Our Blog

The Scottish Rural Network blog articles cover a range of topics on rural development, useful information, ideas and good practice. If you have any questions about any of the issues raised or want further information, please make use of the form on the Contact us page.

Strengthening Local Voices: Building Scotland’s Community-Led Local Development Network

This week’s guest blog comes from Dinah Jackson, Principal Consultant and Future Ready Programme Manager at Urban Foresight. Dinah shares her perspective on the dynamic collaboration already in motion to build a national Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) network—an empowering initiative aimed at giving communities across Scotland a more influential role in shaping their own futures.
20 October 2025
Strengthening Protection of Scotland’s Marine Environment: New Offshore MPA Measures Introduced

Safeguarding the country’s marine environment.
15 October 2025
The Borders Youth Local Action Group (YLAG) leads decision making on the youth facilities fund.

Guest bloggers, Daniel (YLAG Member) and Chris (YLAG Co-ordinator), share how young leaders in the Borders helped shape regeneration—allocating £625K to improve youth spaces across the region.
9 October 2025
Reimagining Childcare in Scotland’s Remote, Rural and Island Communities

Caroline Hastings, from the Improvement Service, is this week's guest blogger—applying a rural and island lens to childcare.
8 October 2025
Young people driving meaningful change

The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) supports young people to drive meaningful change. Olivia Brown, spokesperson for the SYP reflects on the event.
2 October 2025
European Rural Parliament 2025 – Rural Community Solutions to Global Challenges

Over the 20-23 October, more than 400 rural delegates from across Europe will gather in the north-east of Scotland for the 6th European Rural Parliament (ERP). In this blog article Mia Lalanne of Scottish Rural Action reflects on the opportunities that the event offers.
25 September 2025
Lessons from casework: Why behaviour matters as much as legislation

In this guest blog, Rob Black of the Scottish Land Commission reflects on tenant farming in Scotland and highlights that the sector’s true challenges and successes stem not from legislation, but from human behaviour. Rob shares positive examples of collaboration, empathy, and constructive dialogue, showing that better practice is both possible and essential to shaping a fair and sustainable future for tenant farming.
17 September 2025
High School pupils gain hands-on experience with Rural Skills course

Pupils at Castlemilk High School are developing practical, hands-on experience in horticulture, landscaping and food production — all as part of a qualification that’s opening doors to employment and further education.
20 August 2025
Rural Youth Action Network at Pride Youth Games

Kai from the Rural Youth Action Network (RYAN) reflects on the experience of being part of RYAN and belonging to a rural network that reflects the complexities of rural communities.
15 August 2025

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