15/02/24 Green land investment in Scotland and its impact; Farm diversification businesses.

In the Scottish Highlands, rewilding and planting trees for carbon capture are increasingly attractive for big new landowners, but what impacts do these activities, taking over vast tracts of the countryside, have on the communities around them? A report for the Scottish Government tries to quantify those impacts and not all are positive. We visit affected communities and speak to the author of a new report.

All week we've been looking at the business side of farming. According to DEFRA, 69% of farm businesses were engaged in some kind of diversified enterprise in 2022-23. Having an extra income strand can make the difference between a viable farm and one that can’t pay its way, so nowadays the business of farming often means looking at what other businesses a farm can grow. Branching out can give both farm and farmers a whole new lease of life as we find out on a small upland farm in Cumbria.

Presenter = Caz Graham
Producer = Rebecca Rooney