Machrie Bay Golf Course - A challenging year!

1st Fairway underwater - Dec 2013 (snow on hills in the background)

How the fairway should look!

It seems fitting to be very near the end of the year and Machrie Bay Golf course, part of Dougarie Estate, is in the forefront of our minds again. To say it has been a challenging year would be an understatement, most of the pressure being bourne by David the Greenkeeper. The year started with fire and ended in flood, with most other extreems inbetween!

1st fairway with sea & debris - Dec 2013

It has to be said that throughout the year David has done a tremedous job keeping the greens in fabulous condition despite having no greenkeepers sheds.  And he is currently mopping up after the latest storm which breached the sea wall and flooded the first tee, leaving behing piles of seaweed and debris.  Brodick Golf Course suffered a similar fate.  However visiting golfers should not be put off as we have 7 very varied courses on the island and a driving range.  Golf on Arran website has all the details.

The tearoom opens under new management with views across the fairway to the sea.

The snow melts slowly under blue skies - April 2013

Fortunately, the new shed is now up and running so tools are near to hand and the tearoom has stayed open for the winter, providing hot soup, sandwiches and huge mugs of tea (or even better steaming hot chocolate). After the snow earlier in the year the summer proved to be a scorcher and was a well needed break from the freak weather.

The snow arrived - March 2013

Experience has shown that the greens survive better if the snow is left undisturbed

Currently we have a special offer on for the quiet winter months where you can play a round of golf and get soup and a sandwich (or toatie) at the tearoom for £10.  

Greenkeepers shed burnt down - January 2013

Tale from a 'venison' convert

I think I should make it clear right at the start of this blog that I am not a chef, gamekeeper or professional in any way in relation to venison, albeit I work a few hours a week on the Dougarie Estate.

A warming meal for winter

Not long after I started work here I was asked if I liked venison, I must admit I squirmed a little as I tried to play down my negative response – remembering that this is a large part of, Mr Gibbs, the Estate owners passion!  A short discussion followed and I was persuaded to try it again – after all this was fresh wild venison, quality assured, the best of the best. And so the conversion began.

A small joint was procured and I tentatively looked at it and wondered how the best way would be to cook it; the solution was to take it to my mum’s, after all it was too big for just me, so better to share and I had more faith in her abilities than mine.  So that weekend I travelled home (I still call it home, even though I’ve not lived there for years) and presented her, not with a bunch of flowers but a plastic bag of raw meat.

Venison neck meat - Ideal for a casserole

The meal that followed was a revelation.  The meat tender and rich with a good flavour but not too strong – I really questioned if I had had venison before.  It was nothing like the meal I remembered and so highlighted the differences of where meat is sourced from.

Browing before being put into the slow cooker

The word venison comes from Latin origins meaning to hunt or pursue and historically related to any animal hunted for food, before it became more associated with deer, in a similar way we use the phrase ‘road kill’ today.  However caution may still be required as venison meat is usually antelope on the African continent (maybe that’s what I had before).

Everything thrown into the slow cooker

There are four species of wild deer in Scotland, red, roe, sika and fallow.  Roe and red deer have been around for over 10 thousand years, although  sika and fallow were introduced.  There is only red deer on the Isle of Arran.  Wild deer have no natural predators (except man) and the numbers are managed to ensure healthy populations are maintained.  Under Scottish law, deer are considered a wild animal and belong to no-one.  However the right to shoot, kill or capture is regulated and is usually associated to land ownership.

Venison is considered a healthy red meat due to its low fat content which is even lower than skinless chicken; it is high in iron and some vitamins and minerals.

Add stock, I find it needs very little seasoning

The venison produced on the Dougarie Estate is part of the ‘Scottish Quality Wild Vension’ scheme to ensure it reaches the highest standards from ‘hill to plate’.  This includes the management of the live deer stock, right through the carcass, butchery and handling stages.  It also ensures there is full traceability of the meat back to it’s origins.

The logo to look for on venison meat

There is an equivalent scheme for ‘Quality Assured Farmed Venison’, however this covers the whole of the UK.

Connoisseurs of venison say that each type of deer has its own flavour but I cannot comment on this, having only had red deer venison.

So I’m now a venison convert and eat it regularly.  I cook mine using a slow cooker, usually putting the meal in prior to leaving for a day on the hill, knowing I’ll come home to a house smelling warm and inviting, along with a hot meal ready and waiting.

Lots of information and recipes can be found on these links to the Scottish Wild Venison Scheme and Scottish Venison websites.

Scottish venison link 

Scottish Quality Wild Venison link

Food images courtesy of Arran in Focus

Introducing David

Gamekeeper - David

David joined the Estate on the 1^st July this year as our new gamekeeper after Alastair moved back to the mainland to take up a new post. Drew will continue to stay with us as the underkeeper whilst attending college during the year.

Alastair on a shoot last year

David has come from the Knockando Estate in Aberlour where he was the stalker / ghillie.  With over 20 years under his belt he is an experienced gamekeeper having run the pheasant shoots, stalking for both red and roe deer, along with fishing on the River Spey. At the same time as this he was responsible for the keepering at the Castle Grant shoots.

David has brought his own working dogs with him, a Labrador, spaniel and two pointers.  One is still very much a puppy that is still undergoing training and won't be out on shoots this year.

The castle like Towers

David has taken up residence at the Towers with his wife Jan and their 4 year old son, also called David. David will be attending Shiskine primary school when term starts and is enjoying living in a house that looks like a castle.  Jan has been helping with the estates holiday houses and is looking to meet new people on the island.  

