How the next Land Reform Bill could endanger nature and climate change objectives

SLE's Policy Adviser for Rural Communities, Sarah Madden, reflects in this blog on how the forthcoming Scottish Government Land Reform Bill could hamper vital investment and action on nature restoration and carbon sequestration. The Scottish Government’s

Grouse shoot and muirburn licensing the focus at second Holyrood evidence session

Stakeholders with an interest in the proposed Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill returned to Holyrood this week for the second evidence session with witnesses. Legal Adviser, Ashley McCann, led SLE’s evidence on this first panel of the morning

New measures announced to the Forestry Grant Scheme

Speaking at the SLE and Scottish Forestry reception on ‘Integrating Trees on Farm’ on our stand at the Royal Highland Show, Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon announced four new measures to the Forestry Grant Scheme: 1) An increase of 50% to the grant rate 2)

Reflections on the first Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill stakeholder evidence session

(Highlights from the evidence session can be viewed at the end of this blog) After a long build up, the first stakeholder evidence session on the proposed Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill was held at the Scottish Parliament this week. At a

Time to appoint a junior Minister in Rural Affairs

SLE's Press & Public Affairs Manager, Simon Ritchie, reflects on the enormous pressures on the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the growing need for First Minister Humza Yousaf to appoint a junior Minister in the Rural Affairs portfolio this summer It’s

An update to rent cap legislation

In this blog, our Policy Adviser Anna Gardiner shares her thoughts on the Scottish Government's draft of updated regulations announced this week. The Scottish Government has this week laid before Parliament a draft set of updated regulations, together with a

Biodiversity Week 2023 – ‘A golden opportunity for biodiversity and woodlands’

As we celebrate Biodiversity Week 2023, Nathan Bryceland, SLE’s new Policy Adviser (Biodiversity and Woodlands), takes a look at some of the big challenges and opportunities facing land managers across Scotland, who are playing their part in tackling the

Videos from our Flagship Annual Conference 2023 - Rural Land: Delivering For Scotland

Lost Woods – There’s new value in bringing Ancient Woodlands back to life

Ancient woodlands – our remnant native woodlands - are a rich source of biodiversity and carbon capture. But they are at risk of dying out. Overgrazing and the costs of fencing stand in the way of regeneration, but now, there’s a new incentive to restore these

Guidance on increasing Rural Estates' Contribution to Scotland's Wellbeing Economy

In this blog from Sarah Madden, our Policy Adviser (Rural Communities), find out what is next in store following the publication of research investigating the contribution of Estates to Scotland's Wellbeing Economy. By now you may have read our ground breaking