Thrill of the Hill is back for season 6! Armed with a new team, new ideas and a range of new speakers, Alex takes on the hot topics impacting the farmed upland environment.

Bats are a defining—if often unseen—part of Scotland’s working landscapes. From the edges of upland pasture to lowland hedgerows, shelterbelts and farm ponds, these nocturnal insect-eaters weave through dusk and darkness, helping to regulate moths, midges and beetles while signalling the health of our wider environment. Species like the common and soprano pipistrelle, brown long-eared bat and Daubenton’s bat use farms for roosting, commuting and feeding, linking woodlands, water and field margins into living networks. Yet changes in building use, loss of hedgerows, brighter yard lighting and reduced insect abundance can make life harder for these protected mammals and the benefits they bring.

In this episode, ecologist and environmental consultant Harry Fisher from SAC Consulting Ltd walks us through practical, farm-ready actions: keeping and restoring hedgerows as flight corridors; creating or managing ponds and wetlands; planning yard lighting to reduce glare and skyglow; timing roofing and renovation work to protect roosts; and planning activities through the calendar year. We’ll also look at simple additions like bat boxes, how to spot signs of bat activity, where to find advice, and how agri-environment options and local projects can help with costs and guidance.

Want to get in touch with Harry? Contact him via telephone at 01292 525090 for advice on surveys, roost considerations during building works, and habitat improvements suited to your farm.

Related FAS Resources

Bats and Biodiversity | Helping farmers in Scotland

Other Related Resources

Home - Bat Conservation Trust

Thrill of the Hill is back for season 6! Armed with a new team, new ideas and a range of new speakers, Alex takes on the hot topics impacting the farmed upland environment.

The water environment is one of the defining features of the Scottish landscape, shaping both its character and its ecological richness. Rivers, lochs, wetlands and coastal waters weave through glens and straths, carving valleys, feeding fertile soils and sustaining a remarkable variety of wildlife. They provide vital habitats for species such as salmon, trout and eels, which have long been part of Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage, while also supporting birds, mammals and plants that thrive in and around freshwater. But historic practices meant to improve productive activity and improve our management of water has proven detrimental some species, obstructive them from travel up and downstream, meaning that overtime, our rivers have become less dynamic and alive. In this episode Struan Candlish from the Ayrshire Rivers Trust talks us through the actions needed to restore our rivers and the benefits and incentives for farmers, crofters and land managers.

Want to get in touch with Struan? She can be contacted at Ayrshire Rivers Trust via email enquiries at struan@ayrshireriverstrust.org.

Related FAS Resources

Scotland's Priority Catchments | Helping farmers in Scotland

Alternative watering for field grazed livestock | Helping farmers in Scotland

Water Margins | Helping farmers in Scotland

Thrill of the Hill is back for season 6! Armed with a new team, new ideas and a range of new speakers, Alex takes on the hot topics impacting the farmed upland environment.

Scotland’s upland farms and crofts are home to hardy cattle and sheep breeds, producing high-quality meat and supporting rural communities in some of our most challenging environments. Yet, feeding and nutrition in these landscapes can be complex, with variable forage quality, harsh weather and limited grazing options influencing livestock health, fertility and productivity. Getting nutrition right is key to maintaining body condition, improving breeding success and ensuring the long-term sustainability of hill farming systems. In this episode Dr Cara Campbell from SAC Consulting Ltd discusses the fundamentals of upland nutrition for cattle and sheep, and offers practical advice on feeding strategies around bulling and tupping to help farmers achieve the best results for their herds and flocks.

Want to get in touch with Cara? She can be contacted at SAC Consulting Ltd via email enquiries at cara.campbell@sac.co.uk.

Related FAS Resources

Beef Nutrition:

https://www.fas.scot/livestock/beef-cattle/beef-nutrition/

Sheep Nutrition:

https://www.fas.scot/livestock/sheep/nutrition/

Thrill of the Hill is back for season 6! Armed with a new team, new ideas and a range of new speakers, Alex takes on the hot topics impacting the farmed upland environment.

Often overlooked and easily mistaken for its more common relatives, the Northern Brown Argus butterfly is a small but significant species found in parts of Scotland. Closely tied to very specific habitats and entirely dependent on the rock rose plant for survival, its presence is a clear indicator of healthy, species-rich grassland. In this episode Harry Fisher, host of the Natural Capital Podcast sheds light on the efforts to protect this elusive butterfly, we explore the unique ecology of the Northern Brown Argus, why it matters, and what its story tells us about biodiversity, land use, and conservation challenges in Scotland — and why saving a single species can sometimes mean saving a landscape.

