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.
June is one of the Scene & Herd team's favourite months. Light evenings spent in the garden, warmer weather, delicious Scottish produce (mmm...raspberries!). Of course, it's not all fun and games - the sheep farmers in the team are kept busy preparing for clipping, watching grass think about growing and wishing lambs would hurry up and get to 42kg whilst the trade is good. What we're really looking forward to after a break of two years(!) is attending our respective local county shows - and of course the Royal Highland Show. We now understand how the cows feel when they're turned out!
READ MOREMichael Medlock recently returned from Dubai - where he had a lucrative career in oil and gas – to run his family’s organic farm near Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire. The enterprise is primarily organic gluten-free oats, but they are building up a business rearing chicken and ducks. For an episode in partnership with SOPA (the Scottish Organic Producers Association), Anna visited Michael for a chat and a tour of his farm.
READ MOREIt has long been the subject of science fiction, latterly morphing into various predictions, promises and prototypes, but now the wait is over. Farmers and contractors in Scotland and the north of England now have the chance to put full scale, autonomous tractors to work in their own fields. The AgBot 5.115T2, a 156hp dual tracked autonomous tractor, capable of a multitude of field tasks using standard PTO powered and draft implements, is now available to buy from Angus based precision farming specialists, SoilEssentials.
READ MORENetworking. The word brings me out in a cold sweat. The idea of sidling up to people I don’t know, and who already look happy in the conversation they are having, makes me feel awkward and rude. I even once went to a workshop which taught people how to sidle up in the most polite way possible. I still felt stupid!
READ MORELast week’s OnFARM podcast focused on encouraging rural businesses to share their stories of how they have helped communities and landscapes flourish, as nominations for the Helping It Happen Awards 2022 remain open. The Awards, run by Scottish Land & Estates, are now in their sixth year, again focusing on the key aim of recognising the role of estates, farms and rural businesses in enabling and supporting success in rural areas and helping rural Scotland to thrive.In the podcast, Sarah-Jane Laing, SLE Chief Executive, highlighted that not only are the awards a superb source of motivation for businesses and their teams, but also that past winners have seen increases in turnover since winning – reason enough to enter surely?!
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Anna Davies: Email: anna@sceneandherdpr.co.uk
Ross (Monty) Montague: Email: monty@sceneandherdpr.co.uk
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