In case you missed my previous email over the festive period, I wanted to share some important news: my business partner and friend, Ross (Monty) Montague, has made the tough decision to step down from Scene & Herd due to ill health.
Over the years, Monty has been an integral part of our business. His boundless energy, creative vision, and unwavering commitment to supporting Scotland's rural communities have been a driving force behind our success. From championing local businesses to spearheading initiatives like the OnFARM podcast and the OnRECORD audio memories project, Monty has made an indelible mark on the agri sector.
It isn’t easy to put into words how grateful I am for his partnership and support since we became business partners back in 2012. While his leaving marks the end of an era for Scene & Herd, it’s also an opportunity to embrace a new chapter.
I’ll continue working through Scene & Herd but am conscious that I may get a little lonely and I'm keen to fill the colleague gap by working part-time in in-house comms or collaborating on a cause or project.
Please don't hesitate to reach out if there are opportunities for us to work together.
I want to thank Monty for everything he’s contributed to Scene & Herd. His impact will always be felt, and I wish him every bit of strength and support as he focuses on health, family and new chapters - let's all continue to support and celebrate Scotland’s incredible rural community.
News
Unsure about medicine & vaccine storage? Are you concerned about anthelmintic (wormer) resistance? Join the Farm Advisory Service on 22nd Jan at Huntly where local farm vet Olivia Busson will give an overview of responsible medicine usage. Booking: https://www.fas.scot/events/event/morayshire-wia-responsible-medicine-use/
Join the legumES Project to unlock the benefits of legumes - Scientists at the James Hutton Institute, world leaders in agricultural ecology research, seek farmers to participate in trials to measure legume-related benefits following easy-to-use monitoring methods. The project aims to provide evidence for the ecosystem benefits of legume crops – such as peas, beans, clover etc. - and monitor their impact. More info at hutton.ac.uk/join-the-legumes-project-to-unlock-the-benefits-of-legumes
The Craft Guild of Chefs is seeking nominations for its annual awards including the popular restaurant chef, young chef, and pastry chef categories. craftguildofchefs.org/competitions/awards
Entries for the BOOM Awards, the UK's only awards celebrating the organic industry, are now open for nominations. More info here.
Gladden is a fictional, virtual village, open to and welcoming all! The Gladden Village Coffeehouse hosts online talks every Wednesday from September to June while The Gladden Mart hosts rural-themed talks by Zoom on the first Wednesday of each month, 7-8 pm. To find out more or register, visit gladdenvillage.org
This year Keep Scotland Beautiful is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the launch of their '£25 for 2025' fundraising appeal. Your donation will help KSB ensure their work continues to inspire changes in behaviour to improve our beautiful country. Donate now: https://keepscotlandbeautiful.org/support-us/
Have you recently joined Bluesky? Did you know you can find your X followers using Sky Follower Bridge? Chrome users can transfer old Twitter posts using Porto. If you used Tweetdeck you will find Deck.Blue very similar. For other Bluesky Tools, see here. We'd be interested to know how you find the platform.
We were delighted with the response to our OnRecord audio initiative which preserves precious voices, stories and memories for the future with a professionally captured and edited audio recording. Imagine being able to hear the voice of a loved one, and listen to their stories, long after they are no longer with you in person. More info at onrecordmemories.co.uk
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Remember, you can send us your news, offers, vacancies etc and we'll do our best to include it in future mailings.
February Fun: A Social Media Planner for the Shortest Month
Despite its brevity, February is packed with a surprising number of observances, from quirky celebrations to important awareness campaigns. To help you navigate the month and create engaging content, we've put together this handy planner:
Key Dates:
February 2nd:
World Wetlands Day: Raise awareness about the vital role of wetlands in our ecosystem. Consider sharing informative graphics, local wetland conservation efforts, or personal stories about your connection to these unique environments.
World Hedgehog Day: Celebrate these prickly creatures! Share interesting hedgehog facts, post cute photos and videos, and encourage your followers to support local conservation initiatives.
February 7th-23rd:Big Farmland Bird Hunt: Engage your audience in a fun and educational activity by encouraging them to participate in this citizen science project. Share tips for identifying common bird species, post stunning bird photos and highlight the work being done by the rural sector to support bird conservation.
February 8th:International Scotch (Whisky) Day: Raise a glass to the farmers growing barley, share whisky-based cocktail recipes, recommend local distilleries, or host a competition in your newsletter.
February 10th-14th:Mind Your Head: This important campaign raises awareness about mental health issues within the agricultural community. Share resources for farmers and agricultural workers, promote mental health support organisations and encourage open conversations about mental wellbeing.
February 14th-21st:Nest Box Week: Encourage your followers to build or install nest boxes for birds. Share helpful DIY tutorials, post inspiring photos of bird nests, and highlight the importance of providing safe nesting sites for birds.
February 17th:Random Acts of Kindness Day: Spread some cheer by encouraging your followers to perform random acts of kindness. Share inspiring stories of kindness, suggest simple acts of kindness they can do, and use the hashtag #RandomActsOfKindness to join the global conversation.
February 26th-27th:ScotHot: Share updates and highlights from Scotland's biggest hospitality event, engage with other attendees and use the event hashtag to increase your brand visibility.
A Word of Caution:
While it's tempting to jump on every trending topic, it's crucial to be selective. Choose awareness days, events and campaigns that genuinely align with your brand's values and mission. Authentic, informative, and engaging content both online and offline will resonate with your audience and help you build stronger relationships.
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