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Sustainable Systems: Ecosystem Functions

Find information about the ecosystem functions that occur naturally on your farm

Select by an area of interest

Water Scarcity Case Study: Alternative watering of livestock

Background Following an AECS application in 2016 to fence off watercourses from grazing livestock, combined with a move to outwintering of cattle, Whitriggs Farm had...

Read more >

Natural Capital – Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS)

Are you looking for funding for projects to promote conservation and tackle climate change? In this episode of Natural Capital we discuss Scotland’s Agri-Environment and...

Read more >

Outcome-based Agri-Environment and Climate Schemes

The Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme (AECS) is designed to help farmers and crofters preserve or enhance the wider benefits that their land provides to society....

Read more >

Protecting Atlantic Salmon

At COP28 the decision was taken by the International Union for Conservation of Nature to reassess the status of Atlantic salmon, moving it from a...

Read more >

Alternatives to Chemical Control of Bracken

For the last 10 years, Asulam (also known as Asulox) has been granted special approval on an annual basis for use in the control of...

Read more >

Getting Your Soil Ready for Organic Farming

Ensuring soil health is optimal is key to the success of any farming operation, but in an organic system, where there is no option to...

Read more >

Tree Relocation: Allargue Estate

Allargue estate has been family owned for over 300 years and is positioned on roughly 2400 hectares (ha) of upland habitats, of which 115 ha...

Read more >

Natural Capital – Bees, Butterflies and Biodiversity

We begin our second series of Natural Capital exploring Bees, Butterflies and Biodiversity with Dr Lorna Cole, an agricultural ecologist whose work addresses the challenge...

Read more >

Thrill of the Hill – A Damming Conclusion?

Episode #12 – A Damming Conclusion? Beavers are a keystone species and their presence in Scotland could go a long way to achieving land landscape...

Read more >

Recognising Healthy Peatlands

In this video, Dr Lorna Cole from SAC Consulting discusses how to recognise degraded peatlands with Laura Curtis-Moss from East Ayrshire Coalfield Environment Initiative. Related...

Read more >

Peatland Restoration

In this video the SAC Consulting team up with peatland experts from East Ayrshire Coalfield Environment Initiative to help landowners navigate through a peatland restoration...

Read more >

Thrill of the Hill 9 – Digging Deep on Soil Carbon

Episode #9 – Digging Deep on Soil Carbon. In this episode we hear from Senior Scientific Lead Rachael Ramsay about the scientific consensus around soil...

Read more >

Species-Rich Grasslands

Species-rich grasslands are particularly valuable for wildlife and support a variety of rare species of plants and insects. Despite their value, we have lost approximately...

Read more >

Working Together to Improve Water Management: Greenloaning Project on the Allan Water

Forth Fisheries Trust have been working with land managers to slow flow and improve water management on site throughout the Allan Water Project. This video...

Read more >

Ecosystem Markets and Green Commerce

In our final episode of the series we are discussing the important financial topics which cover most natural capital projects, including ecosystem markets and green...

Read more >

Hedgerow Restoration and Management

Healthy hedgerows are truly multifunctional. They capture and store carbon, stockproof fields and enhance biosecurity, provide shade and shelter for livestock and they slow and...

Read more >

Thrill of the Hill – Working for Waders Part 2

Thrill of the Hill is back! Season 3 #8 – Working for Waders Part II. In this episode we hear from returning guest, Working for...

Read more >

Cross Compliance: Protecting Our Landscapes

Landscape features such as dykes are a unique part of the Scottish landscape, find out what the rules are under Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions...

Read more >

Cross Compliance – Preventing Soil Erosion

Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions 5 relates to limiting soil erosion. This short video explains why soil erosion is so important and your responsibilities relating...

Read more >

Water Management on Your Farm: Re-connection to Floodplain

As climate conditions continue to change the sustainable management of water on farm is of great concern for many land managers around Scotland. From unprecedented...

Read more >

Resilient Technology Options for Water Management on Farm: Rainwater Harvesting

As our climate changes and we experience more extreme weather patterns, becoming more resilient and efficient with water use on farm can be critical to...

Read more >

Water Management for Your Farm: Slowing the Flow

As climate conditions continue to change the sustainable management of water on farm is of great concern for many land managers around Scotland. From unprecedented...

