0:00:02 > 0:00:05If you want to stay connected with the Scottish countryside,
0:00:05 > 0:00:07the best way is to get out there and enjoy it.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10Or you could stick with us for the next 30 minutes,
0:00:10 > 0:00:12because it's Landward time.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33Hello and a very warm welcome to Landward.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Later in the programme,
0:00:35 > 0:00:37I'll be heading up into the hills behind Loch Tay
0:00:37 > 0:00:40to visit one of the tastiest picnic spots in the country.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43But first, here's what else is coming up in the programme.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46Chelsea Bennett discovers why a country walk
0:00:46 > 0:00:48could be the worst mistake of your life.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52Do you think actually there is just a general lack of awareness?
0:00:52 > 0:00:56I've been shocked how little information is actually out there.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59We meet a dairy herd producing more than just milk.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01I've resisted the temptation to make it bigger,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04and I've decided to go and do other things.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10And Jean Johannson joins farming's answer to Formula 1.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14When it left the factory, it would have done a roundabout 2,300rpm.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18We'll be doing double that and hopefully a little bit more today.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27But first, Ewan is in Caithness to visit a farming family
0:01:27 > 0:01:29battling not only the elements,
0:01:29 > 0:01:32but predators attacking their very livelihood.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34It's a distressing story.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Spring in the north of Scotland
0:01:40 > 0:01:43and the fields are filling with new life.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46But these lambs are vulnerable.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48They're a target for ravens.
0:01:50 > 0:01:51Ravens, definitely.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Their eyes taken out, the tongue's missing.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57So that's all usual signs,
0:01:57 > 0:01:59but that's a lamb that's been out here a couple of days
0:01:59 > 0:02:02and it's not a little lamb, by any means, it's a big lamb.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06The lambing season can be hard enough for Scotland's sheep farmers,
0:02:06 > 0:02:09but when long hours in the lambing shed are followed up
0:02:09 > 0:02:11by long hours tracking predators,
0:02:11 > 0:02:13then farmers can reach breaking point.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16BLEATING
0:02:16 > 0:02:18Farmers like John and Selena Swanson.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21- Selena.- Hi. How are you doing? Pleased to meet you.- John.- Hello.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24- This is your sheep here? - Yeah, a few of them.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27With the help of their children,
0:02:27 > 0:02:29they work this farm near Thurso,
0:02:29 > 0:02:33raising over 100 cattle and 350 breeding ewes.
0:02:34 > 0:02:40Springtime brings lambing and a battle against ravens attacking
0:02:40 > 0:02:42and killing their flock.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44So is this pretty full-on at this time of year?
0:02:44 > 0:02:47- It's a kind of obvious question, but...- Yeah. We do.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50- We've got shifts.- So do you look forward to it, or do you dread it?
0:02:50 > 0:02:52It's a bit of both, really.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55You look forward to the lambing, but...
0:02:55 > 0:02:57You don't look forward to going out to the field.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Ravens is a nightmare for us.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Their... The population here is just getting up and up.
0:03:03 > 0:03:04So how are they taking them?
0:03:04 > 0:03:09One goes and distracts the ewe and the other goes in to get the lambs.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11We've tried everything.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14We've had bangers out, scarecrows...
0:03:14 > 0:03:16- Kid out on the bike. - Kid out on the motorbike.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19- "Go chase those ravens"? - Just go chase them.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22It's difficult to underestimate the economic impact
0:03:22 > 0:03:25of the loss of lambs for the Swansons.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28But there's an emotional toll too.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31I'm crying inside, cos I'm dreading what's next.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34I hate it. It's not what you do it for.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Are you not tempted to give up sheep?
