CarronGlen woodglory
Carron Glen near Denny and Glen Finglas near Brig o’Turk have been named in a top 20 of favourite bluebell woods by Woodland Trust Scotland.
The Trust has launched bluebell trails at two of its own woods – one being Glen Finglas – where a free mobile phone app will conjure up Bluebell Fairies to join families on their walk.
Trust spokesman George Anderson said: “Carpets of bluebells are one of Scotland’s natural seasonal spectacles and right now we are at ‘peak bluebell’ across much of the country. Around half of all bluebells in the world are in the UK and our native species is protected.”
Stirling author Bert Mitchell is getting ready to hit the capital.
The former police officer and journalist is in London next week for the final of the People’s Book Prize.
Bert progressed to the final after a public vote, and is again looking for backing from his fanbase to help him seal the top prize.
“I am just hoping the people who have supported me recently and who have bought my books over the last few years will check out the website and give me their vote,” Bert told the Observer.
“I am really looking forward to meeting Frederick Forsyth, The Day of the Jackal is arguably the finest crime story ever written. He is the patron and the ceremony has been covered on Sky News in previous years.
“I am going to be sporting my tartan trousers and Bonnie Prince Charlie!”
Bert is nominated for The Shift, which is a prequel to his first three books, based on the character DS Angus Thoroughgood. It draws upon Bert’s own experiences as a rookie cop in Glasgow at the time of the Ice Cream Wars and the Northern Ireland Troubles. The author has completed his latest work The Blood Acre and has also been working on a new manuscript called The Heist, which sees a disgraced SAS soldier settle in Stirling. He has recently signed up with The Susan Mears Literary Agency, and the two works are being pitched to publishers in London and America.
Before heading to London on Tuesday (May 23), Bert will be at WH Smith in The Thistles on Saturday (May 20) from 11am, where he will be signing copies of The Shift. The author, who writes under the name RJ Mitchell, recently completed a Scottish and Northern England tour for the chain, where he sold hundreds of books.
To vote for The Shift, visit www. peoplesbookprize.com, click on the purple tab entitled ‘Finalists,’ and then select the book.