Land Managers Share Discussion And Expertise On Scottish Rural Policy Issues

Press Release

Working with rural communities, the cost of living and nature-based solutions were some of the hot topics on the agenda at the annual Land Managers Training Day organised by Scottish Land & Estates.

Jointly sponsored by Savills and Brodies, more than 100 rural professionals attended the sold-out event at Perth Racecourse this week to examine a range of topical issues affecting farms, estates and land-based businesses.

The morning session included a presentation on the role of mediation in helping rural Scotland to thrive by Rachel Bicknell from Squaring Circles, a look at the Cost of Living Act by Clare Dunlop and Donald Muir from Brodies, and Ewan Harris, Head of Estate Management, Scotland at Savills, examining how nature solutions such as river management and peatland restoration are being put into practice by land managers. Tim Baynes from Scottish Land & Estates also presented on the implications of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill for land and wildlife management.

A varied range of afternoon workshops were also held, including muirburn training and wildfire mitigation with Bright Spark Burning Techniques Ltd and a seminar by Dr Bob McIntosh CBE, Tenant Farming Commissioner, looking at options for working with tenant farmers to enable environmental land management to take place. Brodies also held a workshop on compulsory purchase and wayleave negotiations whilst key emerging themes from the National Planning Framework (NPF4) were examined in a seminar led by Savills.

The event concluded with a panel session to discuss and debate topics from the day’s deliberations and other issues of importance in the countryside.

Stephen Young, Director of Policy at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “We were pleased to welcome land managers from across Scotland to this event which allows professionals to keep up to date with ever-evolving regulation and best practice as well as discuss important issues for Scotland’s rural areas with peers.

“It was a lively event and there is a genuine desire to continue to not only enhance business practice but also ensure that it can provide a range of social and environmental benefits along the way. The training day was sold out once again this year and we hope that is testament to the quality of event and speakers on offer. Our thanks go to all who attended and to Savills and Brodies for sponsoring this valuable occasion.”