Local innovators in awards finals

Ten local businesses, individuals and organisations have been named as finalists in the latest Helping it Happen Awards programme run by Scottish Land & Estates (SL&E).

The wide-ranging list of 2022 contenders includes a children’s author from Perthshire, eight Loch Ness farmers with a special focus on wildlife and biodiversity, and a Highland Perthshire couple who are pioneering virtual livestock fencing.

The awards programme, which drew close to 100 entries, recognises the role estates, farms and rural businesses play in enabling and supporting success in rural communities, businesses and landscapes.

“The judges noted strong stories of collaboration, national impact and projects going that extra step in terms of delivering for people and nature,” said Sarah-Jane Laing, SL&E chief executive.

Claudia Rowse, deputy director of headline sponsors, NatureScot, added: “All the projects vividly demonstrate how the environment and communities can be put at the heart of developing thriving rural businesses.”

Local finalists for the conservation award are River Carron Conservation Association – a collaboration to reestablish an Atlantic salmon population in the River Carron, and West Loch Ness Farmer Cluster – eight farms working with the Forestry Commission to put wildlife and biodiversity at the heart of land management.

The education award category includes ‘Captain Partridge and the Farm Monsters’ Feast’ by Katrina Candy – a book for children that explores rural management, and Scotland’s Regional Moorland Groups (Estates that Educate) – a countryside education project for primary and secondary children.

The “enhancing the environment” section has finalists which include Highlands Rewilding Ltd which is looking to rewild and re-people the Scottish Highlands by increasing carbon sequestration, growing biodiversity and creating green jobs, and The Mountains and The People – UK upland path project, creating and rebuilding footpaths on iconic Highland hills.

The innovation in farming category has local finalists including Andrew and Kate Duncan (A Highland Life) – farming couple from Highland Perthshire who are pioneering virtual livestock fencing, and SKAi SoilEssentials KORE Artificial Intelligence Platform – a retrainable smart camera solution for weed detection and management.

Four more finalists will be announced next week.

FINALIST: A virtual fencing project, created by Andrew and Kate Duncan from Highland Perthshire, is in the top ten.

Selection was not an easy task, said Sarah-Jane Laing.