Scotland: National Rural Network
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to complete the short online survey that is currently being carried out on the website by Ipsos MORI. The survey closes on 10th February, which is just days away. So if you haven't taken part in the survey yet, don't miss your opportunity to have your say on the website. The survey should only take between five and ten minutes to complete. Take part in the survey.
Booking is now open for the regional events in Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway. The Scottish Borders event takes place on Tuesday 16th February at Springwood Hall, Kelso. The Dumfries and Galloway event takes place on Wednesday 17th February at Lockerbie Town Hall. You can get further details and links to the booking forms in Book now for South of Scotland regional events.
The Moray regional event took place on 29th January at the Inchberry Hall in Fochabers. Despite snow, icy road conditions and a traffic diversion around 75 delegates participated. The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead gave the opening address. You can get photos, presentations and event reports from the day in our Rural Network Regional Events archive.
Due to adverse weather conditions it was decided to close the event after a networking lunch. We've started the What's working well in Moray? discussion topic so you can share your stories about what's worked well and what you think could be built on for the future in the Moray area.
The Gathering 2010 is the largest voluntary sector event in the UK. At the SCVO Rural stand, you'll be able to find out more about the work of the Scottish National Rural Network, Rural Direct and rural funding opportunities. The event takes place on 18th and 19th February at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and it's free to attend. Find out more in Visit the SCVO Rural Stand at the Gathering 2010.
South of Scotland walking festivals share knowledgeWalking Festival organisers in the South of Scotland recently got together to share knowledge and consider ways of working together for mutual benefit. You can get a note from the meeting in our documents library - a must for anyone involved in organising this type of event. Thanks to Pip Tabor from Southern Uplands Partnership for getting in touch with the meeting notes to be shared on the Rural Network website. This is exactly the kind of collaborative working and sharing of best practice we want to promote.
Logie Old Graveyard Group was one of the projects highlighted during the discussion session at the recent Scottish National Rural Network regional event in Callander. They've contributed an informative and in-depth article for our Featured Projects section which I'm sure will be useful to others carrying out graveyard projects or historic renovations. Find out more in Featured Project: Logie Old Graveyard Group.
A new comment has been added to our Eco Loos discussion forum with links to papers from the Dry Toilet Conference in Finland and information on an experimental toilet at Corrour bothy in the Cairngorms National Park.
The next meeting of the Cairngorm Farmers Forum takes place on 23rd February in Grantown. The event has a focus on the future of farm subsidies and support. Brian Pack, Chair of the Inquiry into the Future of Agricultural Support and Peter Cook author of the recent review of the Scotland Rural Development Programme will both be giving presentations at the event. Find out more our Events Calendar.
A series of workshops for farmers looking to access funding through Rural Priorities is taking place in Fife and Forth Valley. These evening workshops, organised by Stirling Enterprise, will equip farmers with the IT and web know-how to apply to the online grant scheme. Find out more in Rural Priorities workshops for farmers in Forth Valley and Fife.
The Scottish Forest Industries Cluster and Forestry Commission Scotland have organised a series of half-day workshops for forestry businesses to learn more about the diverse range of opportunities afforded through the Rural Priorities mechanism of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP). You can get more information in our events calendar.
Eat Fresh, Eat SeasonalA new campaign has been launched urging us to Eat Fresh, Eat Seasonal and make use of Scotland's world-class larder. The initiative was launched by Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead and Michelin-star chef Tom Kitchin in Edinburgh recently. In New campaign urges us to Eat Fresh, Eat Seasonal you can find out more and watch a couple of videos from the launch. If you like the look of the food being cooked, look out for recipes from the campaign coming to the website over the coming weeks.
From June to October 2010 a diverse programme of events and activities are taking place in the Trossachs to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott's poem 'Lady of the Lake'. Grants are available to help community group and businesses mark the anniversary. You can get more information in Grants available to join Scottsland celebrations.
News has been added by the MacAulay Land Use Research Institute about a new exhibition that they've supported with a Knowledge Exchange Grant to Lanarkshire-based artist Carol Taylor. The 'Beauty and the Bog' exhibition is taking place in West Linton and aims to raise awareness of the importance of peatbogs. You can find out more in Beauty and the Bog: Raising Public Awareness of the importance and beauty of bogs.
The Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centre and Fife Council have teamed up to make it easy and affordable for home owners in Fife to install solar water heating. You can find out more in Affordable solar water heating for Fifers.
In our Rural Jobs Round Up: February 2010 you'll find links to some current vacancies including an Empty Homes Coordinator and two posts at environmental education charity Wild Things!
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