Have your say on Community Food Growing Survey

Left to right. Sandown Lands field and other food growing locations. PV panels also shown.

Take part today  - the survey is open until 2 August 2024.

The Highland Council invites people to take part in a survey and express their views and opinions on the adaptation of one of the Sandown Lands fields (Nairn) to become a community food growing project.  The field also has potential for the installation of solar panels as part of the proposed development, to raise income for future project works within the site.

Enscape Consulting Ltd are undertaking the survey as part of their feasibility study for a community food growing project for Nairn.  Following a competitive procurement and tendering process earlier in the year the company was appointed by the Council in February 2024 to undertake the study.

The study, scheduled to conclude in September, will assess the practicality and viability of the potential project in Nairn and identify opportunities and challenges.  On conclusion, the final report and recommendations will be reported to the relevant Council Committees for their consideration.

Meanwhile, site visits and several meetings involving Enscape Consulting and local Nairn groups, organisations and residents have taken place, including the local place planning workshops in May 2024.

Brian Menzies, director of Enscape Consulting, encouraged as many people as possible to take part in the survey and said: “The feasibility study for Nairn is well underway and will align well with the Council’s strategic priority to deliver a more sustainable Highland environment as well as support the delivery of the Council’s food growing strategy.  This also aligns with work being progressed nationally as the Scottish Government’s 2024 strategy ‘Local Food for Everyone’, where the desire is for everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy food and drink produced locally.”

The survey is online at this link.