News

Over-regulation of short-term lets could pose risk to rural tourism

Press Release

Over-regulation of short-term let accommodation in non-problem areas of rural Scotland could pose a risk to rural tourism warns Scottish Land & Estates (SLE). The rural business organisation has called on the Scottish Government to ensure local authorities have the powers to apply any new regulations for short-term lets to only those...

NE Walk & Talk an eye-opener to the extent of rural crime

General News

Grandhome Estate, on the fringes of Aberdeen, was the perfect setting for our NE Rural Security Walk & Talk on 11 July. While the estate has benefitted from the growth of Aberdeen with opportunities in residential and commercial property, the proximity of the city has its pitfalls, with frequent incidents of fly-tipping, as well as...

Buccleuch holds talks with community groups over land sale

General News

Buccleuch announced today that it is holding discussions with community bodies which have expressed an interest in acquiring land in the south west Scotland. A consultation exercise was undertaken with local communities after Buccleuch announced in May that it intends to sell a substantial landholding including Langholm Moor. The land...

Wonderful woodland managament honoured in annual Tree Oscars

General News

The important work of land agents in creating high-quality forestry was rewarded at Scotland’s annual ‘Tree Oscars’. Bowlts and Bidwells shared the glory in two categories at Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2019 – the biggest-ever celebration of forests, trees and woodlands, incuding a special Centenary Award to mark 100 years since the...

Four Scottish landholdings gain prestigious wildlife conservation accreditation

Press Release

Four Scottish landholdings have gained prestigious international accreditation to recognise their ongoing work in wildlife management and conservation. Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) is a national version of the European Landowners Organisation’s Wildlife Estates (WE) accreditation scheme and is driving forward best practice in land...

Scottish Land & Estates statement on recent bird of prey incidents

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates said today that it has written to the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime Scotland raising its concern over recent incidents involving birds of prey. In May 2019, a hen harrier was found dead in an illegally set trap on the border between two estates in Perthshire. This was followed by extensive publicity...

Wildlife ‘expert’ Chris Packham is betraying conservation with grouse moor myths

Press Release

Wildlife commentator Chris Packham today stood accused of betraying conservation with a litany of falsehoods and smears about grouse moors. Packham appeared on the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 today to discuss the alleged disappearance of two satellite-tagged golden eagles in Perthshire. During the appearance he referred to grouse moors as...

Scottish Land & Estates statement on missing golden eagles

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates today issued an appeal for information about two golden eagles which have gone missing in Perthshire. The two eagles, Adam and Charlie, were wearing satellite tags which stopped working in April this year. Police Scotland conducted a search at Auchnafree Estate in Perthshire on May 23. The estate and its employees...

Estates appeal for information on hen harrier

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates today issued an appeal on behalf of two sporting estates for information about the fate of a hen harrier which died after being caught in a trap. The appeal was issued after the harrier was discovered near the boundary between two estates in Perthshire in mid June. We understand staff from both estates have helped...

Latest science key to future of mountain hare management

Press Release

Evidence rather than ideology should be the basis for future legislation on wildlife management, Scottish Land & Estates said today. Speaking at the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston, SLE chairman David Johnstone said there was a need for care in introducing new laws on the back of activism rather than balanced research from independent...