The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Calls made to allow bookings at rural accommodation
NFU Mutual hands RSABI £50,000 boost
The agritourism sector has been hit hard by the impact of Covid-19 restrictions, but it has “risen to the challenge” and taken Scottish farms to a global audience.
However, calls are being made to the Scottish Government to allow rural self-catering properties to be allowed to open earlier as restrictions begin to lift.
Caroline Millar, of five-star-rated The Hideaway Experience in Angus, said the isolated properties, with no neighbours could be opened up earlier than all other forms of accommodation, which are “much safer than a pub garden”.
A sector-specific online support group has been formed which shares information on available grants and support, including loans.
The group has also developed a programme of virtual farm tours which showcases modern farming on an international stage.
Ms Millar said the sector had risen to the challenge, providing mutual support and finding a new way of delivering experiences to the public.
For the past six weeks, the group has been delivering daily programmes online to a growing and appreciative audience.
For the first two weeks, the programmes were a “lambathon” focusing on the lambing season, but the past four weeks have seen group members doing a “welcome to my farm” film which is broadcast live online each day.
Ms Millar said the series had been “hugely successful” with up to 200 families watching each programme live and between 500 and 800 views on catch-up.
Scottish rural charity RSABI has received a £50,000 funding boost from NFU Mutual.
The rural insurer made the donation through its charitable trust as part of a £739,000 package of funding to charities working to help isolated and vulnerable people in rural communities across the UK.
NFU Mutual’s group chief executive, Lindsay Sinclair, said: “Some of these funds will enable charities to ‘stay open’ so they can continue to deliver their much-needed services.
“Other donations will be used to support frontline assistance such as telephone and email helplines and
She explained: “We thought after the lambing season, interest would drop away, but it hasn’t and since VisitScotland promoted the project, we have had viewers from America, Australia, Spain and the Netherlands, with some people setting their alarms to make sure they see the programme live.”
The first welcome to my farm show was filmed by Sascha Grierson of Perthshire-based Grierson Organics.
The event included commentary on landscape features, livestock, event space and the butchery where cuts of meat were on display and explained to the audience.
Ms Grierson said: “This project has not only allowed us to showcase our own advice and signposting, helping our communities to stay strong and resilient, from the Highlands and Islands to towns and remote villages.”
RSABI chief executive Nina Clancy welcomed the donation and said: “It comes at a time when income is uncertain for RSABI and it will help us to continue our work and deal with the impact of Covid-19 on the agricultural community in Scotland.”
Other recipients include: Prince Charles’ rural charity, The Prince’s Countryside Fund; English rural charity RABI; and Forage Aid which helps provide bedding and feed to livestock producers affected by bad weather. farm and explain the journey of food from farm to plate, it has also enabled us to make connections with other farms in the sector – as a series it has been really successful.”
Feedback has been very positive with viewers commenting on the depth of knowledge farmers had on everything from bird calls to wild flower species, as well as high welfare standards of the livestock.
Ms Millar added: knowledgeable.
“Agritourism is a very important and growing sector and we are currently in discussion with VisitScotland and other organisations to build on the success of the series.”
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