Forestry and woodlands

Plans to protect at least 30% of Scotland’s land for nature by 2030 – and to examine options to extend this further – have been announced today by Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham.

The Chief Veterinary Officers for Scotland, England, and Wales have agreed to bring in new measures to help protect poultry and captive birds, following a number of cases of avian influenza in both wild and captive birds in the UK.

New measures to increase the maximum available penalties for the worst cases of animal cruelty have come in to force.

Taking effect from 30 November, the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 increases the maximum penalty for the most serious animal welfare and wildlife crimes to five years imprisonment and unlimited fines.

Introduction to Seed Saving in Scotland Online Course

Seed production training courses for 2021 - enroll now –

With the Seed Sov programme planning for another 3 years, an ambitious seed training programme will be rolled out in Scotland over two years. These courses aim to train seed savers in Scotland to a professional level. The focus is primarilly on vegetable seeds and specifically for Scottish growing conditions.

Forestry Jobs Summit: Securing the future of Scotland's Forestry Sector

Scottish Forest & Timber Technologies Industry Leadership Group are hosting an online summit looking at the future of skills in Scotland.

About this Event

Sheep and Trees Q&A: Small woodland creation on your farm

The Sheep and Trees grant for small woodlands (up to 50 hectares) is unusual in that it can be used to fund infrastructure too. Sheep and beef farmer Andrew Whiteford used his to create a road leading to woodland on 3500-acre Burnfoot Farm in Dumfries and Galloway. Join Soil Association Scotland with Andrew, woodland creation consultant Peter Atkinson, and Woodland Officer Andrew Kitching of Scottish Forestry, to discuss:

Scottish Government and Scottish Forestry are establishing a new demonstrator network of farms, crofts and estates across Scotland, to raise awareness of the multiple benefits that planting trees can bring to an agricultural business. These include but are not limited to: providing shelter for livestock; habitat for wildlife; reducing carbon footprint; providing future income from timber; and prevention of flooding. The aim is to encourage more trees to be planted on Scottish farmland, in the right place, for

Find out about some current rural development jobs and vacancies in rural areas.

Development Manager - John O’Groats Mill Trust 

Planting Trees to Diversify Your Farm: Woodland creation, management and funding

For over 40 years, the Lockett family has been slowly but steadily planting trees on their farm in the Highlands, and using them to diversify their activity. Richard Lockett, also of the Scottish Farming and Wildlife Advisors Group (SCOTFWAG), will discuss how, as well as using the trees for livestock shelter and for wood fuel, they have created public woodland, wetlands and wildflower meadows and opened a B&B. Come along to discuss:

Six Farm Conservation Advisers, members of the Scottish Farming and Wildlife Advisers Group (ScotFWAG), have worked with over 60 Scottish farmers to create habitat benefiting many species of birds and bees.  The farmers involved in the project stretch from Shetland and Orkney to The Borders.

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