Issue No 3 Spring 2005

In this issue
Scott Bader wins EMRAF Rural Charter Award At the Business in the Community Regional Awards for Excellence 2005 gala dinner on June 8th, Pam Smith, Chair of EMRAF handed out the Rural Charter Award to Steve Sherwood, General Managing Director of Scott Bader Compnay Limited in recognition of their ongoing support for rural communities. Environmental Infrastructure for the East Midlands The Region's key environmental challenges and key components for our activities can be summarised in the concept of sustainable Environmental Infrastructure. This is the overall framework that provides for the sustainable use of environmental resources (minerals, water), waste management, sustainable travel, sustainable construction and a high quality built environment, and also provides the "Green Infrastructure" (a network of multi-functional Greenspace across the region) required to deliver "liveability" for new communities, both urban and rural. . Sir David Attenborough returns to open namesake Nature Centre at Wildlife Trust nature reserve Sir David Attenborough, who opened the Attenborough Nature Reserve back in 1966, returned to the site on Friday 18 th March to open the spectacular new Attenborough Nature Centre. Making Space4trees in the East Midlands New recruits give a welcome boost to the implementation of “Think Farming and Food”, the regional delivery plan for the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food. Find out who they are and what they will be doing. Environmental Stewardship launched in the East Midlands: Green Farming for All Management and protection of some of the region’s most characteristic landscape, wildlife and historic features are options now available to all farmers and land managers under a new scheme launched at the beginning of March. Update on the Environmental Economy of the East Midlands This report, due out shortly, builds on a study undertaken by emda and partners in 2002 to examine the contribution of the environmental economy to the region’s strategic economic aspirations. EMRAF News EMRAF represented on Regional Housing Board Access to affordable housing is a priority issue on the rural agenda. In a bid to improve policies and practice in the delivery of affordable housing, EMRAF last year developed the EMRAF Rural Housing Practitioners Group (RHPG). Working through this group, EMRAF will now provide strategic rural representation on the Regional Housing Board and EMRAF agreed to delegate this role to Craig Felts, Chair of the RHPG. More information: Derk van der Wardt” EMRAF Review EMRAF endorsed the outcomes of the fit-for-purpose review of EMRAF. The Review report contains a detailed document, setting out the aims, objectives, operation and activities of the Forum, a communications plan and an action plan for continuous improvement. More information: John Green, GOEM Regional Rural Delivery Framework The regional framework for delivery of the Rural Strategy 2004 in the East Midlands will go out for consultation within the region from early June. The final version will be completed in October. Website developed and hosted by Virtual Village	What Trees Can Do For You Austin Brady hands a baby tree to Pam Smith, Chair of EMRAF EMRAF members were invited to support the Woodlands Trust’s bid to plant 12.000 new trees by Austin Brady, Regional Director of the Forestry Commission. A baby tree was made available to all delegates at the April EMRAF Meeting. Trees and woodlands bring us: Places for leisure for local people and visitors to enjoy Habitats for wildlife A green and pleasant setting Spaces to improve our health Environments for learning Opportunities for business Cleaner air, soil and water A sense of place.   Culture in Rural Development Manager Post EMRAF has supported the creation of a Culture in Rural Development Manager post to strengthen the relationships between the cultural sector and rural development organisations. The Post Funding has been secured for a two year fixed term contract. There are contributions from the rural and cultural sectors, creating a truly collaborative partnership. This post is unique to the East Midlands, the first in the UK to work across the two sectors. More information	Welcome to Rural Affairs, EMRAFs online-newsletter With full-feature articles, extra articles, contact information and links to futher reading, complementing the Rural Affairs newsletter. If you would like a free subscription to the Rural Affairs Newsletter, please send an email to emraf@ruralaffairs.org.uk with your name, organisation, address and number of copies you wish to receive. Click here for previous editions * Spring 2004: Young People * Winter 2005: Rural Enterprise Events EMRAF Annual Conference 2005 30 th June 2005 EMRAF's 4 th annual conference will be themed “Meeting Rural Customer Needs”. Download the flyer here Venue: PERA, Melton MowbrayTel: 0115 9714733 Leicestershire Rural Partnership Rural Conference 2005 14 th July 2005 Building on last years successful “Good Practice” conference, the LRP are inviting Regional and National “Best Practice” examples. Local projects will be focused on through exhibitions and surgerie Download the booking form Download the draft agenda Venue: Loughborough University More Information: Tom Gill Tel: 0116 2657973 Community Safety Sub Group Conference 5 th October 2005 EMRAF's Community Safety Sub-group will host a community safety conference focussing on the issues affecting the business community in rural areas. The event aims to promote awareness of rural community safety and Business Crime issues and identify practical solutions to address these issues. Venue: PERA, Melton Mowbray More Information: 0115 9714733 Contact Us Rural Affairs is the newsletter of the East Midlands Rural Affairs Forum. For any queries regarding content and circulation, please contact Derk van der Wardt, EMRAF Co-Ordinator at 01623 727600 or email emraf@ruralaffairs.org.uk