Forestry and woodlands

A recent two-day conference celebrated rising interest in trees on crofts and saw the launch of a best practice handbook.

180 delegates from across the crofting counties gathered in Boat of Garten on 9 and 10 May 2019 at the conference hosted by the Croft Woodlands Project. 

The event celebrated nearly thirty years of croft woodlands since the Crofter Forestry Act of 1991, as well as four years of the Croft Woodlands Project.  Attendees heard from speakers including Woodland Trust CEO Beccy Speight and Scottish Forestry CEO Jo O’Hara.

A new alliance has launched which aims to ensure that Scotland cares for, improves and benefits from its landscapes.

People from over 60 national organisations gathered at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh for the launch of Scotland's Landscape Alliance on 25 April 2019.

Recognising excellence, innovation and outstanding achievement in nature conservation, the eighth annual Nature of Scotland Awards co-sponsored by Scottish Natural Heritage are open for applications until 4 June.

SLE Annual Spring Conference 2019 - Maximising the Margins

‘Maximising the margins’ – the theme of this year’s conference – will explore land use in our more challenging and fragile areas. The event will look in depth at how rural business can rise to the challenge of increasing social, economic and environmental benefits.

The conference will examine how to maximise:

Sustainable Land Management

To look at opportunities for sustainable land management/community farming/new ways of farming the land.

Find out more

The health and genetics of red squirrels reintroduced to woodlands in the Scottish Highlands by conservation charity Trees for Life are to be studied by scientists at the University of Edinburgh. 

Update 10 April 2019, please note this article has been updated to reflect the extended deadline for applications.

The 2019 Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) round is currently open to applications and closes on 17 April 2019.

How to Plant Trees on Your Farm

A practical day event exploring the benefits of planting and managing trees on your land, including the chance to have a go at planting. Includes:

  • Visit to Tulluch Tea croft (225) to look at planting trees and hedges for better land management
  • Visit to Migdale Woods to find out how to get more out of the trees you have
  • Hands-on planting demonstration
  • Funding information from Forestry Commission Scotland and the Woodland Trust Scotland

The next round of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) has opened for applications today (17 January).

AECS is part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme. It supports environmentally-friendly land management practices that aim to safeguard and improve Scotland's natural heritage and help businesses adapt to climate change.

Making Woodland Work for You: creation and funding

Supported by Central Scotland Green Network Trust

A practical event looking at the benefits of woodland creation and how to fund it, as well as how to manage existing woodland.

Sheep and beef farmer Andrew Barbour of Mains of Fincastle, Pitlochry, will be talking about his experience of planting trees.

Other speakers are from Forestry Commission Scotland, Woodland Trust, Scottish Woodlands and SRUC.

Come along to discover what trees can do for your farm business.

Free to farmers, foresters and land managers.

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