A TOURIST trail of monuments to women should be established to stop Scotland only celebrating his-story, an MSP claims.

Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin is to develop plans for a trail highlighting sites marking the contribution made by the women who helped shape modern Scotland.

She said: “Too often our public memorials can be about kings and generals and not about the ordinary and extraordinary Scots who’ve shaped our country – and women in particular are shockingly underrepresented.

“Famously, Edinburgh has more statues of animals than of named women. Local authorities across Scotland need to do more to recognise the contribution of women in their area.

“I hope this is a first step in better recognising the enormous contribution made by women.”

Women wanted to join living artwork

WOMEN and girls are urged to register for a “living artwork” billed as one of the biggest ever events of its kind.

Organisers say Processions, which will be staged in four UK cities, will create a “dramatic portrait of women in the 21st century”.

It is hoped that tens of thousands will don the white, purple and green of the women’s suffrage movement and parade through Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and London in June.

A number of artists are involved, as are 100 separate organisations. In Scotland, they include the Tannahill Centre in Paisley and Comar, Mull.

Meanwhile, textile artist Clare Hunter has provided a banner-making kit based on a 1909 pamphlet by suffragette artist Mary Lowndes. Hunter said: “These banners will remain a part of history for years to come.”