Rural Britain is a wonderful assortment of farms, estates, hamlets, villages, forests and moors, lochs and valleys. Our stunning scenery, close communities and wonderful rural businesses provide an idyllic lifestyle for many, but rural life can also throw up some pretty unique challenges.
The Rural Scene (the Scene & Herd rural blog and news updates) looks at what’s new, what’s relevant, what’s tasty, what’s fun and what’s challenging about life in the Great British Countryside. We offer an insider insight into rural Britain, highlighting some of the exceptional people, businesses and innovations we believe that everybody should know about.
In February 2021, Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, was a guest on OnFARM, launching a fundraising drive to find a cure for Equine Grass Sickness. The mysterious disease is almost always fatal to horses, and, in recent years, had killed 5 prized Highland ponies on Her Majesty the Queen's Balmoral estate. Efforts to find a treatment are being led by Dr Beth Wells of Edinburgh’s Moredun Research Institute, while fundraising is spearheaded by RHASS director and equine vet Anne Logan. In this episode, Anna speaks with Beth and Anne for an update on their important work.
READ MOREThere is a Kenyan proverb that goes along the lines "Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable". Many of our clients are strengthened by their membership of cooperatives such as SOPA or SAOS.
READ MOREHannah and Danny Gallagher - better known to many on social media as The Red Shepherdess and Danny the Farrier - share their delight and excitement at not one but two pieces of life-changing news; they have just taken on their first farm in their own names, and - after three miscarriages - have their first baby on the way.
READ MOREAs we say goodbye to 2022 and welcome the changes that 2023 will inevitably bring, we've summarised some of the key events and anniversaries coming up in the year ahead, many of which present great opportunities to showcase your rural business and form new partnerships. The UN has designated 2023 as the International Year of Millets. Dubbed “super grains”, for centuries, millets have served as an important staple in parts of Asia and Africa. Closer to home, RHET's Year of Seeds and Grains runs throughout the 2022/2023 academic year. Their website has heaps of educational resources.
READ MORERising costs, increasing uncertainty and a squeeze on prices are all contributing to a "full-blown crisis" for Scottish fruit growers, according to Angus Soft Fruit's James Porter. James has been speaking to OnFARM's Dave Howard - and has issued a plea for greater support from UK and Scottish governments, farming unions, and anyone else with influence to change things.
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Anna Davies: Email: anna@sceneandherdpr.co.uk
Ross (Monty) Montague: Email: monty@sceneandherdpr.co.uk
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