Land management

In October 2022 Livingston Community Shed was created from an observation by a lady at The United Parish Church in Carmondean who became concerned that many elderly gentlemen were sitting around in the church café with no social contact or involvement in the community. A meeting was called via a newsletter organised by two charity workers and from this a decision was made to register the group with the International Men’s Shed organisation. Early meetings were held in a small storeroom above the church where a committee of trustees was voted in, and the current Chairman was elected. Since those days 18 months ago when meetings were held in what became known as the little yellow room the Shed has grown into a fully fledged Scottish Charity with a strong membership base of over 20 people. In December of 2022 the shed opened talks with West Lothian Council on the possible community lease of a huge derelict area of garden located on the South side of Carmondean Community Centre where we planned to build a workshop and possibly renovate a derelict farmhouse in the grounds. The negotiations with the council lasted for over a year but eventually in February of 2024 (this year) a 10-year community lease on the land was signed and the shed are now building a workshop and developing a community garden with plans to construct greenhouses and raised beds for growing vegetables to be donated to the church café which provides a free weekly community meal to the residents of nearby Knightsridge. Whilst the negotiations were going on with the council the shed rented a small container located in the grounds of Knightsridge community garden which they have transformed into a fully fledged woodwork shop filled with tools and machinery donated by members of the public and associated Men’s Shed charities. As a result of this workshop the Community Shed has developed the following community services which are all provided free of charge, we only accept donations from those who can manage it. A major highlight of our short but busy life was our winning some tools and garden equipment in the Dobbies Garden centre competition in 2023.

Uig Development Trust exists for the benefit of the community of Uig, Isle of Lewis. The trust works with individuals, community groups and other trusts to support sustainable community development in a collective and responsible manner. The Trust acts as landlord for Uig Community Shop.

We run an organic small holding on the south end of the Isle of Arran with regenerative agriculture, permaculture and food forest gardens. We offer education and site tours to our local community and visitors to the island. Alongside we run an eco glamping site and offer the same tours etc to guests. In addition to the food growing (mostly soft & top fruit), we use food from site to make food and drinks, offering activities and also sharing processes and knowledge online through social media. Our main specialisation is food forest gardening but we demonstrate many nature based solutions to minimise climate change and protect and enhance biodiversity. We also work with the Permaculture Association Britain (PAB) and Permaculture Scotland and we are an accredited PAB demonstration site (ScotLAND site). Drop us an email if you would like to visit.

Climate Ready South East Scotland is the first climate risk and opportunity assessment for the Edinburgh and South East Scotland region.

New Roots teaches food growing to neurodivergent members of our community. We also run horticultural 'how to' day courses for the wider public.

We are a local community green space; we work with our learning community (by running outdoor learning, Forest School and outdoor play); we run gardening sessions and land maintenance; we offer free outdoor community events to our community and beyond.

The Culduthel Woods Group is a local charity, run entirely by volunteers and first established in 2018. We aim to protect and improve the woods, to promote education and to encourage community involvement. If you use the woods, or care about what happens there, please join up as a member and support us in other ways.

Inchinnan Development Trust is a not-for-profit organisation focused on community-led preservation and enhancement of Inchinnan's greenspaces and woodlands, for the benefit of both our local communities and wildlife populations.

We are Scotland's first cafe making food with insects. Insects are high in protein and have a low carbon footprint. They require significantly fewer resources compared to traditional sources of protein, making them an eco-friendly option to enjoy.

Falkland and Newton of Falkland Community Council exists solely to represent the views of the Communities of Falkland and Newton on all relevant matters including Planning, Policing, Fife Council services, Roads and Transport, Health, and any other matter where the views of the community residents are sought, or residents have concerns about.

HIEF aims to protect & restore the natural beauty, biodiversity & eco-systems of the Scottish highlands & islands for the benefit of all by working in partnership with local communities to implement sustainable & regenerative projects to protect & restore the environment.