Read more >

Water Management on Your Farm: Resilience

As climate conditions continue to change the sustainable management of water on farm is of great concern for many land managers around Scotland. From unprecedented...

Read more >

Water Management on Your Farm: Irrigation

As climate conditions continue to change the sustainable management of water on farm is of great concern for many land managers around Scotland. From unprecedented...

Read more >

Grazing for Profit and Biodiversity: Grazing Strategies

Equally important to both profit and biodiversity as pasture composition, is the way in which we graze the pasture with livestock. Grazing duration, intensity and...

Read more >

Grazing for Profit and Biodiversity at Peelham

In this video, Denise and Angus Walton discuss how developing a rotational grazing system combined with deferred grazing for cattle wintering has seen a multitude...

Read more >

Grazing for Profit and Biodiversity: Multi-Species Swards

This factsheet looks at the wide range of benefits multi-species swards can bring for farm profitability and biodiversity including improved stock and pasture productivity on...

Read more >

CropCast – Cover Crops & Green Manures

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Mactaggart will be joined by...

Read more >

Compost and Growing Media

Do you have a horticultural enterprise on your croft or smallholding? Do you buy or make compost or growing media? Do you get variable results?!...

Read more >

Evaluating Soil Quality and Testing for Soil Health Status

At grass roots level SAC consultants are noting a growing interest in soil health from farmers and increasing numbers of questions about what SRUC can...

Read more >

Tackling Soil Compaction to Reduce Fertiliser Costs

Dairy farmers across Scotland often rely on fertiliser to ensure that they grow enough grass to meet the needs of their livestock. However, fertiliser prices...

Read more >

Women in Agriculture, Caithness: Confused about Carbon? Let’s Clear the Air!

So much talk about reducing farm emissions, lowering your carbon footprint, carbon neutral, net zero and how to farm more efficiently…..confused by all this and...

Read more >

Trees and carbon capture – The Science

Can trees really help combat climate change, and how? If you’ve ever wondered “what’s the evidence that tree planting targets will work?” watch the recording...

Read more >

More in FAS Problem Solver

Select by an area of interest

Water Scarcity Case Study: Alternative watering of livestock

Background Following an AECS application in 2016 to fence off watercourses from grazing livestock, combined with a move to outwintering of cattle, Whitriggs Farm had...

Read more >

Natural Capital – Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS)

Are you looking for funding for projects to promote conservation and tackle climate change? In this episode of Natural Capital we discuss Scotland’s Agri-Environment and...

Read more >

Outcome-based Agri-Environment and Climate Schemes

The Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme (AECS) is designed to help farmers and crofters preserve or enhance the wider benefits that their land provides to society....

Read more >

Protecting Atlantic Salmon

At COP28 the decision was taken by the International Union for Conservation of Nature to reassess the status of Atlantic salmon, moving it from a...

Read more >

Alternatives to Chemical Control of Bracken

For the last 10 years, Asulam (also known as Asulox) has been granted special approval on an annual basis for use in the control of...

Read more >

Getting Your Soil Ready for Organic Farming

Ensuring soil health is optimal is key to the success of any farming operation, but in an organic system, where there is no option to...

Read more >

Tree Relocation: Allargue Estate

Allargue estate has been family owned for over 300 years and is positioned on roughly 2400 hectares (ha) of upland habitats, of which 115 ha...

Read more >

Natural Capital – Bees, Butterflies and Biodiversity

We begin our second series of Natural Capital exploring Bees, Butterflies and Biodiversity with Dr Lorna Cole, an agricultural ecologist whose work addresses the challenge...

Read more >

Thrill of the Hill – A Damming Conclusion?

Episode #12 – A Damming Conclusion? Beavers are a keystone species and their presence in Scotland could go a long way to achieving land landscape...

Read more >

Recognising Healthy Peatlands

In this video, Dr Lorna Cole from SAC Consulting discusses how to recognise degraded peatlands with Laura Curtis-Moss from East Ayrshire Coalfield Environment Initiative. Related...

Read more >

Peatland Restoration

In this video the SAC Consulting team up with peatland experts from East Ayrshire Coalfield Environment Initiative to help landowners navigate through a peatland restoration...

Read more >

Thrill of the Hill 9 – Digging Deep on Soil Carbon

Episode #9 – Digging Deep on Soil Carbon. In this episode we hear from Senior Scientific Lead Rachael Ramsay about the scientific consensus around soil...

Read more >

Species-Rich Grasslands

Species-rich grasslands are particularly valuable for wildlife and support a variety of rare species of plants and insects. Despite their value, we have lost approximately...

Read more >

Working Together to Improve Water Management: Greenloaning Project on the Allan Water

Forth Fisheries Trust have been working with land managers to slow flow and improve water management on site throughout the Allan Water Project. This video...

Read more >

Ecosystem Markets and Green Commerce

In our final episode of the series we are discussing the important financial topics which cover most natural capital projects, including ecosystem markets and green...

Read more >

Hedgerow Restoration and Management

Healthy hedgerows are truly multifunctional. They capture and store carbon, stockproof fields and enhance biosecurity, provide shade and shelter for livestock and they slow and...

Read more >

Thrill of the Hill – Working for Waders Part 2

Thrill of the Hill is back! Season 3 #8 – Working for Waders Part II. In this episode we hear from returning guest, Working for...

Read more >

Cross Compliance: Protecting Our Landscapes

Landscape features such as dykes are a unique part of the Scottish landscape, find out what the rules are under Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions...

Read more >

Cross Compliance – Preventing Soil Erosion

Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions 5 relates to limiting soil erosion. This short video explains why soil erosion is so important and your responsibilities relating...

Read more >

Water Management on Your Farm: Re-connection to Floodplain

As climate conditions continue to change the sustainable management of water on farm is of great concern for many land managers around Scotland. From unprecedented...

Read more >

Resilient Technology Options for Water Management on Farm: Rainwater Harvesting

As our climate changes and we experience more extreme weather patterns, becoming more resilient and efficient with water use on farm can be critical to...

Read more >

Water Management for Your Farm: Slowing the Flow

As climate conditions continue to change the sustainable management of water on farm is of great concern for many land managers around Scotland. From unprecedented...

Read more >

Water Management on Your Farm: Resilience

As climate conditions continue to change the sustainable management of water on farm is of great concern for many land managers around Scotland. From unprecedented...

Read more >

Water Management on Your Farm: Irrigation

As climate conditions continue to change the sustainable management of water on farm is of great concern for many land managers around Scotland. From unprecedented...

Read more >

Grazing for Profit and Biodiversity: Grazing Strategies

Equally important to both profit and biodiversity as pasture composition, is the way in which we graze the pasture with livestock. Grazing duration, intensity and...

Read more >

Grazing for Profit and Biodiversity at Peelham

In this video, Denise and Angus Walton discuss how developing a rotational grazing system combined with deferred grazing for cattle wintering has seen a multitude...

Read more >

Grazing for Profit and Biodiversity: Multi-Species Swards

This factsheet looks at the wide range of benefits multi-species swards can bring for farm profitability and biodiversity including improved stock and pasture productivity on...

Read more >

CropCast – Cover Crops & Green Manures

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Mactaggart will be joined by...

Read more >

Compost and Growing Media

Do you have a horticultural enterprise on your croft or smallholding? Do you buy or make compost or growing media? Do you get variable results?!...

Read more >

Evaluating Soil Quality and Testing for Soil Health Status

At grass roots level SAC consultants are noting a growing interest in soil health from farmers and increasing numbers of questions about what SRUC can...

Read more >

Tackling Soil Compaction to Reduce Fertiliser Costs

Dairy farmers across Scotland often rely on fertiliser to ensure that they grow enough grass to meet the needs of their livestock. However, fertiliser prices...

Read more >

Women in Agriculture, Caithness: Confused about Carbon? Let’s Clear the Air!

So much talk about reducing farm emissions, lowering your carbon footprint, carbon neutral, net zero and how to farm more efficiently…..confused by all this and...

Read more >

Trees and carbon capture – The Science

Can trees really help combat climate change, and how? If you’ve ever wondered “what’s the evidence that tree planting targets will work?” watch the recording...

Read more >

Something else on your mind?