Institute Enters Agreement with House Builder.

We are delighted to announce the completion today of an agreement with a house builder. Further details will follow in early 2010.

Planning Consent

The Institute is pleased to announce that a Section 75 Agreement, relating to the proposed housing development on the research park site, has been successfully agreed with South Ayrshire Council.

Estate Wildlife News

A barn owl has been spotted on the Hannah estate, close to St Quivox. The Institute is delighted by this, following the introduction two years ago of a nesting box scheme for a number of bird species, including owls. Out of the 50+ nesting boxes introduced, more than 2/3 have been successfully used.

In July, we were distressed to find a dead buzzard on the estate. The carcass was sent for toxicology testing, although this proved to be inconclusive. The Institute has stepped up it’s monitoring of the estate’s raptor population and the appropriate authorities notified. Birds of prey are commonly and sadly increasingly, subject to poisoning. The Institute takes such criminal acts very seriously, and will seek the prosecution of any perpetrators.

LANTRA Conference

The Institute was pleased to support the recent LANTRA (Lantra is the industry body supporting skills, education and training for the UK's environmental and land-based industries.) Keith McKellar, the Institute’s Chief Executive, will propose the vote of thanks.

For more information please visit Lantra's website.

Biodiversity Action Plan

Keith McKellar, representing the Institute, was very pleased to be invited to consult on the Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Ayrshire, at their recent meeting at Dean House Country Park, Kilmarnock.

Rural Watch Initiative

The Institute is pleased to support Strathclyde Police’s Rural Watch Scheme, and is working closely with the Strathclyde Police Wildlife Liaisons Officer. As one of the early members of PC Gordon’s Rural Watch Initiative, the Institute are conscious of the positive effect that this scheme has had in increasing the vigilance, reducing rural crime and fly-tipping in the area.

Fly-tipping Initiative

The Institute is supporting the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association’s (SRPBA) Ayrshire Fly-tipping Initiative, a joint initiative with Keep Scotland Beautiful, to gather evidence of fly-tipping incidents in Ayrshire www.dumbdumpers.org.uk/howtoreport.asap.

BBC Production

Keith McKellar has been advising a BBC production team for a forthcoming documentary on rural management practices.