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Yeah. Some days I don't want to step a foot outside of the door,
0:03:40 > 0:03:43because I'm just dreading what's going to happen.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46But I know we have to keep going. We've got no other choice.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Like all wild birds, ravens are protected,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53so it's an offence to kill them.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57However, the law recognises that in certain situations
0:03:57 > 0:04:00where a protected species is having a serious impact,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02as it clearly is in this case,
0:04:02 > 0:04:06then SNH can issue a licence to help tackle the problem.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Raven attacks are a national issue
0:04:10 > 0:04:13and this year, Scottish Natural Heritage are trialling
0:04:13 > 0:04:17a new approach to licensing in Caithness.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Rather than focusing on individual farms,
0:04:20 > 0:04:24the licence is for control in a much wider area,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27to allow a coordinated effort on raven hot spots.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32The licence permits a set number of ravens to be shot.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36- This is the map.- This is the map. - So this isn't just your farm?
0:04:36 > 0:04:40No, this is the five farms in the vicinity
0:04:40 > 0:04:44that had applied for a licence last year.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47So they've taken that five farms together now
0:04:47 > 0:04:51and they've given us a number of 50 ravens.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55That's 50 birds across a five farm area.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57But as John knows only too well,
0:04:57 > 0:05:00the ravens can be a cunning adversary.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04Yeah, we found some lambs in here that had damage on them.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07There was one at the bottom of the field that had a tongue missing,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10so I'm just out having a look around.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12That's not ravens there with the lambs, is it?
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Yeah, well, that's what I was wondering, if it was.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16I can't quite get, cos they're being quite bold there.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18They're just walking straight up to it.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Yeah. They're not scared. They're not scared.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24They'll have a walkabout, they'll have a feel of the area
0:05:24 > 0:05:25and see what's happening.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29- So is the idea to separate the lamb? - Separate the lamb and the ewe, yeah.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32It's quite chilling, actually, seeing it happen.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Yeah, here you go.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39- These are clever animals. - They're not stupid.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42In this case, fortunately, the raven backs off.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45But there is little respite for the Swansons.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48When the darkness comes in, you can settle off.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51You know, they're no' bothering your lambs at that time of night.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53But then you've got to be up first thing in the morning
0:05:53 > 0:05:55- then to get them.- So what are you hoping for in the future?
0:05:55 > 0:05:56What would you like to happen?
0:05:56 > 0:06:00Going out just now and taking a few birds here and there,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04I don't think it's going to reduce the population of them enough.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08So something towards population reduction.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12How that is, I'm no' entirely sure how we go about it yet,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14but if we keep in contact with SNH,
0:06:14 > 0:06:16hopefully we'll come to some solution.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18If it's going to work to get it controlled
0:06:18 > 0:06:22and get us to stay in farming, that's what we have to do.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25We can't go out of farming. No choice.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31If damage to the flock increases, the Swansons can ask SNH
0:06:31 > 0:06:34to vary the number of ravens they can control.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38But the results of the trial won't be available for some time.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Conflict with nature will always happen.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46And this SNH trial is all about balancing the needs of people
0:06:46 > 0:06:48and wildlife in a sustainable way.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51And hopefully the farmers of Caithness
0:06:51 > 0:06:54and this intelligent and fascinating bird
0:06:54 > 0:06:56can reach some sort of compromise.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06And now, I'm here in the Borders for what sounds like a very tall tale.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Have you heard the one about the dairy cows that grow tomatoes?
0:07:11 > 0:07:13No, neither have I.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16But I have been assured by the producers of this fine programme
0:07:16 > 0:07:18that I've not been sent on a fool's errand
0:07:18 > 0:07:21as I head towards Standhill Farm near Wick.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29Standhill is typical of many farms in the Borders.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31It's a dairy farm that has been in the same family
0:07:31 > 0:07:34for the last three generations.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36- Jamie, how are you? - Dougie, great to see you.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38- How are you getting on? - I'm grand, thank you.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40- This is a fair size of a shed in here.- It is.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43It houses a lot of girls in skin-tight leather.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47Jim Shanks milks around 180 cows here.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49But that doesn't quite cover all the bills.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52So it's not a huge herd, by any means.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55It's not a huge herd. I've resisted the temptation to make it bigger.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59And rather than put all my eggs in the one basket,
0:07:59 > 0:08:01I've decided to go and do other things.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03So tell me about that diversification.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Why did you decide to do it?
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Well, in 2009, 2010, I did a scholarship
0:08:08 > 0:08:10and I looked at renewable energy.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12I travelled to Sweden, Denmark and Germany and the States
0:08:12 > 0:08:16and it just gave me some fantastic ideas to bring back to my farm
0:08:16 > 0:08:18and implement on my farm.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20- Well, show me the idea, will you? Let's do it.- This way.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27And here it is. My goodness! This is huge.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30I've never seen anything like this.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33- What's in there?- Tomatoes. - Let's have a look, shall we?- OK.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Jim's state-of-the-art greenhouse covers four acres
0:08:40 > 0:08:43and houses thousands of tomato plants in grow bags.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48It's commonplace in England, but not in Scotland.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52We're just replicating in Scotland what happens in continental Europe
0:08:52 > 0:08:56- and in England.- So, why tomatoes?
0:08:56 > 0:08:58Well, there used to be 200 glasshouses
0:08:58 > 0:08:59growing tomatoes in Scotland,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02so there was a demand for Scottish tomatoes.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05People would say, "Yeah, we'll buy Scottish tomatoes
0:09:05 > 0:09:07- "if you can grow them."- Uh-huh.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10So there's that sort of romantic, emotional connection
0:09:10 > 0:09:12between Scottish people and Scottish tomatoes.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15So tell me, what's the connection between dairy and tomatoes, then?
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Because it must cost an absolute fortune
0:09:18 > 0:09:21- to put heat in here, for example. - It is, the connection...
0:09:21 > 0:09:24the connection is the cow muck. Erm...
0:09:24 > 0:09:27What we have got is an anaerobic digester and two woodchip boilers.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31We take the cow slurry and we use that to create heat,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34electricity and carbon dioxide.
0:09:34 > 0:09:35And that's the connection.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38The electricity powers the pumps and the fans in here.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42The heat is backed up with woodchip boilers to provide the heat in here
0:09:42 > 0:09:44and the carbon dioxide is fed into the glasshouses.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47It's so important getting good carbon dioxide
0:09:47 > 0:09:48into glasshouse crops.
0:09:52 > 0:09:53In Sweden and Denmark,
0:09:53 > 0:09:55every time that there was an anaerobic digester,
0:09:55 > 0:09:57there was a large glasshouse next to it.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00So I just simply copied what those people were doing.
0:10:05 > 0:10:0870% of Jim's tomatoes are sold across Scotland
0:10:08 > 0:10:10as Scotty Brand tomatoes.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14Now, Michael Jarvis here, you're part of the Scotty Brand group.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16- Hi, Dougie.- How did this connection and partnership come about?
0:10:16 > 0:10:20Well, we supply a lot of seasonal produce from potatoes
0:10:20 > 0:10:22through to strawberries.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24We're about to start with asparagus as well.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28We'd been searching for a tomato partner for quite some time,
0:10:28 > 0:10:30and then we heard that Jim was building this glasshouse
0:10:30 > 0:10:33down in the Borders, and we were just amazed by what we found,
0:10:33 > 0:10:36by the level of investment and dedication.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38Just the fact that it's a really modern greenhouse
0:10:38 > 0:10:40means that it's very, very energy efficient,
0:10:40 > 0:10:45so, you know, these are the greenest red tomatoes you're going to taste.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50The Annamay cocktail and Sweetelle baby plum tomatoes
0:10:50 > 0:10:52will be on the shelves this year.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55But there's a lot of picking to do before that.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59So, what's the technique, then?
