March 2012
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- Thursday, 22 March 2012 10:24
- Tamsin Morris
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Hello and farewell.
Yes, this is indeed the last e-bulletin from the Scottish Community Land Network. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have decided to replace SCLN with a new website. The exact format of the new site isn't clear yet, but if you'd like to be involved in shaping its future, you can read HIE's tender request for contractors to deliver the content of the new site. As a reminder, unless you let us know otherwise, we will pass on your name and email address for use with the new site. Please get in touch by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you'd like your details removed from the list. No other personal details will be passed on, and we will remove personal information from SCLN once it becomes an archive.
Obviously we're sad to be leaving SCLN, but we've both enjoyed our time working for and with community land groups throughout Scotland over the four years we've spent in SCLN Towers. During this time, we've written over 800 news articles, promoted nearly 600 events through the calendar, produced 17 case studies and provided a home for a wide variety of resources relevant to community land groups. We've also sent out the e-bulletin every month, come sun, snow or holiday, to a growing number of folk, which now stands at 980.
We'd like to say a personal thank you to all the people who've taken the time to get in touch and say how much they appreciate the site - it's been lovely to get feedback from the ether after sending out another e-bulletin! If you'd like to still hear from us in the future, you can follow us on Twitter at @WTTScotland - where we're hoping to post items we come across that may be of interest to community groups.
But before we disappear, there's still the March bulletin to read. It includes a final case study, looking at the thorny problem of sharing out the spoils from a community energy project. There's also news of more funding opportunities, some reports and guides and the latest blog from Vikki on Rum.
So all that remains is to pack up the virtual boxes in SCLN Towers, to wish you well in all your adventures and to thank you for your time and contributions to SCLN.
Best wishes for the future,
Tamsin Morris & Chris York
February 2012
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- Tuesday, 21 February 2012 15:39
- Tamsin Morris
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Hello and welcome to February's SCLN e-bulletin.
And of course, the big news this month is the re-launch of the Scottish Land Fund. Hopefully it will help to reinvigorate the sector and drive forward some new community buy-outs. It's certainly a testament to the lobbying power of Community Land Scotland, who were delighted to hear the minister's announcement.
Elsewhere in this month's bulletin you can find a new case study - looking at the different structures and legal models followed by different groups. It's accompanied by some background information on legal set-ups, so if you don't know your SCIO from your elbow, it might be just what you need!
This month is also our penultimate bulletin. Highlands and Islands Enterprise have decided they'd like to take SCLN in a new direction in the future, so we'll no longer be contracted to run the website and produce these bulletins. We hope that this website will remain live as an archive of the last four year's activity in the Community Land domain, but it probably won't be kept up to date after March. The new format for SCLN hasn't been finalised and a new contractor has yet to be appointed. But when they are, HIE would like to be able to give them the email addresses of those currently receiving the SCLN e-bulletin. They'll then be able to contact you to see if you'd like to receive the new bulletins and use the new website. However, we don't want to just assume you're happy for your email address to be passed onto HIE or the new contractors. So, if you would rather your email address was NOT passed on, could you please drop us a line to confirm that? Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - we'll then remove your name from the list which is passed to HIE at the end of March. If we don't hear from you, we'll assume you're happy to receive the new bulletins whenever they start. We will not pass on any details other than your name and email address.
Of course, we'll still be sending one final bulletin in March, so you haven't quite heard the last of us yet! But for now, enjoy this month's round up.
Best wishes,
Tamsin Morris & Chris York
December 2011
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- Saturday, 17 December 2011 17:59
- Tamsin Morris
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Hello and welcome to December's edition of news from the Scottish Community Land Network.
Of course, you may have packed up for the year already and be happily settled in front of the fire, mulled wine and mince pie in hand(s). But for those of you still thinking about the world of community land, we have a bumper packed, fully festive newsletter for your perusal. Actually, it's not that festive. This month's case study reflects on the tricky, tortuous journey that can be public asset transfer and it's certainly got elements of bah humbug to it. But, you can only tell it like it is and I suspect some of you might have comments and views to express on its rather bleak outlook.
Elsewhere, we have a more magical slice of life on Rum as Vikki gets over her 'first winter blues' and its time for us to think about what 2012 might bring. In terms of SCLN, one thing is for certain - 2012 will definitely be bringing some changes. Our contract with Highlands and Islands Enterprise ends in March and HIE are keen to take SCLN in a new direction. They're investigating options at the moment, but are hopeful that the content for a future version of SCLN can be produced by community groups themselves. With that in mind, if you have news that you'd like to see included in SCLN, please let us know or send them direct to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We'll still be producing newsletters between now and March, so you haven't heard the last of us yet, and we hope to be able to bring you more updates on what might be happening to SCLN as we hear them from HIE.
So, as we usher out the old year and welcome in the new, I'd like to wish you all a peaceful and merry Christmas break. May your stockings be full, your reindeer lively and your dog just a little keener on wearing his festive antlers than ours!
Best wishes and happy Christmas
Tamsin Morris and Chris York
January 2012
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- Monday, 23 January 2012 11:32
- Tamsin Morris
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Hello and welcome to both 2012 and January's e-bulletin from the Scottish Community Land Network.
So, I'm assuming you've emptied the last box of chocolates, shoved the decorations back in the cupboard and started on your January de-tox plan? Me too - although the health kick was slightly damaged by a 70s party this weekend. Still, it seems that a mix of sponge fingers, Angel Delight and prawn cocktail vol-au-vents, washed down with a Babycham, can be quite an encouragement to get back to that fruit bowl!
And what nutritionally balanced, antioxidant filled news do we bring you from the community land world this month? Well, there's our now regular update from Community Land Scotland; some job and house adverts for those looking for a new year change; a host of reports and new guides being published and a handful of funding opportunities. There's also an update from Vikki on Rum, who's having a zen moment. So plenty to keep you going in the brief gap between the New Year blues and the start of your Burns Night haggis.
As always, we'd be interested in receiving your stories, news and comments on the website. That's if you're not too busy drinking celery juice and doing sit-ups?
Best wishes,
Tamsin Morris & Chris York
November 2011
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- Monday, 21 November 2011 11:41
- Tamsin Morris
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Hello and welcome to the suspiciously mild November selection of news from the community land world.
Just what is going on with the weather then? So mild I met a man in shorts walking on the beach yesterday morning. Yes, that's right. Shorts! In November. But just as I thought the whole world was turning on its head, I overheard a neighbour: 'Aye, aye it's nice enough' she said, across suspiciously folded arms, 'but we'll pay for it later, you'll see.'
So in the relative sanity of SCLN, this month brings you another instalment of life on Rum and a mix of articles that include the latest funding updates; the news from Community Land Scotland and information on the right to buy situation doon sooth. Of course, you'll all be too busy on the beach to read this just now, but at least there's something to do when you bring your bucket and spade in at the 4pm twilight.
It's certainly interesting times. Who knows where we'll be by next month - knee deep in snow or basking in sub-tropical temperatures? Will the Euro be just a distant memory? And will I have even started my Christmas shopping? Ah well, at least we know the answer to one of those!
Best wishes
Tamsin Morris & Chris York
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