TRIED&TESTED
WHAT IS IT:
Schoffel Gunthorpe fleece gilet. www.schoffel.co.uk £149.95
I WANT IT BECAUSE: It’s light yet warm, so perfect to be worn on its own or underneath a heavier jacket.
USEFUL FOR: Shooting. It has reinforced shoulder pads and also has a removable recoil protection pad which can be inserted on either shoulder. HIGH POINT: Has a load of useful innovations: reinforced scoop pockets, inside zip security pocket, adjustable drawcord at hem, machine washable and quick drying. LOW POINT: I couldn’t find any drawbacks to this useful garment, which is perhaps why it has five-star reviews all over the internet. WHAT IS IT:
Toggi Balmoral unisex wax jacket, £164.99. www.toggi.com
I WANT IT BECAUSE: It reminds me of my youth, but is far more stylish and waterproof than the old waxed jacket in my cupboard. USEFUL FOR: Toggi describe it as a jacket for ‘walking, wearing on the yard or everyday wear’ and that pretty much covers it. HIGH POINT: It has several useful accessories, like a detachable hood, zip inside pocket and soft corduroy collar. LOW POINT: Like all waxed jackets, after a while it needs to be waxed again, which is a chore. Across Scotland, more than 36,000 people joined in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey during the last weekend in January 2016. Participants counted 626,335 feathered visitors during the 37th RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, witnessing some interesting changes among the country’s most popular garden birds. The percentage of participants’ gardens in Scotland that were visited by a long-tailed tit saw a massive 166% increase this year. The 2016 results show that more than a third of the gardens of those taking part (34%) recorded a long-tailed tit – that is up from 12.9% in 2015. For full results visit rspb.org.uk
Good news from wildlife watch
The Woodland Trust Scotland has launched a public appeal to raise £500,000 to buy and restore ancient Caledonian forest in Lochaber in partnership with the local community. The Loch Arkaig Pine Forest near Spean Bridge covers 2,500 acres, representing 10%of the remaining ancient Caledonian pine forest in Scotland. The forest has suffered degradation, but it is home to some of Scotland’s most-iconic wildlife, including ospreys, sea eagles and red squirrels, and may host species such as wildcats and Scottish crossbill. woodlandtrust.org.uk/pineforest
Save our pine forest