VAER is the ‘Centre for Collective Impact’ based in East Renfrewshire.

Our purpose is to inform, connect, engage and empower all communities in Lanarkshire to develop and implement local solutions to create low carbon resilient places.

We are a constituted community group aiming to save the ponds at the end of Western Harbour, Edinburgh, from development.

Friends of the North Highland Way is a public / private sector group who have paid in time or cash to develop the North Highland Way as the only multi use route in Scotland, under the Core Path Plans and Scottish Outdoor Access Code and Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016. We look for corporate sponsorship as we are not a constituted body.

Sustainability for us means meeting the social foundations of current and future generations while living responsibly within a healthy, natural environment.

SET are an enthusiastic group of volunteers in Skelmorlie we are working together and taking actions:

Helping Nature Flourish

Fallin Community Voice is establishing its own community garden space for our local residents. A place for people to grow, socialise, volunteer and be part of our wonderful community. Working in collaboration with local & national partners, we are developing a community garden which will consist of a resilient, regenerative permaculture garden and edible forest that thrives in our increasingly unpredictable climate to provide food for us and habitats for nature. It will improve local biodiversity, create new green jobs and up-skill residents in the fields of climate action, nature restoration, food security and community resilience. Our project will bring people together and create a new, better quality, wheelchair accessible natural space, regenerating a natural environment that has been replaced by ex-mining derelict land. This space will include a core central food production hub and an educational area, with a range of activities and programmes designed in partnership with residents and other stakeholders, raising awareness of “nature and climate” issues and inspiring opportunities to address other climate and nature friendly priorities in and around the community.

Lucky Ewe is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) in North East Fife. We rent land near New Gilston for our small flock of dairy sheep with additional grazing at Cuparmuir and Springfield. • Lucky Ewe aims to give people with additional support needs of any kind the chance to experience farming, animal husbandry and food production at a pre-entry level. • We welcome people of all abilities and backgrounds: our placements aim to build skills and experience at Lucky Ewe to help them progress towards employment. • The outdoors and working with animals have been proven to enhance mental well-being and to bring a sense of peace and purpose: our placements hope to achieve that for beneficiaries and volunteers.

As a Symington Community Council project, Pollinator Friendly Symington (PFS) was initiated in the early spring of 2023, born from a wildflower verge project that we began in 2021. PFS encourages gardeners in the community to garden with pollinators in mind, with the aim of building a network of habitats in which pollinators can refuel, reproduce, pollinate and hibernate. So far we have signed up 18 gardeners as 'friends' of PFS, with gardens of different size and character. Our local garden centre, Hayes Garden Land, provided free seed packets, which we handed out to signed-up friends, along with PFS garden signs. Scottish Wildlife Trust's Nectar Network has guided us throughout, providing lots of useful material, and is always available to help us progress. And SWT's new project; Nextdoor Nature, is currently filming PFS activities in order to release on its website a five minute video as its first of several showcases of community led conservation projects in Scotland. Recent events include a bat walk, led by a South Ayrshire Ranger, who also lent us a moth trap, which was used in 8 different gardens and succeeded in trapping a wide variety of moths. And in September we had a 'celebration' of the project - the community aspect of the project is arguably as valuable as the nature aspect - and intend to continue to pursue such activities through the winter.

The Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust is the community organisation which owns the Isle of Eigg. The Trust manages and stewards the island’s development for current and future residents. The Trust was established to provide and create opportunity for economic development, housing and infrastructure, whilst conserving our natural and cultural heritage to ensure that development takes place in a sustainable way.

Midlothian Wildflowers is committed to supporting the positive health and wellbeing of local communities through local engagement in environmental conservation, regeneration and the development of thriving green spaces throughout Midlothian.

Assynt Development Trust serves and supports the seventeen townships of Assynt. We are the anchor organisation for the RLUP and a lead member of the Northwest 2045 group.