Latest news with #ScottishLandandEstates
Daily Record
06-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Dumfriesshire business hosts launch for search for Helping It Happen Awards 2025
Claxton's Whisky and Dalswinton Estate won the rural business category at last year's awards. The search for Scotland's rural champions has been officially launched in Dumfriesshire. The Helping It Happen Awards aim to celebrate the outstanding efforts of estates, farms, people, charities and projects that help Scotland thrive. Aand this year's awards, organised by Scottish Land and Estates and sponsored by NatureScot, were officially launched at Claxton's Whisky and Dalswinton Estate. They were the winners of the rural business award last year, the partnership having transformed disused estate buildings into a business that has created skilled jobs and invested more than £3 million in the area. Dalswinton Estate owner, Peter Landale, said: 'Dalswinton has always been a place of innovation and stewardship, and it's a privilege to see that spirit continued through partnerships like ours with Claxton's Whisky. 'The Helping It Happen Awards reflect the same ethos – celebrating people who care deeply about the future of rural Scotland. We're proud to host this year's launch and to play our part in supporting a thriving countryside.' Claxton's Whisky managing director, Adrian Hoose, added: 'We're delighted to welcome the launch of the Helping It Happen Awards to Claxton's and Dalswinton. Our journey here has always been rooted in quality, sustainability, and working closely with the local community. 'These awards highlight the very best of rural Scotland, and winning an award last year gave our team a real sense of pride and recognition – it helped raise our profile and showcased our products to a wider audience.' The awards are open to anyone, from local community organisations to independent businesses, third-sector conservation organisations, as well as farms, estates and national organisations. This year has seen the introduction of the Good News Award, which aims to recognise those who have shone a positive spotlight on rural Scotland through original media work. CEO of Scottish Land and Estates, Sarah-Jane Laing, said: 'The Helping It Happen Awards aim to spotlight the essential contributions made by land-based organisations, community groups, charities and individuals to rural communities throughout Scotland, and I'm delighted that the nomination process for 2025 is now underway. 'From enhancing biodiversity and local economies to innovation in land management and tourism, these awards celebrate the diverse and inspiring work that often goes unrecognised. We encourage everyone to nominate those making a real difference across rural Scotland.' Nominations for the Helping It Happen Awards can be made at the Scottish Land and Estates website.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfire warning over new controlled burning rules
New licensing rules for the controlled burning of heather and other moorland vegetation could lead to an increased risk of wildfires, a rural group has warned. Scottish Land and Estates claimed the technical demands of a new muirburn licensing scheme will leave many land managers unable to obtain a licence in time. The Scottish government said land owners have been given "adequate time" to prepare for the new regulation. The warning comes in the wake of a spate of wildfires across Scotland last week, including on the Isle of Arran and in Cumbernauld. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service issued extreme wildfire warnings last week during a period of warm and dry weather. One method of preventing wildfires often undertaken by land owners is muirburn. While the main purpose is to encourage new heather growth for grouse and other animals to feed on, it also gets rid of excess vegetation which can fuel wildfires. However, the practice also has the potential to damage peatlands, which play an important climate role in locking up carbon, and can have a negative impact on other wildlife. The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act, will introduce a more rigorous licensing scheme this September, with muirburn on peatland only permitted in limited circumstances. Ross Ewing from Scottish Land and Estates, said introducing the regulations was "absolutely possible" in the future but he said the current timescale and "technical requirements" could cause some land owners to stop the process all together. He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland: "I think its almost inevitable, if muirburn is made so much harder, which under the current direction of travel is absolutely going to be the case, there will be more wildfire incidents because there will be less people carrying out muirburn which means the fuel load will be increased in a larger area. "What we are saying to ministers is this is not going to be workable within the timescales they've set out and that they need to change their approach. "If ministers make this too hard people will stop muirburning all together and with that your ability to combat wildfires become severely, severely curtailed." The group, which opposed the legislation before it was passed in parliament, said its concerns were shared by the Scottish Gamekeepers Association. The Scottish government said it recognised the positive aspects of muirburn - but said land managers had been given plenty of time to prepare for the new rules. A spokesperson said: "The scheme will ensure muirburn is undertaken appropriately by trained individuals to minimise negative impacts on peatlands and other sensitive habitats. "We recognise the importance of muirburn in creating firebreaks to help tackle wildfires and the new licensing scheme allows muirburn for the purpose of preventing wildfires. "The Bill received Royal Assent in April last year and our implementation timescale has been designed to give practitioners adequate time to prepare for this licensing requirement ahead of the 2025/26 season." Glass bottle likely started Arran wildfire - ranger Extreme wildfire warning in final day with rain to come 'Gamechanger' Scottish wildlife law passes vote
BBC News
18-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Wildfire warning over new 'muirburn' controlled burning rules
New licensing rules for the controlled burning of heather and other moorland vegetation could lead to an increased risk of wildfires, a rural group has Land and Estates claimed the technical demands of a new muirburn licensing scheme will leave many land managers unable to obtain a licence in Scottish government said land owners have been given "adequate time" to prepare for the new warning comes in the wake of a spate of wildfires across Scotland last week, including on the Isle of Arran and in Cumbernauld. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service issued extreme wildfire warnings last week during a period of warm and dry method of preventing wildfires often undertaken by land owners is muirburn. While the main purpose is to encourage new heather growth for grouse and other animals to feed on, it also gets rid of excess vegetation which can fuel the practice also has the potential to damage peatlands, which play an important climate role in locking up carbon, and can have a negative impact on other Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act, will introduce a more rigorous licensing scheme this September, with muirburn on peatland only permitted in limited circumstances. Ross Ewing from Scottish Land and Estates, said introducing the regulations was "absolutely possible" in the future but he said the current timescale and "technical requirements" could cause some land owners to stop the process all told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland: "I think its almost inevitable, if muirburn is made so much harder, which under the current direction of travel is absolutely going to be the case, there will be more wildfire incidents because there will be less people carrying out muirburn which means the fuel load will be increased in a larger area."What we are saying to ministers is this is not going to be workable within the timescales they've set out and that they need to change their approach."If ministers make this too hard people will stop muirburning all together and with that your ability to combat wildfires become severely, severely curtailed."The group, which opposed the legislation before it was passed in parliament, said its concerns were shared by the Scottish Gamekeepers Association. The Scottish government said it recognised the positive aspects of muirburn - but said land managers had been given plenty of time to prepare for the new rules. A spokesperson said: "The scheme will ensure muirburn is undertaken appropriately by trained individuals to minimise negative impacts on peatlands and other sensitive habitats."We recognise the importance of muirburn in creating firebreaks to help tackle wildfires and the new licensing scheme allows muirburn for the purpose of preventing wildfires."The Bill received Royal Assent in April last year and our implementation timescale has been designed to give practitioners adequate time to prepare for this licensing requirement ahead of the 2025/26 season."
