Smidge wins Innovation Award
Advanced Pest Solutions Ltd, producers of ‘Smidge that Midge‘, Scotland’s newest insect repellent has been awarded the 2011 Nexxus Innovation Award (East). Smidge provides up to 8 hours from protection against a wide range of biting insects, in a pleasant smelling, moisturising and waterproof formulation.
Smidge that Midge was originally developed as a “Scottish Solution for a Scottish Pest” but the product’s properties have been finding favour around the globe and Scottish Development International is currently helping APS to identify export opportunities. 
Dr Alison Blackwell (pictured centre with Graeme Boyle, Nexxus on left and Till Bachmann, Chair of Nexxus East Steering Group on right), Director of APS which was initially based in Edinburgh and has since relocated to Dundee said,
“Since we launched our insect repellent in June 2010, we have been delighted by the interest in it. Over the past year we have seen an 85% increase in trade sales and the number of retail outlets which now stock the product has increased by 300% to 282, including outlets such as pharmacies, campsites, hostels, hotels, national organisations such as the National Trust for Scotland, outdoor shops such as Tiso and garden centres.
“We have also completed an agreement to supply Amazon, which is expected to substantially increase online sales, previously only possible through our midge forecast website.”
The company’s foresight in developing the product, and its subsequent success, saw it receiving the 2011 Nexxus Innovation Award (East) on 3 November at an annual event celebrating Scottish life science expertise. Director of Nexxus, the networking organisation for Scotland’s life scientists, Graeme Boyle said,
“Scotland is acknowledged as having some of the most scenic open spaces in the world but people are sometimes put off enjoying them for fear of the dreaded midge. This product will encourage more tourists, holidaymakers and outdoor enthusiasts to head for Scotland and its hills and will do much to bolster the Scottish economy.”
Dr Blackwell said,
“Receiving this Award is a great endorsement of our product. Scientists in Scotland are fortunate in that there is such a supportive environment here with a wealth of agencies and people willing to provide advice and assistance. We’re certainly very grateful for this.”
The full press release and news on other award winners can be found here.
iPhone Update to help out Midge Haters!
17/6/11. Smidge has just updated its’ Midge Forecast iPhone app with a new service for Midge Haters and retailers alike. In addition to guiding visitors around Scotland in relation to the expected midge levels, a new mapping layer now allows people to find the nearest store that stocks Smidge that Midge, the waterproof, moisturising, family-friendly repellent that provides 8+ hours protection against midges and all other biting beasties. Retailers will hopefully find it a useful service as well and enquiries from potential new stockists are always welcome. To get in touch, email enquiries@advancedpestsolutions.co.uk
The app can be downloaded from the iTunes store (http://itunes.apple.com/app/scottish-midge-forecast-uk/id375094872?mt=8ast)
The iPhone update comes at a time when the Smidge Team are preparing to enter the Scottish Bikeathon; 26 miles from Kingussie through the hottest of Midge territories. At least we’ll be able to find the nearest Smidge store if needed!
We are raising money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma research, which we think is a great cause and if anyone would like to support us, we would be very grateful (http://original.justgiving.com/teamsmidge).
A New Weapon in the Fight against the Scottish Midge
Friday 20th May sees the relaunch of the Scottish Midge Forecast; in it’s sixth year now!! The system uses a complex set of algorithms to predict midge activity at sites across Scotland, producing a 7-day forecast for each site of interest, chosen by visitors to the site through a familiar Google mapping interface.
As well as the online version of the Midge Forecast, the data is presented in a number of national newspapers and also, is available as an iPhone app for those out and about.
Critical to the success of the Midge Forecast is verification and modification of the model outputs by live data; both weather data collected by mini weather stations and midge data, collected by a network of 10 brave volunteers covering the length and breadth of the country. For 2011 we are using Scotland’s newest and most powerful midge trap for our surveillance; the Predator Dynamic Midge and Mosquito Trap. The Predator is a stand-alone trap, powered by propane. It combines a range of cues to maximise the attractiveness of the machine to blood-seeking midges. These include carbon dioxide and host odour, movement in the form of flashing LED’s, light cues, heat and moisture. Once midges are drawn close to the trap, they are either sucked inside where they are collected in tray of water, or they are caught on a sticky glueboard on the outside of the trap. During trials in 2010, a single Predator trap collected 800,000 midges over a five-day period.
The Predator is perfect for both the small garden and the larger golf green or outdoor event and both traps and advice on their use can be provided by the team behind the Midge Forecast, who have 20 years experience of biting insect behaviour, ecology and control. To find out more, click the link below.
