ScotLand Matters: The Scottish Land and Estates Podcast

Hosted by Scottish Land and Estates

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May 2026

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ScotLand Matters provides listeners with updates from Scottish Land and Estates, as well as the opportunity to listen in to recently recorded conversations and interviews with fascinating people and senior figures from all over rural Scotland. Find out more about Scottish Land & Estates at - www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk Follow us on social media: Facebook - www.facebook.com/ScottishLandandEstates Twitter - @ScotLandEstates Instagram - @scottishlandandestates LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/scottish-land-&-estates

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54 recent

May 29, 2026Episode 5427 min

54: Tackling Rural Crime & Livestock Worrying

Rural crime and livestock worrying are serious issues across Scotland’s countryside.In this episode of Scotland Matters, host Cameron Gillies, Head of External Affairs at Scottish Land & Estates, takes a closer look at rural crime—an issue that affects rural communities in direct and often deeply personal ways.From theft and vandalism to wildlife crime and fly-tipping, rural crime takes many forms. But at this time of year, with lambing and calving in full swing, the focus turns to one particularly urgent issue: livestock worrying.As always, thank you for supporting the podcast and if you'd like to find out more check out the links below!Check out our Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2CSHv068KPoYIkhdnJ8d3r?si=lIi7f2qxSFWy_I51DguAyQ&nd=1&dlsi=e01a374fbd… 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

February 3, 2026Episode 5324 min

53. Revitalising Rural Scotland: The Case for Rural Repopulation

In this episode, host Cameron Gillies discusses the pressing issue of rural depopulation in Scotland with Leader of Scottish Borders Council Euan Jardine. They review the recent publication by SLE titled Re-populating Rural Scotland and what steps the Government need to take to re-populate rural Scotland.They explore the complexities of local governance, the economic implications of population decline, and the potential for growth in rural industries such as food and drink. The conversation highlights the importance of cultural heritage, infrastructure, and innovative approaches to housing and skills development in revitalising rural communities. Cllr Euan Jardine emphasises the need for a shift in perception and investment to create a vibrant future for the Scottish Borders.As always, thank you for supporting the podcast and if you'd like to find out more check out the links below!Check out our Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2CSHv068KPoYIkhdnJ8d3r?si=lIi7f2qxSFWy_I51DguAyQ&nd=1&dlsi=e01a374fbdb24b1f ⁠⁠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

November 26, 2025Episode 5236 min

52. Water, Weather and Waste: upstream solutions for downstream challenges

In this episode of the ScotLand Matters podcast, host Cameron Gillies is joined by Anna Gardiner and Eleanor Kay to explore the pressing issues of water, weather, and waste impacting rural Scotland.As the country faces extreme weather patterns, from droughts to floods, our experts discuss the challenges and opportunities for rural businesses. Discover practical solutions for water management, the role of technology in flood resilience, and the importance of collaboration across sectors. Tune in to learn how these changes affect not just farmers and land managers, but the entire rural economy and environment.Join us for an insightful conversation on adapting to climate change and ensuring a sustainable future for rural Scotland.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

October 13, 2025Episode 5144 min

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

August 12, 2025Episode 5026 min

50. Beyond the Glorious Twelfth: Why Grouse Moors Matter in Scotland

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

April 3, 2025Episode 4952 min

Bonus: 20 Years at SLE

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.

March 8, 2025Episode 4838 min

Bonus: Women Leading Change in the Rural Sector for International Women's Day

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

February 3, 2025Episode 4719 min

47. The Land Reform Bill: Progress or Pitfall?

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

January 13, 2025Episode 4631 min

46. Revitalizing Rural Scotland with Mairi Gougeon & Dee Ward

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

November 18, 2024Episode 4531 min

45. Navigating the Budget: The Rural Response

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