Land

Scottish Forestry are funding a limited number of free Farm Woodland Assessments within the Central Scotland Green Network, which covers an area stretching from Ayrshire and Inverclyde in the west to Fife and the Lothians in the east.

The assessments will allow farmers the opportunity to assess their landholding for potential planting with no future obligations.

MSPs have backed legislation that will transform how the Scottish Government supports farming and food production.

The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill will ensure the Scottish Government can help farmers and crofters to produce more food more sustainably, supporting their essential role in climate mitigation and nature restoration. It will allow for a framework of payments that is responsive to the sector’s needs.

The Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) ‘Growing Food Together’ Fund is once again offering a cash boost to community growing projects across the whole of Scotland.

Work to develop Scotland's Rural Delivery Plan (RDP) continues to be taken forward by Scottish Government and helping to inform this programme is the work of the Rural Exchange.

A consultation has been launched by the Scottish Government to identify ways to support the future of crofting across rural and island Scotland.  

The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) latest briefing covers the subject of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Key areas covered include:

The Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund, which supports community-led project groups in Scotland to design and deliver local nature restoration projects, is now open to applications.

The aim of the Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund is to help communities develop their own ideas for nature restoration into deliverable actions.

The Scottish Government has launched a survey: 'Developing a natural capital market framework: survey' to support development of a market framework. 

Natural capital is our geology, soil, air, water, plants and animals and we depend on it for goods and services that make our lives possible and worthwhile.