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Scotland’s Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme – Meeting dates for 2024/25

Posted on April 16, 2024

2024 Tues 7th May Dumfries and Galloway; Tues 21st May Angus; Fri 7th June Highlands and Islands; Wed 26th June Aberdeenshire; Thurs 25th July Dumfries and Galloway; Thurs 22nd August Angus; Mon 9th – Wed 11th Sept Satellite visit to Long Island Retreats and other visits; Mon 23rd Sept Aberdeenshire (provisional); Wed 23rd Oct Dumfries and Galloway; Wed 6th Nov Satellite visit to Cairns Farm area; Fri 29th Nov Highlands and Islands; Thurs 12th Dec Aberdeenshire ; 2025 Thurs 16th Jan Dumfries and Galloway; Thursday 30th Jan Angus; Tues 11th Feb 2 Highlands and Islands; Wed 26th and Thurs 27th Feb Monitor Farmers & Core Group members Bootcamp; Wed 12th March Aberdeenshire; ...

Anna Lamotte on Weddings and Events

Posted on February 7, 2024

in Agritourism, Uncategorized

by Agritourism

Anna Lamotte runs Guardswell Farm, Perthshire- a small mixed farm, with multipurpose rural venue, a collection of huts and houses, and a chemical free market garden. She grew up on a herb farm, studied cookery at Ballymaloe, and is passionate about farming regeneratively, growing nutritious food and welcoming guests from far and wide to immerse themselves in nature and fresh farm air. Guardswell Farm is a converted Steading space that hosts a handful of weddings a year, which ask couples to adhere to a number of sustainability guidelines, and is constantly looking at how to make weddings on the farm more in line with their general ethos and objectives. Anna will be one of the core speakers at Scotland's Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme Weddings and Events Meeting. ...

Adam Davies on Weddings and Events

Posted on February 7, 2024

in Agritourism, Uncategorized

by Agritourism

Adam is a consultant with Savills, specialising in developing and enhancing leisure and event enterprises. Drawing on his own experience of setting up and managing venues, Adam supports clients across the country, helping to determine market demand, assess feasibility and develop a commercially viable proposition. Prior to joining Savills, Adam’s experience includes Operations Manager and Director of Strategy for one of Scotland’s largest venue management and event catering companies. In these roles, Adam was responsible for sourcing and setting up new venues as well as overseeing operational management of circa 300 weddings per annum, securing awards for ‘Best Scottish Wedding Venue’ two years in a row and ‘SME of the Year’ at the Scottish Environment Business Awards. Born in Shetland, Adam grew up on the west coast before moving to Edinburgh in...

Amy Burton on Understanding Finances

Posted on February 6, 2024

in Agritourism, Uncategorized

by Agritourism

Amy Burton is a Senior Manager with Azets Accountants in their Perth Office. Amy has worked for Azets in their rural team for over 10 years, and has built a portfolio of clients made up of farmers, estate owners and other businesses working closely with the agricultural industry. Amy grew up on a dairy farm in Fife and now live in Kinross with her husband and 1 year old daughter. Amy studied Maths, Stats and Accounts at Strathclyde University before joining Azets and doing her Chartered Accountancy qualification. Amy will be delivering Scotland's Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme Understanding Finances meeting. ...

Olivia Midgley on Effective Communication

Posted on January 11, 2024

in Agritourism, Uncategorized

by Agritourism

Olivia Midgley has been a journalist and editor for 18 years, working in local and regional news until joining Farmers Guardian's London team in 2011. Olivia became editor of FG in March 2023. A regular pundit across regional and national media channels, Olivia provides analysis on the issues facing farming businesses and helps to promote agriculture as a rewarding career choice. She is also a director of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists which promotes training and careers for journalists and PR professionals working in agriculture and is a mentor with the Creative Mentor Network which works to make the creative industries more inclusive. Olivia is specialises in food, farming, rural affairs, news, features and analysis and will be one of the core speakers at Scotland’s Agritourism Monitor Farms Online Communications Masterclass. ...

Lesley Wood – Branding Workshop

Posted on January 10, 2024

in Agritourism, Uncategorized

by Agritourism

Lesley Wood has over 20 years’ experience in marketing, business development and training delivery and has supported numerous businesses in developing their brand strategy, including Lennox of Lomond, Avva Scottish Gin and Piersland House. Training clients include Scottish Enterprise, Visit Scotland, The Oxford Farming Conference, Scottish Agritourism and various Business Gateways across Scotland. Lesley will be leading Scotland's Agritourism Monitor Farms Branding Workshop. ...

Jeremy Buxton on Effective Communication

Posted on January 8, 2024

in Agritourism, Uncategorized

by Agritourism

Jeremy follows in the footsteps of his father and his grandfather, who bought their family farm in the 1960’s. After 12 years living and working in Paris, Jeremy turned his back on his career in sports television to return to the family farm. A passion for regenerative farming and producing high quality food for the local community has seen many changes on the farm in the management and farming practices. Jeremy is determined to farm in a manner that regenerates the soils and biodiversity on the farm whilst helping to prevent climate change. Jeremy is skilled in broadcasting, video, and documentaries and will be one of the core speakers at Scotland's Agritourism Monitor Farms Online Communications Masterclass. ...

First Impressions Count

Posted on December 23, 2023

in Agritourism, Uncategorized

by Agritourism

Scotland's Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme closes 2023 on a high with the completion of the First Impressions Count meetings. Each of Scotland's new Agritourism Monitor Farmers hosted meetings that invited fellow rural business owners into their business to provide feedback on their 'first impression' of that Monitor Farmer's business. Each Monitor Farmer received praise and criticism about areas of their business with the goal of being constructive. The Monitor Farmers gained new perspectives on their businesses, and could see their own businesses with fresh eyes which proves difficult at times when your nose is to the grindstone. Equally, all attendees benefitted from this exercise as much of the feedback was applicable to their own businesses. We look forward to 2024 where we will continue to grow a network of proactive...

Branding Workshop With Lesley Wood

Posted on December 22, 2023

in Agritourism, Uncategorized

by Agritourism

Join Scotland's Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme on Wednesday the 24th of January for a Branding Workshop. Lesley Wood will be running the workshop. Lesley is an experienced brand consultant working with many businesses across Scotland including many agritourism businesses. Lesley will cover all aspects of Brand, good practice and offer case study examples from the agritourism sector including from the four monitor farming businesses. As part of this meeting, businesses will get the chance to visit Forest Farm - The Organic Dairy , on the outskirts of Aberdeen hosted by the Willis Family. Participants will be able to hear from the Willis family about the business overall but also their brand and how this helps to drive sales. follow this link to register for the event. ...

Communications Masterclass Online Meeting

Posted on December 21, 2023

in Agritourism, Uncategorized

by Agritourism

Scotland's Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme is hosting an Online Communications Masterclass meeting on Thursday 18th January 2024 from 9.00 am - 10.15 am. Learn how to communicate the story of your business and family to both a consumer and industry audience. Claire Taylor our programme communications expert will offer practical advice and support across different communications channels. OIivia Midgley and Jeremy Buxton will also be contributing. Olivia is a journalist and editor specialising in food, farming, rural affairs, news, features and analysis. She is the Editor at Farmers Guardian. Jeremy formerly worked for Sky as a presenter and returned to farming in 2010 and has spent the last decade adding livestock, opening a campsite, planting agroforestry / fruit trees and in the last year opened a farm shop. Jeremy is skilled in broadcasting, video,...