Food and drink

Almost £550,000 of LEADER funding has been awarded to projects following the first round of decision making meetings with the Dumfries & Galloway LEADER Local Action Group.

Funding of £549,901.35 has been awarded to projects with a total value of £1,250,258.26. Supported projects were varied and include both The Whithorn Trust’s Iron Age Roundhouse which explores the history and heritage of the region, as well as farm diversification funding to provide an alpaca trekking experience!

The European Innovation Partnership 'Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability' (EIP-AGRI) is calling for experts for three new focus groups.

EIP-AGRI are encouraging people involved in agroforestry, dairy farming or tending vineyards to apply to be part of the Focus Groups and work with 19 other experts from across Europe.

In just over two months and with more than 1,400 investors from over 20 countries, the investment total soared above the £1.5 million target to make a community-owned distillery project a success.  This is believed to be Scotland's largest community share offer to date.

Founder, John F. McKenzie, GlenWyvis Community Benefit Society, said:

Enjoy a taste of Scotland’s seasonal larder by joining in with the newest local food project from the Forth Environment Link (FEL). 

The Stirling Food Hub aims to bring local food to local plates by connecting more of us with locally produced food. Later this year Striling Food Hub plan to host Stirling’s Food Assembly which will allow people to click on-line and collect a selection of local seasonal treats from the Cycle Hub.

Becky Pankhurst, the FEL Food Co-ordinator said:

New Blue Deal workshop

This one-day workshop is an opportunity to discuss Scottish coastal communities, coastal economy and marine environment.

It wants to bring together:

  • Private, public, third-sector stakeholders representing coastal and marine issues in Scotland (incl. fisheries, aquaculture, energy, tourism, coastal management)
  • Stakeholders representing the interests of Scottish coastal communities (including local councils, coastal partnerships, community groups, business networks)

You will talk about:

Sarah Hyslop, Ayrshire LEADER Programme Manager, shares her experiences and reflections from the recent Swedish Rural Parliament event which took place in Visby, Gotland, Sweden from 27 to 29 May 2016.

Twenty farms across Scotland will be opening their gates as part of Open Farm Sunday 2016.

This year's Open Farm Sunday takes place on 5 June. The annual celebration managed by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) sees farms across the UK welcome visitors to their farms.

Open Farm Sunday - North Balluderon Farm

Caroline and Ross Millar are set to welcome hundreds of people on to their farm as part of Open Farm Sunday on Sunday 5th June.

Scotland is being represented at this week's Swedish Rural Parliament, one of the largest gatherings for rural development in Europe.

Bill Sturrock, a member of Angus LEADER Local Action Group, and Sarah Hyslop, Ayrshire LEADER Programme Manager, are being supported by the Scottish Rural Network to attend the event.

The Swedish Rural Parliament event takes place in Visby, Gotland from 27 to 29 May. The theme for 2016 is 'Towards a balanced country'.

The Scottish Rural Parliament are holding events across the country to help them create a Manifesto for Rural Scotland.

Ann-Marie Meikle and Don Morrison from the Scottish Rural Network Support Unit attended events in Inverclyde on 4 May and Newtonmore on 17 May to find out more.

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