Episode description

Nurdles are tiny plastic pellets which are used to make many everyday items. However, tonnes of them end up being washed up on our beaches posing a threat to wildlife. Rachel finds out about the Great Nurdle Hunt, a campaign to highlight the issues microplastics cause.

Mark visits Pitmedden Garden in Aberdeenshire and has a nosey around their orchards as they gear up to celebrate Apple Day this weekend.

Avian Flu has caused the deaths of thousands of seabirds along our coastline. Last summer there was significant concern over the future of the world’s largest colony of northern gannets on the Bass Rock. Rachel visits the Scottish Seabird Centre which looks out at the Bass Rock, to find out what the picture is now.

Rachel meets two sisters involved in a project which finally hopes to shed new light on Equine grass sickness and what causes it.

To tie in with World Rivers Day, The Rivers Trust is asking the public to record observations of rivers in the first Big River Watch. We chat live to James Hunt from the Tweed Foundation to hear how people can get involved and what information they are hoping to gather.

As part of the Tall Ships Races earlier this summer, Maud Start spoke to the Peterson family onboard the Christiania, their retired rescue ship. We hear an excerpt from the Scotland Outdoors podcast where they tell her the history of the ship.

Wind is not usually a good thing for outdoor activities however, land yachting is definitely the exception to that rule. Mark tries his hand at the speedy beach activity in St Andrews.

Earlier this month the Edinburgh Riding of the Marches returned after an absence of three years. The event traces its roots to the historic riding of the boundaries of the city, which dates back to 1579. Stuart McFarlane went along to meet some of those taking part and capture some of the atmosphere.

And Rachel is in Strathkinness in Fife visiting an iconic red phone box that has been given a new lease of life.