Scotland’s Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, Mairi Gougeon, has visited the Hopes Estate in East Lothian to meet owner Robbie Douglas Miller, along with representatives from Scottish Land and Estates.

Mr Douglas Miller said: “At a time when the management of land in Scotland is under the microscope, we are delighted to welcome the minister to The Hopes to provide the Scottish Government with a detailed understanding of all that we do.

“Over the past five years we have been heavily involved in significant peatland restoration and woodland creation, helping Scotland tackle the climate crisis head-on. We have a responsibility as landowners to manage this land in a way that delivers lasting economic, social and environmental wellbeing in our community, and the Scottish Government has a vital role in creating a legislative framework that enables landowners to deliver this without any unnecessary burdens.”

Covering 4200 hectares of primarily open hill and moorland, the Hopes Estate, near Gifford, has held Wildlife Estates Scotland accreditation for over six years. WES, which is supported by the Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage and managed by SLE, aims to promote the best habitat and wildlife management practices, build recognition and raise standards through the introduction of an objective accreditation system.