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The SOC is delighted to present an exhibition of contemporary botanical art, bringing together paintings by members of the Scottish Society of Botanical Artists (SSBA), alongside sculptures by Ellen McCann.

Botanical painting has a long and important history. It was used to record the nature of plants for scientific and medicinal purposes and continues to support scientific research as botanical illustration. While also steeped in the accurate observation of nature, Botanical Art differs from scientific botanical illustration by placing more emphasis on the aesthetic value of the plant.  The work in this exhibition, while always botanically correct, falls in this second category where detailed observation generates in the artist, and the viewer, a reflection on the beauty of nature.

The Scottish Society of Botanical Artists, founded in 2014, provides a forum for botanical artists from all over Scotland to meet, share expertise, exhibit work and generally promote interest in botanical art.  A cross-section of its membership is represented in the exhibition.

Ellen McCann’s sculptures complement the exhibition by offering a very personal response to the subject. Ellen takes her inspiration from the growth patterns of plants to create sculptures that distil the essence of the natural form using ceramics and metal. She lives and works in Biggar.

The exhibition runs from Saturday 19 January until Wednesday 27 February 2019.

Open daily, 10am to 4pm, at The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, Aberlady, East Lothian, EH32 0PY

For more information, please call 01875 871 330 or email exhibitions@the-soc.org.uk. 

Getting there:  The SOC is situated at Waterston House, in Aberlady, East Lothian, just off the A198. From Edinburgh, take the first left after the Aberlady sign. The East Coast Buses 124, X24 and X5 stop almost at the door.

Open times: daily 10am to 4pm, Free entry.

About the SOC: The Scottish Ornithologists’Club is Scotland’s national bird club with over 3000 members and a network of 15 branches across Scotland which host a programme of talks, discussions and outings from the Borders to Orkney and beyond.

About Waterston House: Waterston House is fully accessible and houses a resource centre for bird-watching including a shop, the largest ornithological reference library in Scotland and an art gallery dedicated to wildlife art.  The centre is open to all (members and non-members) free of charge.

For more information on the SOC and events at Waterston House, visit www.the-soc.org.uk.

East Lothian, Scotland – Golf enthusiasts are in for a treat this Winter, with a change to the way we play golf in East Lothian. Haddington Golf Club, a long established parkland course in East Lothian, is adapting to the changing face of golf. Yesterday was the final day of voting for the proposed new course layout at Haddington Golf Club to change the route of their golf course to feature 2 distinct loops of 9 holes. 

178 members voted in the Ballot, the result was an overwhelming majority, 79% voting YES to change to the new layout and 21% voting NO to remain on the same route.

Following this overwhelming result, Haddington Golf Club will now continue to play the new layout from this day onwards and immediately begin to make the necessary minor changes so that they are ready for the new season.

As part of a 4 week trial, Haddington Golf Club changed the route of their golf course to feature 2 distinct loops of 9 holes. There were 2 nines giving the club the option to sell 9 hole tickets, run 9 hole competitions and generally host shorter forms of the game. The two loops consist of holes No 1,2,18,14,12,10,11,15,16 and Holes 17,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,13. Members have now chosen to keep this layout and golfers can play for only £20.

Scott Thomson – Club Professional and General Manager of Haddington Golf Club commented, “We feel its vitally important to explore new ways of attracting more people to the game. We must adapt to show that people can still enjoy golf despite having less free time than ever before.  There is a very positive feeling about Haddington Golf Club right now and we want as many as possible to get involved.” 

There are a number of other courses in East Lothian who also offer 9 hole rounds, including Gifford Golf Club and many more. This is an ideal way to enjoy golf in the colder Winter months aswell as those who are tight for time.

For visitors with a little more time on their hands, Scotland’s Golf Coast is the perfect Short Stay Golfing Destination. East Lothian offers a diverse choice of accommodation, providing the perfect opportunity to rest, relax and reflect on the day’s play. All accommodation provides easy access to East Lothian’s 21 golf courses, meaning no need to waste valuable time traveling from base to course. Spoilt for choice with 5-star luxury properties, smaller hotels, bed & breakfast pubs and homes, self-catering apartments and even centuries-old stately homes are all on offer. While golf is the magnet that draws many to East Lothian, the County has a lot more to offer both the golfer and just as importantly the non-golfer. In addition to its proximity to Scotland’s Capital City, East Lothian boasts historic castles and battle sites mixed with a number of exciting modern excursions. And no visit to an area can be enjoyed on an empty stomach. The visiting golfer can enjoy the quality locally grown produce served in the hotels and restaurants across the County. Locally-raised meats supplemented with locally-caught seafood are there to tempt the discerning diner, washed down with a pint of local beer or cider, or perhaps a ‘NB Gin’, ‘Fidra Gin’ or a dram of ‘Glenkinchie’, Scotland’s Golf Coast aims to please the contented golfer.

To find out more about Scotland’s Golf Coast’s Winter golf offering, click on

www.golfeastlothian.com