News

SLE statement on Programme for Government

Press Release

Commenting on today’s Programme for Government, Sarah-Jane Laing, Executive Director of Scottish Land & Estates said: “Today’s commitment from the Scottish Government to renew their focus on land use partnerships and to support land managers in the fight against climate change is a welcome step forward for communities across rural...

Scottish Land & Estates pays tribute to The 10th Duke of Roxburghe

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates today paid tribute to the 10th Duke of Roxburghe, who died today. David Johnstone, chairman of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Everyone in the land business community will be deeply saddened that the Duke of Roxburghe has finally lost his battle with cancer - an illness he fought with great courage and...

SLE statement on RSPB Bird Crime publication

General News

Following publication today of the RSPB ‘Bird Crime’ report, Scottish Land & Estates – whose membership includes sporting estates across Scotland – issued the following statement. David Johnstone, chairman of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Significant progress has been made in tackling unacceptable raptor persecution over the last decade...

SLE appoints new Head of Policy

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has appointed a new Head of Policy. Stephen Young joins SLE from the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS), where he was project manager. In his new role, Stephen will be responsible for managing SLE’s policy team at its Musselburgh HQ, as well as leading development of...

Finalists announced for 2019 Helping it Happen Awards

General News

We are delighted to announce the finalists for the 2019 Helping It Happen Awards. Now in its third year, the campaign and its annual Awards are becoming increasingly renowned as champions of rural business and entrepreneurship in Scotland. High numbers of entries into all nine categories demonstrate strong support and appreciation of the...

Calls for bigger fines and longer prison sentences for wildlife criminals

Press Release

People convicted of wildlife crimes such as deer poaching, hare coursing and bird of prey persecution should receive bigger fines and longer prison sentences than currently available says Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the organisation which represents landowners and rural businesses. In its response to the Scottish Government...

Estates support police appeal over golden eagle

Press Release

Sporting estates today backed a police appeal for information over a golden eagle which was seen flying in the North-east of Scotland with what appeared to be a trap attached to its leg. Police Scotland issued the appeal after the bird was spotted by a tourist on Friday last week in the Deeside area. Scottish Land & Estates said today...

Grouse season underway as ‘lifeline’ to remote communities is recognised

Press Release

The vital contribution of grouse moors to jobs, tourism and wildlife conservation in remote areas of Scotland has been heralded as the season got underway today. As Rottal Estate in the Angus Glens hosted the first party to go out on the Glorious Twelfth, rural communities backed the pursuit as vital to their long-term sustainability...

Scotland’s rural organisations ask for the value of grouse shooting to be acknowledged

Press Release

Rural organisations have appealed to politicians to recognise the value of grouse shooting ahead of one of the most important seasons in generations. Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) - alongside the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA), the Scottish Countryside Alliance (SCA)...

Fake news must not shape future of grouse moors

General News

Following the recent story falsely claiming that shooters were travelling from the UK to hunt puffins in Iceland, Tim Baynes, Director of the Scottish Land and Estates Moorland Group, discusses the serious matter of fake news on social media. Puffins are a bird not normally found in the crosshairs of the debate around moorland management...