Welcome to The Thrill of The Hill. Today we're talking about one of Scotland's most iconic groups of farmland birds – our waders.

Species such as lapwing, curlew, redshank and snipe have long been part of the Scottish farming landscape. Their calls and displays are synonymous with springtime on farms and crofts across the country, yet many of these species have experienced significant declines over recent decades.

Toby Wilson from RSPB Scotland joins us to discuss what is driving these changes, what practical management can help reverse them, and how current funding schemes can support farmers and crofters who want to make space for nature alongside productive agriculture.

Timestamps

01.17 Introducing Toby Wilson (RSPB Senior Conservation Officer)

02.43 How agricultural landscapes fit into wider wildlife conservation

04.23 The importance of farmers and crofters for delivering nature conservation outcomes

06.44 Farm Wildlife Walks

10.02 The Forth Estuary

15.18 Habitat value of coastal marshland for waders

16.55 The importance of a supporting mosaic of habitats

19.24 Wader numbers in Scotland and some of the main pressures affecting waders

25.55 Habitat connectivity specifically for waders

29.22 What gives Toby hope

33.51 Nature Scot – Nature Restoration Fund

41.50 The future for waders in Scotland

44.34 Toby’s take home messages

Resources

RSPB Scotland

Working for Waders

Making a difference for waders in the Cairngorms

Scottish Government Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) | NatureScot

New strongholds for wader recovery proposed | NatureScot

Agri-Environment Climate Scheme

Farm Wildlife Walks 2026 | Helping farmers in Scotland

toby.wilson@rspb.co.uk

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. On today’s episode George Chalmers and Tiffany Stephenson are joined by SAC Consulting forestry consultant David Eadie to discuss farm woodlands, as well as bringing you the latest industry updates.

Timestamps

00:35 How are things with George & Tiffany?

02:21 Upcoming events?

04:00 Important deadlines to be aware of

06:18 The World Cup

10:23 Introduction to David Eadie

10:50 Why might a farmer consider woodlands?

12:45 Specialist advice available for woodlands

14:58 Woodland creation

15:57 Is scoring for woodland creation competitive?

17:30 What does the maintenance grant cover

20:39 What is the optimum site for planting?

22:09 Thinning & felling

24:30 Process of obtaining felling permission?

25:27 Harvesting & processing grants?

26:50 What are the signs of woodland disease?

FAS Resources

RSABI Keepie Uppy challenge https://www.rsabi.org.uk/rsabi-social-challenge-takes-off-as-excitement-builds-towards-farmer-football-tournament/

FAS Events https://www.fas.scot/events/

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

Future Farming Investment Scheme https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/ffis/

Agri – Environment Climate Scheme https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/agri-environment-climate-scheme/

Forestry Grant Scheme https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/forestry-grant-scheme/

Scottish Forestry https://www.forestry.gov.scot/

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

In this episode Tiffany Stevenson is joined by Simon Oxley to discuss Arable innovation along with Dr Neil Havis to discuss what growers can expect to see at the upcoming SRUC Crop trial events, which take place on the 23rd & 25th June 2026.

With increasing pressure on margins, rising input costs and more challenging growing conditions, arable innovation and making the right variety and crop protection decisions has never been more important.

The upcoming crop trial events provide a valuable opportunity to see current and upcoming Winter Wheat and Spring Barley varieties performing under local conditions and hear directly from researchers, industry specialists and fellow farmers about what is looking promising for the seasons ahead.

Timestamps

0:10 Introduction to Neil & Simon

2:32 What does Innovation mean?

6:27 Where is the most potential for innovation?

10:48 How are crops looking this season?

15:14 Changes to crop varieties?

17:28 What to expect at the upcoming crop trial events?

26:14 Impact of climate change on arable production?

27:50 How can growers make the best decisions?

