Wick woodland volunteers say thank-you with 'bothy nicht' entertainment
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VOLUNTEERS who run a community woodland outside Wick served up an evening of old-style bothy entertainment to show their gratitude to individuals and businesses that have supported the project over the years.
Friends of Newtonhill Woodland welcomed about 30 people to the informal gathering in the cosy surroundings of their renovated croft house.
There was music, singing and storytelling as well as traditional fare including scones, pancakes, shortbread and tablet. The event also featured a display of information and photos relating to the illicit distilling trade that used to thrive in the Newton Hill area.
Fittingly, one or two drams were shared during the course of the evening. Although unable to attend, Pulteney Distillery manager Malcolm Waring donated two bottles of Old Pulteney 12-year-old and two bottles of Stroma liqueur.
The woodland has become a popular walking route and recreational area after being developed and maintained by the group of volunteers.
Performers included Nancy Nicolson, who told stories, sang songs and played the melodeon, and Alasdair Miller, on both melodeon and pipes.
There were further musical contributions from three generations of the Mackay family – Billy and his son Colin playing accordions, and Colin’s daughter Emma on pipes – while the Swansons were another family trio, with mum Marina on clarsach along with her children Freya (fiddle) and Finlay (guitar).
Chairman Billy Nicolson – who donned dungarees complete with nicky tams for the occasion – said it had been a successful evening.
“It was a thank-you to people who have contributed significantly in some way – some through funding, some through their physical labours, some through providing plant, machinery, goods and services," he said. "Over the past seven years we’ve had an awful lot of goodwill, especially from businesses, plus all our volunteers who put in a lot of work on a weekly basis.
"We thought it would be good to have a kind of theme – and the theme was a ‘bothy nicht’, with a big slant on the illicit whisky-making. The site is as close as you can get to at least one of the stills.
“So it was a one-off thank-you to the people who have helped us and there was a nice bothy atmosphere. Nancy had them all singing along. And the Old Pulteney was given a fair shift!”
