The Wicker Man is widely regarded as one of the best British horror films of all time. The strange tale of Sergeant Neil Howie’s doomed trip to Summerisle has cemented itself in popular culture since the film’s 1973 release, and with it, immortalised several of the National Trust for Scotland’s places on screen.

Joining Jackie Bird to dissect this cult classic’s enduring popularity are film critic Siobhan Synnot and actor Lesley Mackie, who appeared in the original cast as Daisy. Together, they explore the production and legacy of The Wicker Man.

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You might enjoy some of our past episodes on Scottish filmmaking. Simply scroll back through the Love Scotland feed to hear instalments about Scotland on Screen, and interviews with Outlander’s Diana Gabaldon and Sam Heughan.

If you would like to support the National Trust for Scotland’s work in caring for, protecting and telling the stories of all that is in our care, please click here.

Sculptor Andy Scott, the creator of the iconic Kelpies, joins Jackie Bird to discuss his incredible work, Scotland’s position in the art world, and his aspirations for the future.

Together, they talk about the physical demands of working on such large pieces of metalwork, the catharsis of sculpting, and how his Scottish identity influences his creations and his process.

The Glasgow School of Art-graduate also speaks about his long-time affection for Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, leading figures in Glasgow’s historic art scene.

For more information on Mackintosh at the Willow, click here.

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You might enjoy some of our past episodes on Mackintosh and Macdonald Mackintosh. Simply scroll back through the Love Scotland feed to hear instalments on Mackintosh at the Willow and the life of Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh.

If, like Andy, you are based in the US, you might be interested in the work of the National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA. Click here to read more about what they do.

This week, host Jackie Bird is at Robert Smail’s Print Works in the Scottish Borders to see the oldest working commercial letterpress printers in the UK. She meets the team that keeps the printing works running today and hears about the history of the press and its eponymous owner.

Jackie also discovers secrets of the ever-changing publishing industry of the Victorian era, unpicks the mechanisms behind the presses, and takes us on a tour right into the heart of the machinery.

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For more information on the Robert Smail’s Print Works, click here.