News

Costly legislation highlighted by land reform spending cut

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has questioned the need for further land reform after it emerged the Scottish Government has been forced to implement a £500,000 cut in spending on the policy. SLE said millions had already been spent on land reform in recent decades despite it not being a priority for the public –...

SLE urges Scottish government to reconsider nature restoration fund cuts

Press Release

The Scottish Government’s cuts to the Nature Restoration Fund not only harms progress on restoring biodiversity but also risks environmental investment and jobs, SLE said today. The rural business organisation has written to Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes MSP, urging the government to urgently reconsider its decision to cut £5 million...

Conservation & rural bodies unite to call for urgent review of mobile network rollout scheme

Press Release

The rollout of mobile network infrastructure to Scotland’s most remote hills and glens should be reviewed urgently by the new UK Government, a coalition of rural, wildlife and conservation bodies has said. The organisations have written a joint letter to Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State for Digital and Data Infrastructure, asking...

Appeal for information following Osprey death

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates today supported a police appeal for information following the death of an osprey in Angus. The injured bird was found by a gamekeeper on August 12 and the Scottish SPCA was called to attend. The osprey was later euthanised and following further investigations, x-rays revealed the bird had been shot. Ross Ewing...

Rural Trailblazers Shine As Finalists Unveiled For Helping it Happen Awards 2024

Press Release

Over 30 exceptional organisations, businesses, and individuals transforming rural Scotland revealed as contenders for prestigious national awards Scotland's rural champions are set to take centre stage as the Helping it Happen Awards 2024 shortlist is unveiled today. Organised by Scottish Land & Estates and sponsored by NatureScot, the...

Glorious Twelfth ushers in a new era for licensed grouse shooting in Scotland

Press Release

A new era for grouse moor management began today as the Glorious Twelfth, the official start of the season, got underway with a new licensing scheme imposed in Scotland. Following legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament in March, moors now need to apply for a licence to shoot grouse and comply with a raft of other regulations. Each...

Spital Tower Estate in the Scottish Borders Achieves Wildlife Estates Scotland Accreditation

Press Release

An estate in the Scottish Borders has become the latest to achieve international accreditation recognising their outstanding efforts in wildlife and habitat management. Spital Tower Estate at Denholm near Hawick has attained Wildlife Estates Scotland accreditation, a national version of the Wildlife Estates (WE) initiative which seeks to...

Moorland transect surveys show increase in key raptor species

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has welcomed the results of the Raptor Transect Survey project, now in its fourth year and administered by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) for Scotland’s Regional Moorland Groups. Carried out from April to July each year, independent surveyors record the presence of raptors along 10km routes in...

Land manager experience and knowledge key in new National Park proposal

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has said the ‘knowledge and experience’ of farmers and land managers must be recognised as a proposal for a National Park in Galloway is consulted upon. The Scottish Government announced today that NatureScot will conduct a public consultation and investigation into whether...

Winners of first Scottish Game Awards announced

Press Release

The outstanding contribution of sporting estates, game dealers, gamekeepers and ghillies in Scotland has been marked at the inaugural Scottish Game Awards. At the Scottish Game Fair at Scone, a host of award winners and commendations were announced across four highly competitive categories. The newly crowned winners are: Game Champion of...