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Well, the technique is, like, obviously, when you're picking,
0:11:02 > 0:11:04- you just do that.- Just pop them off.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06Lift it up a wee bit and it pops off.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09- Do you do a wee twist there? - Aye.- Look at that.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12I normally get about five in each hand.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14It's my first day, give us a chance.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19- And just throw them in? - Throw them in, aye.- Great.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23- Lovely.- 15 kilos and then it goes off to a pallet.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25- Great. Well, listen, I'll let you get on.- Nae problem.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27- I'm going to go and taste some. - Aye.
0:11:27 > 0:11:28Nice to speak to you. All the best.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30So let's have a taste, shall we?
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Oh, my goodness.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Oh, that's amazing. Incredibly sweet. Wonderful texture.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Who would've thought that dairy cows were in some way responsible
0:11:47 > 0:11:50for creating this? Amazing.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01A Visit Scotland survey of tourists
0:12:01 > 0:12:05revealed the most appealing aspect of holidaying in Scotland
0:12:05 > 0:12:07are the breathtaking scenery and landscapes.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10We Scots already know that,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13but what many residents and visitors don't know
0:12:13 > 0:12:17is the danger lurking in our landscape -
0:12:17 > 0:12:18ticks.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22This is the time of year when their numbers explode.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Kelsey Bennett finds out why this ticking time bomb
0:12:25 > 0:12:27should matter to you.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32It used to be the curse of gamekeepers and foresters,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35but now anyone heading into the great outdoors this summer
0:12:35 > 0:12:38needs to watch out.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Because lurking in our countryside is a small beast
0:12:41 > 0:12:43having a huge impact,
0:12:43 > 0:12:47and I'm on a mission to find out how we can avoid becoming the next meal
0:12:47 > 0:12:49for the dreaded tick.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57In recent years, the number of ticks has increased dramatically.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Their bite can carry the risk of Lyme disease
0:13:00 > 0:13:04and the number of reported cases has risen tenfold
0:13:04 > 0:13:06in the last ten years.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08It's a condition that can be devastating.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15I'm in Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire to meet 16-year-old Calum Culbert,
0:13:15 > 0:13:19whose life dramatically changed when he was bitten by a tick last year.
0:13:22 > 0:13:23- Hi, Calum.- Hello.- Nice to meet you.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26- Nice to meet you.- How are you doing? - I'm all right, thank you.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29'Calum had been on a camping trip at Loch Muick near Braemar
0:13:29 > 0:13:31'when he was bitten.'
0:13:31 > 0:13:33I came back with 18 ticks.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35Oof.
0:13:35 > 0:13:3818 ticks? So, were you aware that you were bitten?
0:13:38 > 0:13:39- I...- I mean, can you see them?
0:13:39 > 0:13:41Yes, I was quite aware of most of them.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44Some of them were, well, in places I couldn't get -
0:13:44 > 0:13:45on my back and shoulders.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48I had to get a hand removing them all.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51And what kind of symptoms have you had since then?
0:13:51 > 0:13:55I've had many symptoms of general fatigue,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59sort of, general unwellness...
0:13:59 > 0:14:01My eyesight's gone.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06I've had many neurological problems.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09I've had brain fog.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11- I've had panic attacks, sort of, induced by it.- Yeah.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13So, since your diagnosis,
0:14:13 > 0:14:15have you noticed that you've been unable to do
0:14:15 > 0:14:17the things that you used to be able to do?
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Yeah, mainly sports, really.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22I used to do lots of sports like basketball.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Academically, I've, sort of,
0:14:24 > 0:14:26been told by my school that I can't do any exams.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I've been removed from all my subjects,
0:14:29 > 0:14:31so I can't sit the exams this year.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35'Calum wasn't able to remove the ticks immediately -
0:14:35 > 0:14:38'that's the first step in preventing Lyme disease.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41'However, if you have an infected bite,
0:14:41 > 0:14:47'the second step is prompt treatment with antibiotics.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50'Calum's mother Fiona now campaigns to raise awareness
0:14:50 > 0:14:55'of just how serious Lyme disease can be.'
