Supported by headline sponsors NatureScot, the overall focus of the Helping it Happen Awards is on recognising the role estates, farms and rural businesses play in enabling and supporting success in rural conservation, rural enterprise and rural landscapes.

The nominations for the Rural Housing Award – sponsored by Velux - are:

• Ladykirk Estates - a development of 22 houses plus four affordable dwellings adjacent to the village of Swinton in Berwickshire
• Stracathro Estates Ltd - a new family housing development in Angus - built as part of an affordable housing scheme
• Tomintoul Affordable Housing – 12 new affordable homes built on the site of an old secondary school.

Alan Laidlaw, RHASS chief executive, and a member of the judging panel, said: “Judging involved us looking at nine different categories and almost a hundred entries and the entire panel agreed that the standard was superb. We are enormously proud of the way in which rural Scotland is thriving and collaborating for greater success – both in terms of business growth and sustainability.

“Each year, the Helping It Happen Awards reaffirm my belief that the Scottish countryside is in safe hands for this generation and those still to come.”

Claudia Rowse, NatureScot’s deputy director green economy, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring this year’s Helping it Happen Awards and are impressed by the quantity and quality of applications. All the projects vividly demonstrate how the environment and communities can be put at the heart of developing thriving rural businesses. It is heartening to see the positive work to tackle the nature and climate crisis, and how progressive land-based businesses are taking action so that we all benefit from a nature-rich future.”

All award winners, in addition to a small number of special judge awards, will be announced at the Helping it Happen Awards ceremony which will take place on 5th October at The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh.