Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone

Joanne and her car mechanic husband fancied a change of lifestyle eleven years ago and moved up from Lancaster to buy the garage in Braemar. He has steadily built a reputation as a good mechanic, and she runs the adjoining petrol station. She tries really hard not to compete with other local shops, and tries to source what isn’t available locally such as plants, pet food and hardware.

Transcript -- Joanne and her car mechanic husband fancied a change of lifestyle eleven years ago and moved up from Lancaster to buy the garage in Braemar. He has steadily built a reputation as a good mechanic, and she runs the adjoining petrol station. She tries really hard not to compete with other local shops, and tries to source what isn’t available locally such as plants, pet food and hardware.

Bobby and his brother Freddie worked in the iconic Murchies store in Kingussie as young boys and years later, after both playing football in the Highland League, ended up buying the shop and running it. In June he will retire. Bobby thinks the National Park has denied local residents an element of democracy.

Transcript -- Bobby and his brother Freddie worked in the iconic Murchies store in Kingussie as young boys and years later, after both playing football in the Highland League, ended up buying the shop and running it. In June he will retire. Bobby thinks the National Park has denied local residents an element of democracy.

Originally from Hertfordshire, Tilly married a Keeper from Cairngorm and has lived in the area since the early 80s. They run a famous reindeer herd and visitor attraction near Aviemore, and 30 miles further East a farm with rare breed pigs, sheep and wild boar. She is cynical about the purpose of the National Park – she feels it’s simply another level of bureaucracy, and she can’t identify many changes it’s produced.

Transcript -- Originally from Hertfordshire, Tilly married a Keeper from Cairngorm and has lived in the area since the early 80s. They run a famous reindeer herd and visitor attraction near Aviemore, and 30 miles further East a farm with rare breed pigs, sheep and wild boar. She is cynical about the purpose of the National Park – she feels it’s simply another level of bureaucracy, and she can’t identify many changes it’s produced.

Donald will finish school next year, when he hopes to go to University and ultimately become a geography teacher. He’d like to spend some time abroad, but will probably come back to settle in the area. He’d miss friends and the area in equal proportion. There’s so much to do, especially if you’re into adventure sports.

Transcript -- Donald will finish school next year, when he hopes to go to University and ultimately become a geography teacher. He’d like to spend some time abroad, but will probably come back to settle in the area. He’d miss friends and the area in equal proportion. There’s so much to do, especially if you’re into adventure sports.

Kat Amos is a young mum of three kids, living with her husband in Aviemore. Both of them are outdoor instructors and they left Glasgow as they though the Cairngorms was an ideal place to bring up their family. Kat works part time at the local school and nursery and they own their home with shared equity. For Kat, the provision of affordable housing for young families is a problem in the National Park.

Transcript -- Kat Amos is a young mum of three kids, living with her husband in Aviemore. Both of them are outdoor instructors and they left Glasgow as they though the Cairngorms was an ideal place to bring up their family. Kat works part time at the local school and nursery and they own their home with shared equity. For Kat, the provision of affordable housing for young families is a problem in the National Park.

Ross grew up on a farm near Aviemore and started his career as an apprentice warden on Cairngorm Mountain. He is now a Ranger at Abernethy RSPB Reserve, married with two young children and still one of the youngest Rangers in the area. Without doubt, for him the Cairngorms is the best place in the world to live – it gave him, and his children now, so many opportunities while growing up.

Transcript -- Ross grew up on a farm near Aviemore and started his career as an apprentice warden on Cairngorm Mountain. He is now a Ranger at Abernethy RSPB Reserve, married with two young children and still one of the youngest Rangers in the area. Without doubt, for him the Cairngorms is the best place in the world to live – it gave him, and his children now, so many opportunities while growing up.