Ninian Crichton Stuart, the Hereditary Keeper of Falkland Palace in Scotland will be leading a debate “Succession: How can farmers and owners best let go and pass their land onto future generations?” at a farming festival called Go Falkland at Falkland Estate on July 1. At the event, Ninian will discuss his plan to pass the estate to the community He talks in terms of “laying … [Read more...] about Time up for Scotland’s hereditary landowners?
land reform
Oor land
Whatever the result of the elections to Holyrood due in May, it’s clear that 22 years of devolution have established land reform as a perennial theme—a mantle taken up by various parties and under varying parliamentary arithmetic, passing from Labour-Liberal Democrat coalitions to SNP majorities. It has survived the Conservative Party’s caricature of a government-sanctioned, … [Read more...] about Oor land
Land reform and climate change: a Scottish perspective
‘We have a unique opportunity to demonstrate what steps we are taking to contribute towards solving the climate crisis that can serve as examples to the rest of the world.’The climate crisis is increasingly hitting the political headlines. The current emissions trajectory puts Earth on a catastrophic 3°C warming within the lifetime of today’s schoolchildren. Ecosystem … [Read more...] about Land reform and climate change: a Scottish perspective
Scenes from Highland life – and thoughts on land reform
A Snow Bunting looks across a mountain landscape with little sign of human habitation. This photograph was taken by my husband Rob Bruce on our Highland holiday this year, on land owned by a reclusive Malaysian businessman.Rob’s big day out across the estate was with our son, and for Walter the trip raised questions about Scotland’s land ownership. Land reform is a hot … [Read more...] about Scenes from Highland life – and thoughts on land reform
A laird at thirty quid? Hang on Manfred
The first pressings of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band 1974 album The Good Earth came with an unusual proposition. Along with seven tracks of prog-rock intellectual property, buyers also had the chance to acquire something more tangible: one square foot of land at Llanerchyrfa in mid-Wales.This marketing stunt was not a unique idea. Then, as now, there is a trade in these … [Read more...] about A laird at thirty quid? Hang on Manfred