[Rosemary]

If you are a member of RBST, you'll know there are elections to the Board of Trustees. If you are in Scotland in particular (although votes from anywhere are welcome) please vote for Steve McMinn, Chair of the North of Scotland support group. Allround good guy and committed to progressing RBST in Scotland and Scotland in RBST.

[Fleecewife]

Good move !

[Fleecewife]

@Rosemary  do you know why Ruth Dalton has not been replaced as Northern Field Officer with the RBST?  Ruth had to spread herself over the huge physical area of the north of England and the whole of Scotland, and she did a great job.  How on earth can a single Field Officer, Tom Blunt, function effectively over the whole of great Britain?  Are there plans to fill Ruth's role do you know or is this another south-centred lack of interest which will inevitably cause the sidelining of The North?  I feel a letter coming on but would like any info you have first.

[ilyria]

The farm parks officer is north Wales based but will try and help with anything she can. She helped me find some white-faced Woodlands and a new ram.

[Fleecewife]

Hi @ilyria , who is she and is that different to the Field Officer?

[Rosemary]

Sadly, Steve wasn't elected but congratulations to the three people who were - Tom Davis, Catherine Lascelles and James Fanshawe.

Yesterday it was announced that RBST has created a new Vice-President Scotland to coordinate work on rare and native breeds in Scotland and to represent Scotland in RBST. Martin Beard, a former RBST Trustee and a current Trustee of Smallholding Scotland, will be taking up the post and I'm sure we wish him well.

[harmony]

Hi @ilyria , who is she and is that different to the Field Officer?

I think RBST have been looking at peoples roles and responsibilities and don't intend to replace Ruth, who was excellent. There is to be more targeted support for the centres and farm parks. Not sure if Tom is going to be covering all the country but it was a lot for two field officers never mind one.

[Fleecewife]

On the RBST website it says that the new RBST Scottish Forum is launched today, but I can't find it anywhere (I don't do social media so if it's there somewhere then that would explain it!)
Does anyone know of the proposed format for this?

[Fleecewife]

Hi @ilyria , who is she and is that different to the Field Officer?

I think RBST have been looking at peoples roles and responsibilities and don't intend to replace Ruth, who was excellent. There is to be more targeted support for the centres and farm parks. Not sure if Tom is going to be covering all the country but it was a lot for two field officers never mind one.

I'm hoping that we ordinary bods don't get ignored, as Ruth's big plus was that she involved everyone, even just the plain ordinary members beavering away keeping rare breed livestock without fanfare

[harmony]

Hi @ilyria , who is she and is that different to the Field Officer?

I think RBST have been looking at peoples roles and responsibilities and don't intend to replace Ruth, who was excellent. There is to be more targeted support for the centres and farm parks. Not sure if Tom is going to be covering all the country but it was a lot for two field officers never mind one.

I'm hoping that we ordinary bods don't get ignored, as Ruth's big plus was that she involved everyone, even just the plain ordinary members beavering away keeping rare breed livestock without fanfare

I agree and I'm sure it is the same with Tom. Maybe the support groups will find more enquiries and requests for help coming their way?