Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has revealed businesses, innovative partnerships, and individuals from across rural Scotland, who have been honoured at the national ‘Helping it Happen’ 2024 awards.
The ceremony, held in Edinburgh this week, recognised “exceptional contributions” to the rural economy, employment, inspiring education, precious wildlife conservation, community wellbeing and critical environmental stewardship.
Chief executive of SLE, Sarah-Jane Laing said: “These dedicated individuals and organisations play a crucial role in sustaining our thriving rural communities and inspiring others to follow their lead.
“The awards ceremony was a great night of celebration and we congratulate all the winners and nominees for their much deserved recognition.”
‘Helping it Happen’
The Innovation in Farming Award was awarded to the ‘Angus Growers’, a soft fruit producing partnership of 16 growers mainly from Angus, Perthshire and Fife.
Through working and innovation in sustainability, the partnership has led to a substantial fall in the carbon footprint of soft fruit production.
The enterprising ‘Claxton’s Whisky’ won the Rural Business Award, honouring their operation on the Dalswinton Estate which has seen several major redevelopments since 2018 including revitalising redundant farm buildings and constructing a new bonded warehouse.
David Hope-Jones earned the win for the Tourism and Visitor Management Award. Hope-Jones is responsible for co-developing a Responsible Tourism Strategy with unprecedented ambition for the region.
The recipient of the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Scotland was announced as Drew McFarlane-Slack MBE, whose contribution to the Highlands and rural Scotland has been immense across a huge variety of roles including as a Highland councillor.
The Working with Communities Award was won by Ballantrae Rural Initiative Care in the Community (BRICC), which is currently raising funds to build a care home for local elderly members of the community wishing to live near their families and remain in the village.
Climate awards
‘IndiNature’ secured the Iver Salvesen Award for Combatting Climate Change, having established a mill in the Scottish Borders to manufacture biobased materials.
The main material used was hemp, which is grown at local farms and turned into natural fibre insulation for old and new construction.
Glenfalloch Estate won the Enhancing Our Environment through Land Management Award. The project focuses on a transformational landscape-scale recovery.
It is written in 2021 and highlights restoring peatland, increasing woodland cover using seed sourced and grown on the estate, and plans to restore meadow and wetland habitat whilst also reducing herbivore impact.
The Conservation Award was won by Grosvenor Reay Forest Estate Project Laxford, which is a landscape-scale, ecosystem-wide, conservation project, working in partnership with The Atlantic Salmon Trust across the River Laxford catchment.
Other awards
The Education Award was won by Estates that Educate. Scotland’s Regional Moorland Groups provide outdoor education to showcase the wealth of wildlife thriving on Scottish estates and to help young people learn about rural careers.
The Rural Property Award was won by the Glengorm Farming Partnership led by Tom Nelson, with support from the Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT).
Wallace Currie took home the Rural Rising Star Award, recognising his work as a lecturer in agriculture at Scotland’s Rural College and the role he has played in the creation of a new model of teaching.
Now in its eighth year, the ‘Helping It Happen Awards’ are the leading accolades celebrating the contributions of people, groups and businesses to Scotland’s rural life.
