Arts, culture and heritage

Many of Scotland’s most popular natural sites are receiving a staffing boost this summer, with Scottish Government funding of £900,000 to support better visitor management and help safeguard the environment for visitors and local communities.

The NatureScot Better Places funding will go directly to 24 countryside, coast and island projects across Scotland, enabling an additional 62 staff to be employed this summer across Scotland.

People in Stranraer are being invited to have their say on a £5m funding bid to kickstart a radical transformation of the town’s economy, community services and local infrastructure. A draft Place Plan for Stranraer has been published which will shape the development of Stranraer over the next 10 years, and it’s now out for formal consultation. 

The Natural & Cultural Heritage Fund (NCHF) has been hailed a success for supporting 13 major new projects showcasing the outstanding local scenery, wildlife, and culture of the Highlands & Islands.

Scottish Rural Action (SRA) have announced that this year, the fifth Scottish Rural and Islands Parliament (SRIP) will take place from the 1st to the 3rd of November in Fort William at the Nevis Centre. This year's main theme is 'village halls and community spaces'.
 

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has confirmed £9.5 million funding for Scotland’s flagship Youth Music Initiative (YMI) this year. This includes £500,000 which has been ringfenced to deliver on the commitment to expand the YMI model into other art forms.

YMI funding enables schools and other organisations to provide quality music-making activities for children and young people, which range from after-school drum bands to courses in sound production.

The Economy and Fair Work Committee want to know what you think about proposed Royal Mail service changes, and the impact of recent strikes.

Communities across Scotland are being asked to consider whether their local area could be designated as the country’s newest national park.

Individuals, groups or organisations considering making a proposal can now register early interest. 

The Noss ferry has resumed service this season and NatureScot staff are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to the spectacular island, which is home to thousands of seabirds each summer.

Last summer both of NatureScot’s island reserves, Noss and the Isle of May, were closed to help protect seabirds from a devastating outbreak of avian flu.