Land

The community-led Lanarkshire LEADER Local Development Strategy has been launched.

The strategy sets out the priorities and objectives against which applications for funding will be assessed by the Lanarkshire LEADER Programme until 2020. A new development is the inclusion of part of the North Lanarkshire rural area to the south of Cumbernauld and east of Airdrie and Wishaw.

South Lanarkshire Council Provost, Councillor Eileen Logan unveiled the new strategy at Clydesdale Community Initiatives (CCI) in Lanark recently.

The Scottish Islands Federation (SIF) is pulling together a report on the challenges and opportunities that matter most to Scotland’s island communities and needs as many groups as possible to take part in its survey ‘Meeting the Challenges – Scotland’s Island Communities’.

Have your say on the Horizon 2020 ‘Food Security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy’ Work Programme 2018-2020.

The European Commission is carrying out a public consultation on this work programme and is welcoming contributions from all citizens and organisations.

The Tyne Esk LEADER Programme was formally launched at twin events -  the Haddington Show on the 2 July and the Dalkeith Show on 9 July 2016.

Both events were well attended by, primarily, famers and families and the Tyne Esk LEADER stall was kept busy answering questions and entertaining children.  LEADER LAG members as well as the staff team were on hand at the stall throughout the two days.

The Big Lottery Fund has launched a new multi-million pound programme to support community-led projects to develop or build assets for community use.

Through the new Community Assets fund, groups can apply for grants from £10,000 to £1 million to buy, build or develop buildings and land. Between now and 2020, up to £45 million is available through the fund in Scotland.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) wants to hear your views on nine big issues in the Park including flood management, housing and economic development.

The Big Park Big Questions consultation has been launched to gather views on the key issues to be addressed in the next National Park Partnership Plan 2017-2022 - a management plan for the Park which sets out a vision and overarching strategy for managing the area.

The Scottish Government’s ‘Highland Self Build Loan Fund’ is now accepting applications

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:

A new documentary highlighting access to land issues across Europe is available to watch online. 

The 'Land for our Food' film follows the journey of Gavin Bridger, a grower from the Community Supported Agriculture project of Farnham Local Food in England, through various European countries in his quest of accessing land for agroecological farming.

The 34-minute 'road trip'  film was produced by the Access to Land network, a European network of grassroots organisations securing land for agroecological farming.

Know a farmer or farm business that deserves recognition? Enter or make a nomination for the British Farming Awards 2016 by 15 July.

Now in its fourth year, the awards recognise the hard work, innovation and determination of farming and showcase the achievements of farmers working in the UK agricultural industry.