The number of livestock attacks in Scotland increased in 2023 - despite tough new legislation aimed at tackling the issue. In new statistics obtained by Scottish Land & Estates, 350 incidents of attacks or worrying of livestock were recorded last year according to Police Scotland. This was up from 290 incidents recorded in 2022 – an...
Licensing will be a ‘seismic change’ in how grouse moor management operates, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The rural business organisation was speaking after the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill was passed in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon. Estates wanting to shoot grouse will now require a licence which will...
A rural estate in Angus is the latest landholding to earn prestigious international accreditation in recognition of their efforts in wildlife and habitat management and conservation. Kinnordy Estate, a mixed estate just north of Kirriemuir, has achieved Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) accreditation. WES is a national version of the...
Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has issued the following statement on the publication of the new CCC report on Progress in Reducing Emissions in Scotland. Stephen Young, Director of Policy at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The CCC report highlights the stark challenges that already exist in Scotland achieving...
The new land reform bill introduced by the Scottish Government today is a ‘destructive and disproportionate’ attack on land-based businesses that risks derailing the pursuit of net zero, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The rural business organisation was reacting following publication of a third land reform bill in little over 20...
The opportunity for partnerships and clusters to drive forward landscape-scale, land manager-led nature restoration has been discussed at the Wildlife Estates Scotland Assembly 2024. Held at Kilgraston, Perthshire, this year’s assembly delved deep into the theme of natural capital, offering insights into WES's efforts to quantify and...
Further changes to a proposed grouse moor management licensing scheme can help achieve a ‘workable’ grouse system licensing regime – but fears still remain that the scheme will introduce measures that will undermine best working practices. Scottish Land & Estates commented following the completion of Stage 2 of the Bill at the Rural...
The views of all farmers and land managers in co-designing future agricultural policy must be taken into account for it to be a long-term success, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The rural business organisation commented after several key commitments were made by First Minister Humza Yousaf in a speech at the NFU Scotland conference...
Pragmatic amendments to the wildlife trap section of the draft Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill have been welcomed by moorland managers – but serious concerns that the legislation will compromise efforts to tackle biodiversity loss still remain. Scottish Land & Estates, which represents rural businesses across Scotland, issued the...
The vital contribution of angling to the environment and conservation, tourism and the economy has been marked as the River Tweed opens for the 2024 season. At an event held at Kelso on Thursday, Scottish Land & Estates chief executive Sarah-Jane Laing represented the rural business organisation as one of the gold sponsors of this year’s...
