Land

Have your say on a plan setting out key priorities for the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park by taking part in a public consultation.

Views are currently being sought on the draft National Park Partnership Plan 2018-2023 which sets out a vision for how the Park Authority and its partners will work together to further develop the benefits the National Park can offer Scotland's environment, society, culture and economy.

Scottish Rural Action has released its draft Action Plan for 2017-19.

Scottish Rural Action (SRA) is a non-profit, apolitical organisation which is completely independent of Government. They are a company formed with the dual purpose of developing and organising Scotland’s Rural Parliament and supporting the development of a rural movement. 

The draft Action Plan for 2017-19 focuses on key policy areas as voted for at the Rural Parliament in 2016:

The new Scottish Land Commission became operational on 1 April 2017.

The new organisation was created under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 and comprises six Commissioners, including a Tenant Farming Commissioner.

The Scottish Land Commission will help to take forward the Scottish Government's priorities for land reform, with functions including Commissioners giving advice to the Scottish Government and to those directly and indirectly involved in land.

Scottish Rural Action have a number of volunteering opportunities available.

Scottish Rural Action (SRA) is a non-profit, apolitical organisation which is completely independent of Government. They are a company formed with the dual purpose of developing and organising Scotland’s Rural Parliament and supporting the development of a rural movement.

The organisation is currently seeking volunteers for a number of roles.

A forestry apprentice from Dumfries took home the top prize at Lantra Scotland's fifteenth Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards.

The Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme (AECS) has opened for applications today (30 January 2017).

AECS is part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP). The AECS scheme promotes land management practices which protect and enhance Scotland’s magnificent natural heritage, improve water quality, manage flood risk and mitigate and adapt to climate change. It will also help to improve public access and preserve historic sites.

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on the long-term management of the Crown Estate in Scotland.

The consultation opened on 4 January 2017 and seeks your views on how the Crown Estate should be managed in the future and what reforms are needed.

Four projects have recently been awarded funding from the Scottish Land Fund.

The Pairc Trust in the South Lochs area of the Western Isles, Kirkliston Village Hall Association on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Crossroads Community Hub in East Ayrshire and Cairndow Community Childcare Ltd in Argyll and Bute share in £174,638 from the Scottish Land Fund.

The Pairc Trust receives £50,621 to purchase the former Elderly Care Unit at Gravir which it will renovate to provide an affordable family home for rent.

Dumfries and Galloway LEADER Local Action Group are delighted, in a backdrop of change, to have committed £867,041.10 to a mix of community, enterprise and farm diversification projects since March 2016.

Scottish Rural Action have launched their full Manifesto for Rural Scotland.

The manifesto was released in draft form in September 2016 and was officially launched at the Scottish Rural Action AGM in Perth on 9 December.

During the second Scottish Rural Parliament event held in Brechin, Angus in October, delegates had the chance to propose changes to the wording and additions to the content of the manifesto before it was agreed on by those in attendance at the event.

Amanda Burgauer, chair of Scottish Rural Action, said: