Conservation

Voluntary Initiative

David Bell, chair of the VI (centre) with Wendy Chamberlain MP and Alistair Carmichael MP, chair of the EFRA Committee

Alistair Carmichael

The VI celebrates its 25th anniversary at Palace of Westminster

The Fletcher family welcome SSEN Transmission and SCOTLAND: The Big Picture representatives to Reediehill Farm to mark the start of the project

The Fletcher family welcome SSEN Transmission and SCOTLAND: The Big Picture representatives to Reediehill Farm to mark the start of the project

Former Fife deer farm to undergo 30-year nature restoration project

An old railway bed cuts across Flanders Moss, west of Stirling

An old railway bed cuts across Flanders Moss, west of Stirling

Peatland restoration

Forestry and Land Scotland

Why old railway lines are being left in Scotland’s peatlands

Alistair Carmichael raised the initiative in parliament as a potential model for the future of the Sustainable Farming Incentive

Alistair Carmichael raised the initiative in parliament as a potential model for the future of the Sustainable Farming Incentive

Alistair Carmichael

Carmichael urges government to follow Aldi’s new beef farming scheme

£1,347,018 has been allocated by the Scottish Government to fund nature recovery projects across Scotland

£1,347,018 has been allocated by the Scottish Government to fund nature recovery projects across Scotland

Nature recovery

Scotland announces £1.3m boost for nature recovery projects

Defra aims to double number of wildlife-friendly farms in England by 2030

Defra aims to double number of wildlife-friendly farms in England by 2030

Wildlife target

Defra sets sights on doubling wildlife-friendly farms by 2030

The programme will link with wider efforts to restore native woodlands and improve farmland biodiversity across the National Park

The programme will link with wider efforts to restore native woodlands and improve farmland biodiversity across the National Park

Climate resilience

National Park launches four-year trial to future-proof farming

GOV4ALL has brought partners together across southern Spain, France, Lesvos, mainland Greece and Menorca to explore soil health and rural regeneration

GOV4ALL has brought partners together across southern Spain, France, Lesvos, mainland Greece and Menorca to explore soil health and rural regeneration

Regenerative farming

Why Menorca is becoming a Mediterranean hub for regenerative farming

( L-R) Neil Gunn of WES, Malcolm Nicol, Abby Nicol and Peter Littlejohn of Ballogie Estate

( L-R) Neil Gunn of WES, Malcolm Nicol, Abby Nicol and Peter Littlejohn of Ballogie Estate

Scottish Land & Estates

Aberdeenshire estate retains top-level wildlife conservation accreditation

Professor of Sustainable Land Management at the Royal Agricultural University, David O’Connor

Professor of Sustainable Land Management at the Royal Agricultural University, David O’Connor

RAU experts to examine the future of our soils

Twelve Necessary Wayleave hearings have been postponed following submissions from affected parties

Twelve Necessary Wayleave hearings have been postponed following submissions from affected parties

Farmers win delay to SSEN wayleave hearings over line plans

The Conservatives say Natural England and the Environment Agency would be abolished under the plans

The Conservatives say Natural England and the Environment Agency would be abolished under the plans

Tory Conference

Conservative Party

Tories propose radical environmental regulator shake-up

JAHAMA Highland Estates manages around 32,500 hectares across Lochaber and Badenoch

JAHAMA Highland Estates manages around 32,500 hectares across Lochaber and Badenoch

West Highland Way

How a vast Highland estate is restoring its landscape

Gillian Martin said communities should have 'a real say' in decisions affecting them as Scotland responds to climate change and biodiversity loss

Gillian Martin said communities should have 'a real say' in decisions affecting them as Scotland responds to climate change and biodiversity loss

Community opinion

New climate strategy aims to give locals greater influence

Edward Mountain looking at the Panel, Al Dargie, Jim Fairlie MSP, Fire Chief Kenny Barbour and Sandy McCook

Edward Mountain looking at the Panel, Al Dargie, Jim Fairlie MSP, Fire Chief Kenny Barbour and Sandy McCook

Calls for an independent review after Strathspey Wildfire

Puffin landing on the Isle of May

Puffin landing on the Isle of May

Puffin population concerns grow as Firth of Forth counts reveal declines

Scottish Land & Estates

Fresh appeal after protected bird discovered in illegal trap

100% of survey respondents said or indicated regenerative farming was important to the future of British agriculture

100% of survey respondents said or indicated regenerative farming was important to the future of British agriculture

