Natural Capital

In this episode we speak to Celine Delabre from NatureScot to inform listeners on the upcoming requirement to complete biodiversity audits as part of the Whole Farm Plan and how NatureScot’s farm biodiversity app can help to deliver these in the future. We discuss the important details that farmers requiring the audit need to know to help them complete it and find out more about the NatureScot app. 

From 2025 a Whole Farm Plan will be a mandatory condition for accessing future funding. This will involve all farmers and crofters undertaking a number of audits and plans relevant to their agricultural activities. By 15 May 2025 farmers are being asked to prepare for the Whole Farm Plan by undertaking at least two baseline plans or audits including a carbon audit, soil analysis, an animal health and welfare plan, an integrated pest management plan and a biodiversity audit. 

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Kieron Sim.

Timestamps: 

0:50 – 5:23 Intro to Whole Farm Plan and biodiversity audits 

5:23 – 10:00 NatureScot biodiversity audit and ways to complete them 

10:00 – 24:55 Story of the app being developed, data it uses and how it works 

24:55 – end What NatureScot is learning from the audit, future plans and advice

Related FAS Resources

Natural Capital | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Preparing For The Future Whole Farm Plan | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Preparing For The Future Biodiversity Audits | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Related Resources  

Biodiversity Audit | NatureScot

Whole Farm Plan (ruralpayments.org)

The Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) is a charitable organisation that looks to bring farming, the working countryside, and Scotland’s Natural Capital to life for young people. The trust aims to connect Scotland’s youth to the countryside, and give insight into food, farming and countryside management in Scotland. The trust achieves this through a number of key activities, such as farm visits and providing educational resource materials for schools, along with much more.  

Ensuring younger generations from both rural and urban communities are aware and understand where and how food is produced, and the countryside is managed, is vitally important in ensuring a thriving rural sector, and appreciation for Scotland’s Natural Capital and its conservation. 

Today we are joined by Katrina Barclay from RHET to hear about what their organisation does and why.  

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Ross Mackenzie.

Timestamps: 

1:30 – 5:30 What is RHET and the type work they do 

5:34 –7:05 The role that Natural Capital has 

7:05 – 33:29 Farming and learning outcomes, benefits for children and the sector.  

33:30 – 40:49 Incorporating land use change and sustainability issues.  

40:50 - 50:15 How can teachers and farmers get involved 

Related FAS Material: 

Environment resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Related Materials: 

The Royal Highland Education Trust | Royal Highland Education Trust (rhet.org.uk)

Food: The Facts | Royal Highland Education Trust (rhet.org.uk)

THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development (un.org)

Good Food Nation - Food and drink - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Loch Leven’s Larder is an enterprise with the farm to fork concept at its core, with the farm providing produce to the café and shop. Since 2005, the larder has put community and sustainability at the forefront of its operations, to provide the Loch Leven area a place to enjoy locally sourced healthy food in a relaxed atmosphere with views of the land that produced their food, and the Loch Leven landscape at large.

Loch Leven’s Larder looks to utilise the natural capital in their area in a way that enhances biodiversity, stimulates local economy, provide space for local community, while maintaining a healthy business that thrives through diversification. Today we are speaking with Robin Niven from Loch Leven’s Larder, to discuss their story and how understanding, utilising and enhancing natural capital has shaped there business and provides opportunities for the future.

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond.

Timestamps:

1:25 – 4:09  The history and purpose of Loch Leven’s Larder

4:10 – 12:31 Local community importance and benefits

12:32 – 21:09 Why people visit, sustainable farming practices and looking after natural capital

21:10 – 29:09 Private sector funding and sustainability of food to plate

28:10 – 35:45 Advice for others looking to diversify and a thriving rural economy

Related FAS Material:

Rural Business resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Biodiversity | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Related Materials:

Loch Leven's Larder- award-winning Kinross-shire Café, farm shop & gifts (lochlevenslarder.com)

Forth Rivers Trust leads the Leven LENs, a collaborative project that aims to match investors with local activities and projects, that preserve and enhance the Leven catchment’s natural assets. This strategy for long-term investment will deliver a healthy productive landscape, while benefitting the environment, boosting biodiversity and uplifting local communities.  

We speak to Co-Director of Forth Rivers Trust, Amelia Heath about the Leven LENs project, the wider work of Forth Rivers Trust, their engagement within the Forth catchment and how they overcome the challenges they face.  

Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs) facilitate investment in nature-based solutions, that deliver productive, resilient landscapes alongside positive environmental outcomes. LENs, are a marketplace for land management measures that deliver ecosystem functions, creating a network of private and public stakeholders based on shared interests and collaboration. 

