News

Key land reform tenant farming measures will inflict ‘grievous blow’ on sector

Press Release

The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill provided an ideal opportunity for the Scottish Government to introduce better balance into the statutory regime for farm tenancies but instead key provisions governing the leasing of agricultural land will inflict a ‘grievous blow for generations’ on the tenant farming sector. Scottish Land & Estates, which...

Estates urge government to work with them to foster rural growth

Press Release

Rural estates and businesses are key to delivering growth in some of Scotland’s most fragile economic areas. Speaking at Scottish Land & Estates’ annual conference in Edinburgh today, SLE chairman Dee Ward welcomed the renewed focus by political leaders on fostering a prospering economy that can build resilience and deliver for people...

Agriculture Bill strengthened by key stage 2 amendments called for by SLE

Press Release

Accepted amendments to the new agriculture bill will be beneficial in achieving food production, carbon sequestration and biodiversity enhancement side-by-side from Scotland’s land - although room for improvement still exists ahead of the bill’s final stage. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, made the comments after...

Rural business keen to see revitalised relationship with government

Press Release

First Minister John Swinney and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes have the chance to revitalise the Scottish Government’s relationship with businesses in rural Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates has said. The rural business organisation said the rural expertise of the new government leaders would be important in tackling the opportunities...

New directors appointed to Scottish Land & Estates’ board

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates is pleased to announce the appointment of three new directors to its board. Angus Cheape, Alastair Orr Ewing and Michael Upton have been appointed following the rural business organisation’s AGM which was held on Monday evening (April 29). (Full biographies of the appointees are noted below.) Patrick Colquhoun’s...

SLE outlines opportunity for ‘rural reset’ as Bute House Agreement ends

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has said that the end of the Bute House Agreement provides an opportunity for a rural reset - and welcomed the First Minister's commitment to supporting business and economic growth while continuing on a path to Net Zero. The rural business organisation said that now is the time for the Scottish Government to...

Scottish Game Awards 2024 Opens For Entries

Press Release

The Scottish Game Awards – which highlights the fantastic contribution of sporting estates, game dealers, gamekeepers and ghillies in delivering for people, jobs and nature – have been launched for 2024. The new awards are a collaboration between Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), GWCT Scotland and Scotland's Regional Moorland Groups (SRMGs)...

SLE statement on Wildlife Crime in Scotland 2021-2022 report

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has issued the following statement following the publication of the Wildlife Crime in Scotland Annual Report for 2021-2022. Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland at Scottish Land & Estates, said: "Rural businesses and communities are playing a vital role in combatting the nature and biodiversity crises and working...

Rural estates ‘singled out’ by carbon land tax proposals

Press Release

A new carbon land tax would punish rural estate businesses which are already making the greatest contribution to achieving net zero, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The rural business organisation said research already welcomed by the Scottish Government demonstrates that estates are in the vanguard of renewable energy, woodland...

Government urged to improve rural engagement following wood burner ban row

Press Release

Rural communities are supportive of the need to improve energy efficiency and lower emissions – but the Scottish Government needs to engage better with rural Scotland on its policymaking. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has once again called for better ‘rural-proofing’ of policies in the wake of the debacle this...