.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01We need people with money to keep estates going.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08The trust are being proactive about the debt.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Nine housing plots have been identified
0:21:10 > 0:21:13and the first will go on the market this month.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16But the debate among the people of Gigha about the cost of owning
0:21:16 > 0:21:20their own island is food for thought as the Scottish Parliament
0:21:20 > 0:21:22considers land reform.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Over the last year,
0:21:32 > 0:21:36we have taken the food van to Glasgow, Dundee and Inverness.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39This time, we're heading to the sophisticated north-east to see
0:21:39 > 0:21:43if we can tempt the taste buds of the good people of Aberdeen.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45Over to you, Nick.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48But first of all, we need some ingredients, and that is why we have
0:21:48 > 0:21:51come here to Dunnottar Woods just outside of Stonehaven
0:21:51 > 0:21:53to do a bit of foraging.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56- And Dougie has got a basket. - I certainly have. Shall we?
0:21:56 > 0:21:58- Very nice basket, yeah. - 'Yes, thanks, Nick.'
0:22:00 > 0:22:02Late spring is a great time for getting out
0:22:02 > 0:22:06into the countryside to see what seasonal delicacies you can find.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08In a native woodland like this,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11with the permission of the landowner, of course, you can find
0:22:11 > 0:22:15lots of shade-loving plants that also make great eating.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17This is the stuff we are looking for -
0:22:17 > 0:22:20- wild garlic, also known as ramsons.- Uh-huh.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22And in terms of picking this stuff,
0:22:22 > 0:22:24can we just grab it from this path? There's tonnes of it.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28No, you want to stay away from the edges of paths because dog owners
0:22:28 > 0:22:31take the dogs out and dogs tend to relieve themselves
0:22:31 > 0:22:34at the edge of paths. So you want to go into virgin territory
0:22:34 > 0:22:37in the middle so we get nice, uncontaminated wild garlic.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39And we're just going to take the leaves
0:22:39 > 0:22:43and we're not going to dig it out, because that is very antisocial.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45So, what are actually going to make with this?
0:22:45 > 0:22:48We are going to make a pesto because pestos are normally green herbs
0:22:48 > 0:22:51and garlic and this...you've got the garlic and the green herbs.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54This is the perfect time of year, when it is young and tender.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57You actually need quite a lot because when you puree it down
0:22:57 > 0:23:01to make a paste or a pesto, it really goes away to nothing.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05- Oh, it's amazingly strong, isn't it? - Yeah, really.- Goodness me.
0:23:05 > 0:23:06And you might see some of them with...
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Just over there, look, flowers, little white flowers.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Flowers have actually got more flavour.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15- OK, shall we take some flowers? - Yeah, take some flowers over there.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21We also need one more ingredient.
0:23:21 > 0:23:22Nettles.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Just the tips of the nettles.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26Young nettles - very, very delicious.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30Use them in a salad, or it's a very good soup. Nettle soup, very famous.
0:23:30 > 0:23:35I don't have any gloves but apparently, if you grasp
0:23:35 > 0:23:39the top firmly, squeeze it and just push it out, it doesn't sting.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42- Do you want to show me?- No.- OK.
0:23:42 > 0:23:43Show them who's boss.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46- Be firm.- OK.- Very good. Did it sting you?
0:23:46 > 0:23:48- Not in the slightest, no. - I'll give it a go. There we go.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51- HE MOUTHS - Ai-ya!
0:23:51 > 0:23:55- Ouch.- You've spent too long in the kitchen, you need to get out more.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59Are you looking forward to being back in the food van?
0:23:59 > 0:24:02I can't wait. You know what? It's one of the highlights of my week.
0:24:02 > 0:24:03Yeah, mine too, Doug.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Being barked at by you, it's great(!)
0:24:08 > 0:24:11So, here we have the fruits of our foraging, the wild garlic
0:24:11 > 0:24:16and the nettles. We are going to make a Scottish pesto using cobnuts.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20- Cobnuts, explain. What are they? - Well, they are mainly...
0:24:20 > 0:24:22It's a sort of variety of a hazelnut from a cobtree,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25now grown in Fife. And these are fae Fife.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27Can I have a wee...?