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Ross Mackenzie 

Timestamps: 

1:20 – 9:59 Forth Rivers Trust, working with land mangers and pressures on the catchment 

10:00 – 13:29 LENs, collaboration and the roles of different stakeholders. 

13:30 – 20:29 Loch Leven LENs, funding and engaging local communities 

20:30 – 27:54 Other Forth Rivers Trust projects and overcoming challenges 

Related FAS resources:   

FAS Water Management https://www.fas.scot/environment/water-management/  

Landscape Scale Collaboration episode https://www.fas.scot/publication/natural-capital-landscape-scale-collaboration/  

Landscape Scale Conservation https://www.fas.scot/article/landscape-scale-conservation/  

Emerging Biodiversity Markets In Scotland, A Source Of Alternative Funding https://www.fas.scot/article/emerging-biodiversity-markets-in-scotland-a-source-of-alternative-funding/  

Other Related Resources: 

Forth Rivers Trust https://forthriverstrust.org/  

Landscape Enterprise Networks LENs https://landscapeenterprisenetworks.com/  

FIRNS - The Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland https://www.nature.scot/funding-and-projects/firns-facility-investment-ready-nature-scotland  

MERLIN https://project-merlin.eu/  

It’s a brand-new series of Natural Capital with a brand-new host! To kick things off Harry speaks to Scottish Forestry’s Lyn White, who is their forestry and farming development officer. Lyn promotes an integrated approach to farming and forestry, to aid understanding and explore opportunities for them to work more effectively together. We discuss working with farmers to maximise the benefits to farms, the farmer-led Integrating Trees Network and all things agroforestry. We discuss the multiple benefits that planting trees can bring to agriculture, including providing shelter, improving productivity, diversifying income, creating habitats and combating climate change.  

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Ross Mackenzie 

Related FAS resources:   

Natural Capital | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Farm Woodland resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Integrated Land Management Plans (ILMPs) | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Forestry Grant Scheme | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Related Resources: 

Scottish Forestry - Integrating Trees Network

Integrating Trees Network Events

Forestry Grant Scheme (ruralpayments.org)

Scottish Forestry - Home

Timestamps: 

0:55 – 15:05 Lyn’s role and the benefits of agroforestry and integrating trees to farmland.   

15:06 – 26:05 Agroforestry, considerations, challenges, and grant options. 

26:06 – 33:52 Integrating trees network and farmer led initiatives. 

33:53 – 40:05 Farmer hesitancies, where to get more info and making the most of your land. 

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an approach that ensures habitats for wildlife are left in a

measurably better state than they were before development. In England, BNG is mandatory;

developers must demonstrate and deliver an increase in biodiversity following

their development of 10%.

In the last episode of this series, we hear from ecological consultant and future host of

this podcast, Harry Fisher. We discuss his experience of BNG and how it works,

including biodiversity metrics, valuing nature, opportunities for Scotland and what

he is looking forward to as the future host of Natural Capital.

If you have an idea for future episodes, or want to provide feedback on the series, we would

love to hear from you. Visit: https://www.fas.scot/sounds-comments-and-suggestions/

Host Rachel Smillie, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Ross

Mackenzie.

Related FAS resources:  

FAS Biodiversity: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/

Previous Natural Capital episodes: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/

Emerging biodiversity markets in Scotland, a source of alternative funding:

https://www.fas.scot/article/emerging-biodiversity-markets-in-scotland-a-source-of-alternative-funding/

Other Related Resources:

Understanding biodiversity net gain: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-biodiversity-net-gain

Defra statutory biodiversity metric tools and guides:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-biodiversity-metric-tools-and-guides

Research into approaches to measuring biodiversity in Scotland: https://www.gov.scot/publications/research-approaches-measuring-biodiversity-scotland/

Timestamps:

Intro to episode and our new host Harry: 0:00 – 5:10

What is BNG and its use: 5:11 – 13:13

Actions to increase biodiversity: 13:14 – 19:12

Impact and use of BNG on farms:  19:13 – 25:10

Defra tool, metrics and valuing nature: 25:11 – 33:43

Are you looking for funding for projects to promote conservation and tackle climate change? In this episode of Natural Capital we discuss Scotland's Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme (AECS). AECS is the main mechanism used to support farmers wanting to implement sustainable land management practices such as improving water quality, managing flood risk or mitigating and adapting to climate change. We discuss what AECS has to offer with consultants Dr Paul Chapman and Alex Pirie to find out everything about AECS, how to apply and the opportunities it presents to create, restore and enhance natural capital assets.  

