THINKING of diversifying the use of some of your land? Then what about 'hutting'.

The concept of giving land over to people to build recreational huts on is not new, but a new wave of such buildings is expected following a change in Scottish planning policy.

This revival of the Scottish ‘hutting’ tradition – similar to that enjoyed by many Scandinavians – means that people pay ground rent for a small plot of land where they could build a simple, low-impact hut for themselves and their families to use. The revival of the hutting, could have great benefits for 'wellness' and the environment, as well as stimulating rural economies and bringing a new income stream to farms, or estates with marginal land.

This new wave of hutting has been championed by the charity, Reforesting Scotland, through its campaign A Thousand Huts. Now, there will be an opportunity for landowners and land managers to find out all they need to know at their event Making Huts Happen, on Saturday, February 8, in Dundee, where around 200 hutters, prospective hutters, landowners and prospective hut site developers will gather to share information and ideas.

It is aimed at bringing hutters and landowners together to help get a new generation of huts on the ground to benefit communities. The organisers would like landowners to attend and find out whether huts may be a positive development on their land.

See www.thousandhuts.org for more details.