Rural services

High quality, nutritious food locally and sustainably produced is key to our wellbeing – in economic, environmental, social and health terms.

The Scottish Government has set out the list of measures for the Agricultural Reform Programme (ARP) and has stated:

Farmers are well known for hard work and dedication to their stock - but one thing that has now become apparent is how dedicated they should also be to their mental health.  With long hours of work on a daily basis, alot of this being lone working and huge financial strain in such difficult times farmers are faced with a huge mental health struggle.

A route map and list of draft measures has been published by The Scottish Government which provides further clarity on how they intend to deliver the ambitions set out in the Vision for Agriculture, published in March 2022.

Projects returning former industrial or derelict sites to community use will be more likely to be approved following the introduction of long term planning reforms.

Scotland has achieved its highest ever reported score in an international survey which asks 60,000 adults from 20 countries what their perceptions are of 60 nations.

The Nation Brands Index (NBI) 2022 survey scores and ranks countries across six dimensions including Culture, Tourism, Governance, Immigration and Investment, Exports, and People.

Hospitality businesses will be able to place tables and chairs on the pavement outside their premises without submitting a planning application under measures expected to come into force at the end of next month.

The 

NatureScot will hold the first Nature Restoration Jobs and Skills Conference on the 13th March, giving prime opportunity for delegates to hear from a range of speakers on Scotland’s ambition for nature restoration.