Forestry and woodlands

The Helping it Happen Awards 2022, run by Scottish Land & Estates, have announced the finalists within five of their nine categories. Each of the categories focuses on an area in which rural businesses are positively impacting Scotland’s economy and environment.

The overall focus of the Helping it Happen Awards is on recognising the role estates, farms and rural businesses play in enabling and supporting success in rural communities, rural businesses and rural landscapes.

Rewilding charity Trees for Life has finished a landmark three-year skills development project to help 15 people from diverse backgrounds pursue a career in rewilding. 

With more than 1,000 people registering their interest to take part in the ‘Skills for Rewilding’ programme across its three-year run, the pioneering project has revealed a significant demand among Scots to find practical ways to help nature and the climate. 

Lighting A Spark: Sharing Inspiring Stories about Land Use across Scotland

The webinars are an opportunity for people living in rural areas across Scotland to come together and share inspiring stories about land use, land use change and delivering benefits to local people as well as national priorities.

Almost £5 million has been today awarded to 46 projects in Scotland to improve natural habitats, safeguard plant and animal species, improve biodiversity, and tackle climate change.

From Croft Gate to Croft Plate Event 1 – Growing Fruit and Veg in Lewis and Harris

An opportunity to see the work being done by Lewis and Harris Horticultural Producers – guided tour round the polytunnels and allotments at the Lews Castle College site, followed by a Q&A session with members of the Producers.  There will also be a presentation from Laura McEwan from Horshader Community Development who will talk about community allotments and her work with Hebridean Tree Ark, a native tree nursery .

Walking and Talking trees with Andrew Adamson of Netherurd Home Farm

On farm Andrew Adamson will introduce us to Netherurd Home Farm. Talk about how he has integrated trees into his farming business over a number of years; providing shelter for stock and crops along with an alternative income stream. He'll discuss the initial thought processes, the decision to plant trees, objectives, challenges and benefits and why he is planning to plant more trees. There will also be a speaker from Scottish Forestry joining them to discuss funding and steps to woodland creation.

Walking and Talking trees with Andrew Whiteford of Burnfoot Farm

Andrew Whiteford will introduce us to Burnfoot Farm, a 3500 acre hill beef and sheep farm. He will talk about his family’s new venture into woodland creation and forest infrastructure, through the Forestry Grant Schemes Sheep and Trees grant. We'll discuss the initial thought process, the decision to plant trees, objectives, challenges and benefits to the business etc. There will also be a speaker from Scottish Forestry there to discuss funding and steps to woodland creation.

You can now share your views on the government’s long-term vision of what our natural environment needs to look like in 2045 in order to reverse biodiversity decline and protect our environment for the future. 

The consultation contains a series of proposed outcomes setting out what needs to be done, and the conditions that must be in place, in order to achieve success.

Britain’s largest rewilding initiative has been earmarked by the UK and Scottish Governments as a globally-prestigious showcase project to help nature, people and climate, as the United Nations (UN) Decade of Ecosystem Restoration steps up action to halt climate breakdown before 2030.

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