0:14:55 > 0:14:57I think people know about Lyme,
0:14:57 > 0:15:00but they don't really, necessarily, know about the full impact.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02I have been shocked at how little information is actually out there.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05I'm noticing that you've got a lot of leaflets here.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07What are you doing with these?
0:15:07 > 0:15:12Basically, I've been going out and promoting in the local community,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15approaching countryside rangers...
0:15:15 > 0:15:17You know, they're asking me to provide leaflets.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Growing concern around the spread of the disease has led to work to
0:15:25 > 0:15:29identify the places where the risk of tick bites is highest.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Hi, Lucy. How are you?
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Hi. Nice to meet you. I'm good.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37'On South Deeside in Aberdeenshire,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40'Professor Lucy Gilbert from the James Hutton Institute
0:15:40 > 0:15:43'is carrying out a site survey.'
0:15:43 > 0:15:46- What are we doing today?- Well, today we're doing tick surveys...
0:15:46 > 0:15:49- Mm-hmm. - ..using the blanket-drag technique,
0:15:49 > 0:15:51- where we drag a blanket to collect the ticks.- Excellent.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53Brilliant. Shall we go?
0:15:53 > 0:15:54Sure.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01So, this is the sort of habitat where we might expect to find ticks.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04- OK.- There's lots of vegetation.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06If we find deer dung, then...
0:16:06 > 0:16:08- Is this some here? - In fact, there's some right here.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11- Ah, perfect spot, then. - So, if you find deer dung,
0:16:11 > 0:16:13- then you know that deer are using the area...- OK.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15..and deer carry a lot of ticks. Thank you.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19'Ticks can jump around from one animal to another.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22'The ticks become infected when they feed on an animal that carries
0:16:22 > 0:16:26'Lyme disease, typically smaller birds and mammals,
0:16:26 > 0:16:30'but they're easily fooled by Lucy's blanket.'
0:16:30 > 0:16:33- Shall we have a look? - Yeah, let's see what we've caught.
0:16:37 > 0:16:38- There's one.- Oh.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41We're trying to determine the impact of deer densities
0:16:41 > 0:16:43on Lyme disease risk,
0:16:43 > 0:16:44because they increase the ticks,
0:16:44 > 0:16:47but they don't increase the actual disease.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51'The number of roe deer in Scotland has risen considerably in the
0:16:51 > 0:16:52'last few years.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55'Although they don't carry Lyme disease,
0:16:55 > 0:16:59'they can increase the spread of ticks that are already infected.'
0:16:59 > 0:17:02It's not certain at all whether if you have a lot of deer,
0:17:02 > 0:17:03yes, you'll have a lot of ticks,
0:17:03 > 0:17:06but you might not have high Lyme disease risk,
0:17:06 > 0:17:10or maybe you will if there are a lot of mice and birds as well.
0:17:10 > 0:17:11Perhaps surprisingly,
0:17:11 > 0:17:16only around 2 to 6% of ticks actually carry Lyme disease,
0:17:16 > 0:17:20but it is always worth taking precautions.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22If you just go, "Oh, look, there's a tick."
0:17:22 > 0:17:24- Just flick it off.- Yeah. - Don't worry about it.
0:17:24 > 0:17:25But most importantly, as well,
0:17:25 > 0:17:28after you've got home or back to the car,
0:17:28 > 0:17:30check yourself really, really thoroughly,
0:17:30 > 0:17:32and if you do find a tick attached,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35take it off as soon as you possibly can.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Mm-hmm.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39'The risk of getting Lyme disease comes from the tick's
0:17:39 > 0:17:42'stomach contents entering the bloodstream,
0:17:42 > 0:17:46'so it's important to remove attached ticks correctly.'
