Helping It Happen Awards Winners 2018

The 2018 Helping It Happen National Awards saw more than 200 business owners and industry leaders from across the rural sector join together at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh for an inspiring evening celebrating rural success.

The sell-out event, sponsored by The MacRobert Trust, shone a light on the passionate work carried out by farms, estates and land-based businesses to help their local communities thrive.

Rural Business Award Winner

Orkney Ice Cream

Orkney Ice cream stems from the famous Orkney Creamery, and all from a pig farm bought by my Grandfather!

The farm changed over the years from pigs to beef to dairy and then to a processing dairy, branching into ice cream in 1995 as the milk market was so competitive and our island contribution held extra challenges.

Eventually we sold the dairy herd and

Tourism Award Winner

Dunvegan Castle & Estate Restoration

Dunvegan Castle & Estate

Sir Reginald MacLeod opened Dunvegan in 1933 for charitable purposes two days per week. Today our visitors can enjoy tours of an extraordinary castle and Highland estate steeped in history and clan legend, enjoy our formal gardens, get up close to a seal, stay in our holiday cottages or campsite, enjoy a meal at the MacLeod Tables

Rural Property Award Winner

Raehills Home Farm Housing

Annandale Estates located near Lockerbie has undertaken a project to convert a traditional stone barn into four energy efficient affordable homes. The Raehills Home Farm development was designed by White Hill Design Studio and challenged contractors to retrofit the draughty disused agricultural building into warm modern homes as close to Passivhaus standard

Education Award Winner

Field to Fork, Hirsel Estate

Field to Fork, a project for schools, based at the Hirsel Estate, Coldstream and funded by Douglas and Angus Estates, is about connecting children to where their food comes from and taking them outdoors to explore, experience and enjoy the countryside.

Visits for school classes, nurseries, youth groups and adult groups with additional needs fall into 2

Working With Communities Award Winner

Game for Giving

Game for Giving is an initiative set up by both the Angus Glens and Grampian Moorland Groups. We work with local butchers and chefs to create oven ready meals using fresh Game and ingredients that we donate to local charities in the communities from Aberdeen to Dundee throughout the season.

The initiative was set up in 2016 to help those less fortunate

Conservation Award Winner

Drimnin Estate - Conserving the natural beauty

The 7000-acre estate on the western tip of the Morvern Peninsula has invested time into conservation schemes to ensure the area remains a rich, wildlife haven. Combining rugged coastline with inlets and covers, interspersed with pebble-covered beaches, ancient woodland, heather moorland and rich pastures, undisturbed by traffic, it is a paradise for wildlife

Green Energy at Stracathro Estates

Stracathro Estates have embraced renewable energy, and income from the various schemes now contributes significantly to the turnover. They are conscious that the carbon footprint of intensive farming is considerable, and whilst minimum tillage and variable rate applications can reduce emissions somewhat, they recognise they have an obligation to offset

Innovation In Farming Award Winner

Mossgiel Family Farm - Organic Farming for a Sustainable Future

Mossgiel Farm was once home to Scotland's Bard, Robbie Burns, and is now farmed by Bryce Cunningham and his family, who are looking to bring natural, whole Ayrshire food back to our plates.

As the third generation of our family to sign the lease of the land at Mossgiel Farm, Farmer Bryce was desperate to secure a sustainable future for the farm

Enhancing our Environment Award Winner

The Link Between Peat and Fish

An interesting project is taking place at Dryhope Farm on the Philiphaugh Estate in the Scottish Borders; linking upland peatland restoration with the salmon fishing on the River Tweed, from catchment to catching fish!

The blanket bog at Dryhope retains, releases and filters the water that flows down the Kirkstead burn into St Mary’s Loch and from there