Wildlife Estates Scotland appoints new project manager

Press Release

A new project manager has been announced for Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES), the international wildlife and habitat best practice accreditation scheme.

Neil Gunn has been appointed to the role, which will see him assume responsibility for day-to-day management of WES. 

Hailing from rural Perthshire, Neil has a strong affinity with the countryside and regularly travels out and about rural Scotland.

Passionate about promoting the best that Scotland has to offer, Neil worked in the heritage tourism sector for four years. He started out at the Royal Yacht Britannia while studying at University of Edinburgh, from which he holds two degrees, before moving on to work for Historic Environment Scotland at Edinburgh Castle.

Neil has several years’ experience in project planning and management gained while in the Army. He joined the Army Reserve during his university studies and served full time from 2022 to 2024 as a commissioned officer. Career highlights include deploying on NATO operations where he led on information strategy and was responsible for allocating tasking to some 600 personnel.

On joining WES, Neil said: "It is a real privilege to be joining WES as project manager at what is an incredibly exciting time for the project.

“With emerging opportunities on the horizon for accredited landholdings, I am eager to work with WES members and support the accreditation and renewal process.

“I am looking forward to getting settled into the role and learning more about the impressive work WES members are doing to deliver for biodiversity and nature.”

WES is a national version of the Wildlife Estates (WE) initiative and is endorsed by the European Commission’s Directorate-General Environment, whose objective is to protect, preserve and improve the environment for present and future generations. Any size and type of landholding, farm or estates can apply for accreditation which lasts for up to five years before a reaccreditation process must be completed. Approximately 1.25 million acres of land is accredited in Scotland at present.

The WES initiative is overseen by Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation. WES’ technical committee includes NatureScot, RSPB Scotland, GWCT and Scottish Forestry.

Ross Ewing, SLE’s Director of Moorland, said: "I am thrilled to welcome Neil to the SLE team as he takes the lead on our critical work advancing the WES project.

"Neil’s passion, extensive experience, and dynamic approach make him the perfect person to elevate the WES project to new heights.

"I look forward to collaborating with him to increase the hectarage of accredited land and broaden the range of benefits associated with WES."