The Scottish Government

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Annual Rural Report 2004

Sustaining and making the most of our natural and cultural heritage

Scotland's natural and cultural heritage is a great asset and we are justly proud of its richness and importance in a global context. It generates significant economic benefits, through visitors to Scotland and through sustainable management of products derived from the land. Our heritage also provides significant social benefits to rural communities, not only because of the well-being derived from living in a rich and attractive environment, but also because our shared culture is pivotal to the relationship between urban and rural people in Scotland. The sustenance and celebration of our heritage is a key element of our rural policy.

What we have achieved:

• Our vision for a new system of nature conservation in Scotland is reflected in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill which Parliament approved in early May 2004. The Bill improves the ways we conserve and enhance Scotland's precious natural heritage by improving protection for important natural sites, and increasing the powers available to protect wildlife.
• We have published Scotland's first ever Biodiversity Strategy. The Strategy aims to strengthen the links between the people of Scotland and our natural heritage, mapping out how everyone can appreciate, enjoy and look after our precious biodiversity.
• We are providing 500,000 to support Scotland's network of Local Access Forum which includes fora across rural Scotland, representing recreational and land management interests.
• We have introduced arrangements to consolidate the environmental gains secured by the Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) Schemes. Farmers and crofters leaving the ESA Schemes, on expiry of their
  10-year agreement, can automatically participate in the Rural Stewardship Scheme, an agri-environment scheme designed to encourage farmers, crofters and common grazings committees to adopt environmentally friendly practices and to maintain and enhance particular habitats and landscape features.
• Changes to the Rural Stewardship Scheme mean that we were able to offer funding to almost 1,100 farmers and crofters in 2003 which was 99% of those who applied. As a result, over 360,000 hectares of land will be managed for the benefit of the environment and wildlife. This is a major increase on the number of participants accepted onto the Scheme in 2001 and 2002.
• Changes to the Organic Aid Scheme mean improvements to the way we support organic farming, including increased payment rates for the conversion of good quality land to organic status, a new payment rate for the conversion of land in organic fruit and vegetable production and continuing financial support after the conversion period.
• Grants from the Executive's Community Environmental Renewal Scheme (CERS) have been distributed to a number of rural communities this year to address the environmental and social impact of quarrying in their areas. Successful applicants include a community gardening project in Pitcaple in Aberdeenshire, a plan for archiving an archaeological site disrupted by quarrying in Orkney, and restoration of a former quarry harbour in Argyll.
• We have awarded funding of nearly 1.7 million to community-led projects to recycle waste through the Strategic Waste Fund.
  26 initiatives, many in rural Scotland, will benefit the environment, and will also provide employment and training opportunities.
• The Sustainable Action Grants scheme has awarded over 750,000 to 12 environmental projects over 3 years. The scheme supports projects which promote sustainable development and environmental justice.
• Forestry Commission Scotland targets to restore or create a further 15,000 hectares of native woodland by 2003 have been met.
• The new Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme Stewardship grants have been introduced to support management of native woodlands, improving woodland biodiversity, sustainable management of deer populations, developing alternatives to clear-felling and improving the landscape contribution of forests.
• Forestry Commission Scotland are continuing work to enhance the links with Scotland's forest culture, for example through the continuation into 2003 of Treefest - celebrating the contribution made by Scotland's trees woods and forests, and through pathfinder projects such as Perthshire's Big Tree Country.
• We published our Cultural Policy Statement in April 2004. This set up the Cultural Commission to review the implications of the First Minister's St Andrew's Day speech, outlining the right of every Scottish citizen to cultural experience.
• The Scottish Arts Council directly fund a number of promoters through their Arts in the Community Fund. Companies who are encouraged and required to tour nationally; companies such as Scottish Dance Theatre, Wee Stories, and Mull Theatre take their productions to rural venues as a matter of course, and in doing so are encouraged to find new ways to bring in new audiences.
• A new website for dance and drama touring www.scottishartstouring.com has been established to offer an improved and easily searchable service for touring companies, promoters and venues.
• The Scottish Arts Council is supporting the crafts sector.
  A new website for Scottish crafts www.craftscotland.org.uk is receiving 75,000 for development as a promotional tool for craftsmen and craftswomen.
• Working with "Hands Up for Trad", VisitScotland sponsored a St Andrews Day traditional music celebration involving
  32 events across Scotland. It is hoped the event will be further developed in 2005 as part of raising the profile to tourists of both St Andrew's Day and traditional music.
• In 2003 Scottish Executive and VisitScotland established a joint venture dedicated to the specific task of attracting, developing and supporting major events. EventScotland's aim is to make Scotland one of the world's foremost event destinations by 2015, with an investment budget of 3 million for 2004-05. Events encouraged over
  2003-04 included the Tiree Wave Classic, the Mount Stuart Motorsport Classic, the British Senior Golf Championship Turnberry, the Scottish Senior Golf Championships Roxburghe by Kelso, the Senior Men's European Volleyball Championships Glasgow, the UIAA/ICC 2003 Climbing World Cup at Ratho, and the Loch Lomond Great Adventure Race.
• Forestry Commission Scotland is lead partner in the "Aig an Oir" project in which artists with the Society of Wildlife Arts will take inspiration from wooded highland landscapes, and use their work to involve local people in art and in looking at local natural heritage in new ways.
• A draft Gaelic Bill was unveiled at the 100th Mod in October 2003. The Bill proposals build on our continued support for Gaelic education, culture and broadcasting.
• A rolling programme of Gaelic road signs in the West of Scotland commenced in March 2003 with the erection of new bilingual signs on the A87 between Skye Bridge and Broadford.

CASE STUDIES

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