Advice and demonstration projects

Land managers have a key role in maintaining and enriching the nature and landscapes of Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage seeks to stimulate knowledge and sharing good practice to help farmers and crofters take care of the land.

Demonstration projects and workshops

Workshops for farmers and other land-users

Scottish Natural Heritage aim to bring environmental concern into daily farming activities. Supporting individuals who would like to know more about nature and the landscapes on their farm and integrate conservation to their activity is one of our priorities. Scottish Natural Heritage regularly support an extensive programme of free workshops and one-to-one advice to help land managers sustain wildlife and protect natural resources on their land.

Previous projects:

Management on protected sites

• 2009-2011: A three-year programme of group visits and one-to-one advice for land owners and occupiers of protected sites.

Diffuse pollution and positive catchment management

• 2009/2010: Awareness raising on two priority catchments: South Esk and Loch of Strathbeg
• 2010/2011: Workshops and individual advice for owners and occupiers of the Loch Leven, Dun's Dish and Round Loch of Lundie catchments.

Management for arable wildlife

• 2009-2011: A two-year campaign of workshops and individual advice for arable farmers looking for management solutions for both business and wildlife

Previous projects:

Management on protected sites

• 2009-2011: A three-year programme of group visits and one-to-one advice for land owners and occupiers of protected sites.

Diffuse pollution and positive catchment management

• 2009/2010: Awareness raising on two priority catchments: South Esk and Loch of Strathbeg
• 2010/2011: Workshops and individual advice for owners and occupiers of the Loch Leven, Dun's Dish and Round Loch of Lundie catchments.

Management for arable wildlife

• 2009-2011: A two-year campaign of workshops and individual advice for arable farmers looking for management solutions for both business and wildlife

 Scottish Monitor Farm Programme

Based on a New-Zealand model, the Scottish Monitor Farm Programme encourages farmers, local community members and experts to share their knowledge and experience to improve profitability and productivity. A Monitor Farm is a business opened to a farming community group where regular meetings, facilitated by a farm advisor, are organised to discuss best practice and management that could enhance the farm performance.

Scottish Natural Heritage is involved in this programme with the aim of promoting innovations that contribute to the environmental sustainability of businesses.

Improving resource use efficiency on farms

The following information pack aims to help monitor farmers and farming communities identify potential improvement in the use of resources like energy, fertilisers or soils. 4 sections of the pack are now available:

• Cover and foreword 
• Introduction to resource use efficiency: Measuring - Monitoring - Benchmarking 
• Energy 
• Micro-renewable energies 

 More information on Monitor Farms schedule of the meetings and environmental initiatives can be found on Quality Meat Scotland's website  .

 Scottish Monitor Farm Programme

Based on a New-Zealand model, the Scottish Monitor Farm Programme encourages farmers, local community members and experts to share their knowledge and experience to improve profitability and productivity. A Monitor Farm is a business opened to a farming community group where regular meetings, facilitated by a farm advisor, are organised to discuss best practice and management that could enhance the farm performance.

Scottish Natural Heritage is involved in this programme with the aim of promoting innovations that contribute to the environmental sustainability of businesses.

Improving resource use efficiency on farms

The following information pack aims to help monitor farmers and farming communities identify potential improvement in the use of resources like energy, fertilisers or soils. 4 sections of the pack are now available:

• Cover and foreword 
• Introduction to resource use efficiency: Measuring - Monitoring - Benchmarking 
• Energy 
• Micro-renewable energies 

 More information on Monitor Farms schedule of the meetings and environmental initiatives can be found on Quality Meat Scotland's website  .

Other training programmes

Scottish Natural Heritage contributes to training programmes such as the environmental module of Scottish Crofting Federation induction courses to crofting, and we grant-aid the Royal Highland Education Trust, supporting its efforts to raise awareness of how food is produced and the place of farming in the countryside.

Seeking to improve your crofting skills?

Crofters and Small Landholders Skills for the 21st Century is a structured programme of hands-on training days, organised by the Scottish Crofting Federation, to help crofters and small landholders develop and extend their practical skills. Aimed at new and aspiring crofters who are looking to develop a solid grasp of practical techniques in particular topics, and also suitable for existing crofters who would like to diversify and develop new skills.

Visit the Scottish Crofting Federation website for more information: www.crofting.org/index.php/training/62 

Practical advice on farming and the environment

Publications:

• The 4 Point Plan

The 4 Point Plan   contains straightforward information for livestock farmers on how to minimise pollution from farming activities whilst also benefiting the farm business and the surrounding environment. The 4 Point Plan contains information on minimising dirty water, better nutrient use, how to draw up a simple risk assessment for spreading manure and slurry and guidance on better water margin management. It has been put together in partnership with SNH, SAC, SEERAD, NFU Scotland, WWF (Scotland), FWAG and SEPA.

• How to enhance the value of field boundaries for wildlife

This poster   describes the value of boundary features such as field margins and hedges for arable wildlife and presents simple management tips and SRDP agri-environmental options to enhance their benefits.

• Managing Arable Farmland for Wildlife - Replacing the benefits of set-aside

An advisory booklet   for arable and mixed farms on management of cropped and unproductive areas to benefit wildlife.

• Guide to types of species-rich grassland

This practical illustrated guide will help you identify common types of species-rich grassland during the flowering season.

• Targeted Inputs for a Better Rural Environment (TIBRE)

The TIBRE initiative aimed to improve the use of inputs on arable land through technologies that benefit both business and the environment. Information from the TIBRE handbook will now be incorporated in a new LEAF project: the Sustainable Innovation Network. The project will create a structured network of farmers and organisations in order to stimulate the exchange and uptake of beneficial practices and new innovations, in the framework of Integrated Farm Management. More information on the LEAF website  .

• Farming, SSSIs and Natura Sites

A leaflet   produced by NFU Scotland and SNH for Scotland's farmers who own, manage or tenant Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Natura sites. The document provides information on management of these sites and possible sources of funding.

Publications:

• The 4 Point Plan

The 4 Point Plan   contains straightforward information for livestock farmers on how to minimise pollution from farming activities whilst also benefiting the farm business and the surrounding environment. The 4 Point Plan contains information on minimising dirty water, better nutrient use, how to draw up a simple risk assessment for spreading manure and slurry and guidance on better water margin management. It has been put together in partnership with SNH, SAC, SEERAD, NFU Scotland, WWF (Scotland), FWAG and SEPA.

• How to enhance the value of field boundaries for wildlife

This poster   describes the value of boundary features such as field margins and hedges for arable wildlife and presents simple management tips and SRDP agri-environmental options to enhance their benefits.

• Managing Arable Farmland for Wildlife - Replacing the benefits of set-aside

An advisory booklet   for arable and mixed farms on management of cropped and unproductive areas to benefit wildlife.

• Guide to types of species-rich grassland

This practical illustrated guide will help you identify common types of species-rich grassland during the flowering season.

• Targeted Inputs for a Better Rural Environment (TIBRE)

The TIBRE initiative aimed to improve the use of inputs on arable land through technologies that benefit both business and the environment. Information from the TIBRE handbook will now be incorporated in a new LEAF project: the Sustainable Innovation Network. The project will create a structured network of farmers and organisations in order to stimulate the exchange and uptake of beneficial practices and new innovations, in the framework of Integrated Farm Management. More information on the LEAF website  .

• Farming, SSSIs and Natura Sites

A leaflet   produced by NFU Scotland and SNH for Scotland's farmers who own, manage or tenant Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Natura sites. The document provides information on management of these sites and possible sources of funding.