Scottish National Rural Network

Voting is now open for the People's Choice Award at the Scottish Charity Awards.

Scottish Charity Awards shortlist announced! Find who's made the list and vote for your favourite

bit.ly/10XVohJ

Important fraud alert - please share.

Scottish Government are reminding Rural payments customers that with just two weeks to go until the Single Application Form (SAF) deadline on May 15th, now is the time to sign up to apply online. Find out more here - https://www.ruralgateway.org.uk/en/node/7513

Sign up to Rural Payments Online - May 15 application deadline looming fast | Scotland: National Rur Rural payments customers are reminded that with two weeks until the Single Application Form (SAF) deadline now is the time to sign up to apply online

Save the date - our Village Halls Networking Event will be on 3rd July at Three Villages Hall, Arrochar. This will be a free event. More details in mid-May. http://bit.ly/YrvEZq

Date announced for Village Halls networking event | Scotland: National Rural Network Date announced for Village Halls networking event

The first phase of the consultation on the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 is now underway - http://bit.ly/ZUYod9

I don't really have any words for this . . . Why would you want to buy a pre-peeled banana wrapped in plastic?

Pre-Peeled, Re-Wrapped Bananas Are the Most Wasteful Sign of the Apocalypse Yet In what has to be the worst case of wasteful packaging in the history of modern conveniece, a grocery store in Austria is actually selling pre-peeled bananas that have then been re-packaged in cellophane-covered foam trays. One of the reasons bananas have been billed as the world's most perfect...

It's National Walking Month!

It's National Walking Month! Find out where walking can take you this month --- http://bit.ly/WalkThisMay

Rural Connect Project launched late last year with the aim of connecting 2,500 people in West Lothian with their local rural environment. There are already lots of exciting initiatives getting residents out and about. Find out more here: https://www.ruralgateway.org.uk/en/node/7441

West Lothian project connects people with their local environment | Scotland: National Rural Network A new project looking to connect locals with their rural environment has already made an impact on West Lothian.

Can anyone help NFU Scotland with this strange request for a racing cow?!

Things I learnt on the internet today - you can freeze wine, potatoes and nuts. I did not know this. http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/pictures/34820/things-you-didnt-know-you-could-freeze?utm_campaign=thingsyoudidntknowyoucouldfreeze&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=recipes

SAMH have produced a resource for people living with thoughts of su***de.

Scottish Association for Mental Health :: Living with thoughts of su***de SAMH is the Scottish Association for Mental Health - Scotland's leading mental health charity

The opening of The Birks Cinema brought a little bit of Hollywood to Aberfeldy recently - including a video welcome for movie-goers from Alan Cu***ng OBE! http://www.ruralgateway.org.uk/en/node/7346

The Boat of Garten Osprey Festival will take place on 25th May and there are lots of activities planned for the event - including the unveiling of a new sculpture, craft workshops and African drumming. http://bit.ly/13usMJx

Osprey Festival 'Wild about Boat' 25 May 2013 | Scotland: National Rural Network A day of wildlife themed events and activities

The five most laid back places in Britain are in the north of Scotland. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18973923

What are the top five happiest parts of the UK? I need more time to digest the new statistics on national well-being, but one finding got me sitting bolt upright in my chair today.

Our Services for Older People project visit to Community Care Assynt takes place next month. The closing date to apply for this free networking event is 7th May. http://www.ruralgateway.org.uk/en/node/7282

WeAreNorthernLights are on tour around Scotland - the film will be shown in Elgin on Thursday 25th at 7.30pm at the Moray Playhouse.

Elgin is our next stop: this Thursday 25th, 7:30pm at Moray Playhouse Cinema. Are you coming?

http://ow.ly/k3hI8

Check out our Rural Jobs Round Up for details of some current vacancies in rural Scotland. https://www.ruralgateway.org.uk/en/node/7327

Rural Jobs Round Up: April 2013 | Scotland: National Rural Network In this article you can find details of some current vacancies relating to rural Scotland.

Seafood from the Moray Firth and North Sea graces tables around the world - but how much of it can you buy and enjoy here in the North? Moray Firth Partnership are carrying out a short online survey as part of a scoping study on a local seafood initiative. https://www.ruralgateway.org.uk/en/node/7326

Moray Firth Partnership seek responses in local seafood survey | Scotland: National Rural Network The Moray Firth Partnership (MFP) is conducting a local seafood initiative scoping study and is looking for your input and ideas to help answer these

Six very talented singer songwriters from the Highlands will perform at an acoustic gig in Inverness for over 14s on 20th April. It looks set to be a great event, so if you want to hear emerging talent from the area check it out!

