News

Scottish wildlife accreditation to flourish beyond EU exit - Wildlife Estates Scotland celebrates 10 years with 2.5 million acre target for 2023

Press Release

Scottish estates have vowed to continue driving forward an international wildlife and habitat accreditation scheme beyond the UK’s new relationship with Europe. Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES), which builds information on species and land use in order to improve Scotland’s biodiversity, is based on a European scheme implemented in 19...

SLE statement on wildlife crime statistics

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has issued the following statement regarding the reported rise in wildlife crime in Scotland since April. Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: "A steep rise in any form of wildlife crime is a concern but the data is reflective of the huge 282% increase in fish poaching throughout this...

Rural businesses will benefit from proposed planning system reforms

Press Release

Proposed reforms to Permitted Development Rights (PDR) in the Scottish planning system would provide welcome flexibility to rural businesses. Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business organisation, said the Scottish Government’s plans are a ‘positive step toward achieving the right balance between flexible regulation and...

Quicker delivery of rural payments welcome boost for Scottish land management

Press Release

The Scottish Government strategy for rural payments for 2020-21 will be broadly welcomed by farmers and land managers, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The rural business organisation made the comments following a parliamentary statement by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing this afternoon. Eleanor Kay, Policy Adviser (Agriculture)...

Rural businesses facing unprecedented challenges over food standards and climate change

Press Release

The twin tests of Brexit and maintaining Scotland’s high quality food production should not detract from the biggest challenge of our time – halting climate change. Mark Tennant, chairman of Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), which represents rural businesses, said serious choices of priorities lie ahead both for government and food producers...

Planned cap changes welcomed by SLE

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has welcomed planned changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Less Favoured Area Support (Scotland) (LFASS) intimated today. The amendments, announced by the Scottish Government, are due to come into effect on 1 January 2021. Eleanor Kay, Policy Adviser (Agriculture) at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “We...

SLE's Vice-Chair (Policy) writes open letter to Cllr. Bell of Kirriemuir

General News

Dee Ward, Chairman of the Angus Glens Moorland Group and Vice-Chair (Policy) of Scottish Land & Estates, has written an open letter to Cllr. Bell of Kirriemuir, inviting her to visit his estate to see for herself the important conservation and biodiversity work which takes place, following her motion to the SNP conference taking place at...

Grouse moor report shows unrivalled impact of sector to rural Scotland

Press Release

New Scottish Government-led research into the impact of grouse shooting has provided ‘definitive proof’ of its value to rural Scotland. Scottish Land & Estates welcomed research carried out by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the James Hutton Institute, which studied socioeconomic and biodiversity impacts of driven grouse moors as well...

UK Government commitment on food standards welcome but further detail on implementation required

Press Release

An increased role for the UK Parliament in protecting food standards in future trade deals is welcome but requires further clarity on its implementation. Scottish Land & Estates, which represents land-based and rural businesses, made the comments ahead of the latest House of Commons debate on the UK Agriculture Bill. Following votes in...

Planned environmental standards scotland watchdog needs greater accountability to parliament

Press Release

Parliament should have a greater role in the operation of the new governance body Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS), Scottish Land & Estates said today. Provisions for the creation of the organisation are being examined at Stage 1 of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill. ESS is intended to replace...