Welcome to the Scottish Countryside Alliance website

The Scottish Countryside Alliance (SCA) represents the vital interests of rural communities and businesses across Scotland.

It is important that these interests be represented at the highest levels in the Scottish Parliament and elsewhere.

If you believe in a managed countryside for the benefit of many and not for the few then you will want to support the work of the SCA.

17th September 2010 Ladies Charity Casting Day
Learn to fish with confidence and help raise funds for SCAET! Have you always wanted to have a go at fly casting? Want to try a new skill or brush up on existing ones? Join us at Forbes of Kingennie, near Dundee, on Friday 17 September 2010 for a day’s tuition with renowned angling coach Heather Cary SGAIC UKCC (LEVEL II), followed by an informal competition to test your new abilities! For more information and to apply click here

2nd October 2010 Ladies and Teenagers Shooting Day
Learn to shoot confidently raising funds for SCAET! Have you ever wished you were a better shot than your boyfriend, husband, brother, sons or friends? Have you always wanted to try clay target shooting but never had the confidence to do so? Do you want your teenagers to learn to shoot from a qualified coach? Join us at the Scottish Clay Shooting Centre, near St Andrews, on Saturday 2 October 2010 for a day’s tuition with qualified coaches, followed by an informal competition to test your new abilities! For more information and to apply click here

SCA Awards: make sure you get your nominations in
We want your nominations! Ensure that businesses and individuals
in your community get the recognition they deserve. Either nominate them online or download the nomination form here and send it to us with your suggestions. The winners will be announced at the end of the year at the Scottish Parliament, and they will also go on to represent Scotland in the UK finals at the House of Commons - so tell us who you think is the best in rural Scotland!

Snaring Order
The Scottish Government has introduced new laws under the Snares (Scotland) Order 2010 which came into force on 11th March. The Order gives clear-cut and up-to-date rules on the legal use of snares. Anyone who sets snares in Scotland should read the Order (email info@scottishcountrysidealliance.org for a copy).

The Order states that, when set, all snares must be checked at least once every day at intervals of no more than 24 hours, to make sure that they are free-running. It also states that snares must be fitted with a safety stop to suit the intended target species, must be fixed to prevent dragging and also be set in locations where the target species can be safely restrained.

Ross Montague of the SCA commented, “whilst the Order is new, the good practice that it contains simply underlines what responsible sna ring practitioners are already doing out in the field.”

Snaring Training Courses
Best practice training courses have been developed by BASC Scotland, the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association and the Game and Wil dlife Conservation Trust. The courses take about half of a day, and cost £45. For more information and to book, please contact BASC Scotland 01350 723226.

PAW Scotland Website 
The SCA is a proud and active member of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (Scotland) PAWS, and we would encourage our members to make use of this new website at: www.paw.scotland.gov.uk

Want to help rural communities? Then join us today, online!
You can join the Alliance from as little as £20 per year with special rates for electronic members. We offer discounted rates for group & trade members. As well as keeping up with all the current countryside news, belonging to one of the UK's leading countryside lobbying organisation, all membership categories come with extensive insurance benefits. Join online today by clicking here.

To view all the benefits linked to the Alliance membership, click here

Want to know more about the Scottish Moorlands?
Then why not visit a new educational website set up by the Scottish Countryside Alliance Educational Trust? It is a guide to the most authoritative and up to date information on Scotland’s moorland. This site is for students and teachers, for journalists and policy makers –
for anyone who cares about Scotland’s moorlands. Click on the logo.