Teens can check out acoustic talent SIX young singer songwriters will perform an Inverness acoustic gig for over-14s on Saturday to show off everything they've learned during project Music Plus. The six recently got to record their own music and they will be performing some of those songs at the free acoustic gig Mad Hatters, Inverne...

A series of public consultation roadshows on the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 has been announced by Scottish Government - http://bit.ly/1172awt

Series of SRDP consultation roadshows announced | Scotland: National Rural Network A series of consultation roadshows on the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 have been announced

The Scottish National Rural Network is teaming up with the DTAS Community Ownership Support Service (COSS) to host a free networking event on Rural Community Ownership. It will take place on Thursday 30th May in the Birnam Arts & Conference Centre in Perthshire. Find out more here: https://www.ruralgateway.org.uk/en/node/7321

A six-week consultation on plans to simplify and overhaul allotment legislation in Scotland has been launched. Find out more here: https://www.ruralgateway.org.uk/en/node/7314

Consultation on allotment legislation launched | Scotland: National Rural Network A consultation on plans to simplify and overhaul Scotland's allotment rules was announced today.

The The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust is now accepting applications for their Rent to Buy Scheme in Auldearn, Fodderty, Dornoch, Gairloch, Shieldaig and Lochcarron.

An orphaned otter cub and her two new friends . . .

Remember wee Nell the orphaned otter cub who we told you about on Monday? Well here she is snuggling up to her new pals Moray and Tweed! Baby otters don't do well on the own and so we're delighted Nell has been successfully introduced to some other little friends. We're sure this trio will get up to all sorts of nonsense, but it's great for their development and will improve their chances of survival when they are eventually released back into the wild in about a year's time :)

Take part in a short online survey about the Scottish National Rural Network and you could win a pair of tickets to this year's Royal Highland Show.

The Scottish Government has commissioned the Rural Development Company and associates to evaluate the SRDP Communications Plan and Scottish National Rural Network (SNRN). As part of this study RDC are encouraging people to complete a short on line survey on the SNRN.
https://www.ruralgateway.org.uk/en/node/7298

A 12-week public consultation on the proposed Cairngorms Park Local Development Plan starts on 15th April and is a chance for people to formally lodge their views. Find out more here: http://bit.ly/10J6K3R

Consultation on proposed Cairngorms Local Development Plan starts soon | Scotland: National Rural Ne A National Park with thriving, sustainable communities is the focus of the new Proposed Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan.

Community Broadband Scotland adviser vacancy based in Lochgilphead or Fort William - find out more below

Check out the community-run Ochil Leisure Centre, supported by Forth Valley & Lomond LEADER

Ochil Leisure Centre | swimming pool and sports hall Ochil Leisure Centre is a community run project based in Alva and providing a 25 metre swimming pool and multi use sports hall

Given the popularity of last month's hens in knitwear here is a chicken in a sweater. And there's a pattern if you want to knit something cosy for your own chicken! http://grist.org/list/here-is-a-chicken-wearing-a-sweater/

Entries for the 2013 Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards are now open until 5th June.

Entries now open for 2013 Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards | hie.co.uk Companies across the region are being urged to seize the opportunity to promote their products and businesses by entering this year’s Highlands & Islands Food and Drink Awards.

Find out how to get ahead with this year's Single Application Form in this article from Drew Sloan, Chief Agricultural Officer at Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate - http://bit.ly/16tNkUd

Your guide to completing your Single Application Form (SAF) 2013 | Scotland: National Rural Network Drew Sloan, Chief Agricultural Officer for RPID, highlights what to watch out for this year and how to get ahead with your SAF claim for 2013.

We are delighted to announce that Community Care Assynt will host our Services for Older People Project Visit on 24th May. This will be an inspiring and informative visit and places are limited. Find out more here: http://bit.ly/YLOAN2

Services for Older People project visit to Community Care Assynt announced - apply now! | Scotland:. The Services for Older People project visit to Community Care Assynt is now open for applications.

NFU Scotland have said there has been unprecedented support from the general public shown to farmers facing severe wintry conditions. Scottish Government have set up a special mulit-agency task force and support will be available over the Easter weekend. More here: http://bit.ly/YLF7p3

Help for farmers hit by severe snow | Scotland: National Rural Network Help is available for farmers in Arran and Kintyre to trace and care for livestock in severe weather conditions.

We'd like to say a massive thank you to Abriachan Forest Trust for hosting our community woodlands project visit this week. We even had time to meet some woodland friends in a geocaching session! More photos to follow!