0:17:46 > 0:17:49So, this is the best sort of tool, really.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51- I have seen one of these, yes. - So it's a general tick tool.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56- You can get these from pharmacies, pet shops, outdoor shops...- Mm-hmm.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59These are specifically sold as a tick tool.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03- They're incredibly fine-pointed. - Wow, yeah.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Whereas this, for example, is not a good thing to use.
0:18:06 > 0:18:07So just, kind of, regular tweezers?
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Regular tweezers which are very blunt,
0:18:10 > 0:18:12and if you try to pull a tick off with these,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14it'll just squash the body of the tick,
0:18:14 > 0:18:18and it might force the contents of the tick into your body.
0:18:18 > 0:18:19And that's what we want to avoid.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21You don't want that at all.
0:18:21 > 0:18:22Another thing that a lot of people do,
0:18:22 > 0:18:26which you must...really shouldn't do, is use Vaseline or alcohol
0:18:26 > 0:18:28- or a match.- Oh, really?
0:18:28 > 0:18:30- Or a lighter.- Oh, really?
0:18:30 > 0:18:33- Oh, OK.- Because, again, the tick won't like it and it'll...
0:18:33 > 0:18:36it'll regurgitate its contents into your bloodstream,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39and that might increase the chance of getting the bacteria.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47So if you're out and about this summer, remember it's tick season,
0:18:47 > 0:18:51and a few precautions and checks can make all the difference.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59And, now, we're back on the banks of Loch Tay.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06We're always intrigued to know what you think of the programme
0:19:06 > 0:19:09and hear your thoughts on the stories we cover.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Log onto our Facebook page, where we also pose questions.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14We still want to know what you think is
0:19:14 > 0:19:16the least connected place in Scotland.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19But, back in the spring, we asked you to share with us
0:19:19 > 0:19:22your favourite picnic spot in the country.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Louise McClure suggested Loch Stroan near Castle Douglas,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31while Lorna Lyons loves to picnic on the coast
0:19:31 > 0:19:34at Achmelvich Beach near Lochinver.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38Back inland, Paul Cameron nominated the ever-popular Loch Morlich
0:19:38 > 0:19:39in the Cairngorms.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Susan Spink suggested I take a walk up Drummond Hill,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48above Kenmore in Perthshire, to visit the Black Rock viewpoint,
0:19:48 > 0:19:50and that's exactly what I'm doing now.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56The path to the Black Rock viewpoint takes you through
0:19:56 > 0:19:58the Tay Forest Park.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01Today, it's managed by Forestry Commission Scotland,
0:20:01 > 0:20:05but its history predates the Commission by a few centuries.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10This is said to be the first managed woodland in Scotland.
0:20:10 > 0:20:15Back in the 16th century, a local worthy, Sir Duncan Campbell,
0:20:15 > 0:20:19ordered this area to be planted up with oak, birch and pines -
0:20:19 > 0:20:23apparently, the first time such a forward-thinking thing
0:20:23 > 0:20:24had been done.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30The woodlands' other claim to fame is that in the 19th century,
0:20:30 > 0:20:3312 pairs of capercaillie were reintroduced here,
0:20:33 > 0:20:36having been hunted to extinction.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39A few of their descendants still live in the forest,
0:20:39 > 0:20:43so, if you're very lucky, you might catch a glimpse,
0:20:43 > 0:20:45or maybe you'll just hear them.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49WIND HOWLS
0:20:49 > 0:20:51No such luck today.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Ah, well - onwards and upwards.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Oh, yes. Very pretty.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Very bonny. Look at that.
0:21:10 > 0:21:11Kenmore down there,
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Croft-Na-Caber,
0:21:13 > 0:21:15the Crannog Centre,
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Taymouth Castle,
0:21:17 > 0:21:18and the mighty loch.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21Well worth the 45-minute walk.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25Wow, this is fab -
0:21:25 > 0:21:28the perfect spot to enjoy today's lunch,
0:21:28 > 0:21:29a beef-and-tomato sandwich.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41The countryside of Aberdeenshire is generally a tranquil place
0:21:41 > 0:21:45to live and work, but, on some summer weekends,
0:21:45 > 0:21:48the peace is rudely broken.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50ENGINES RUMBLE
0:21:52 > 0:21:56We sent Jean Johannson to find out what all the noise was about.
