The Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches website is a fascinating treasure trove of oral recordings made throughout the last century across Scotland, incorporating stories, songs, music, poetry, factual information and personal reflection. One of its key contributors was master storyteller and tradition bearer Stanley Robertson, who was deeply steeped in the Scottish Traveller tradition. He has previously been featured on this blog in his telling of the famous Scottish ‘Jack’ tale, Auld Cruivie, a significant example of environmentally minded folklore. Stanley himself clearly had a great respect for and love of the environment, which comes across beautifully in this reflective recording in which he talks with great passion and sensitivity of The Old Road of Lumphanan, a key site for the Travelling community, and gives details of his own ‘Tree of Life’. Have a listen!
The Tree of Life Project 