Scottish Land & Estates

Chairman Alex Hogg, MBE, who has planted and managed hectares of privately funded hedgerows where he works in the Scottish Borders.

Pheasants and partridges nest and shelter in warm grasses at hedge bases, benefitting from the insect food source as well as berries and seeds.

That helps to retain birds ahead of the shooting season, which is worth millions to the rural economy.

Attractive area of amenity woodland goes on sale

Located in a rural yet accessible location close to Glasgow is an attractive area of woodland, split into several parcels of amenity land.

For sale as a whole or in three separate lots, Woodlands at Foreside is 43.98 Ha (108.67 Acres) in total and presents the potential to develop woodland structures, natural habitats and biodiversity interests.

Situated one mile north west of the village of Neilston on the outskirts of Glasgow, the land benefits from being close to amenities and enjoying some panoramic views across the beautiful countrysideThe three individual parcels of woodland, which are all similar in composition, were planted at the same time under a single grant scheme. They comprise mixed, mainly native broadleaved woodlands with designed open ground with a developing ground flora which combine to provide an interesting variety of habitats for a range of woodland birds. Parts of the woodland are bounded by established hedgerows adding to the habitat diversity.

Woodlands at Foreside, by Neilston, Glasgow is for sale through Galbraith as a whole for offers over £440,000, or in three lots as follows:

• Lot 1: 19.89 (Ha) 49.15 (Acres) – offers over £200,000 • Lot 2: 15.43 (Ha) 38.13 (Acres) – offers over £130,000 • Lot 3: 8.66 (Ha) 21.40 (Acres) – offers over £110,000

The vexing issue of land management in Scotland

By Stephen Young, Head of Policy at Scottish Land & Estates

Often running the risk of sounding like something of a broken record, it is fair to say that Scottish Land & Estates has been vexed over recent years by the lack of progress and detail of what comes next for Scottish agriculture and land management.

Therefore, the recent launch of the Agriculture Bill consultation could perhaps have been the pivotal moment when our long-held unease was finally assuaged – instead, it appears to have galvanised the sector in demanding a change in gear from government.

In our initial reaction to the consultation, SLE welcomed the fact that it had finally arrived but said that we would need to examine the fine print in due course. For many organisations, the absence of precise detail in the consultation is what is causing the major issue.

Our organisation published our updated #Route2050 policy paper at the Royal Highland Show in June and we set out why we believed 50% of payments should be made to support active farming businesses, with the additional support available for measures to improve biodiversity, carbon sequestration and wider natural capital.

The government appears to be broadly aligned with this thinking, with four tiers covering direct and indirect payments, but the For more informationconsultation is very light on www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk the detail of exactly how this Telephone : 0131 653 5400will be delivered and what

support farmers and land managers will have to make the changes necessary for the future.

Indeed, such was the disquiet across the sector that it compelled 18 farming and rural organisations to meet to discuss both the lack of clarity and engagement being offered by government and the vacuum of information from the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB).

With the conclusion of the transition period looming by the end of 2024, we were also surprised that the recent programme for government announced by the First Minister at Holyrood made no mention of the agriculture bill that will follow the newly launched consultation.

That being the case, it can only be assumed that the September 2023 programme for government will include agriculture in the legislative programme – leaving 15 months maximum for a Bill to be introduced, amended and passed and then for farmers and land managers to know what steps they have to take to almost instantly comply with new support mechanisms.

In a tough economic period that is already going to stretch the viability of many of our farming businesses, it seems we have a rocky path ahead with agricultural reform – and we may run out of road following years of unwarranted delay.

estate

New beaver strategy for Scotland

A national strategy has been published setting out a route map for beavers in Scotland over the coming decades.

The development of Scotland’s Beaver Strategy 2022-2045 has involved more than 50 stakeholder organisations, representing one of the most ambitious and forward-looking approaches to managing and conserving a species ever carried out in Britain.

The strategy will steer wider efforts to identify and actively expand the population to new catchments, alongside appropriate management and mitigation, following the Scottish Government’s change in policy to encourage wider beaver restoration.

It sets out plans to empower and support communities to maximise the environmental and wider benefits of beavers, while minimising negative impacts through effective management and mitigation.

The strategy highlights the need for ongoing research and monitoring of the beaver population and its effects to inform and improve management as the population expands, using existing and new techniques and technologies. This will also help identify how people, and ecosystems, can most benefit from the presence of beavers.

The strategy was developed collaboratively under a process designed and led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG).

A cross-stakeholder organising team including representatives from NatureScot, National Farmers Union of Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Land & Estates and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland helped to steer the process, and the document was produced through the direct involvement of stakeholder groups and individuals from a wide variety of sectors.

A new Scottish Beaver Advisory Group, made up of key organisations, will now work together to help take the strategy forward.

Traditional farm in beautiful setting in Dumfries and Galloway

Galbraith is delighted to bring to the market Woodside Farm, an attractive traditional farmhouse with extensive pasture land situated in an idyllic setting, surrounded by the beautiful countryside of Dumfries & Galloway and close to the coast.

The property has just under 23 acres of grazing land in lot 1, with further land available for purchase in lots 2 and 3.

Rebecca Reed of Galbraith, who is handling the sale, said: “Woodside Farm offers a wonderful opportunity to modernise the farmhouse and create an absolutely superb family home. The setting couldn’t be nicer – surrounded by the tranquil rolling farmland of the region yet easily accessible to local amenities while the River Nith close by leads down to the sea and there are lovely beaches about half an hour away at Powillimount and Sandyhills. The purchasers could create a varied smallholding with a good amount of pasture land, or could perhaps keep ponies. This is an excellent opportunity to create a superb home in a beautiful setting.”