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

If you're interested in youth projects, community retailing and environmental improvements such as community gardens, then our Rural Network Project Visits are for you. There is still time to register an interest in attending one of our three visits taking place in February and March.

The events are a great chance to meet with people working on projects and initiatives similar to your own, to visit a successful project and share ideas and experiences. Each visit begins with an evening meal and overnight stay, followed by a day visiting the project.

Rural Network Regional Coordinator Bev Maclean said, "We are delighted to have three excellent rural projects working with us hosting these themed visits. As last year's successful series of events proved, these small, focussed visits are a great way to meet like-minded people, share knowledge and experience and to be inspired."

Young, Gifted and Rural - yipworld.com

Our visit to the award winning youth project yipworld.com takes place on 8th February (overnight stay on 7th February). We are delighted to be able to offer the opportunity of a visit to yipworld.com, an award winning social enterprise which specialises in delivering innovative projects and offers exciting opportunities for the young people of East Ayrshire. The deadline for registering your interest for the Young, Gifted and Rural Project Visit is 22nd January. You can get more information on the Young, Gifted and Rural Project Visit page.

Community Retailing - Kirkmichael Village Shop

Our Community Retailing Project Visit takes place on 13th March (overnight 12th March) at Kirkmichael Village Shop near Blairgowrie. We're delighted to be working with Community Retailing Scotland to bring you this event. In the autumn of 2008 the shop with its post office, café and attached petrol pump was put up for sale. With no interested parties coming forward the local residents began investigating the options for a community buy-out and in February 2009 the Strathardle Community Interest Company was formed with the intent of securing the shop and developing it as a social enterprise. The shop has been running successfully since it was formally opened in July 2009, supported by the five local unpaid directors of the CIC and staffed by seven local people working on a part time basis. The deadline for registering your interest in this visit is 19th February and you can get more information on the Community Retailing Project Visit page.

Environmental Improvements - Scents & Sensitivities Garden & Trail

If you're interested in community gardens, paths, natural trails etc then our Environmental Improvements project visit is for you. This event takes place on 20th March (overnight 19th March) at the Auchinstarry Basin, Croy by Cumbernauld. It's a great chance to find out more about the Waterways Trust Scotland's Scents and Sensitivities trail. During two phases over three years the project transformed the area into a place where walkers, cyclists, boaters and visitors to the area can sit and enjoy the canal and natural environmental. Over 200 children and adults were involved in the creation of the garden and there are now willow tunnels, secret dells and a time totem. You can find out more on the Environmental Improvements Project Visit page. The deadline for registering your interest for this event is 19th February.