Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

At the recent Rural Gathering event held at Perth Racecourse, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment talked about a number of rural issues including rural funding, food and drink and broadband. His speech is now available on the Scottish Government website.

Around 300 delegates from across the country, and representing a broad range of interests, attended the Rural Gathering. Mr Lochhead said it had long been an ambition to bring rural Scotland together in this way. He talked about a challenges and opportunities for rural Scotland including tackling climate change, growing the economy, maintaining landscapes and biodiversity and community ownership.

He said, "I want to see a rural Scotland which goes beyond the picture postcard and presents to the world a dynamic, active, modern society, able and willing to use all the 21st century can offer whil captilising on its heritage."

You can read Mr Lochhead's speech in full on the Scottish Government website.

You can get links to other article related to the event in Rural Gathering archive.

Regional events

In his speech, Mr Lochhead announced that the Rural Gathering will be followed up by a series of 20 regional events. The first event will take place in Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire on 19th November 2009. The full programme of events will be out in mid-November and will be promoted on the Rural Network website. In the meantime, if you'd like more information on the Aberdeenshire event and the regional events programme contact Beverley Maclean on 01463 251 723 or at beverley.maclean@scvo.org.uk.