Rural services

Thirty tourism businesses, social enterprises and community groups have been supported to help the South of Scotland become one of the leading cycling destinations in the world.

The £300,000 South of Scotland Cycling Infrastructure Fund provided capital grants of £3,000 to £25,000 to the organisations who own visitor facing assets to invest in their cycling facilities.

If you are seeking to get a job in land-based sectors, then the Lantra Scotland website is an invaluable source of information and support.

Wood-burning stoves, bioenergy and peat heating will now be permitted in new homes and buildings following a review of the New Build Heat Standard commissioned by ministers earlier this year.

An amendment to regulations made today permits the installation of bioenergy and peat main heating systems - and any type of secondary heating systems - in new buildings from 1 January 2025, while maintaining the prohibition on mains gas and oil boilers as a main heating system.

A call for farmers, crofters and others working in agriculture not to bottle up their worries, particularly after recent announcements, has come from RSABI, the charity which supports people in Scottish agriculture.

With widespread concern in the agricultural community about the potential impact of the Budget last week, the charity is urging people to avoid being caught up in an anxiety cycle, fuelled by social media and wider coverage.