The Scottish Executive offered the Dumfries and Galloway Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (DGFWAG) £22,388 in 2006-07, £16,654 in 2007-08 and £2056 in 2008-09 for a project "Linking Sustainable Farming, Tourism and Biodiversity" - to encourage visitors into the rural areas and promote a greater understanding and appreciation of farming and biodiversity management. This, and a project by the Highland Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, were managed as stand-alone projects but with a number of common features and they were a joint pilot covering two very different areas.
In Dumfries and Galloway the project identified with each farmer the biodiversity and high-value wildlife areas on the farm, provided advice on habitat enhancement, and assisted in the provision of information for visitors. It contributed towards natural resource protection and environmental enhancement. It aimed to increase economic activity in farm tourism through environmental awareness and increase visitor appreciation of environmental land management and the rural economy. This was done through farm visits, information packs for farms and farm trail maps for visitors.
Farm Wildlife boxes included a Biodiversity Farm Report, Farming Year Summary, Country Code, Children's Activity Sheets, a Farm Trail Map and a Hedge Management Pack. The Biodiversity Farm Report covered the key wildlife habitats on the farm and action that was being or might be taken to conserve and enhance them.
The Country Code sheet and many of the nine children's worksheets were illustrated by the DGFWAG Chairman, Alice Campbell. Each Wildlife Box had master copies of the worksheets to enable the farmer to photocopy further copies as required. The laminated Farm Trail Map illustrated and described the habitats to be seen on the suggested farm walk. The Hedge packs offered technical advice on hedge planting and management.
Other contents of the pack included: Identification Leaflets produced by the Field Studies Council, the Illustrated Collins Complete British Wildlife book, an Ordnance Survey local Explorer Map, a Butterfly Conservation Leaflet on Farmland Butterflies, posters, the SNH Access Code book and a visitors book for comments.
Farmers were recruited through press releases in the local press, articles in the local FWAG newsletter and national FWAG Scotland magazine, and through a mailshot. In 2006-07 there were visits to 16 farms. A Biodiversity Training Course was held in May 2007 for the first year participants with a farm walk at one of the farms in June. DGFWAG recruited more farms in 2007-08 to join the project.
The majority of farms felt that the project enhanced the service offered to visitors and all felt that it had increased their visitors' awareness of wildlife and habitats on the farm. Many farmers commented that they enjoyed talking to visitors about the project. The Farm Trail was found to be helpful to visitors, and an encouragement to participate and to find wildlife. There was a note advising if any fields needed to be avoided due to sensitive stock or cropping. One farmer commented: "Informing visitors of the countryside can only lead to better understanding and appreciation of the landscape, environment and people who work on it."
Comments from visitors were all very positive about either the project or the wildlife seen whilst walking around the trail. Several commented that their children had loved the box and farm trail and had especially enjoyed being able to walk through fields with animals in them. Some stated that they had been inspired by this experience and that it had stimulated them into thinking about what they could do at home and made them consider their own impact on wildlife. Others noted that it helped them to understand the fine balance the farmer must consider when farming and trying to protect wildlife at the same time. Finally it appeared that the box had appealed to both young and old alike, with something for everyone included.
Suggestions raised from the visitors' comments included the possibility of signage. Many visitors felt more comfortable having a trail indicating where to walk rather than just finding their own way around the farm. There was a comment that the information be given out as study packs to schools and a wish to see more large farms taking part in the project. More information on organic farming was also requested, which could be included where applicable.
The Farm Tourism Project was a very successful pilot initiative recognising the great contribution that agriculture makes towards tourism in Scotland and enabled important links to be made between rural hospitality, wildlife and culturally rich farmed landscapes. Farming has shaped Scotland's countryside over thousands of years. Generation after generation have worked the land to feed our nation and abroad, and through stewardship and sympathetic management, farmers have maintained what we now value as beautiful, locally distinctive environments.
The FWAG farm wildlife box effectively interpreted these aspects to farm visitors and feedback indicated great enthusiasm for this approach among tourists and participating farmers, emphasising how much it contributed to the enjoyment of people's stay on farms.
FWAG considered that a dedicated web site would be a way to introduce the principles and practice of farm wildlife tourism throughout Scotland, with information on farm activities through the seasons, habitats and species, archaeology and history, local food, green tourism and responsible access.