51. Scotland’s Land Reform Journey: What’s the destination?

In this episode of the Scotland Matters podcast, host Cameron Gillies catches up with the Chair of the Scottish Land Commission, Michael Russell, and SLE’s CEO Sarah-Jane Laing to explore the complexities of land reform in Scotland..The discussion delves into the historical context of land ownership, evolving perspectives on land use, and the balance between regulation and community engagement. They discuss the importance of public benefit, social responsibility, and the need for effective communication between landowners and communities. They also address the challenges of defining success in land reform and the future of land ownership in Scotland, highlighting the importance of both scale and diversity when it comes to land management.As always, thank you for supporting the podcast and if you'd like to find out more check out the links below!Watch us on YouTube -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZh6HQRipgDGqJDHxhSXVQg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more about Scottish Land & Estates - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out about the Helping it Happen Awards - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen

In this episode of ScotLand Matters podcast, Cameron is joined by SLE Director of Moorland, Ross Ewing, and Regional Coordinator for the Angus Glens Moorland Groups, Iona McGregor, to discuss the significance of the Glorious Twelfth, the start of the grouse shooting season in Scotland, and its multiple benefits to rural communities.The conversation covers the economic impact of grouse shooting, the social cohesion it fosters, the implications for food security, and the environmental management practices involved. Discussion also addresses the challenges posed by policy changes and the importance of inclusivity and education in the shooting sports community.As always, thank you for supporting the podcast and if you'd like to find out more check out the links below!Watch us on YouTube -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZh6HQRipgDGqJDHxhSXVQg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more about Scottish Land & Estates - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out about the Helping it Happen Awards - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen

This year, SLE's Chief Executive Sarah-Jane Laing celebrates her 20th year at the organisation. To mark the occasion, the ScotLand Matters Podcast is reflecting on her time here, with Donald Greig - our Membership Communications Manager - in conversation with SJ alongside friends, members and colleagues.We were pleased to be joined by Robert Scott-Dempster, head of Land and Rural Business at Gillespie MacAndrew and chair of SLE's Legal and Tax Group; and David Johnston, former SLE Chairman and owner of Annandale Estate in Dumfriesshire .In a wide ranging discussion we look back at the highs and lows of the last 20 years at SLE, whilst also taking a moment to look ahead at what's coming down the track for rural Scotland in the future.

This special International Women’s Day episode of the SLE Podcast celebrates the theme #AccelerateAction, amplifying the voices of women in the workplace and rural sector.Hosted by SLE's Digital Media Assistant, Anine Stevenson, this episode features insightful conversations with SLE Chief Executive Sarah-Jane Laing and SLE Board Member Lucy Laidlaw, alongside voices from our SLE colleagues. Together, they share their experiences on leadership, resilience, and driving meaningful change.From overcoming challenges to inspiring the next generation, this episode is packed with motivation for women in all fields and stages of life.As always, thank you for supporting the podcast and if you'd like to find out more check out the links below!Watch us on YouTube -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZh6HQRipgDGqJDHxhSXVQg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more about Scottish Land & Estates - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out about the Helping it Happen Awards - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen

Land Reform in Scotland: Progress or Pitfall? Unpacking the Impact on Rural Communities, Climate, and Agriculture. In this episode of the Scottish Land and Estates podcast, Cameron is joined by SLE Legal Adviser, Jackie McCreery, to discuss the Land Reform Bill and its potential to strengthen rural community rights. They examine the complexities of the current legislation, its focus on large-scale land ownership, and the Bill's impact on climate goals. With a closer look at part two of the Bill, which covers agricultural tenancies, they explore its broader implications, including the possible negative effects on land transactions, security, and the rural economy. The conversation also highlights the need for a clearer vision for land reform and more incentives to encourage positive land management behaviours. As always, thank you for supporting the podcast and if you'd like to find out more check out the links below! Watch us on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZh6HQRipgDGqJDHxhSXVQg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about Scottish Land & Estates - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out about the Helping it Happen Awards - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen

Welcome Back & Happy New Year! 🎉 The latest episode of the Scottish Land & Estates podcast, ScotLand Matters, is here to kick off an exciting 2025! In this episode, our Press & Public Affairs Manager, Cameron Gillies, sits down with SLE Chairman, Dee Ward, and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon. Together, they delve into the Scottish Government’s role in supporting rural businesses while tackling pressing challenges like sustainability and depopulation. The discussion shines a spotlight on the importance of long-term strategies for rural resilience, emphasizing private investment and housing as key growth drivers. They also address the impact of budget cuts on rural affairs and the critical need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to achieve meaningful progress. As always, thank you for supporting the podcast and if you'd like to find out more check out the links below! Watch us on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZh6HQRipgDGqJDHxhSXVQg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about Scottish Land & Estates - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out about the Helping it Happen Awards - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen

Welcome back to another episode of the Scottish Land & Estates Podcast, ScotLand Matters! In this episode, the discussion revolves around the recent UK budget and its implications for Scotland's rural sector. In this episode, Cameron is joined by Eleanor Kay (Senior Policy Adviser for Agriculture and Climate Change) and Jackie McCreery (Legal Adviser) to discuss the budget's impact on agriculture, particularly concerning inheritance tax changes and the cumulative effects on rural businesses. As always, thank you for supporting the podcast and if you'd like to find out more check out the links below! Watch us on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZh6HQRipgDGqJDHxhSXVQg⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about Scottish Land & Estates - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out about the Helping it Happen Awards - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen

Welcome back to another episode of the Scottish Land & Estates Podcast, ScotLand Matters! In this episode, Cameron explores the current state of rural affairs in Scotland, highlighting the challenges and opportunities faced by rural communities. It discusses the importance of legislative developments, the role of rural estates in the economy, and the commitment to sustainable development in the region. The conversation emphasises the need for a unified approach to support rural Scotland's growth and resilience. As always, thank you for supporting the podcast and if you'd like to find out more check out the links below! Watch us on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZh6HQRipgDGqJDHxhSXVQg⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about Scottish Land & Estates - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out about the Helping it Happen Awards - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen

Welcome back to another episode of the Scottish Land & Estates Podcast, ScotLand Matters! In this episode, Cameron is back and joined by Anna Gardiner, our Rural Property Policy Adviser, to discuss Scotland's housing crisis. The Scottish government has declared a housing emergency, raising urgent questions about the factors driving this crisis. In this episode, Anna and Cameron analyse the shortage of affordable rental homes, particularly in rural areas where depopulation is an escalating concern, exploring whether recent rent control measures may be exacerbating the issue. Join us for an insightful discussion on Scotland's housing challenges, followed by an audience Q&A segment. Plus, stay tuned for our next episode, where we’ll dive into the new Programme for Government and its implications for the nation’s future. As always, thank you for supporting the podcast and if you'd like to find out more check out the links below! Watch us on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZh6HQRipgDGqJDHxhSXVQg⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about Scottish Land & Estates - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out about the Helping it Happen Awards - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen

Welcome back to another episode of the Scottish Land & Estates Podcast, ScotLand Matters! In this episode, we are joined by Director of Policy Stephen Young and Senior Policy Advisor for Agriculture & Climate Change Eleanor Kay. The conversation discusses the newly passed Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill in Scotland. It also highlights the opportunities for Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) members to engage with government workshops and support schemes. SLE played a role in advocating for changes in the bill, such as including food security reporting and supporting integrated land management. As always, thank you for supporting the podcast and if you'd like to find out more hit the links below! Watch us on YouTube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZh6HQRipgDGqJDHxhSXVQg⁠ Find out more about Scottish Land & Estates - ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out about the Helping it Happen Awards - ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen⁠⁠