Want to get in touch with Harry? He can be contacted at SAC Consulting Ltd via email enquiries at harry.fisher@sac.co.uk.

Related FAS Resources

Technical Note (TN712): Land Management for Butterflies

Monitoring Pollinators On Your Farm | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Thrill of the Hill is back for season 6! Armed with a new team, new ideas and a range of new speakers, Alex takes on the hot topics impacting the farmed upland environment.

In this episode outreach adviser Charlie Owen from the Woodland Trust discusses the MOREwoods scheme set up by the Woodland Trust. The scheme is there to allow land owners to access partial funding and advice which may will lead to planting trees on their land. Set up in 2010 the MOREwoods Scheme has supported 3000 landowners achieve their goal of planting more trees.

Feeling inspired and want more info please visit the Woodland trust website and head to the Plant trees section to find out more. Plant Trees on Your Land with MOREwoods - Woodland Trust

Related FAS Resources

Farm Woodland resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service

Other Related Resources

Plant Trees on Your Land with MOREwoods - Woodland Trust

Thrill of the Hill is back for season 6! Armed with a new team, new ideas and a range of new speakers, Alex takes on the hot topics impacting the farmed upland environment.

Scotland has a vibrant and dynamic farming industry, merging traditional practices with new innovations, yet barriers and challenges to entering and exiting the industry remain. Established in 2019 in response to industry concerns over the lack of new entrants across the sectors, the Scottish Land Matching Service (SLMS) offers a range of free services, providing advice and guidance, tools and signposting and a comprehensive database of individuals seeking opportunities in farming. In this episode Ian Davidson OBE gives us an overview of SLMS, what it does, who it works with and who it is looking for, highlighting some of the opportunities and successes through the initiative – across farming and crofting.

Want to get in touch with Ian? He can be contacted at the Scottish Land Matching Service via email enquiries at slms@nfus.org.uk

Note: This episode was recorded in March 2025

Related FAS Resources

New Entrants resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service

Specialist Advice | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Related External Resources

Scottish Land Matching Service | Opportunities in Scottish Farming

Thrill of the Hill returns for season 5, with an exciting line-up on new and returning guest speakers and specialists in their fields and on their hills.

Venison, an underappreciated meat in Scotland? Despite the abundance of deer in Scotland, farmed and wild, venison has never been a staple of the Scottish diet, certainly not in the same way as beef or lamb. Scottish Government reports that the amount of farmed venison in Scotland increased by around 4.9% on the last five year average, making up 16,000 animals. That figure might sound impressive, but the Venison Advisory Service suggests that accounts for only 3% of national production, with the remainder coming from wild venison. Scottish Government reports that around 3,500 tonnes of wild venison is produced in Scotland each year and The Times suggest that around two thirds of that is used in the domestic and wider UK markets. But with such plentiful supplies of venison on our hills, could we be making more of it? In this episode Anona Gow discusses the virtues of venison, its nutritional value, cooking options, perception of the sector and reflects on her new book, The Venison Kitchen.

Want to get in touch with Anona? She can be contacted at The Venison Kitchen via email enquiries at hello@thevenisonkitchen.co.uk

Related FAS Resources

https://www.fas.scot/publication/podcast-the-thrill-of-the-hill-deer-farming-management/

https://www.fas.scot/publication/thinning-herds-thicken-forests/

Related External Resources

The Venison Kitchen by Anona Gow Cook Book

Events — Pitscandly Farm Venison Events and Farmers Markets

Thrill of the Hill returns for season 5, with an exciting line-up on new and returning guest speakers and specialists in their fields and on their hills.

We're all human, fragile and fallible, accidents can occur and mistakes can be made, people can be in danger, get hurt and when that happens, be in need of first aid. The National Farmers Union reports that despite accounting for only 1% of the working population, agriculture accounts for 20% of all deaths in the workplace. In this episode, qualified First Aid Trainer and practitioner, Sean Magee discusses the importance of first aid in the farm and rural environment, including what information to provide to emergency services and the processes of seeking help, how to assess the requirements of a casualty and top tips for dealing with agricultural related incidents when they occur.

If you want to get in touch with Sean, he can be contacted at CPS Activities Ltd via email at enquiries@cpsactivities.com.

Related FAS Resources

Developing Safe Farming Practices - Lone Working

Other Related Resources

First Aid Training - CPS Activities Ltd