News

Fake news must not shape future of grouse moors

General News

Following the recent story falsely claiming that shooters were travelling from the UK to hunt puffins in Iceland, Tim Baynes, Director of the Scottish Land and Estates Moorland Group, discusses the serious matter of fake news on social media. Puffins are a bird not normally found in the crosshairs of the debate around moorland management...

SLE responds to NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report

General News

Responding to the recently published NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report 2019, Sarah-Jane Laing, Executive Director at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Rural crime continues to have a real impact throughout Scotland but there has been tangible progress made in improving prevention and detection measures. “New technology is already playing a...

SLE support for new expert panel

Press Release

Responding to Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy Fergus Ewing’s announcement today that a panel of academic experts will review and revise rural policy in Scotland, Eleanor Kay, Policy Adviser for Scottish Land & Estates said: “We have been calling for evidence-based policy for some time to help rural Scotland thrive. That’s why we fully...

The SAC report is positive boost for farmers

Press Release

Commenting on the publication of the Scottish Affairs Committee report on the Future of Scottish Agriculture post-Brexit, David Johnstone, Chairman of Scottish Land & Estates, which represents farmers and other rural landowners said: “The SAC report is the positive boost needed at an anxious time of uncertainty for Scottish Farmers and...

SLE Statement on Wildlife Crime Case

Press Release

We have issued the following statement after the conviction of a gamekeeper on wildlife crime offences at Jedburgh Sheriff Court. David Johnstone, chairman of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Wildlife crime of any kind is absolutely unacceptable and those who undertake such reckless acts should feel the full force of the law. This...

New study reveals huge decline in bird species when grouse management ends

Press Release

Ending grouse moor management risks declines - and possible local extinctions - of a range of ground-nesting bird species, a new study has revealed. Published today (Monday 22 July) by Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, the new research looks at the impact of stopping grouse management on birds such as curlew, golden plover, lapwing...

Over-regulation of short-term lets could pose risk to rural tourism

Press Release

Over-regulation of short-term let accommodation in non-problem areas of rural Scotland could pose a risk to rural tourism warns Scottish Land & Estates (SLE). The rural business organisation has called on the Scottish Government to ensure local authorities have the powers to apply any new regulations for short-term lets to only those...

NE Walk & Talk an eye-opener to the extent of rural crime

General News

Grandhome Estate, on the fringes of Aberdeen, was the perfect setting for our NE Rural Security Walk & Talk on 11 July. While the estate has benefitted from the growth of Aberdeen with opportunities in residential and commercial property, the proximity of the city has its pitfalls, with frequent incidents of fly-tipping, as well as...

Buccleuch holds talks with community groups over land sale

General News

Buccleuch announced today that it is holding discussions with community bodies which have expressed an interest in acquiring land in the south west Scotland. A consultation exercise was undertaken with local communities after Buccleuch announced in May that it intends to sell a substantial landholding including Langholm Moor. The land...

Wonderful woodland managament honoured in annual Tree Oscars

General News

The important work of land agents in creating high-quality forestry was rewarded at Scotland’s annual ‘Tree Oscars’. Bowlts and Bidwells shared the glory in two categories at Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2019 – the biggest-ever celebration of forests, trees and woodlands, incuding a special Centenary Award to mark 100 years since the...