News

Six Scottish landholdings celebrate Wildlife Estates Scotland accreditation

General News

Six Scottish farms and estates – accounting for over 23,000 acres - have been awarded prestigious international accreditation to recognise their ongoing work in wildlife management and conservation. The award of Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) accreditation was made at the GWCT Scottish Game Fair by Scottish Government Minister for...

New grouse moor licence scheme set to open as moors encouraged to prepare for application process

Press Release

Grouse moor operators and land managers are being urged to prepare for the new licensing system which is to come into effect shortly before the grouse season starts next month. Scottish Land & Estates, which represents landowners and rural businesses, was speaking after NatureScot announced its intention to open licence applications on...

Appeal for information following Strathspey raptor nest incident

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates today supported a police appeal for information following a suspected attempt to target birds of prey in Strathspey. Police Scotland officers were called on Saturday, June 8, to a forest near Loch Gynack where a goshawk nest was found abandoned in what are described as "suspicious circumstances". Police have said...

Election hustings see rural Scotland take centre stage

Press Release

Issues of importance to rural Scotland were the focus at a General Election hustings held in Perth last night. Organised by Scottish Land & Estates in conjunction with BASC Scotland and the Scottish Countryside Alliance, the event saw audience members grill politicians during an evening of robust debate. The political panel comprised...

SLE appeals for government to work positively with land managers on addressing climate change

Press Release

Land management is key to Scotland achieving its net-zero ambitions - and it is vital that government acknowledges the advantages of scale when tackling the climate emergency. Scottish Land & Estates commented after the Scottish Parliament voted for a motion on Wednesday affirming the commitment to tackling the twin crises of climate...

Opportunity to enhance tenant farming in Scotland could be lost through current Land Reform Bill

Press Release

Provisions in the land reform bill regarding the resumption of farming tenancies will further weaken the sector, not enhance it, Scottish Land & Estates has said. The rural business organisation was speaking after giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on Part 2 of the Bill. SLE’s legal...

SLE responds to Scottish Land Commission’s Rural Land Market Insights Report 2024

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has issued the following statement in response to the publication of the Scottish Land Commission’s Rural Land Market Insights Report 2024 , which covers patterns of land sales in Scotland. Stephen Young, Director of Policy at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The Scottish Land...

Land Managers salute new wildlife forum

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, today (Friday 21 June) gave its ‘unstinting support’ for the creation of a new Wildlife and Species Forum. The establishment of the forum was announced today at the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston by Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture. The forum will facilitate engagement...

Rural Housing Providers: 'Rapidly closing the window to restore confidence'

Press Release

Rural housing providers believe there is a ‘rapidly closing’ window of opportunity to restore confidence in the sector that could help thousands of people to secure homes across Scotland. Scottish Land & Estates, whose members provide around 13,000 affordable homes for rent in rural Scotland, said today its members are fully committed to...

Scottish Land & Estates launched 'priorities for rural Scotland' manifesto

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, today launched its ‘Priorities for Rural Scotland’ manifesto to highlight the challenges and opportunities that need to be addressed urgently by a new UK Government following the general election. SLE said election rhetoric and promises by political parties must be backed up with...