Scotland: National Rural Network
Editor's NoteThis week's newsletter is a bumper packed edition. I'm delighted to announce the launch of our new photo competition - Seasons of Rural Scotland. Also just in are the responses to your questions to our Village Halls panel of experts in our latest Ask an Expert feature. We're asking you to comment on your priorities for rural Scotland. And don't miss out on the chance to attend a major rural event taking place in Edinburgh next month. You'll get more information on all these stories, and more, below!
Our new photo competition challenges you to capture the 'Seasons of Rural Scotland'. We're looking for your photos of community events, landscapes, wildlife, sporting events - anything at all as long as it reflects one of the four seasons! The competition launches today, 27th August, and will run until 31st August 2011 with quarterly deadlines for photos of each of the seasons: Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. We're also running a competition for young photographers with two age categories - up to 12 and 13 to 18. You can get more information and find out how to enter in Seasons of Rural Scotland photo competition.
Our Village Hall panel of experts - Chrissy Boyd of Ullapool Village Hall, Philippa Wetton of Berwickshire Association for Voluntary Service and Sandra Hogg of the Rural Team at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations - have answered your questions in our latest Ask an Expert feature. You can see their responses to queries on a wide range of issues from renewables to community ownership in Ask an Expert - Village Halls. And if you have further information or experience to share then please add your comments to the article.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to attend a major rural event and network with people from across Europe's rural communities. The EU Rural Cooperation Fair takes place on 23rd and 24th September in Edinburgh. If you're interested in attending go to Register now for EU Rural Cooperation Fair.
The Scottish Government are using the Scotland National Rural Network website to gather views as part of the Speak Up for Rural Scotland consultation. The consultation document includes 37 proposed Step Changes from the Rural Development Council, covering a wide range of rural issues from land management to transport. You can make general comments or comment on one of six consultation questions. This week we're focussing on Question 2: What are the priorities? Comments so far have raised the importance of sustainable food production. And we've also had an interesting comment about the importance of tourism and the opportunities a National Park offers.
In July a conference on the public debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy was held in Brussels. You can now get presentations and watch videos from the event online. You can find out more in CAP debate conference information online. Also, the latest edition of Rural News from the European Network for Rural Development has a focus on the public debate on the CAP post-2013.
Fifteen projects have been shortlisted for Dumfries & Galloway LEADER's Rural Awards 2010. The projects will all feature in D&G LEADER's third Good Practice Guide. One project in each of five categories will receive special recognition at an awards ceremony on 12th November at Eastriggs Hall, Dumfries. To find out which projects are in the running go to Shortlists for D&G Rural Awards announced.
The community of Sleat on Skye need to raise £20,000 by the end of the year to help fund an acquisition to bring Tormore Forest into community ownership. They've launched a fundraising campaign asking 1,000 people to sponsor 1,000 acres of woodland at £20 an acre. Find out more in Sleat fundraise for community woodland.
On the Social Enterprise Academy's Ignite Residential, you and 20 other social entrepreneurs will identify key motivations, clarify your goals and plan the next steps for your organisation's growth. Ignite is for established social enterprises who want to take their organisations to the next level. The course takes place from 29th October to 1st November at Houston House near Edinburgh. You can find out more in our Events Calendar.
Trellis is the national Scottish charity that supports, promotes and develops the use of horticulture to improve health, wellbeing and life opportunities for all. A number of queries have come into their office this month - can you help or offer any suggestions? You can find out more in the Trellis gardening related queries - can you help? Bulletin Board posting.
The digital television switchover for those served by the Durris transmitter is happening soon. The Durris transmitter serves an area in the north east of Scotland which includes Tomintoul, Braemar, Tullich, Gartley Moor, Banff, Roseharty, Boddam, Ellon, Balgowrie, Lumphanan, Gourdon and Brechin. You can find out more in Durris digital switchover coming soon.
As the Big Lottery Fund are currently on tour around Scotland, this week's Blog of the Week is The BIG Blog! If you write a rural blog and would like it to feature in our Blogs section send a link to editor@ruralgateway.org.uk.
Remember, as a registered user of the website you can add your own content directly to the site including news, bulletin board postings, forum topics and events. You can find step by step instructions on how to add your content on the aptly named How to add content page. Content added will be included in the weekly newsletter which goes out to thousands of people across rural Scotland and beyond.
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