Land

Scotland’s first ever National Islands Plan was published in 2019 and is now being reviewed as required by the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, which may lead to the publication of a new National Islands Plan. 

A new report - 'Evidence to Support Development of a New Rural Support Scheme for Scotland: A summary of written outputs' - has been published.

The report covers twelve written separate reports. These provide evidence reviews, analysis, summaries and expert briefings on agriculture in Scotland, the purpose of which is to help shape future policy in order to deliver sustainable food production that tackles climate change and nature restoration.

The 2023 Scottish Smallholder Festival will move to the Royal Highland Centre, signalling the importance of smallholding to the agricultural scene in Scotland.

2023 Scottish Smallholder Festival

The Scottish Smallholder Festival is run by Smallholding Scotland, a charity set up to provide education and support for smallholders across the country. The Festival runs on a ‘not for profit’ basis, and the main organising team are all volunteers.

The use of snare traps could be banned as part of new plans to protect vulnerable wildlife and promote sustainable wildlife management.

The Scottish Government is seeking the public’s views on whether an outright ban should be put in place or if any exemptions should be considered. A snare is a thin wire noose used for catching a wild animal for the purposes of wildlife management.

Funding to help improve the health and welfare of cattle and sheep is now available for farmers and crofters.

Up to £1250 is available over two years to support a review of a flock or herd, and help farmers consider health and welfare interventions that improve performance.

Highland Good Food Partnership (HGFP) provide support and opportunities to collaborate for community food related projects in the Highlands, including community food growing and food banks.

Their members are individuals, charities or businesses who support a transition to a sustainable, more localised food system in the Highlands – and Scotland more generally – which provides social and environmental benefits for local communities.

Collaboration at landscape scale: Farmer Clusters in Scotland

Are you intrigued by the potential of collaboration at landscape scale?

Join us for this exciting online discussion about our new report and its findings - “Collaboration at landscape scale: Farmer Clusters in Scotland Project Report”. 

We will delve into the key ingredients for a successful farmer cluster, the potential barriers and solutions and the opportunities for new clusters in Scotland.

We have some brilliant speakers lined up to explore the theme:

A cooperation agreement with the French region of Brittany aims to strengthen Scotland’s position as a leader in Europe’s offshore renewables industry.

The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee is seeking your views on the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced by the Scottish Government on Tuesday 13th June 2023.

There are two ways you can share your views with the Parliament. You can:

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