Financial Support

The Scottish Rural Development Programme is now the Scottish Government’s main programme for financial support to rural Scotland. Rural Priorities is an important part of the SRDP. Rural priorities is a competitive scheme, but actions contributing to favourable condition on designated sites are a priority for each of the Regions and measures have been designed specifically to offer support for delivering these public benefits. You can see the full list of Regional Priorities for your area on the Scottish Government’s Rural Development website
(http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/SRDP)

A summary of the RDC options that relate to grazing has been prepared and can be viewed by selecting this link. SRDP Grazing options. There may be other options relating to public access, species management or business development that land managers may wish to consider that are not covered by this summary.

The types of activities that could be supported include:

• Preparation and implementation of a moorland management plan; where appropriate, detailing muirburn, shepherding, feeding, ATV and peat-cutting practices.
• Stock reductions or removals (away and off –wintering)
• Maintenance or reduction of deer populations in the open range to enhance the natural heritage
• Using cattle grazing for conservation management
• Following an agreed grazing regime to favour particular habitats, e.g. Species-rich grassland, Scrub and Tall Herb Communities, Wetlands.
• Sustainable grazing management in forests; including deer and livestock.
• Capital works on SSSIs aimed at bringing special features into favourable condition.

Some of these options are paid at an annual rate per hectare, other such as capital works are paid as a percentage of total costs (in some cases up to 100%).

The Rural Priorities scheme is open to any individual, business or properly constituted group, hence may also be available to local Deer Management Groups who meet the criteria.

Agency contacts( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/SRDP/RuralPriorities/RPContactUs)
would be happy to discuss and advise on your ideas for a Statement of Intent ahead of submitting a Proposal or on the support available for management planning. Within the Cairngorms National Park, Land Management Support Officers can help land managers with their proposals (ruralfunding@cairngorms.co.uk ).