News

Scottish Game Awards 2024 Opens For Entries

Press Release

The Scottish Game Awards – which highlights the fantastic contribution of sporting estates, game dealers, gamekeepers and ghillies in delivering for people, jobs and nature – have been launched for 2024. The new awards are a collaboration between Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), GWCT Scotland and Scotland's Regional Moorland Groups (SRMGs)...

SLE statement on Wildlife Crime in Scotland 2021-2022 report

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has issued the following statement following the publication of the Wildlife Crime in Scotland Annual Report for 2021-2022. Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland at Scottish Land & Estates, said: "Rural businesses and communities are playing a vital role in combatting the nature and biodiversity crises and working...

Rural estates ‘singled out’ by carbon land tax proposals

Press Release

A new carbon land tax would punish rural estate businesses which are already making the greatest contribution to achieving net zero, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The rural business organisation said research already welcomed by the Scottish Government demonstrates that estates are in the vanguard of renewable energy, woodland...

Government urged to improve rural engagement following wood burner ban row

Press Release

Rural communities are supportive of the need to improve energy efficiency and lower emissions – but the Scottish Government needs to engage better with rural Scotland on its policymaking. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has once again called for better ‘rural-proofing’ of policies in the wake of the debacle this...

Helping it Happen Awards Launched for 2024

Press Release

Rural communities are being urged to share success stories from their local area as the Helping it Happen Awards 2024 nominations are launched. Estates, farms, rural businesses, individuals, charities, and projects can all be nominated for the awards that focus on the essential role these parties play in helping the Scottish countryside...

Grouse moor operators’ statement on Hen Harrier Survey

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, which represents land-based businesses across Scotland, issued the following statement in response to the Hen Harrier Survey published by RSPB. Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “This survey makes clear that Scotland remains the stronghold for Hen Harriers in the UK, with nearly 80...

Collective deer management effort under risk from proposed nature restoration orders

Press Release

Land managers have urged the Scottish Government to work with them rather than against them over the future of deer management. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, made the comments after responding to the government’s ‘Managing Deer for Climate and Nature’ consultation which closes today. The consultation has sought...

Farmer and land manager input can deliver a better Agriculture Bill

Press Release

Calls for a draft Rural Support Plan to be published before the new Scottish agriculture bill becomes law have been backed by Scottish Land & Estates. Following the Stage 1 debate on the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill on Wednesday, the rural business organisation said that earlier publication of the support plan, which...

New housing bill repeats the mistakes of previous legislation

Press Release

The new Housing Bill will ‘compound the mistakes’ the Scottish Government has already made with the private rented sector, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The new bill has been laid before the Scottish Parliament and includes provisions to introduce rent control areas, restrictions on rent increases, delays on evictions and new rules...

Questions remain unanswered on new Agriculture Bill ahead of key Holyrood debate

Press Release

Concerns around the continued lack of clarity being given to Scotland’s agricultural sector on the impact of the new agriculture bill are not being addressed by government, Scottish Land & Estates said today. Ahead of the Stage 1 Debate on the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill, the rural business organisation’s Senior...