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

You are listening to Agri Culture, a podcast that aims to explore the stories of the people that make up our agricultural industry and culture of farming, in Scotland and beyond. On today’s episode Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Lauren Houstoun from Glenkilrie Larder who tells us about her farming business, Glenkilrie Farm, which she runs with her husband Andrew and in-laws David and Morag Houstoun. They farm cattle, sheep and deer, and started selling their produce directly to their consumers through farmers markets. Lauren is passionate about producing high quality, local food, and this passion led her to campaign to improve the quality of food available in local schools. She showcases the provenance of their seasonal produce through the Glenkilrie Cook School, demonstrating cooking techniques, the history and heritage of the family and their commitment to sustainable farming practices.

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to find out more about Glenkilrie Larder you can find the link in the show notes. This episode was presented by Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government.

Resources:

Glenkilrie Larder - From Land to Larder

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by David Speller from OptiFarm. David is a poultry farmer who had lots of data and not enough time to analyse it. David will tell us about the AI tool he developed to help him make better informed decisions, which attracted the eyes of investors leading to his company OptiFarm. David explains how the tool works and the benefits of using AI in livestock systems including the use of real-time data to be proactive in terms of livestock management and welfare, and how this can improve livestock performance and profitability.

Resources

https://www.fas.scot/livestock/poultry/

Website address: optifarm.co.uk

Optifarm email: info@optifarm.co.uk

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Hello and welcome to Crofting Matters, hosted by Siobhan Macdonald, and this is the Farm Advisory Service series where we discuss topics that matter in crofting.

For this episode, we’re heading north to the wild and windswept Shetland isles to explore the unique world of island crofting and the remarkable resilience of Shetland’s crofters. Join Siobhan Macdonald and Osla Jamwal Fraser as they dive into the opportunities and challenges of farming on the archipelago — from the advantages of geographic isolation for maintaining high-health livestock schemes, to the realities of costly transport links and long ferry crossings.

With Osla at the helm of the series for 2026, we will uncover some of Shetland’s most fascinating agricultural stories and industries, including its iconic Shetland sheep, world-famous wool, native ponies, and even the surprising rise of spaceports among the islands’ rugged landscapes. This is a journey into innovation, tradition, and life at the edge of the North Sea.

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Crofting Matters. If you’d like to find out more about you can find the link in the show notes. This episode was presented by Siobhan Macdonald produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Kieron Sim, in association with the Scottish Government.

FAS Resources:

Scottish Land Matching Service

Shetland Livestock Marketing Group

Crofting Commission

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

In the first episode of the new series, we speak with Donya Davidson and Sophie Manson from NatureScot about their Natural Capital Tool and find out what it is, the challenges it addresses, and how it supports land managers in Scotland. We have a walk through showing how the tool works in practice and how it allows decision makers to identify strategies that maximise positive outcomes.

The Natural Capital Tool is a free, easy-to-use spatial decision support tool designed to enable a natural capital approach to land management. Considering the full range of benefits and ecosystem services nature provides, it helps users plan land use in ways that deliver multiple benefits for both people and the environment. Developed by NatureScot in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University and EOLAS Insight, it is tailored specifically to Scotland’s landscapes and needs.

Host Harry Fisher, Producers Iain Boyd & Fiona Salter, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kirstyn Blackwood & Kerry Hammond

Key Timestamps:

1:06 – 6:59 intro and background to the tool

7:00 – 18:34 the data, functions and design of the tool

18:35 – 35:30 how to use it and target audiences

35:30 – 44:19 run through of tool and next steps

Resources:

FAS Environment: https://www.fas.scot/environment/

FAS Natural Capital podcast: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/

Natural Capital Tool: https://natcaptool.nature.scot/

Natural Capital Tool | NatureScot: https://www.nature.scot/doc/natural-capital-tool

Biodiversity Audits for Whole Farm Plan | Helping farmers in Scotland: https://www.fas.scot/article/biodiversity-audits-for-whole-farm-plan/

Farm Biodiversity Scotland: https://biodiversity.scot/

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot