Latest news with #DumfriesHouse
The Sun
22-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
The little-known reason Scots should love BATS and why they're a lifesaver in the garden this summer
KING Charles is to provide a new home for bats at his Scottish mansion so work can go ahead. Surveys found evidence of potential roosting sites after he applied for permission to build a luxury wedding venue in Dumfries House near Cumnock, Ayrshire, where bat boxes have now been installed in the grounds of the A-listed building. 4 4 4 But The King isn't the only one to be left in a flap over bats with a £100million 'bat tunnel' also constructed for the controversial HS2 rail line in Buckinghamshire. Chief Features Writer MATT BENDORIS speaks to a top conservationist about why we need to help these nocturnal flying mammals. DOCTOR Joe Nunez-Mino has many reasons why a thriving bat population is good for the environment but one should endear them to Scots more than others - their voracious appetite for midges. As the biting insects continue to cause havoc at family barbecues and day-trips this summer, the one thing helping to keep them at bay are Scotland's airborne mammals. And Dr Joe from the Bat Conservation Trust insists that our nine species of resident bats help in many other ways too. He said: 'We can only estimate but we do know bats eat a lot of insects, each individual bat eating hundreds or even thousands (of midges) every night. 'Different bat species specialise in eating different insects, from biting insects like midges through to moths, including some insects that damage crops and gardens. 'To give one example, a study published last year estimated that bats in apple orchards reduce the total weight of apples damaged by codling moths by 50 per cent.' In the UK all bat species and their roosts are legally protected by both European legislation and domestic laws including Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2017). But since the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 it has been a criminal offence to disturb a structure or place bats use for shelter or protection. 'He is spooked' - Moment The Open commentator hides under his jacket as BAT invades broadcasting booth at Portrush It means DIY and commercial builders have to carry out expensive bat surveys costing several thousands - or more if the mammals are found and need to be removed. Dr Joe said: 'There is a cost associated with protecting the environment just like there is with health and safety or protecting historical heritage. 'While we as an organisation don't have any control or influence on the costs of bat surveys, we have worked with some Statutory Nature Conservation Organisations (SNCO) to streamline the process where possible. 'To avoid delays, it's important to take bats into account from the earliest stages of planning work.' He adds: 'Having a bat roost does not prevent developing a property, bats just need to be taken into account as part of the process. Householders should seek advice from their SNCO.' However Dr Joe believes that bats get a bad press including the 1km long bat tunnel in Buckinghamshire that added an extra £100million to the runaway cost of the HS2 rail line. He said: 'We were not involved in the process. However, we do know that multiple cross-party inquiries have found that HS2's delays and cost overruns stem from mismanagement, not nature protections. 'HS2 did not carry out a timely strategic environmental assessment which could have identified viable alternatives that could have avoided significant expenditure and delay.' While in 2002 Scottish wildlife artist David McRae, 56, from Tayside, died from rabies after being bitten by a bat - it was the first case of indigenous rabies in the UK in 100 years. Dr Joe said: 'Two rabies-related viruses have been detected in two bat species in the UK and in only a very small number of individuals. 'If someone is bitten, licked, nipped or scratched by a bat they should wash and disinfect the area and urgently seek medical treatment. 'The NHS has said prompt post-exposure vaccinations have been 100 per cent effective in preventing the disease.' But Dr Joe believes that work done by organisations like his and the stringent laws are helping bats, which have been in decline, to slowly make a recovery. LAST March my wife and I bought an uninhabitable bungalow on Scotland's West Coast and wanted to pull it down before it fell down and replace it with a shiny new build. But 16 months on there hasn't even been a spade in the ground because late on in the planning process it was suddenly announced we needed a bat survey. The problem was by the time we were informed last year, the flying mammals would be hibernating for the winter and a dusk survey - with infrared cameras and sound equipment - couldn't be carried out until the spring. In the end we didn't have any roosting bats, but it has added a £1,800 bill to the project we hadn't budgeted for. Someone else in the area wasn't so lucky and it cost them £5,000 to have their bats removed by an ecologist. But surely with all the technology now available there has to be a quicker - and far cheaper - way of checking where they are roosting, so people can get on with their projects? And when I do finally get my new house built any neighbourhood bats are more than welcome to come and live rent free. He explains: 'All bat species have suffered historical declines in population numbers but we have seen signs of initial recovery in some species. 