Crofting

A growing network of Scottish landholdings committed to rewilding has recorded dramatic ecological and economic impacts in its first two years.

The Northwoods Rewilding Network, which has grown to 55 partners spanning the length and breadth of Scotland, has reported its first set of outcomes since it was established in April 2021 by rewilding charity SCOTLAND: The Big Picture.

Today saw the publication by Scottish Government of guidance that has been produced to provide informal, non-statutory guidance which aims to clarify the requirements that apply to imports of bees into Scotland from certain parts of the British Isles, from the EU and the rest of the world.

Crofters across Scotland will be able to apply for larger sums of money to upgrade their housing under the Croft House Grant.

To help ensure more crofters and their families can benefit, the government is increasing the grant rate for home improvements from 40% to 60% of the total project cost – with a maximum grant of £38,000.

With this week being nature Nature Restoration Skills Week, NatureScot and partners have put together a programme of free training events focussed on skills for nature restoration. 

The Pollinator Strategy 2022 Progress Report highlights the work of organisations coming together across the country to create wildflower meadows, connect habitats, and gather evidence on how climate change is affecting pollinators. 

This month the Scottish Government published its National Strategy for Economic Transformation. This sets out the priorities for Scotland’s economy as well as the actions needed to maximise the opportunities of the next decade to achieve our vision of a wellbeing economy.

The Scottish Government has produced a model Company Limited by Guarantee template, to enable a crofting community to form a Company Limited by Guarantee, for the purposes of exercising the right to buy land, a tenants interest in land and sporting interests, under Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ)

The award-winning Be Your Best Self personal development programme for Women in Agriculture is an integral part of the Scottish Government’s vision to make Scottish agriculture a fairer, more inclusive industry, where farm succession is not determined by gender, training is accessible to everyone, and more women take on senior roles in agricultural organisations.