Questions remain

Industry backs regenerative farming but demands clearer evidence

Milling oats for Wildfarmed are harvested alongside flowering strips

Milling oats for Wildfarmed are harvested alongside flowering strips

Wildfarmed oats harvested alongside flowering strips in East Lothian

Land entering organic conversion more than doubled in 2025

Land entering organic conversion more than doubled in 2025

Organic acres surge as Scottish farmers enter conversion

Dawn Meats has cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 77% since 2018

Dawn Meats has cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 77% since 2018

Dawn Meats Group

Dawn Meats reports major cut in operational emissions

The Government has announced £65m of additional support for farmers

The Government has announced £65m of additional support for farmers

£65m drought lifeline as Burnham seeks farming reset

Ross Ewing said recovery funding was vital but should be matched by greater investment in wildfire prevention

Ross Ewing said recovery funding was vital but should be matched by greater investment in wildfire prevention

Scottish Government announces £3 million Cairngorms wildfire business recovery fund

Just 14.3% of England’s 4658 surface water bodies achieved good ecological status in the latest assessment

Just 14.3% of England’s 4658 surface water bodies achieved good ecological status in the latest assessment

Just 14% of England's rivers, lakes and estuaries meet good environmental standards

Kinetic7 is developing hydrogen-on-demand systems for businesses and homes

Kinetic7 is developing hydrogen-on-demand systems for businesses and homes

Energy Resilience

Hydrogen technology firm promotes on-demand gas amid energy security concerns

Three new trustees have joined Scotland's Finest Woods board

Three new trustees have joined Scotland's Finest Woods board

Scottish Forestry

Scotland's Finest Woods appoints three new trustees to charity board

Scotland’s muirburn licensing scheme is due to begin on September 15

Scotland’s muirburn licensing scheme is due to begin on September 15

Muirburn Debate

Scots farmers urge delay to muirburn licence over wildfire fears

Visitors will explore farming research at Glensaugh Research Farm

Visitors will explore farming research at Glensaugh Research Farm

Glensaugh visit

James Hutton Institute

Hutton to highlight sustainable farming at Glensaugh open event

Yara’s flagship Sluiskil plant will capture and liquefy around 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year

Yara’s flagship Sluiskil plant will capture and liquefy around 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year

Europe's largest carbon capture starts this summer at fertiliser plant

Scottish Environment LINK is calling for Scotland to double its organic farmland by the end of the 2026-31 parliamentary term

Scottish Environment LINK is calling for Scotland to double its organic farmland by the end of the 2026-31 parliamentary term

Environment charities urge Scotland to double organic farmland by 2031

The organisation says the ongoing Cairngorms wildfire and last year's Dava fire highlight the need for better-equipped, community-based wildfire response

The organisation says the ongoing Cairngorms wildfire and last year's Dava fire highlight the need for better-equipped, community-based wildfire response

Volunteer wildfire group calls for partnership with Scottish Fire Service

The Macallan Estate team

The Macallan Estate team

Scottish Land & Estates

Macallan Estate becomes Scotland's first accredited whisky distillery estate

Dutch farmers have resumed protests against government plans to reduce agricultural nitrogen emissions

Dutch farmers have resumed protests against government plans to reduce agricultural nitrogen emissions

The Netherlands

Dutch farmers return to protests over nitrogen emission plans

The River Carron Conservation Association (RCCA) has been running its restoration programme since the 1990s

The River Carron Conservation Association (RCCA) has been running its restoration programme since the 1990s

Genetic research finds evidence to save salmon after 30-year conservation effort

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order expanding federal support for regenerative agriculture while ordering further review of glyphosate's health impacts

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order expanding federal support for regenerative agriculture while ordering further review of glyphosate's health impacts

Trump promotes regenerative farming after Supreme Court glyphosate ruling setback

(L to R) Vera Silva and Alfie Vaughan of Root Games, Gaynor McKenzie, curator of the Commonwealth Potato Collection, and Dr Andrew Reid, lecturer in Games Production at Abertay University

(L to R) Vera Silva and Alfie Vaughan of Root Games, Gaynor McKenzie, curator of the Commonwealth Potato Collection, and Dr Andrew Reid, lecturer in Games Production at Abertay University

Gaming education

Partnership brings potato history to life in new educational game

Forestry and Land Scotland has recorded its highest-ever black grouse lek count in the Angus Glens

Forestry and Land Scotland has recorded its highest-ever black grouse lek count in the Angus Glens