'We are currently able to monitor five of the nine resident bat species in Scotland through the National Bat Monitoring Program. 'Of these five, four species - Daubenton's bat, Natterer's bat, common pipistrelle and brown long-eared bat - show no significant change since the base line year of 1999 and one species has increased - soprano pipistrelle. 'Bat conservation is important because they are a vital part of our natural heritage which make up around a quarter of our mammal species and they also play a critical role in the ecosystem. 'There is very good evidence that bat populations help to reduce the need for pesticides which ultimately harms the health of other wildlife and people too.' He adds: 'Scotland would have a lot more midges and other insects without them.' *For more information on the Bat Conservation Trust visit 4
Telegraph
13-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
King's Foundation ordered to provide home for bats in grounds of Dumfries House
The King's Foundation has been ordered to provide a new home for bats colonies in the grounds of His Majesty's Scottish stately home. The monarch unveiled plans to build a new wedding venue at Dumfries House near Cumnock, Ayrshire, in November 2024. But surveys of the area earmarked for redevelopment found evidence of potential roosting sites for bats. While no bats were identified emerging from the potential roosts, the creatures have been spotted flying over the area. East Ayrshire council granted planning permission for the wedding venue, but only on the condition that bats are protected. Bats are a protected species under UK law and it is illegal to kill, possess or handle them without a licence or to cause them harm or disturb their habitat in any way. The King's Foundation has now submitted a species protection plan that will see bat boxes installed in the grounds of the A-listed building, which the monarch helped save for the nation. Construction workers will also be given briefings on the importance of bat conservation during the building project. Planning officials said: 'The species protection plan in relation to the protection of bats has been submitted. 'The protection plan details the proposed species protection, inclusive of autumnal roost exclusion and toolbox talk to be given to construction workers. 'The proposed mitigation includes roost dependant mitigation measures and the installation of bat boxes. 'Overall, the details submitted are considered to be sufficient and acceptable and the relevant conditions can be discharged.' New era for Dumfries House The new wedding venue, consisting of one large room with the character of a ballroom, will form an extension to the eastern wing of Dumfries House and it will cater for up to 200 guests. The King helped save the derelict Dumfries House when he arranged a £45 million deal to buy the Palladian mansion and its collection of Chippendale furniture. He led a consortium of charities and the Scottish government to make the purchase in 2007, with his own charitable foundation contributing £20 million. It has become a significant visitor attraction and the various activities on the estate now employ more than 150 people. In spite of its size, Dumfries House has always lacked a large banqueting space. The larger reception rooms, such as the Tapestry Room and Rothesay Room, have occupancy limits that permit no more than 100 guests at an event. A temporary marquee was erected in 2011 to allow a larger programme of events to be accommodated. However, it was decided that the tented structure detracted from the character of the A-listed building. The planning documents state the new pavilion will be an architectural improvement over the marquee and will provide an income to support the continued conservation of Dumfries House and its estate.
South China Morning Post
04-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Van Cleef & Arpels' newest fine jewellery collections Flowerlace and Fleurs d'Hawaï take the maison's signature floral motifs to vibrant new heights at Scotland's Dumfries House
Parisian jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels took over Dumfries House, one of Scotland's most beautiful estates, for the unveiling of two fine jewellery collections – Flowerlace and Fleurs d'Hawaï – both inspired by the floral motifs that have always been at the heart of the maison's visual vocabulary. Van Cleef & Arpels is the principal patron of the gardens and estates of The King's Foundation, which owns Dumfries House. In recognition of the maison's support, The King's Foundation has renamed the rose garden at Dumfries House – one of the most beautiful public gardens in Scotland – The Van Cleef & Arpels Rose Garden. Given the theme of the collections, the 18th century stately home and its grounds, which were saved by King Charles when the foundation acquired them in 2007, were an apt setting for the launch of the ranges. Advertisement A Fleurs d'Hawaï clip in rose gold, rhodolite and diamond stands out for its vivid pink hue. Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels 'The idea was to bring our blooming flowers from our creative garden to a real garden that was meaningful to us. That garden is the rose garden here, which the maison has helped bring to life through our collaboration with The King's Foundation, which we've worked with for almost 20 years,' says Catherine Rénier , CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, the day after the launch. 'The King's Foundation shares many values with the maison: protecting craftsmanship, transmission and respect for heritage, so it was a good match for this to take place here.' As its name suggests, Flowerlace combines two signature motifs of Van Cleef's repertoire: flowers and haute couture. Made of yellow gold and diamonds, the pieces in the range – some of them transformable – stand out for their openwork and deft use of empty space. The gold ribbon that recreates the shape of the flowers is a reference to the Silhouette clips Van Cleef & Arpels made in the 1930s. The yellow gold gives the creations an almost vintage feel while still exuding the easy elegance of everyday jewellery, thanks to the clean lines and simple pairing of gold and diamonds. A pair of earrings in yellow gold and diamonds from the Flowerlace collection. Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels Fleurs d'Hawaï, on the other hand, boasts a rainbow of hues and is meant to evoke a garden in full bloom, just like the grounds of Dumfries House at the height of summer. The five gemstones used in the creation of the pieces – citrine, amethyst, rhodolite, aquamarine and peridot – truly shine in their vibrant shades: orange, purple, deep pink, light blue and green respectively. The pear-cut coloured gems representing the petals of the flowers surround pistils made of seven diamonds, for a dainty and elegant look that stays true to the house's codes. The Fleurs d'Hawaï collection also features timepieces, including this secret watch in white gold, aquamarine, white mother-of-pearl and diamond, which can also be worn as a necklace and a brooch. Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Details unveiled for Trump's unprecedented second state visit with King
Donald Trump is set to undertake a full state visit to the UK this September, a move understood to have been brought forward by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, despite reservations from King Charles. The decision to proceed directly with a "bells and whistles" state visit, as reported by The Times, comes amid suggestions that the King and the US president's demanding schedules precluded an initial informal gathering over the summer. However, the Palace had reportedly hoped for a more gradual approach, building towards the grander event. Concerns within the Palace are said to include Mr Trump's previous threat to designate Canada as the 51st US state – a matter of particular relevance given King Charles's role as the monarch of Canada. In an attempt to facilitate a less formal introduction, King Charles personally suggested a meeting at Balmoral or Dumfries House in Scotland. This invitation was conveyed in a letter delivered to Mr Trump by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a visit to the Oval Office in February. But it is understood that, although all options were explored, there were logistical challenges surrounding an informal visit, with complexities in both the King and Mr Trump's diaries meaning a private meeting was not possible over the course of the summer months. The diary issues come despite the King heading to Scotland for his summer break each year, and Mr Trump being expected to visit his new, second golf course in Aberdeenshire when it opens this summer. It is said that the logistical reasons why the private meeting cannot precede the state visit are understood and appreciated by all parties. Formal planning for the official state visit has now begun. The Manu Regia, the hand-signed formal invitation from the monarch to Mr Trump for a second state visit, was hand-delivered last week by British representatives from the Washington embassy to the White House. A Palace aide said: 'His Majesty has known President Trump for many years and looks forward to hosting him and the First Lady later this year.' The exact dates of Mr Trump's stay will be announced in due course, but September is said to be the most likely. The politician was already feted with a grand state visit to the UK, hosted by the late Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2019. Precedent for second-term US presidents who have already made a state visit is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W. Bush and Barack Obama. But Mr Trump is being treated with an unprecedented second state visit for a US president, this time at Windsor. The Times suggested Sir Keir was hoping to prioritise his attempt to curry favour with Mr Trump and capitalise on the president's fascination with the royal family. A Number 10 spokesman said: 'It's a matter for the Palace.'
Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Times
How Angela Rayner's unlikely rapport with the King is paying off
With a hand lifted up to shield his mouth from the watching camera crews, the King leant across to whisper to Angela Rayner. Leaning in to hear what was being said, a broad smile spread across the face of the deputy prime minister. We may never know what was said, unless it is disclosed by the 45-year-old Labour firebrand in her memoirs. However, the meeting at Dumfries House in Scotland was enough to show the world that there is an understanding between the pair. On the face of it, it is an unlikely friendship but one that is no less genuine as a result. The Times understands that Rayner has also held meetings with the King and the Prince of Wales that, while not secret, took place away from the cameras. Rayner's role as housing minister coincides not only with the King's personal concerns but also with those of his son. In April Rayner held a private meeting with Prince William at Windsor Castle. The details, again, are likely to remain private, but it is understood that the pair discussed William's Homewards project, his five-year campaign to make homelessness 'rare, brief and unrepeated'. This week Rayner announced that the government would be decriminalising rough sleeping by scrapping the 200-year-old Vagrancy Act from spring next year. It is a move that will be wholeheartedly supported by William, who has spoken of the need to remove the stigma around homelessness. Having slept rough on the streets of London in 2009 to raise awareness of the issue, the Prince of Wales hopes to eradicate the need for anyone to spend even a single night on the streets. This all comes back to Rayner, who has often spoken of her deep respect for the monarchy, and a commitment to Queen (now King) and country. As housing, communities and local government secretary, Rayner is responsible for overseeing Labour's pledge to build 1.5 million homes by 2029, creating a dozen new towns in the process. There are certainly those in the palace who wish her well. Her charm appears to have disarmed the King while she also appears to be thrilled to get to know him behind the scenes. They could barely come from more different worlds. She had a difficult childhood and was pregnant at 16 with her first child. In a recent interview with The Times, she was asked about a photograph in which Charles appears to be feigning shock in a comical response to one of her jokes. The Prince of Wales is committed to ending homelessness She declined to divulge what she had said to elicit such a response, saying: 'That's got to be private. But he's got a really good sense of humour. I know it sounds strange coming from me, but he's incredibly easy to get along with.' Royal sources point out that the King has many strong friendships across the political spectrum, but the pictures of Rayner in her bovver boots having a giggle with Charles is not one of his more obvious alliances. He laughs at her jokes, she listens intently to his thoughts and there's even a little good-natured mickey-taking, which most Britons would acknowledge as one of the signs of a fond friendship. 'Golly, what amazing trousers!' Charles said when Rayner turned up to a meeting in a bright green pair. Rayner's brief comes into contact with one of the King's great passions: that of creating affordable housing centred around sustainable themes and practical but aesthetically pleasing designs. Rayner and Charles were seen laughing together like old friends as she visited the Ayrshire headquarters of the King's Foundation. While weighty subjects were discussed, it was clear the pair felt relaxed in each other's company, the King chuckling away at Rayner's jokes and vice versa. Behind the scenes, as well as in front of the cameras, sources say they get on well. While monarchs and future kings are more likely to spend their time with the prime minister than their deputy, Rayner's role has set her apart. When the King invited Sir Keir Starmer to see a housing project he had inspired in Nansledan, Cornwall, in February, he extended the invitation to Rayner. In an unprecedented royal engagement, the trio were seen walking around the development, which is being built as a 540-acre extension to the seaside town of Newquay. While Starmer appeared slightly awkward, Rayner and the King chatted more freely. The pair in Newquay in February ALASTAIR GRANT/GETTY It will not have been lost on Charles's aides that Rayner's policies as housing minister will seek to address problems so often highlighted by senior members of the royal family, such as homelessness and affordable housing. Charles would prefer new houses to be aesthetically pleasing and believes that good design and community should be at the heart of any housing project. Rayner has also joined the King and other members of the royal family at Blenheim Palace and Westminster Abbey. That she has no time for Andrew (she allegedly once referred to him as a 'nonce') clearly will not stand against her. According to the book Get In by the journalists Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund, which tells the story of the Labour Party under Starmer's leadership, Rayner is reported to have told her office: 'I'm not going to vote to keep that nonce on … I can't go back to my constituency and say, 'Yeah, I support that'.' The book reported an aide saying: 'She was very actively reaching out to the palace, the upper echelons of the civil service and said she thought this [Andrew] was a huge problem, and that the government needed to address this, and that she would offer cross-party support to make sure it happened.' While she has been critical of Prince Andrew privately, she has defended the broader monarchy publicly. After the royal family was criticised in 2017 by Emma Dent Coad, then Labour MP for Kensington, she gave a television interview in which she said: 'They are a fantastic export. People love them across the world, and they contribute to everything that's British, and I don't have a problem with the royal family.' In turn, the palace appears to have welcomed Rayner with open arms. This month Rayner was invited on to a panel with Kristina Murrin, chief executive of the King's Foundation. When Charles arrived at the SXSW festival in east London this month, he was greeted by Rayner, Sir Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, and Eva Omaghomi, the King's former diversity tsar who chairs the festival's advisory council, among others. Earlier, Rayner had spoken at the festival about sustainable communities. It is a subject close to the King's heart and now, it seems, so is the deputy prime minister.
