Conservation Matters

Emma Chalmers, Partner of Galbraith said: “The interesting change is there is now a range of buyers with a variety of interests and no longer are the buyers just interested in the more traditional sports of grouse shooting, stalking, fshing and low ground shooting.

“The sales of Glenlochay Estate in Stirlingshire and Auchavan Estate in Angus, sold in 2019 and 2020 respectively, both prompted a number of natural capital buyers to come forward alongside those who were primarily interested in traditional pursuits. However, the sale of Kinrara Estate earlier this year saw the majority of potential buyers with interests in woodland creation and natural capital above all else. This was further experienced when a stock farm was marketed and sold privately, also earlier this year, with a natural capital buyer secured. Thus, demonstrating the changing nature of the market.”

Galbraith reports that buyers include corporations, institutions and investment houses, as well as private individuals with a variety of motivations and interests. Private sales have increased considerably as a percentage of the overall market.

Emma Chalmers continued: “The Scottish estate has always been sought after, formerly principally driven by interest in traditional sports, together with the desire to ‘get away from it all’. Demand has always outstripped supply, with only about 10 to 15 estates offered for sale each year, either privately or on the open market.

“However, we are seeing with the accelerating understanding of climate change, growing desire to offset carbon usage, both personally and by business, the need to be more visibly green or indeed by some to meet their net zero targets, the traditional estate, together with the hill and stock farms, are attracting increased interest from this new natural capital purchaser.

“Some buyers look to plant well designed productive forests, others native woodlands or indeed a diverse mixture of both, with the newer peatland restoration also now coming into the mix. However Natural Capital isn’t meaning the ceasing of the traditional sports as there are many buyers who look to retain some or all of the sport whilst introducing or expanding natural capital elements. “Now, we have demand from buyers motivated by woodland creation, habitat restoration, traditional sports, together with other opportunities with the potential to generate an income such as installing a hydro scheme, wind turbines or perhaps creating a distillery, holiday lets or a wedding venue. Land is being acquired by businesses to offset carbon emissions whilst providing a fnancial return from other parts of the estate.”

The average price for a Scottish estate continues to rise. Hill ground, until recently priced in the region of £600 to £800 per acre, can now see that fgure more than double, particularly where natural capital potential exists. With increased demand and more closing dates this has successfully helped drive sale prices to their maximum achievable level.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE

Subscription details on page 61 Next issue out November 2021 How good is your game?

By Ross MacLeod Head of Policy, Scotland Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust

After a year’s hiatus during the pandemic, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Scottish Game Fair is taking place again between the 24 and 26 September at Scone Palace grounds, near Perth. With trade bookings and entry ticket sales buoyant, it is a positive sign that life is returning to something approaching normality.

With farmers and gamekeepers increasingly required to show how their work generates environmental benefits such as the presence of key species and the sound management of key habitats, the theme for the GWCT’s central ringside stand at the Game Fair focuses on demonstrating evidence of best practice.

Looking at how this can be achieved in moorland and lowground game management settings, as well as across Scotland’s farmed landscape, the exhibit will set out the background to this drive for evidence. For game managers, this will illustrate how they can go the extra mile to ensure their work delivers ‘net biodiversity gain’.

For farmers, the exhibit will highlight how collaborative working in ‘farmer clusters’ can also deliver environmental benefits at landscape-scale. The display will also explore how information can be collected to benchmark progress, particularly through the Trust’s innovative use of mobile app recording.

A particular feature of our 2021 exhibit will be the Moredun Research Institute’s Bio-bus, packed with demonstrations and interactive displays, adding a very important extension of the best practice theme to cover disease management aspects. GWCT has been collaborating with the Moredun to help fund research and development of a new louping ill vaccine, which will greatly assist upland managers in the fight against the scourge of tick.

Our professional advisors and researchers will be available on stand throughout the Scottish Game Fair to talk about our wide-ranging services in the uplands, wetlands, lowlands, on farms and in woodlands.