SOUTH OF SCOTLAND - THE JEWEL IN OUR NATION’s CROWN (Jim Hume)

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND - THE JEWEL IN OUR NATION’s CROWN

November 1, 2007 12:00 AM

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland and Environment Spokesman, has today (Thursday) spoken out on the importance of looking after and promoting Scotland's historic environment in the South of Scotland during a debate in Holyrood.

Jim Hume said:-

"My area, the Scottish Borders and the South of Scotland, is an area that has long been a place of inspiration not only because of the natural landscape, but also because of its passionate and at times fierce history.

"James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, farmed at my neighbouring farm in Yarrow. Hogg received widespread recognition for his most famous publication 'Confessions of a Justified Sinner'. The main character in that was a "doppelganger", a shape shifting devil - somewhat similar to the SNP manifesto.

The MSP continued:-

"But we perhaps need to promote what Scotland has on offer better. I had the chance to visit Wigtown recently, home of the now well known Wigtown book festival, which has proven immensely successful and much has been done to regenerate the town in recent years - by for example using the old county buildings to explain the town's history using original artefacts.

"And the nearby Baldoon Castle which is said to be haunted by the ghost of Janet Dalrymple - the events surrounding her death which remain unclear to this day are immortalised in Sir Walter Scott's "Bride of Lammermoor". Scott incidentally also had family connections to the Borders.

"These particular stories help visitors understand the history of a building and the characters within, it makes a place all the more attractive to visit. And so it's vitally important that our potential for untapped tourism is identified and taken forward to further develop what excellent sites we already have in Scotland.

"The previous Liberal Democrat Minister made great strides in the protection and enhancement of Scotland's landscapes, historic environment and heritage. I sincerely hope that the Scottish Government in its shake up of government agencies like Visitscotland and Scottish Enterprise will follow that good example."