Host Rachel Smillie, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Ross Mackenzie 

Related FAS resources:   

FAS Biodiversity: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/  

FAS Specialist Advice: https://www.fas.scot/specialist-advice/  

Thrill of the hill: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/thrill-of-the-hill/  

Other Related Resources: 

Woodland Trust MOREhedges: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/trees-for-landowners-and-farmers/morehedges  

Woodland Trust MOREwoods: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/trees-for-landowners-and-farmers/morewoods/  

Nature restoration fund: https://www.nature.scot/funding-and-projects/scottish-government-nature-restoration-fund-nrf  

Rural Payments AECS: https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/agri-environment-climate-scheme/  

 Timecodes: 

 What is AECS and how it has developed 2:26 – 11:16  

Alternative funding and collaboration 11:17 – 15:17 

The application process 15:18 – 19:20  

What’s included in this year's AECS 19:21 - 26:08 

Deadlines, useful info and advice for new applicants 30:28 - 35:07 

In this episode of Natural Capital, we are talking about the issue that underpins every topic we cover, and that is finance and funding! With the economic and other pressures that landowners are facing it is great to be joined today by Steve Dunkley the Regional Agriculture Director at HSBC, and Martin Hanson the Head of Agriculture for HSBC, to share their view on ‘Green Finance’, what they are experiencing from clients and customers, and share their experience with some ‘Green Finance’ projects they have been involved with.  

Steve Dunkley is HSBC's Regional Agriculture Director for Business Banking in the north. 

Steve has worked in the farming sector for the last 30 years, from the family farm in the Yorkshire Dales to careers in both consultancy and government.  

Martin Hanson is the Head of Agriculture for HSBC and works with farming clients helping them grow and flourish providing appropriate working capital and long-term investment support to as many Agricultural Businesses as possible - helping to support the rural communities of the UK, protect the environment and our future. 

Related FAS resources:   

FAS Sounds:  https://www.fas.scot/sounds/    

FAS Biodiversity Pages: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/     

Other Related Resources:  

https://www.business.hsbc.uk/en-gb/solutions/green-sme-fund  

For our final episode of 2023 we are getting a bit festive and are speaking to Ollie Mackay at Rothiemurchus Estate. Rothiemurchus is a special and beautiful place in the Highlands of Scotland, at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. Ollie is the Head Ranger on the estate and we chat about all the estate’s natural capital assets and his role.   

We learn about the range of activities and habitats the estate hosts including livestock, farming, beavers and tourism, alongside the pressures and opportunities this creates. Rothiemurchus is the custodian of one of the finest remnants of the Caledonian forest, a natural woodland dominated by Scots Pine that is managed sustainably for nature conservation, recreation, woodland grazing and timber production. Management of the forest has created an opportunity for environmentally friendly Christmas trees, with profits going back in to the upkeep of paths and projects on the estate.  

Host Rachel Smillie, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Ross Mackenzie.

Related FAS resources:   

FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Biodiversity | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Rewilding | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Living Alongside Beavers | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Related Resources: 

Home - Cairngorms National Park Authority

Welcome to Rothiemurchus — Rothiemurchus

Rothiemurchus Scots Pine Christmas Trees — Rothiemurchus

We visit the beautiful island of Islay, finding out about the unique habitats, species and important natural capital assets the island supports. The RSPB Islay reserves have internationally important populations of wintering Barnacle and Greenland White-fronted geese, and are also important for breeding Chough, Corncrake, Lapwing and a range of other wildlife.  

All these species depend on farming practices and the correct land management to thrive. This creates conflicts and opportunities for land managers and agriculture on the island. To discuss this and lots more, we are joined by farmer Craig Archibald, RSPB Senior Farms Manager Eion Brown and Jack Fleming, Area Manager, RSPB for Argyll, Arran and Ardnamurchan.  

Host Rachel Smillie, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Ross Mackenzie.  

Related FAS resources:   

• Goose Management in Scotland: https://www.fas.scot/article/goose-management-in-scotland  
• Understanding Goose Control Law: https://www.fas.scot/article/understanding-goose-control-law-in-scotland/  
• Farmland Birds: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/farmland-birds/ 
• FAS Sounds:  https://www.fas.scot/sounds/    
• FAS Biodiversity Pages: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/     

Other Related Resources:  

• Argyll Monitor Farm: www.monitorfarms.co.uk/farm/argyll-monitor-farm/  
• RSPB Loch Gruinart Reserve: https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/loch-gruinart  
• RSPB The Oa Reserve: https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/the-oa  
• Payments for goose management schemes: https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/land-and-sea-management/managing-wildlife/managing-geese/payments-goose-management-schemes  
• Islay Sustainable Goose Management Strategy: https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/land-and-sea-management/managing-wildlife/managing-geese/islay-sustainable-goose-management-strategy