0:24:27 > 0:24:30You can indeed, they're very nice. Pestos normally have pine nuts.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32We have cobnuts, so they're Scottish.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Pesto, you'd have Parmesan. We've got Dunlop from Ayrshire.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36Have a wee taste of that as well.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38You've already had several wee tastes of that,
0:24:38 > 0:24:41- you know exactly what it tastes like.- Fantastic.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43And instead of olive oil, we've got rapeseed oil.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Scottish, from this part of the world.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48- And you're not going to cook the nettles.- No.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50You can now touch it no bother.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Stingers don't appear to be there any more.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54- Maybe when they die... I've no idea.- I don't know.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57We're going to make a pesto, so we're going to have to
0:24:57 > 0:25:00chuck in some of these cobnuts into the bottom in there.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04- We've got some of the wild garlic. - Washed and spun dry.- Yeah.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08Some of the nettles in here, and you tell me these aren't going to sting.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11And we've got rapeseed oil, just enough, really,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13to get the whole thing moving.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16And in with the blender.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18HE IMITATES THE BLENDER
0:25:19 > 0:25:22- You can smell the garlic. - Oh, really smell the garlic.
0:25:22 > 0:25:23It smells fantastic.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25However, it's not quite finished yet
0:25:25 > 0:25:28because I'm going to add a little bit more oil, OK,
0:25:28 > 0:25:33and some of this fabulous grated Dunlop cheese.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Could you season that with a bit of salt?
0:25:35 > 0:25:37- And then in with the pepper.- Mm-hm.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Now, let's have a taste of this.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44This is the finished Scottish pesto.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Oh, man, that's amazing. When you put cheddar in there...
0:25:50 > 0:25:53- Oh, man, that just opens right out, doesn't it?- It's very good.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55In fact, it might sound a little odd,
0:25:55 > 0:25:57but I think that tastes incredibly green.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00It's very much a taste of spring.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04All that is left to do is mix in some macaroni and plate it up.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07And then we can take it out.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10We'll garnish it with some of the little flowers.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13- I'm sure they'll love it. They'll absolutely love it.- Let's go for it.
0:26:13 > 0:26:14Lead on, my friend.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18- So, you go first, shall we?- OK.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21- I want you to tell me what you think it is.- What is that?
0:26:21 > 0:26:25- It's some herbs, but I'm wasn't sure which.- Pasta and herbs.- Broccoli?
0:26:25 > 0:26:27- Any idea what the herbs are? - Green ones.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30- Are you getting garlic at all? - It's strong garlic.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32- I love wild garlic.- Do you?
0:26:32 > 0:26:34And I would know they use it for champon.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36- For champons?- Yes.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38- Do you like it?- Oh, aye.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41- Tasty.- It's actually all right, aye.
0:26:41 > 0:26:42Wow.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44Ladies, ladies, ladies. No, no, no.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47Nick Nairn at the back can't even give it away, look.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49- People are refusing.- Pasta? - No, thank you, mate.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Look at me, I'm a better salesman than you.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54- "I'm not eating that. That's got nettles in it."- Yeah.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55- I eat a lot of pesto.- Do you?
0:26:55 > 0:26:58- And is that different from the pesto you normally have?- Yeah.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00- It's very fresh.- Glorious, mate. - Garlic?
0:27:00 > 0:27:03There's certainly a lot of garlic in there, yeah. Definitely.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05- I can't kiss a woman, though. - You can't kiss a woman?
0:27:11 > 0:27:12- Doug...- Yes?
0:27:12 > 0:27:14What kind of reaction did you get to the Scottish macaroni
0:27:14 > 0:27:17- and Scottish pesto? - Generally, very, very fine indeed.
0:27:17 > 0:27:18People were loving it.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Most people were kind of just getting that garlic hit
0:27:21 > 0:27:24- straight away.- Most of the people I asked absolutely loved it.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26But I think the win-win with this
0:27:26 > 0:27:29is that the stuff that we forage is free.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33It's on your doorstep and it's an absolutely fantastic thing.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36A pesto... A natural pesto of Scotland.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38Fantastic and delicious.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40- In the meantime, from Nick... - That's me.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43..and from me, that's your company, bye for now.