This episode was first released in 2022.

As we enter December, we’re revisiting a podcast all about how the National Trust for Scotland creates and installs authentic decorations in its places. Listen in as Jackie meets Dr Jo Riley from Castle Fraser, who led a Trust research project into traditional decorations and how they have changed over time. From garlands to gifts, candles to clementines, Jo has examined exactly how previous residents in homes like Castle Fraser would have celebrated.

Jackie and Jo discuss the pagan roots of the festive season, why mistletoe didn’t always mean romance, and who it was that first brough yule logs to Scottish shores.

Find out more about Dr Jo Riley’s research by clicking here.

You can also get the latest visitor information on Castle Fraser, and all of our properties, on the National Trust for Scotland website.

Love Scotland will return in the New Year. Please remember to follow, rate and review the podcast on your podcast platform of choice.

Earlier this year, a coalition of leading Scottish heritage and design organisations – including the National Trust for Scotland – joined together to secure the future of the Bernat Klein Studio.

This building was used by textile designer Bernat Klein, who was perhaps best known for his international collections for Chanel and Dior.

To understand more about the man behind the studio, and the building’s future, Jackie speaks with Alison Harley, Chair of the Bernat Klein Foundation, and author Shelley Klein, Bernat’s daughter.

The full restoration of the Bernat Klein Studio will be carried out by the project coalition, led by Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT), in partnership with the Bernat Klein Foundation and the National Trust for Scotland. Visit bernatkleinstudio.org.uk to learn more, support the project and receive updates.

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This week, Jackie is on the trail of spittle-makers, quarrel-pickers, yowlers and the other traditional craftspeople whose skills have vanished from mainstream life. Alongside academic, broadcaster and author James Fox, Jackie unpicks stories of handmade crafts and the social history behind their disappearance.

James’s book, Craftland, documents many of these arts and trades right across Britain. It’s available online and in book shops now.

You can find more about the places in the National Trust for Scotland’s care with links to industry here.

To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.