Scotland: National Rural Network
The regional events programme of the Scottish National Rural Network kicks off again on Tuesday 19th January at the McLaren Leisure Centre in Callander. This Forth Valley & Lomond event has a theme of Rural Development and the Environment, and well over 100 people have already booked to attend.
Booking is also open for the Moray event which takes place on 29th January at Inchberry Hall, Fochabers. Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment will be attending the event and giving the opening remarks. You can get more information in Book now for Moray Rural Network regional event.
Dates and venues for all the regional events have now been finalised. You can get details on our new Regional Events page. We're looking forward to getting out and about and meeting lots of people who use the Rural Network website. We'll also be bringing you reports, photos and more from each of the events.
As a registered user you can add your own news, events, forum topics and bulletin board announcements to the website. And now it's even easier as we've recently uploaded a step-by-step guide to take you through the process. If you have any queries then just get in touch by emailing editor@ruralgateway.org.uk or call 01463 251 733.
A series of public meetings has been announced as part of the consultative phase of Brian Pack's Inquiry into the Future of Agricultural Support in Scotland. The interim report from the Inquiry will be published next week. You can get more information here.
Don't forget to take a look at our Freezebusters feature and tell us how you and your community has been pulling together during the big freeze. We've had a great response to the Big Freeze Gallery - with lots of you sending in photos of the country under snow and ice. You can send your photos to editor@ruralgateway.org.uk for inclusion.
NFU Scotland have set up special helplines to assist their members during these challenging weather conditions. Collapsed buildings, lack of fuel on farm and access to livestock are the three most significant problems facing farmers. You can find out more in NFUS set up helplines to help farmers cope with big freeze.
After weeks of sub-zero temperatures, the forecast is for a gradual warming up. Blocked drains and burst pipes are just two of the potential problems and the Scottish Government have set out some actions that you can take to help avoid flooding. You can get more information in Top tips to help cope with the thaw.
The O4O: Older people for older people project is a transnational project working in the Highlands, Dumfries and Galloway, Northern Ireland, Finland, Sweden and Greenland. Their aims include promoting older people as a positive force and encouraging inter-generational learning. You can find out more about the project, including their top tips for others, in our latest Featured Project.
If you want to find out about Community Empowerment and get examples of it in action then take a look at the Scottish Government's new Community Empowerment newsletter. You can find out more on our Bulletin Board.
Consumer Focus Scotland are currently looking for new home-based volunteers. So, if you're interested in consumer isues such as education, the environment, health and housing then take a look at the Appeal for new volunteers bulletin board announcement.
The Beauly to Denny powerline upgrade has been approved. Around 600 pylons with an average height of 53 metres will replace existing pylons. What do you think about the development? Are you concerned about the impact on the landscape? Or do you think benefits of harnessing energy outweigh any negative impacts? You can share your views by going to Beauly to Denny powerline upgrade approved and adding your comment.
Your Enterprise: Highlands UnbridledIn our latest Your Enterprise feature you can find out about Highlands Unbridled, a Brora-based company offering pony trekking and riding holidays. You can find out more about the business, including where they went for help and advice and their top tips for others in Your Enterprise: Highlands Unbridled.
The Highlands and Islands Social Enterprise Zone annual conference will take place in Inverness on 26th February. The key speaker will be John Bird, founder of the Big Issue. You can get further details in our events calendar.
A double workshop session of the International Rural Network Forum held in Udapuir, India, last year explored how community owned and managed energy systems could improve rural livelihoods. Presentations looked at projects in Afghanistan, Africa and India. You can find out more in IRN Forum: Community owned and managed renewable energy and rural livelihoods.
Seva Mandir, an organisation based in Udaipur, helped to organise the conference. They've recently published a final report from the Forum. You can get more information in IRN Forum: Seva Mandir final report.
Twelve projects in the North East have received a share of around £310,000 from Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER. Projects include youth employment and environmental initiatives. You can find out more in LEADER funding boost for North East projects.
The Scottish Parliament Information Centre have published a briefing on the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill. You can download the briefing from our documents library.
Vol-au-vents with ex-First Ministers, flapjacks and ducks all feature in Patrick Vickery's latest Rural Rambling.
If you're embarking on a new project this year, why not take a look at our Projects Database and Featured Projects to see what others in rural Scotland are doing and to get top tips from successful projects?
Remember, as a registered user of the website you can add your own content directly to the site including news, bulletin board posting, forum topics and events. All you have to do is log in and then use the Create Content link on the right hand side of the web page.
If you want to keep up with the latest news from the Rural Network then follow SNRNwebsite on Twitter.
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