News

Wildlife Estates Scotland appoints new project officer

Press Release

A new project officer has been appointed by Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) as the land management scheme aims to double its accredited acres. Caroline Pringle, an experienced environmental consultant, joins WES following five years at ITPEnergised, where she managed environmental impact assessments and due diligence projects for clients...

SLE responds to Balmoral sporting rates appeal

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has responded to coverage by The National regarding the Balmoral and Buccleuch sporting rates appeal. You can find a statement from Head of Policy, Katy Dickson below, along with a letter sent to The National by SLE Chairman, David Johnstone. Katy Dickson, Head of Policy at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Rates...

Duke of Buccleuch steps down as Buccleuch chairman as group announces leadership changes

General News

Buccleuch announced today key changes to the group’s leadership and management. The Duke of Buccleuch has announced he is to step down as chairman of the group at the beginning of March shortly after his 65th birthday. He will be succeeded as executive chairman by Benny Higgins, former chief executive officer of Tesco Bank, who has been a...

SLE and farming stakeholders brief MSPs on Less Favoured Area Support Scheme payments

General News

The importance of Less Favoured Area (LFA) support for rural communities has been highlighted by a briefing issued to MSPs by farming organisations this week. Scottish Land & Estates - alongside NFU Scotland, the Scottish Beef Association, National Sheep Association Scotland, the Scottish Tenant Farmers’ Association and the Scottish...

Scottish Land & Estates welcomes new tool for community engagement

Press Release

A new guide aimed at improving links between land managers and communities has been welcomed by Scottish Land & Estates. The community engagement protocol, the first of its kind to be published by the Scottish Land Commission, is intended to support greater collaboration and engagement between those who make decisions about land and those...

SLE provides evidence to Scottish Affairs Committee on the future of Scottish Agriculture

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates today provided evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee on the future of agriculture in Scotland. The session at SRUC’s Oatridge Campus, attended by academics and stakeholders from the farming sector, allowed MPs the chance to gather views on post-Brexit agricultural policy following written submissions entered...

Huge opportunity to enhance Scottish farming following CAP departure

Press Release

Leaving the Common Agricultural Policy presents a positive opportunity to revitalise Scottish farming, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The rural business organisation made the comments within its response to the Scottish Affairs Committee’s consultation, the Future of Scottish Agriculture post-Brexit. The organisation said the...

Scottish Scouts launch new initiative to safeguard the future of Golden Eagles in the UK

General News

Working closely with the groundbreaking South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, a Scottish Scout group is launching the first ever Golden Eagle Champions initiative to help safeguard the future of Golden Eagles in the UK. The Scottish Borders Innerleithen Scout Group will become the UK’s first ever Golden Eagle Champions, learning from...

Rural businesses resilient and flexible but still urgently require Brexit certainty

Press Release

Following last night’s vote in the House of Commons and ongoing debates about the way forward for Brexit, Scottish Land & Estates has set out its key concerns for land-based businesses in Scotland. Sarah-Jane Laing, Executive Director, said: “Whilst the call to avoid a No Deal Brexit is widely accepted, we must acknowledge that every...

Answers required on future of upland farming support

Press Release

Farmers in Scotland’s most fragile rural areas need clarity on how hill and upland livestock production is going to be supported in future, Scottish Land & Estates said today. Following today’s statement by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing on future rural policy, SLE said that it was essential that the Scottish Government and the...