Monitor Farms
Two Agritourism Monitor Farms funded by Scottish Enterprise have been established in East Central and West CentralScotland to drive economic growth of the agritourism sector in Scotland.
One meeting a month, alternating between the East Central and West Central Monitor Farms will focus on different topics, relevant to the growth of the tourism side of the businesses attending.
The monitor farm meetings are free to attend but you are encouraged to register before the meeting.
You don’t need to be a farmer to attend and the meetings are particularly relevant to;
- Existing agritourism businesses
- Farmers looking to develop a tourism or leisure business
- Rural tourism businesses
- Food and drink businesses
- Industry representatives
- Suppliers to the sector including industry professionals
- Students and young people
Stuart & Jo McNicol are directors of DRIFT. – a new cafe and agritourism business which they opened in June 2018.
Jo works full time in the business and also runs an additional events business called Castleton Events.
Both agritourism businesses are based on land within family farm, run by Stuart and his father Bill, which compromises of 430 acre of cereals.
The Lennox family run two agritourism businesses on their 1,500 hectare working hill sheep farm located on the banks of Loch Lomond.
Bobby, Anne and Kay work full time on the farm with Anne running Shantron Farm self-catering and Kay & husband Dougie managing Shemore Farm self-catering.
The farm is owned by Luss estate and Kay is the 10th generation of the Lennox family to work on the farm.
Agritourism Monitor Farm Meeting Dates
| Monitor Farm Meeting | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Strategy | 27th May 2021, 13.00-15.00 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
| One to one meetings with Monitor Farmers | w/c 7th June 2021 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
| Online meeting with Community Group and forecasting/financial performance specialist | 10th June 2021, 13.00-15.00 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
| Online Meeting | 24th June 2021, 10.00-12.00 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
| Farm Walk- Drift | 8th July 2021, 13.00-16.00 | Physical Meeting if permitted |
| Online Meeting | 29th July 2021, 10.00-12.00 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
| Farm Walk- Lennox of Lomond | 5th August 2021, 13.00-18.00 | Physical Meeting if permitted |
| Online meeting with Community Group and forecasting/financial performance specialist | 12th August 2021, 10.00-12.00 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
| Online Meeting | 26th August 2021, 10.00-12.00 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
| Back up- Physical Meeting if July doesn't go ahead | 23rd September 2021, 13.00-17.00 | Physical Meeting if permitted |
| Online Meeting | 27th September 2021, 10.00-12.00 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
| Community Group A East Central - 2 groups x 2 days in depth analysis of each other’s businesses and knowledge sharing | 29th and 30th September 2021, 09.30-16.00 | Physical Meeting if permitted |
| Community Group B West Central - 2 groups x 2 days in depth analysis of each other’s businesses and knowledge sharing | 20th and 21st October 2021, 09.30-16.00 | Physical Meeting if permitted |
| Online Meeting | 26th October 2021, 10.00-12.00 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
| Monitor Farm Conference as Day 1 of the Scottish Agritourism Conference | Date T.B.C November 2021 | Physical Meeting if permitted and streamed online |
| Online Meeting | 18th November 2021, 10.00-12.00 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
| Back up- Physical MF Meeting- open (West) | 10th December 2021, Time T.B.C | Physical Meeting if permitted |
| Christmas Meal | 10th December 2021, Evening | Physical Meeting if permitted |
| Online Meeting | 16th December 2021, 10.00-12.00 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
| Physical MF Meeting- open (East) | 13th January 2022, Time T.B.C | Physical Meeting if permitted |
| Online Meeting | 27th January 2022, 10am-12.00 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
| Community Group A East Central - 2 groups x 2 days in depth analysis of each other’s businesses and knowledge sharing | 2nd and 3rd February 2022, 09.00-17.00 | Physical Meeting if permitted |
| Community Group B West Central – 2 groups x 2 days in depth analysis of each other’s businesses and knowledge sharing | 9th and 10th February 2022, 09.00-17.00 | Physical Meeting if permitted |
| Online Meeting | 24th February 2022, 10.00-12.00 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
| Last physical meeting – open (West) | 10th March 2022, 09.00-17.00 | Physical Meeting if permitted |
| Online Meeting | 17th March 2022, 10.00-12.00 | Virtual meeting via Zoom |
To register or to find out more about any of the upcoming meetings stated above, please click here or email caroline@agritourism-monitorfarm.com.
Please note venues and times for meetings may change.
