Environment

Almost £550,000 of LEADER funding has been awarded to projects following the first round of decision making meetings with the Dumfries & Galloway LEADER Local Action Group.

Funding of £549,901.35 has been awarded to projects with a total value of £1,250,258.26. Supported projects were varied and include both The Whithorn Trust’s Iron Age Roundhouse which explores the history and heritage of the region, as well as farm diversification funding to provide an alpaca trekking experience!

This year's SURF Awards are open for entries in five categories.

These annual awards are open to any regeneration project in Scotland that is currently in operation or has been completed within two years of the September 2016 closing date.

The award categories are:

The Scottish Government’s ‘Highland Self Build Loan Fund’ is now accepting applications

Our friends at Adapation Scotland have produced a great wee film about climate change called 'Are we Ready?'. 

Local people from Colglen, Dunbar and Comrie talk in the film about how climate change has had an impact in their area and what action they are taking to be better prepared in the future. 

New Blue Deal workshop

This one-day workshop is an opportunity to discuss Scottish coastal communities, coastal economy and marine environment.

It wants to bring together:

  • Private, public, third-sector stakeholders representing coastal and marine issues in Scotland (incl. fisheries, aquaculture, energy, tourism, coastal management)
  • Stakeholders representing the interests of Scottish coastal communities (including local councils, coastal partnerships, community groups, business networks)

You will talk about:

A report has been published looking at options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Scottish farms.

The ClimateXchange report considers 20 options to reduce emissions including changes in management of fertiliser, soil and manure, livestock feeding and energy use.

Some of these changes require an investment in new tools, equipment or other installations on farm.

Scotland is being represented at this week's Swedish Rural Parliament, one of the largest gatherings for rural development in Europe.

Bill Sturrock, a member of Angus LEADER Local Action Group, and Sarah Hyslop, Ayrshire LEADER Programme Manager, are being supported by the Scottish Rural Network to attend the event.

The Swedish Rural Parliament event takes place in Visby, Gotland from 27 to 29 May. The theme for 2016 is 'Towards a balanced country'.

The Scottish Rural Parliament are holding events across the country to help them create a Manifesto for Rural Scotland.

Ann-Marie Meikle and Don Morrison from the Scottish Rural Network Support Unit attended events in Inverclyde on 4 May and Newtonmore on 17 May to find out more.

Share your views about the European Innovation Partnership 'Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability' (EIP-AGRI) in a short online survey.

The agricultural European Innovation Partnership (EIP-AGRI) works to foster competitive and sustainable farming and forestry that 'achieves more and better from less'. It was launched in 2012 by the European Commission.

Rural Manifesto event - Laurencekirk

Take part in one of the Scottish Rural Parliament's Rural Manifesto 2016 events and fill in the blank pages together with all of rural Scotland!

The Manifesto will be a statement of collective ambitions and the actions that are needed to ensure these ambitions are realised for all of our rural communities.

Refreshments will be provided.

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