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.

No experience or prior knowledge of rural issues is necessary. We are also looking for the ‘less heard voices’ in the communities to come along and share their views.

The overall purpose of the programme is to support and strengthen community inclusion in decision making about how local land is used.

Who is it for?

These webinars are for anyone living in:

• North East Scotland 

• Loch Lomond & the Trossachs 

• South Scotland

who is interested in land use, food production, nature and climate change.

Following these webinars, we will deliver a series of online sessions with four local communities in these areas to explore ways to help tackle climate change and encourage nature, identify sustainable land-based opportunities for local people, and give voice to the communities’ needs and wishes through developing a shared vision for future land use.

This programme is funded by the Scottish Government through the Scottish Rural Network and is delivered by the Social Enterprise Academy, which provides transformational learning and development programmes for people and organisations working for social change. It is working with the pilot Regional Land Use Partnerships in North-East Scotland, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and South Scotland.

• Hear from inspirational land use speakers from across Scotland

• Explore ways to help tackle climate change and encourage nature through land use change

• Identify sustainable land-based opportunities for local people

• Share your own experiences, thoughts and ideas

Guest Speakers

Thursday 25 August:

• Angela Williams, Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, Langholm: community land purchase of 5,200 acres, aims to help tackle climate change, restore nature & support community regeneration

• Alan McDonnell / Stephanie Kiel, Affric Highlands: rewilding partnership demonstrating the interdependence of nature, people and business

Tuesday 30 August:

•  Pete Ritchie, Nourish Scotland: charity focusing on food policy and practice.   Pete will share his views on  farming with nature and the development of a more sustainable food system

• Andrew Donaldson, Comrie Croft, Crieff: 231 acre estate providing tourist accommodation, café, farm shop, bike shop & space for local businesses to thrive and work collaboratively