0:22:01 > 0:22:02I love my sport,
0:22:02 > 0:22:06and I'm pretty knowledgeable about everything from football to hockey,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09but, when I heard about the sport of tractor pulling,
0:22:09 > 0:22:11I thought I had better do my research,
0:22:11 > 0:22:14and it's got nothing to do with ploughing.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Tractor pulling is essentially the Formula 1 of the farmyard.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24Purpose-built tractors, boasting hundreds of horsepower,
0:22:24 > 0:22:28competing against each other to see who can pull a weighted sledge
0:22:28 > 0:22:29the farthest down a track.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Today is round one of the Scottish Tractor Pulling Club's Championship
0:22:36 > 0:22:402017, and the fans are excited.
0:22:42 > 0:22:43I just like to see the tractors,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46and the speed and that that they go up.
0:22:46 > 0:22:47It's quite good to watch.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50ENGINE REVS
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Just to see the tractors going really fast,
0:22:52 > 0:22:54and just seeing all the smoke flying up in the air.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56ENGINE RUMBLES
0:22:58 > 0:23:00Just the noise, and it's really loud,
0:23:00 > 0:23:02and I like it when it explodes.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10- Do you have a favourite tractor? - True Blue.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13And do you have a favourite tractor that you support?
0:23:13 > 0:23:14- Yeah.- What?- True Blue.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21True Blue is a Ford 8600, with a six-cylinder Ford engine,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24generating 1,000 horsepower.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Its owner is Graeme Simpson from Fyvie in Aberdeenshire.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30- Hi, Graeme.- Hi. How are you doing?
0:23:30 > 0:23:32- Hi. Jean. Nice to meet you. - Graeme. Nice to meet you.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Now, I know this is a very big day in your calendar today.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Yes, first round of the Scottish Championship for us.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41'He's today's event organiser, as well.'
0:23:41 > 0:23:43It's also a week before we go down the road for the first round of the
0:23:43 > 0:23:46British Championship, so this is a very important day for us.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49We want to get the tractor on the track, and get it tried out,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52and make sure it's doing everything it should be doing
0:23:52 > 0:23:55before we go down the road and compete against the big boys.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57And I see lots of people just arriving.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59How many spectators are you expecting today?
0:23:59 > 0:24:02I think today we should, if the weather stays good,
0:24:02 > 0:24:04I would like to think we'll have about
0:24:04 > 0:24:051,500, 2,000 people in the crowd.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Now, this is True Blue, the famous True Blue.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09Tell me all about her.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13Well, this tractor is originally a 1973 Ford 8600.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17It left the factory with a 401 cubic inch, six-cylinder Ford engine.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- It's the same engine block and crankshaft that we use today.- Wow.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23We've modified the cylinder head a little bit.
0:24:23 > 0:24:24We've fitted a turbocharger,
0:24:24 > 0:24:26which you can see underneath the shielding here.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28We've fitted a larger fuel pump.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31We have larger injectors, different injector pipes,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34and I suppose the most important thing in this tractor is that
0:24:34 > 0:24:38when it left the factory, it would have done around about 2,300rpm.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41We'll be doing double that, and hopefully a little bit more today.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45And all that power has allowed True Blue to
0:24:45 > 0:24:47win six British Championships.
0:24:54 > 0:24:55Ah, so this is the sled?
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Yes, this is where it all happens.
0:24:57 > 0:24:58All right, explain this to me.
0:25:00 > 0:25:01This is the sledge. It's...