Forestry and Land Scotland

Black grouse numbers jump across Angus Glens after habitat restoration

New trees being planted as part of ongoing habitat and landscape improvement work at the farm

New trees being planted as part of ongoing habitat and landscape improvement work at the farm

Home Farm Nacton joins LEAF demonstration farm network

Gillian Martin, cabinet secretary for climate action and rural affairs

Gillian Martin, cabinet secretary for climate action and rural affairs

Scotland seeks common ground on farming and environment

Scotland’s invasive species threat outpaces weak controls, warns report

Scotland’s invasive species threat outpaces weak controls, warns report

Invasive species outpacing control efforts in Scotland

SRUC concluded the bird's injuries were typical of those sustained during an eagle attack

SRUC concluded the bird's injuries were typical of those sustained during an eagle attack

Scottish Borders

Gamekeepers praised after injured golden eagle found in Borders

Agricultural organisations have agreed to establish a Scottish Agri Data Partnership

Agricultural organisations have agreed to establish a Scottish Agri Data Partnership

Scottish farmers push for industry-led data partnership initiative

IFA director general Alzbeta Klein and deputy director general Patrick Heffer present the award to Peregrine Hydrogen CEO and Co-founder Friðrik Lárusson (centre)

IFA director general Alzbeta Klein and deputy director general Patrick Heffer present the award to Peregrine Hydrogen CEO and Co-founder Friðrik Lárusson (centre)

Peregrine Hydrogen claims inaugural global fertiliser innovation prize

Gillian Martin reiterated the Scottish Government's commitment to maintaining livestock numbers while supporting farmers to reduce emissions

Gillian Martin reiterated the Scottish Government's commitment to maintaining livestock numbers while supporting farmers to reduce emissions

Emissions decline

Scottish farm emissions fall as livestock numbers decline

Researchers examining the Beech trees at Ellisland, thought to have been planted by Robert Burns

Researchers examining the Beech trees at Ellisland, thought to have been planted by Robert Burns

Research suggests Robert Burns may have planted beech trees at historic farm

The survey suggests well-managed farmland can provide an important winter refuge for birds

The survey suggests well-managed farmland can provide an important winter refuge for birds

Supplementary feeding linked to stronger farmland bird numbers

More than 51,000kg of CO2e emissions were saved at the 2026 Great British Farm Fest after organisers used HVO instead of diesel

More than 51,000kg of CO2e emissions were saved at the 2026 Great British Farm Fest after organisers used HVO instead of diesel

Farm Fest saves 51,000kg emissions using HVO fuel

New figures show Scotland driving the UK’s organic expansion, yet most growth is in rough grazing

New figures show Scotland driving the UK’s organic expansion, yet most growth is in rough grazing

Organic renaissance?

Why Scotland leads UK organic expansion yet doubts remain

The Climate Change Committee says British farming is already being hit by extreme heat, flooding and drought, and must rapidly adapt crops and practices to stay viable

The Climate Change Committee says British farming is already being hit by extreme heat, flooding and drought, and must rapidly adapt crops and practices to stay viable

Climate warning

Climate report warns British farming faces escalating weather risks

A new five‑year deer strategy brings together national park, forestry, water and conservation bodies to tackle rising deer impacts on the Lake District

A new five‑year deer strategy brings together national park, forestry, water and conservation bodies to tackle rising deer impacts on the Lake District

Deer management

Lake District unveils five‑year plan for sustainable deer management

Peatland landscape near Loch Katrine

Peatland landscape near Loch Katrine

Consultation launched on first-ever industry standard for Scotland’s peatlands

Sheep farmers warn white-tailed eagles could threaten lambs

Sheep farmers warn white-tailed eagles could threaten lambs

Farmers’ fears

National Sheep Association (NSA)

Sheep farmers warn white-tailed eagles could threaten lambs

An NFU-led survey of farmers in Northern England shows 85 per cent oppose reintroducing white-tailed eagles, citing concerns over livestock welfare and upland farming

An NFU-led survey of farmers in Northern England shows 85 per cent oppose reintroducing white-tailed eagles, citing concerns over livestock welfare and upland farming

Farmers across North of England oppose return of white-tailed eagles, survey finds

The Sustainable Agriculture Tent, jointly run by the Scottish Agroecology Partnership and Smallholding Scotland, will host talks, workshops and demos

The Sustainable Agriculture Tent, jointly run by the Scottish Agroecology Partnership and Smallholding Scotland, will host talks, workshops and demos

Landworkers' Alliance

New RHS tent to put sustainable Scottish farming in the spotlight