New data indicating a reduction in livestock worrying in Scotland has been welcomed by Scottish Land & Estates – but the organisation has urged vigilance as recorded incidents remain stubbornly high. According to statistics from Police Scotland’s National Rural, Acquisitive and Business Prevention team, 216 incidents were recorded for the...
Scotland’s rural stars are invited to step into the spotlight as nominations open for the 2025 Helping It Happen Awards. Organised by Scottish Land & Estates, the prestigious awards are now in their ninth year and shine a spotlight on the vital contribution made by estates, farms, businesses, individuals, charities and community projects...
Following the publication of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report on the Government’s Vision for Farming, Scottish Land & Estates’ Senior Policy Adviser for Agriculture and Climate Change, Eleanor Kay, commented: “The EFRA committee has been listening to the concerns of stakeholders about the government’s direction of...
Moorland managers ‘stand ready’ to continue delivering substantial social, economic, and environmental benefits—despite a wave of shifting legislation affecting muirburn, deer management, and grouse shooting. That was the core message at Scottish Land & Estates’ Moorland and Wildlife Management Conference, held at Perth Racecourse on...
The Scottish Government’s new Programme for Government includes encouraging commitments for rural areas, according to Scottish Land & Estates — though the organisation has said a stronger, more consistent focus on rural Scotland is still needed. Following First Minister John Swinney’s address to the Scottish Parliament, SLE acknowledged...
Scottish Land & Estates has today backed a Police Scotland appeal for information after two red kites were confirmed to have been poisoned near Castle Douglas. The first red kite was discovered alongside a wood pigeon—used as poisoned bait—on Castle Douglas Golf Course on Thursday, 10 April 2025. A second red kite was found dead nearby...
Serious concerns have been raised about new legislative proposals that would expand NatureScot’s statutory powers to intervene in deer management. Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business organisation, was speaking after providing evidence on the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and...
An updated charter setting out the principles and responsibilities of how rural estates, landowners and land managers operate has been launched by Scottish Land & Estates. The SLE Members’ Charter, formally adopted at SLE’s Annual General Meeting in Falkirk, builds upon the Landowners’ Commitment established over a decade ago. Reflecting...
Rural business organisation Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) is warning of a heightened risk of Lyme disease due to the increasing number of ticks in the countryside. In summer 2023 the number of Lyme disease cases reported in the UK increased by a third compared with the preceding year. Members of the public are warned to check themselves...
Leading rural organisations are urging the Scottish Government to adopt a pragmatic approach to the introduction of muirburn licensing — or risk exacerbating the growing threat of wildfires across Scotland. With the muirburn season closing earlier this week (April 15) [1], Scottish Land & Estates, NFU Scotland and the Scottish Gamekeepers...