Count Down to the Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup
The For William Mountain Bike World Cup is just 15 days away, with the highlight being The Downhill, which is a full-on, flat-out, no-compromise charge down the face of Aonach Mor, the 9th highest mountain in the UK. As well as competing with the terrain, the competitors will face Scotland’s most ferocious of foes, the Highland Biting Midge. The first weekend of June historically sees large midge populations for the first time in a summer and for this reason, the organisers of the show invited the Midge Forecast team to be the official suppliers of repellent, with Smidge that Midge, offering long-lasting, water/sweat-proof protection against midges and other biting insects, even under the toughest of conditions.
To mark the event, Smidge is giving away two day passes to the person who can guess how many midges we will catch in one week prior to the event in Fort William. The trap will run for 7 nights from May 19th and the competition is open for entry, NOW. To enter follow this link or click on the MTB picture above (you will need to follow us on twitter to submit a guess).
Smidge Repellent Lends a Hand at the First Monster Challenge 2010
Saturday September 10th saw the annual, grueling 120km duathlon around Loch Ness. In addition to the extreme physical challenge presented by the combined run and cyle event, the competitors h
ad to contend with one of Scotland’s other well-know monsters, the biting midges. APS camped out at one of the most affected transition sites, with the aim of trialing and collecting feedback on Smidge that Midge repellent, that was launched in June 2010.
Feedback so far has been excellent; for example “Tried Smidge at the First Monster after years of Shoo, Skin So Soft etc. Fantastic product that actually does what it says on the box“.
Smidge can be purchased online at www.midgeforecast.co.uk
Smidge to take on the First Monster Challenge
APS will be running of trial of its new repellent, Smidge at the First Monster Challenge this weekend; a tough 120 km duathlon around Loch Ness. Whilst the competitors will be attempting the Monster, we will be tacking Scotland’s other well-known monster, the biting midge.
For the full news release, visit here.
1938 Midge Press Cutting Unearthed
This copy of the Aberdeen Press and Journal from September 8th, 1938 has recently been found under the floorboards of a cottage being renovated in Rhynie, Aberdeenshire, stating that “The Journal of the Scottish Travel Association is offering to head a subscription list for a memorial to the man who rids Scotland of Midges” - a pretty safe offer!
Smidge Forecast iPhone app nominated for DADI award
The Smidge iPhone app has been shortlisted in the DADI awards this year (Drum Awards for the Digital Industry); this is a major achievement for both the Midge Forecast team and Story (UK) Ltd, who created the app. It’s up against some major brands, including Lyle & 
Scott and Symantec in the ‘Best Mobile App/Campaign’ category. The award winners will be announced at a ceremony in November.
Smidge helps out ‘Inside Luxury Travel’
Varun Sharma and his team are busy filming in Canada for their next series of ‘Inside Luxury Travel“, the show that gives you access to some of the most sought-after and private locations around the world.
Whilst in Canada the team visited the Zoo Sauvage, which specialises in “very Northern Hemisphere” animals, with a whole range of spectacular inhabitants. The huge numbers of mosquitoes were less welcome but fortunately Varun had packed his Smidge, which seemed to ‘do the job’. Read his full blog about the team’s current activities here.
‘Smidge That Midge’ Repellent passes the Swedish Kayaking Test
‘Pete the Pistol’ from Bushcraftliving.com has just returned from a kayaking trip in Sweden, where he had chance to test out Smidge against some of Scandanavia’s biting pests, including midges, mosquitoes and horsefles. Smidge came out with a Gold Star - you can read the full review here.
Smidge contains the active ingredient “Saltidin” and is safe for use with the whole family (children from 30 months). It comes in a moisturising and water/sweat proof formulation that will provide up to 8 hours protection against a whole range of biting insects. Smidge can be purchased onine at the Scottish Midge Forecast Site.
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The Scottish Midge Forecast Blog.
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- Smidge wins Innovation Award
- iPhone Update to help out Midge Haters!
- A New Weapon in the Fight against the Scottish Midge
- Count Down to the Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup
- Smidge Repellent Lends a Hand at the First Monster Challenge 2010
- Smidge to take on the First Monster Challenge
- 1938 Midge Press Cutting Unearthed
- Smidge Forecast iPhone app nominated for DADI award
- Smidge helps out ‘Inside Luxury Travel’
- ‘Smidge That Midge’ Repellent passes the Swedish Kayaking Test
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Interesting sites
- Advanced Pest Solutions - Creator of the Midge Forecast
- Midge Forecast - The Midge Forecast website
- Midge Forecast Shop - buy Smidge, Scotland’s great new repellent - Midge Forecast Shop
- Saltidin - The Midge Forecast sponsor for 2009