Garden Open Day - 29th June 2014

Herbaceous border

Once a year the public get a fabulous opportunity to view the private terraced gardens of Dougarie Lodge, situated on the West side of the Isle of Arran.  From easily recognisable flowers to exotic rare plants there is something for everyone dotted around the terraces in nooks and crannies.  There is even a small woodland area to explore at the side of the formal top lawned area and a traditional kitchen garden.

Lily 

Black Iris

The terraces are castellated and provide shelter for more delicate plants and allow for beautiful herbaceous borders. Each terrace has a lovely lawn and a different display.

Mrs Gibbs is a very keen horticulturalist and does most of the work herself only having a few hours of help each week to maintain this massive garden.

Grevilia

Wandering around it is easy to miss some of the smaller blooms between huge displays of colour which have been trained up the stone walls and cascade over stairways. The position of the gulf stream allows for some more exotic plants to grow in this unique climate.

Steps with flower cascades

A few seats are placed to take in the view which stretches across the lawns in front of the lodge down to the river Iorsa and beyond.

Clematis & Sphaeralcea 

Marigold 

The plants bloom at different times of the year so there is always something of interest to view, although June sees some of the best displays of flowers.

Seats in little nooks

During the open afternoon cream teas are served in the Boathouse, which is a listed building not usually open to the public, and there is a small plant stall.

The gardens are open through Scotlands Open Garden scheme, between 2pm – 5pm, Sunday 29^th June.  Admission is £3.50 for adults and free for children.  Profits are divided between Pirnmill Village Association who receive 40% and the remainder goes to other beneficiaries.

Dicentra

Abutilon

 

Scabius

Aeorium

View down to the River Iorsa

 All photographs copyright of Arran in Focus

Strange Antlers on Red Deer

Antler deformities

Arran is well known for its red deer which are easily seen around  Lochranza and on the flanks of the fells when going across the Sting Road, for those who don’t want to stray off the beaten path.  The Estates and Forestry Commission on Arran take the management of deer seriously, ensuring that stocks stay healthy and numbers are maintained.



Little and large antler - asymetric so likely to be injury related.

But like any wild animal anomalies and injuries can occur, sometimes with striking results for the red deer!

Antler deformity, injury or disease?

Antlers are large, branching bony appendages on the heads of the male red deer.  Antlers are shed and re grown each year from a pedicle.  New antlers are covered with a soft skin called velvet which helps too supply nutrients to the underlying growing bone. Once the antler is fully grown the velvet is shed and the bone underneath dies becoming very hard.  It is this dead bone that is the mature antler.

Curly antlers used to be seen around Catacol believed to be genetic

The growth of the antler requires a significant amount of nutrition and is the fastest known bone growth of any mammal. Lack of nutrition or minerals may be the cause for some abnormalities.

Fractured skull around pedicle caused this one.

The antlers are fully grown and hard by the time of the rut (mating season) and they serve as fearsome weapons between battling males, and can inflict fatal injuries. Fighting may damage or break an antler but it does not cause the growth anomalies shown in these pictures.

Plain antlers without tines, likely to be genetic.

The full reasons for abnormal antlers are not fully understood although some conditions are hereditary (most likely cause for the curly antlers), and these occur year on year and genetic causes will affect both antlers. Curly antlers were once a regular feature of deer around Catacol.

Hooks at the ends of the tines in this case were thought to be caused by liver fluke

Injury to the pedicle or skull can cause a direct anomaly to the antler, and also it has been well documented that an injury to the leg can cause a deformity in the antler on the same side! Both of these display as a one sided defect.


Curly antlers

Parasites and disease such as cryptorchism and hypogonadism, are the other most likely causes, along with the previously mentioned nutrition.

A closer view of the fractured skull and resulting deformity.

More curls

All images copyright of Arran in Focus

http://www.arraninfocus.co.uk/

Pheasant - A brief overview

Pheasant cock

Pheasant are not a native bird in the UK although they have been around for a considerable time, possibly as early as the 10^th century. They are a regular sight on many country roads where they seem to forage at road edges, dicing with death, near to car wheels. They are very easy to spot along the Machrie Moor Road.

Cock with hen in the background

The main habitat of pheasant is around woodland edges, grassland and shrubby open ground, although they roost in trees of an evening and take shelter in woodlands.

Muted tones of the hen pheasant

The Estates that rear pheasant and conduct shoots take considerable care in managing the bird welfare and habitat for the birds.  This has an impact on other wildlife and a study by Game and wildlife conservation trust found this created favourable conditions for song birds and fauna.  It is the opinion of some experts that the pheasant population would collapse without the regular release of reared birds and the land management that goes with it.

Red legged partridge, also found in small numbers on Arran

The popularity of the pheasant as a game bird grew throughout the 19^th & 20^th century, overtaking the partridge. It is estimated that around 30 million pheasants are released each year. The pheasant is believed to be the most hunted bird in the world! Although commonly seen, the birds quickly recognise hunting parties and retreat to safety and hiding.

Pheasant retreating from human contact

The birds do not fly by choice, preferring to run or walk.  When they do fly, it is only for short distances and with a noisy wing sound and alarm call.

Working dog retrieving a hen pheasant

The male is known as a cock and the female a hen. The female, as with most birds, is much plainer and has a shorter tail. Young take the appearance of a female until they are around 10 weeks old when the male plumage begins to appear.

Some of a shoot 'bag'

The season for shoots in the UK is the 1^st October to the 1^st February, the birds are protected outside these months.


All photographs copyright of Arran in Focus