Rural and Environment

  • In the news – Severe weather impact

    11th April 2019 by

    You may have seen the WWF report on the Economic Impact of Extreme Weather on Scottish Agriculture in the papers today. The report suggests that Scottish farmers lost up to £161 million due to the Beast from the East last year.

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  • This week: 29/3/19

    29th March 2019 by

    South of Scotland Enterprise debate Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing led the debate in parliament, the aim of which was to agree to the general principles of the South of Scotland Enterprise Bill. South of Scotland Enterprise has been established to take a fresh approach to the enterprise and skills needs of the South and drive inclusive...

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  • This week: 22/03/19

    22nd March 2019 by

    Pinney’s The Pinney’s factory in Annan is set to reopen in Autumn with a new owner, thanks in part to a £1.7 million Regional Selective Assistance grant from Scottish Enterprise.   Read more about Pinney’s Climate Change report Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham talked about the importance of climate change adaptation and how this week’s...

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  • This week: 15/03/19

    15th March 2019 by

    Pass It On Week Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham and Zero Waste Scotland Chief Executive Iain Gulland visited Perth Toy Library to see how re-use benefits the local community and tackles waste. Agri-tourism monitor farms Two farms have been selected to develop their food tourism business and encourage others to follow their example. Working with other...

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  • Brexit impact on Scotland’s rural economy

    13th March 2019 by

    For the whole of the Scottish Parliament’s lifetime, the rural economy has benefitted from our membership of the EU. Yet, with only 17 days from potentially leaving the EU, we still do not know if we leave with a deal or not. When and if we leave the EU, it is clear that whatever deal...

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  • Women in the Rural Economy: Part 11

    8th March 2019 by

    As we continue to celebrate International Women's Day, LANTRA Scotland's Director Dr Liz Barron-Majerik blogs on her career and experience of Scotland's Rural Economy. A ‘princess-ballerina-firefighter-scientist’. That’s what my five-year-old wants to be when she grows up. When I was her age, I wanted to be “Long Distance Clara” from Pigeon Street, probably because she got to drive a lorry and wear trousers.

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  • Women in the Rural Economy: Part 10

    8th March 2019 by

    To mark International Women's Day, Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon blogs about her experience of being a women in politics and the rural economy. I was fortunate enough to grow up surrounded by strong-minded and politically active women in my family, so discussion (or ever so slightly heated debate!) was common at home. I went through school and university quite confident, not ever considering that my gender was an issue, I suppose that only really hit me when I was elected as a councillor for the first time during my last year of university.

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  • Women in the Rural Economy: Part 9

    7th March 2019 by

    Ailsa Campbell of Campbell's Bakery in Crieff is the latest to provide an insight into the diverse and important role women play in Scotland's rural economy as part of our series of blogs to mark International Women's Day tomorrow. Having grown up in Vancouver Canada I never imagined I would end up living in the middle of Scotland running a 190 year old bakery with my husband! In 1970 when I was a baby my family emigrated to Vancouver from the UK. On June 1st 2000 I arrived back in Scotland to start a new life with Iain Campbell a…

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  • Women in the Rural Economy: Part 8

    7th March 2019 by

    As we continue to celebrate women in the rural economy, Julie Hesketh-Laird, chief executive of Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation blogs about her experience and career to date. As I approach my first anniversary in the salmon farming industry, I am struck by how different my initial expectations were compared to the reality of the exciting and diverse industry I now know.

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  • Women in the Rural Economy: Part 7

    6th March 2019 by

    Elaine Whyte of Clyde Fisherman's Association is the latest woman to provide an insight into the diverse and important role women play in Scotland's rural economy as part of our series of blogs to mark International Women's Day.

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