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

Managed by Make It Happen

The aim of this project is to provide volunteering opportunities to encourage learning, development and training opportunities that will improve employability, mental and physical health, reduce stress and isolation and encourage exercise - members of the rural areas will come otgether to forge a strong sense of community.

The founder of a rural Garden Centre has taken home a cash prize of £1000 and the title of 'Young Entrepreneur of the Year' at the 2009 Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) Highland regional awards. Twenty-six-year-old Katrina McDowell, founder of the Old Orchard Garden Centre, accepted the prize at an awards ceremony held at the Town House in Inverness on 16th September.

It was an everyday ordinary sort of day, a trip to Inverness was called for, a visit to the Garden Centre to take an amble amidst the horticultural blooms and the gardening accessories followed by coffee and cake, what a grand idea, so that's what I did.

Managed by Kintyre Environment Group

By Patrick Vickery

On occasion we sell plants at Dornoch Market, you know, and may expand this enterprise further in the future. Indeed, we had a stall at Tain Vintage Car Rally last month (cracking event, good weather and well organised as always by that "man in a kilt" and friends) where a good blether was had by all.

Organisation: Edinburgh Butterfly & Insect World
 Area: Midlothian

To create examples of gardens that could attract native butterflies and moths within the Edinburgh Butterfly and Insect World. Community members will assist in the development of the gardens and will be asked to participate in the activities throughout the year.

Ailsa Clark tells us about the Bute-based Local Produce Community Solutions project. What are the aims of the project? How is funded? And what are their top tips for others? You can find out here.