News

Short-Term Lets Licence Extension Vital For Rural Scotland

Press Release

Rural business organisation Scottish Land & Estates has added its voice to calls for the deadline for businesses to apply for a short-term let licence to be extended. SLE said that measures to comply with licensing, such as obtaining various types of certifications, were simply unfeasible for many businesses given the shortage of...

400 rural businesses voice opposition to grouse shooting licensing plans

Press Release

Nearly 400 businesses have joined together to urge the Scottish Government to avoid a ‘disastrous and irreversible’ outcome for rural Scotland from its plans to licence grouse shooting. Butchers, hotels, tradespeople, farms and upland estates are amongst those to have written to Environment Minister, Gillan Martin MSP, seeking changes to...

Landowner-Government Partnership Key To Addressing Wildlife And Habitat Loss

Press Release

Collaboration between government, business and landowners is key to reversing the huge loss in wildlife and biodiversity both in Scotland and across Europe, an international congress being held in Edinburgh has heard. Wildlife Estates (WE) International Congress is being attended by representatives from 11 of the 19 member countries...

Statement on the Programme for Government 2023-24

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has welcomed the Scottish Government's commitment to increase rural housing supply - but added that it needs to rebuild its trust with businesses to help achieve its policy aims. The rural business organisation made the comments in response to the Programme for Government announced by First Minister Humza Yousaf...

Wildlife Estates Scotland appoints new Chair

Press Release

Wildlife Estates Scotland, an accreditation initiative to promote the best habitat and wildlife management practices for farms and estates, has appointed a new chairperson. Miles Montgomerie, owner of Southannan Farms and West Glenalmond in Perthshire, has been appointed to the role. Mr Montgomerie takes over from Dee Ward who recently...

Scottish Government urged to meet climate challenge head on and seize opportunities of a net zero economy

Press Release

An urgent set of actions required from Scottish Government to ramp up progress in tackling the climate emergency through measures that have fairness and equality at their heart. CERG calls for this year’s Programme for Government to reflect a fully coordinated Scottish Government response to the climate emergency to meet ambitious 2030...

Snaring ban threatens a 'crippling blow' to biodiversity

Press Release

The Scottish Government’s intention to ban the use of snares in Scotland would deliver a crippling blow to attempts to reverse biodiversity loss, particularly for endangered ground-nesting birds, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The government has announced a consultation on prohibiting the devices, which are used to control foxes, as...

Glorious Twelfth starts with a bang across Scotland

Press Release

The official start of the grouse season, the Glorious Twelfth , began in Scotland today, with sporting estates hoping for a good season following the difficult years of the pandemic and hot weather during 2021 and 2022. A grouse day is considered to be the pinnacle of country sports activity, attracting participants from all over the UK...

Glorious Twelfth at risk from ‘excessive’ legislation

Press Release

The official start of the grouse season, the Glorious Twelfth, begins tomorrow, with shooting parties taking to the moors across Scotland from the Lammermuirs in the south to the Dornoch Firth in the north. The game and country sports sector is worth over £350m per year to the Scottish economy. Over 11,000 full time jobs are supported by...

Grouse moor management offers ‘most sustainable option for tackling climate change and biodiversity loss’, according to new report

General News

A new report concludes that, based on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) environmental, social and economic definitions, moorland managed for grouse shooting provides greater overall benefits than any alternative use. Written by Professor Simon Denny, formerly of the University of Northampton, and reviewed by Professor...