Rural Skills Star in Park Premiere

Lantra’s Rural Skills film, sponsored by Historic Scotland and the Skills Partnership, follows a group of six unemployed young men for a week with Luss Estates as they explore the diverse range of jobs in the countryside, including dry-stane dyking with Master Craftsman, Jim Hanson.
Rural Skills Week was organised in partnership with Iain Wilkinson, Rural Business Manager for Luss Estates, who places great importance on informing young people about rural career opportunities both to safeguard rural skills and ensure there are adequate resources to preserve and enhance the natural heritage.
The 10-minute film by Paul Saunders, was made to encourage young people across Scotland to take up careers in the land-based sector, such as environmental conservation, estate management, sheep farming, traditional building crafts, renewable energy, horticulture, tourism, fencing and many more.
In the four-minute film, local secondary school pupils from around the National Park learn more about the skills needed in activity tourism, including business management, communication, interpersonal skills, hospitality, kayaking, canyoning, archery, wildlife watching and heritage interpretation.
The Skills Partnership is managed and delivered by the Community Partnership, a grassroots charity representing community views and supporting the sustainable development of the 22 communities across Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
Kate Sankey, Vice Chair of the Community Partnership said: “Producing these films has been a partnership process that reflects the vitality of our communities and shows how important it is for all of us to encourage the aspirations of our young people.
“The films will be distributed to local schools and career services with the aim of encouraging young people to think seriously about their futures – hopefully in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park!”