If you’re an avid listener of Wild for Scotland, I think you’d agree that Scotland is more than just a pretty landscape.
I’m thrilled to be partnering with Anya Media and Strathnaver Museum to bring you Highlands Reimagined, a brand-new documentary series produced by Will Sadler. Listen to the trailer here:
We’re sharing all three episodes on this podcast feed, and you’ll hear from Will as he centres young people who live in the northern Highlands, their dreams for the future and how to address the roadblocks they might find in their way.
🎉 COMING UP: Wild for Scotland Social Club Session
Join us in conversation with Will Sadler on Sunday, 28 September.
We’ll talk about Will’s recent documentary series “Highlands Reimagined”, the time he spent recording in the northern Highlands, and the positive and negative impacts of tourism on the region. This session is going to be part interview and part interactive Q&A. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the “Highlands Reimagined” series and answer your questions.
Episode 1: Not just a pretty place
What makes the far north of the Scottish Highlands a place where young people want to stay?
In this first episode, “Not just a pretty place”, producer Will Sadler explores the history of population changes in Mackay country and what makes living here so desirable for young people.
I’ll hand it over to Will now to find out…
Episode 2: Home truths
What do you do, when you want to live in the village you grew up in, but there are no houses for sale or for rent, and the only jobs available are seasonal or temporary roles?
In “Home truths”, the second episode of “Highlands Reimagined”, producer Will Sadler dives into the challenges presented to young people who want to stay in or move back to their rural Highland communities.
And now, I’ll let Will take it away…
Episode 3: From the ground up
Who has the power to change what life in the Highlands has to offer?
In this final episode of “Highlands Reimagined”, “From the ground up”, producer Will Sadler weaves a tale of land ownership, community activitism and the dynamics of power when it comes to deciding what opportunities in the Highlands are developed further.
But for now, I’ll hand over to Will…
About Highlands Reimagined
Highlands Reimagined explores why young people leave northwest Sutherland and what will encourage them to build their futures in the region. It features interviews with students from Farr High School, local entrepreneurs and remote workers across three thirty-minute episodes.
Using objects in the museum collection, the young people explore the age-old problem of Highland depopulation and outward economic migration. Through interviews with national and regional representatives from government, agencies and community organisations, the young people discuss their hopes and fears for their future as part of their Highland community.
Here’s Will’s statement about the series: “This podcast explores the differences between the picture-postcard Highlands of my childhood holidays and the complex reality of growing up there. The goal isn’t to dismiss an appreciation for Scotland’s natural beauty, but to enrich it by revealing the nuances of life in one of Western Europe’s most sparsely populated areas as it faces ongoing population challenges. Fundamentally, I hope the show encourages us all to consider what role we play in helping to build a more resilient future for this beautiful place.”
To find out more visit highlandsreimagined.com
