News

Community buyout deals reflect ‘real spirit of co-operation’

Press Release

Following the announcement today by the Scottish Land Fund of funding awards to enable the purchase of land by community groups, Scottish Land & Estates issued the following statement. Sarah Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “We congratulate community groups on securing awards and the owners of land who have...

Rural Scotland ready to get going ahead of anticipated tourism restart

Press Release

Rural tourism and hospitality businesses are primed to assist Scotland’s economic recovery if reopening goes ahead next month. Scottish Land & Estates has welcomed today’s statement from Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing that government is aiming for a restart date of July 15 for tourism – and the rural business organisation again...

Collective effort needed to help mountain hares on unmanaged moorland

Press Release

The absence of mountain hares on unmanaged moorland across Scotland should be a collective priority rather than exclusively focusing on hare populations on grouse moors. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, made the comments in response a Scottish Green Party amendment at stage 3 of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties...

Landlords appeal to Scottish Government on energy efficiency improvement works

Press Release

Landlords of private rented homes and their agents are urging the Scottish Government to consider the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on Scotland’s ongoing efforts to improve the energy efficiency of Scotland’s private rented homes. Four membership organisations representing the private rented sector have joined forces and written...

Covid-19 community champions urged to enter national awards

Press Release

People and businesses in rural Scotland who have gone the extra mile to help their community during lockdown or those who have changed their business to deliver a local service are being urged to enter the 2020 Helping it Happen Awards. Organised by Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, the annual Helping it Happen...

Loch Clunie disturbances prompts appeal for action over anti-social behaviour

Press Release

A group of Perthshire estates have appealed to politicians for help following serious incidents of anti-social behaviour that has wreaked havoc in rural areas. As lockdown restrictions began to ease, there was a dramatic rise in the number of people accessing Loch Clunie which led to incidents around the A923 between Dunkeld and...

Supporting economic recovery must be the guiding principle for Brexit date

Press Release

Prioritising a smooth exit from the EU, with the right trade deals and legislation in place, is going to be central to ensuring our rural businesses and communities are in as strong a position as possible and will not be put under any unnecessary pressure, Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has said today. Following on from today’s...

Threat of wildfires remains very high warn gamekeepers and estates

Press Release

The risk of wildfires across moorland and grassland in Scotland remains exceptionally high, gamekeepers and estates have said today. The warning comes after a spate of wildfires south of the border, including one on Bamford Moor in Derbyshire’s Peak District on Saturday evening. The fire, which is believed to have been started by a...

Celebrating Scotland’s Gardens Online

General News

The Scottish Summer Garden Festival is going ahead as a virtual event following a decision by organisers, Discover Scottish Gardens, that restricted travel is no reason for garden lovers to miss out on the glory of the season in full bloom. Supported by Scottish Land & Estates, the on-line spectacle will run from Saturday, 13 June until...

Letter to COSLA on flytipping

General News

Scottish Land & Estates has written to COSLA, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, to highlight our concerns about the increase in flytipping during lockdown. In recent correspondence with council leaders we have also seen a real divergence in how each local authority is responding the flytipping, and we have called on their...