Community development

Biodiversity and alternative food products

Increasing biodiversity of both the farm environment and what it produces, is seen as one of the ways in which farming businesses can remain sustainable in the future.

We’ll watch video footage from some Scottish businesses that are farming in a way that has increased biodiversity on their farm. These business owners will also join us as part of our panel.

The Langholm Initiative charity aims to buy 5,300 acres of Langholm Moor and three residential properties from Buccleuch, and so expand the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve to 10,500 acres.

Success would boost plans for community regeneration, including nature-based tourism opportunities, and for tackling the nature and climate emergencies.

Proposals to end the need for food banks as a primary response to food insecurity have been published.

Views are being sought on the Scottish Government’s draft national plan, which is supported by food bank operators, including the Trussell Trust and Independent Food Aid Network.

The first ever Island Innovation Awards have been launched to recognise individuals, organisations and technologies driving positive change for remote and island communities globally.

Launched in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative, the awards will be judged by a high profile jury. The focus of the awards will be on sharing the how of success from the winners, so other communities may benefit.

Book your free place today at an Outdoors Scotland Tourism Strategy Regional Workshop – come along, have your say and get involved in how Outdoors Tourism is developed in Scotland.

The second year of Aberdeenshire Council’s Coastal Communities Challenge Fund (CCCF) programme has been launched.  
 

New Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund launched.

The £15 million Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund aims to support adult community-based initiatives across Scotland.

Through the £2 million Island Communities Fund, 29 successful community groups and businesses across 23 islands have been awarded grants of up to £150,000 each.

More than £1 million of the Scottish Land Fund is being awarded to eight local community groups to help them take ownership of the land and buildings that matter to them.  

Scotland’s answer to the New York Highline has been unveiled at Bowling Harbour in West Dunbartonshire with the transformation of a disused railway viaduct into a state-of-the-art linear park and walking, wheeling and cycling route at the western gateway to the Lowland canals.

Pages