28/04/2026
MAY MARKETS:
Saturday 2nd INVERNESS FARMERS MARKET 10 - 4
Sunday 3rd RALLYE AT THE RIVER 10 - 4 Banchory
Tuesday 5th POOLEWE TUESDAY MARKET 10 - 2.30
Friday 8th MADE IN ASSYNT 10 - 4 Lochinver
Saturday 9th MARKET ON THE GREEN 10 - 4 Drumnadrochit
Wednesday 13th DORNOCH MARKET 9.30 - 1
Saturday 16th OLD STATION MARKET 11 - 3 Strathpeffer (tbc)
Sunday 17th GORDON CASTLE HIGHLAND GAMES Fochabers
Tuesday 19th POOLEWE TUESDAY MARKET 10 - 2.30
Friday 22nd MADE IN ASSYNT 10 - 4 Lochinver
Saturday 23rd FIFE SHOW / Cupar
Sunday 24th BLAIR ATHOLL HIGHLAND GAMES
Saturday 30th DRYMEN SHOW
The fourth moon of the Ogham is Fearn - Alder.
18th March - 14th April.
I know, I`m not even trying to keep up anymore :-)
The tree is not mentioned much in folklore, apart from giving shelter to fugitives, and as a symbol for death, which most likely stems from the wood turning blood red when cut (though it looks rather orange than red)
Alder wood does not rot when submerged in water, therefore its major use was as piles for foundations of buildings in wetlands.
Rotterdam and Venice stand on alder piles, so does Wi******er Cathedral and most crannogs did in Scotland.
Its other main use was for making charcoal and gunpowder, as it has the right burning properties for this purpose.
Alder wood can be good for turning, but often it is too soft to achieve a good finish.
Burr is not very common in alder, but the few bits I had so far were stunning.
The tree thrives in wet and boggy places, and Britain`s largest Alder carr is at the Mound, in Sutherland.
In John Evelyn`s words:.... the alder is of all other the most faithful lover of watery and boggy places, and those most despised weeping parts, or water-galls of forests......
That`s probably why there`s so many in Scotland!
