News

Call to care for Scotland's countryside

Press Release

NFU Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) are jointly reminding the public and businesses of their responsibility to safeguard and care for Scotland’s countryside. The call comes following a spate of incidents in the past few months. Many land-based businesses have reported increased instances of rubbish being left by access-takers...

Grouse season proves a boost for rural businesses

Press Release

Rural businesses have heralded the start of the grouse season as a ‘lifeline’ in overcoming the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As parties gathered in the Angus Glens for the first day of the season, local businesses are hoping that visitors for grouse shooting will provide an injection of income to sustain employment after an...

Rural communities ready for grouse season with socially distanced shoots

Press Release

Rural communities and businesses across Scotland are gearing up for the start of the grouse shooting season, adopting extra safety measures to ensure the season can go ahead on 12 August. The country sports sector has developed a comprehensive framework of COVID-19 guidance approved by the Scottish Government. The start of the season...

Mobile app to transform recording of raptors on grouse moors

General News

Recording bird of prey sightings across Scotland is set to take a major step forward thanks to a new app being developed in conjunction with grouse moors and gamekeepers. The app, which uses the EpiCollect5 platform developed by Imperial College London, is currently being trialled by gamekeepers and landowners. Use of the new technology...

Appeal for information on poisoned sea eagle

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, which represents rural businesses, today joined a Police Scotland appeal for information over of the case of a sea eagle found poisoned in north-east Scotland. Mark Tennant, chairman of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “We wholeheartedly support the appeal for information from the police and are utterly appalled to...

Estates Appeal for Information on Satellite-Tagged Golden Eagle

Press Release

A group of Perthshire estates have appealed for help in tracing a golden eagle whose satellite tag stopped transmitting. Farmers, gamekeepers, shepherds and local people have gathered to conduct searches for the bird in the Strathbraan area in addition to a search undertaken by police. The eagle’s tag last transmitted on 18 May. It was...

SLE welcomes new report on rural housing supply

Press Release

Commenting on a new report published by Savills for the Scottish Land Commission, ‘The role of land in enabling new housing supply in rural Scotland’, Gavin Mowat, Policy Adviser at Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) said: “We welcome this report which sets out recommendations that SLE has been calling for. This includes greater support for...

Eight point plan for Scotland’s green recovery

Press Release

A group of civic and business leaders are today (Mon 13 July) setting out the practical solutions that the Scottish Government should implement now, in order to move Scotland towards a net-zero economy, post Covid-19. The Climate Emergency Response Group (CERG) welcomes the Scottish Government’s Commitments to a green recovery which...

Employment support and training can aid rural economy

Press Release

Additional government funding for employment support and training has been welcomed today by Scottish Land & Estates. Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of SLE, said: “The Scottish Government’s announcement of an additional £100m to be made available this year for targeted employment support and training is good news for those in and out...

SLE welcomes measures that can boost recovery in rural Scotland

Press Release

A cut in hospitality and tourism VAT are among the measures Scottish Land & Estates welcomes in delivering a recovery boost to rural Scotland. Mark Tennant, chairman of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The cut in VAT for tourism and hospitality is a measure that we have called for and is one we are delighted to see implemented for rural...