Land

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.

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.

Share your views about the European Innovation Partnership 'Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability' (EIP-AGRI) in a short online survey.

The agricultural European Innovation Partnership (EIP-AGRI) works to foster competitive and sustainable farming and forestry that 'achieves more and better from less'. It was launched in 2012 by the European Commission.