Estate

Pentland hills farm becomes Scotland’s smallest wildlife accredited property

A nature friendly family farm on the outskirts of Edinburgh has become the smallest landholding in Scotland to be awarded prestigious international wildlife accreditation.

Easter Bavelaw Farm, which is nestled to the south of Threipmuir Reservoir in the Pentland Hills, has gained Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) certification following a rigorous accreditation process.

At only 193 hectares, Easter Bavelaw and its owners Becci and Graham Barr are pursuing an exemplary environmental approach to their land management.

After purchasing the farm in 2016, the Barrs have operated the farm as a low input, low output, low impact sheep farm with a modest flock of Easycare ewes. In doing so, they have implemented a holistic approach to land management and food production, ranking the enhancement of biodiversity with equal priority to creating and maintaining an economically viable business.

In the last six years, they have planted nearly 50ha of mixed commercial and non-commercial woodland, planted 200m of hedgerow and implemented minimum tillage techniques in forage crop production and grassland management – beneficial for wildlife and in particular, wading birds.

Gamekeepers slam national parks process

Scotland’s gamekeepers have criticised the stakeholder process for new national parks in Scotland claiming land managers’ views are being under-represented.

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) believe the proposed aims of new parks, for nature recovery and Net Zero, are likely to impact most on people currently working the land for a living.

However, despite this, they say that agriculture and private interests are currently underrepresented in the process, with government bodies and environment NGOs dominating.

Furthermore, they claim the consultative experience has alienated land managers because communications are laden with policy jargon the ordinary person can’t understand.

The creation of at least one new national park by 2026 is a commitment of the Scottish Government; a legacy of the Bute House agreement between SNP and the Greens.

Amongst contenders wishing to see a park in their region are Galloway and the Borders, with the present 2 parks being sited around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms.

Writing in response to a consultation, which closes on Wednesday, the SGA questioned the process so far, with much at stake for the likes of gamekeepers, farmers, deer managers and crofters.

“The question must be raised, if the Scottish Government and NatureScot genuinely wish to encourage an inclusive and widereaching response, why is the consultation process so inhibiting? The lack of representation by those that earn their living from the land and ordinary citizens is apparent,” the organisation stated.