0:25:01 > 0:25:05When it's empty, it weighs just under 11 tonnes.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08You can see, down at the bottom here, we have what we call the pan,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10and at the back there, we've got the weight box
0:25:10 > 0:25:12that currently sits above the wheels.
0:25:12 > 0:25:13Now, at the start of the run,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16- that weight box will sit at the back where it is now.- Mm-hmm.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18And the further down the track you pull the sledge,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21that weight box will move forward, towards the front,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24and it transfers the weight off of the wheels onto the skid pan,
0:25:24 > 0:25:26and it transforms it from rolling weight to dead weight.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28OK, I've got it.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31- So, at the beginning, it's a rolling weight, which is a good thing.- Yup.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33By the time it gets to the end, it's a dead weight,
0:25:33 > 0:25:35and that would stop the tractor from pulling it.
0:25:35 > 0:25:36- Yup, it's the equivalent of...- OK.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39..pushing your car with the brakes off and then someone putting the
0:25:39 > 0:25:41brakes on and you're still trying to push it.
0:25:41 > 0:25:42We just have to pull it as fast as we can
0:25:42 > 0:25:45- and just give it everything it's got.- Well, good luck.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47ENGINE RUMBLES
0:25:58 > 0:26:02OK, enough of the science - time to get down to the action.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07The pull isn't against the clock.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10It's all about getting the weight to the end of the course.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17If more than one tractor does it, extra weight is added to the sled.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24It's time for Graeme's pride and joy, True Blue,
0:26:24 > 0:26:26to take to the track.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Here she goes.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30ENGINE RUMBLES
0:26:36 > 0:26:38ENGINE ROARS
0:26:42 > 0:26:45APPLAUSE
0:26:45 > 0:26:50Another successful run for Graeme, as True Blue tops her class.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55- Well done, Graeme. - Cheers. Thank you very much.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57- How was that for you? - I thought it was perfect.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59- Yeah.- The tractor went dead straight, just the way I wanted.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Didn't have to steer, didn't have to touch the brakes -
0:27:01 > 0:27:02just hold on and enjoy it.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05It was brilliant watching you, and you made it look so easy.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Cheers. Thank you, but I think it was going to the tractor, really.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10Yeah, good job to you and good job to True Blue.
0:27:10 > 0:27:11- Cheers. Thank you.- Well done.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13And if you'd like to see the next round
0:27:13 > 0:27:15of the Tractor Pulling Championships,
0:27:15 > 0:27:18they'll be at the Angus Show in Brechin on the 9th and 10th of June.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20ENGINE ROARS
0:27:24 > 0:27:27And on that high-octane note, there's just time to tell you
0:27:27 > 0:27:30what's coming up on the next Landward.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35Kelsey boards the floating palaces boosting Invergordon's economy.
0:27:35 > 0:27:41This year, there's going to be 91 ships and 142,000 passengers.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45Arlene investigates the challenges of running a rural post office.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48It can be seen as a bit of a cuckoo in the nest, you know?
0:27:48 > 0:27:50We have the shop,
0:27:50 > 0:27:54but it takes a lot of work to look after this side of it.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57I'm in the Firth of Clyde, literally.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59There's nothing better than coming out here in the summer
0:27:59 > 0:28:01at 5.00 in the morning, putting your wet suit on,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04and you can snorkel all the way up to here, and there's dozens and
0:28:04 > 0:28:06dozens of different colours jumping out at you.
0:28:06 > 0:28:12And Nick puts an oriental twist on the results of my coastal forage.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14And some of this stuff too. This is an amazing type.
0:28:14 > 0:28:15Did you pick this?
0:28:15 > 0:28:16- I did pick it, yes.- Really?
0:28:16 > 0:28:17Yes.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22So, please join us for that and much more.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24In the meantime, from all the Landward team here at Kenmore
0:28:24 > 0:28:28on the shores of Loch Tay, thank you so much for your company.
0:28:28 > 0:28:29Bye for now.