News

Farming sector urges Ministers to accept constructive changes to new tenancy legislation

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, today urged Scottish Government Ministers to ‘act in the true interests’ of the tenant farming sector by accepting amendments to the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill that are supported by farmers and the majority of the agricultural sector. The section of the Bill that affects...

Scottish Land & Estates welcomes progress made at first Wildfire Summit

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business organisation, has praised the commitment to collaborative working at Scotland’s first Wildfire Summit, held today in Grantown-on-Spey. Chaired by Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie and Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown, the event brought together rural stakeholders, gamekeepers...

Urgent need for Scottish fire management strategy to protect precious peatland and habitat

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business organisation, is calling for a Scotland-wide Integrated Fire Management Strategy to protect some of Scotland’s rarest species and habitats. The call comes ahead of the Wildfire Summit taking place on 14 October in Grantown-on-Spey, chaired by Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie and Community...

Evidence-based postponement of muirburn licensing following record wildfires welcomed by Scottish Land & Estates

Press Release

A pragmatic and evidence-based decision to postpone the implementation of muirburn licensing has been welcomed by Scottish Land & Estates. The rural business organisation commented after the Scottish Government announced that it was suspending the start date of the scheme until the start of the next muirburn season in autumn 2026. The...

Wildlife Estates Symposium demonstrates strength and ambition of European Initiative

Press Release

From 8 – 10 September 2025, delegates from across Europe converged at the Fondation François Sommer in Paris for the annual Symposium of the European Wildlife Estates (WE) Initiative. Since 2004, WE has been recognising exceptional landholdings for their outstanding biodiversity and wildlife management practices. There are over 580...

Rural businesses welcome key role for land managers and farmers in setting biodiversity targets

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, today supported a parliamentary committee report which calls for land managers and farmers to play a key role in developing and implementing future biodiversity targets to help tackle nature loss. The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee has published its...

Rural champions shine as Helping It Happen awards celebrate Scotland’s countryside innovators

Press Release

Eleven exceptional businesses, community projects and individuals from across rural Scotland have been honoured at the Helping It Happen Awards 2025, held in Edinburgh on Wednesday evening (1 October). Organised by Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) and generously sponsored by NatureScot, the glittering ceremony recognised outstanding...

Cautious welcome for Housing Bill from rural business sector

Press Release

Rural business organisation Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has given a cautious welcome to the Housing Scotland Bill, passed by the Scottish Parliament last night (September 30). The Bill has been subject to intense scrutiny, with about over 1000 amendments debated since March 2024. While endorsing some key amendments to be accommodated in...

Scottish Land & Estates welcomes ban on campfires and barbecues in the Cairngorms

Press Release

Rural business organisation Scottish Land & Estates welcomes the new by-law banning campfires and disposable barbecues between 1 April and 30 September every year in the Cairngorms National Park. The by-law has been approved by Scottish ministers for the Cairngorms National Park, the largest national park in the UK. Stephen Young...

More than a quarter of a century of service in rural business sector recognised

Press Release

Rural business organisation Scottish Land & Estates is honouring one of its most long-serving employees, Jane Laing, who is now retiring after 26 years of service. Mrs Laing, from Galashiels, began her career with Scottish Land & Estates in 1999 as a Secretary to the Legal and Public Affairs Co-ordinator. She was appointed as...