Scotland's communities are diverse and our land ownership should be too. However, many black & minority ethnic communities in Scotland who want to buy land or take over buildings have been unable to do so. Our latest research highlights the barriers and what needs to change. 👉 tinyurl.com/e8b696mc

A historic monument in the Isle of Lewis has been named as a finalist in a prestigious UK-wide public sculpture award 👇

Are you a community organisation in Scotland working to address local housing needs? Join the Community Led Housing Alliance (free) and help campaign for greater support in the run up to the 2026 Scottish election. @communitylandsc.bsky.social @dtascotland.bsky.social @nationwidefdtn.bsky.social

Community ownership should be for all. However, many urban communities face barriers that hold them back. We are sharing research about the experiences of under-resourced urban communities and the specific challenges they encounter on their paths to ownership. 👉Read more here: tinyurl.com/mtx3thkv

📣 Communities - have you used, or tried to use, Community Right to Buy? We want to hear your experiences to help shape our response to a Scottish Government review. Join us at our upcoming consultation event to share your opinions - your insight is invaluable! Register 👉 tinyurl.com/4266cfuf

Bookings are now open for our online AGM at 13:00 on the 8th October. It will be followed by a panel discussion looking at the past and future of the Scottish Land Fund. All welcome! www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/event/commun...

The @inspiringscotland.bsky.social Outdoor Community Play Incubator Programme is now open! Grants up to £5,000 + support for small rural/remote groups to deliver free, child-led outdoor play. Applications close noon, 26 Sept 2025. inspiringscotland.org.uk/fund/thrive-...

If you believe in the importance of community-led biodiversity, then consider supporting Kinlochard's crowdfunder www.heraldscotland.com/news/2545879...

Just over a week to go! Communities still have time to submit events for Community Land Festival 2025 – but don’t wait too long. Submissions close on Monday 22 September. There are a few bursaries available to help groups bring their ideas to life. www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/events/be-pa...

Insects are the building blocks of biodiversity 🐛🦋🐜🐝 Some hopeful results from ongoing community -led insect surveying on the reserve! ✅ 302 moth species now recorded - 23% of Scotlands 1300 species! ✅ 13 of 26 Scottish Dragonfly species on our new ponds 💧 ✅ 19 Butterfly species recorded!

Scotland’s world-class outdoor access rights began with Holyrood’s first #LandReform Bill. But land reform is an ongoing journey, and it’s time to pick up the pace, so that everyone benefits. 🗺️ We’ve joined with diverse partners to push for deeper, bolder changes during the next Parliament. ⬇️

Why land, community and not just the "me" but the "we" matter - here's the text of my Thought for the Day on BBC Radio Scotland. And if you want to share your thoughts, please do so with the Scottish Land Commission's ScotLand Futures by Saturday, at: www.landcommission.gov.scot/scotland-fut...

Prompted by this, we have also published a preliminary policy position statement on the state of the forestry sector, highlighting our concerns and what could change for the future: www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/resources/preliminary-position-on-the-industrial-forestry-sector-in-scotland/

Following the £145 million sale of Griffin Forestry Estate to Gresham House, we have published a statement on the sale and it's wider implications: www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/our-statemen...

With the acquisition on 7 Aug of the French forestry portfolio, Woodland Invest, Gresham House partnerships now become the second largest owner of privately-owned rural land in Scotland with more land than Buccleuch Estates. andywightman.scot/2025/08/gres...

Given the massive public benefit of community-owned energy projects it's absolutely dispiriting to learn that they are being messed about and deprioritisied in favour of large corporate players in the Hebrides. Absolutely the wrong policy. www.welovestornoway.com/index.php/ar...

The Hebridean Wind Rush - Published this week as part of our work with @ScottishBeacon for the #powershift project. @shetnews.co.uk @luuksengers.com @bylines.scot @severincarrell.bsky.social @tcij.org @lochsidepress.bsky.social

This is an astronomical amount of money for a Highland estate. We need greater oversight of who is buying land in Scotland and how they will be contributing to communities, rather than just boosting profits for distant shareholders www.scotsman.com/news/environ...

On the crisis of onshore renewables in Scotland open.substack.com/pub/fiftysix...

Who should benefit from Scotland's wind power - private companies or local communities? Why should communities find themselves in a David & Goliath battle with large companies for interconnector space despite jumping through all the required hoops? www.fiosnews.co.uk/2025/08/19/t...

We held a sunny summer BBQ at Cronksbank to thank our amazing Tarras Valley volunteers! 🌞 Since March they’ve given 350+ hours, planting trees, tackling invasives, monitoring wildlife & more. We couldn’t do it without you. Huge thank you! 🌿💚 #TarrasValleyNatureReserve

Booking now live! You can now book your place at our upcoming ScotLand Futures public meetings in Stornoway and Aberdeen! We’ll be talking about land, community, and what matters most to your local area and we’d love to see you there. 🗓️ Stornoway – 8 Oct 🗓️ Aberdeen – 29 Oct 🎟️ buff.ly/629UMo8

🔴 Church of Scotland sale row intensifies with communities only given weeks to bid. Katharine Hay story www.scotsman.com/hays-way/chu...

A unique leadership role on Mull and Iona: Mull and Iona Community Trust is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to guide projects that support local people, boost the economy, and protect the islands’ environment.

There’s still time to be part of Community Land Festival 2025 (17 October–2 November), but if your community is thinking about hosting an event, now’s the time to act! www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/events/be-pa...

Gresham House amass further landholdings in Scotland. The impact of this kind of investment forestry ownership on the Scottish land market and economy needs to be properly understood. We have published research which begins to dig into these issues: www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/impact-of-th...

The 5,600 hectare Griffin Forestry Estate in Perthshire has been sold to Gresham House FF VI LLP for £145 million. With mature forestry and 68 wind turbines, it is probably the most expensive rural estate to have been sold in modern times. andywightman.scot/2025/08/grif...

We're pleased to take part in the Roots to Regeneration grazing workshop with Caroline Grindrod and @herdyshepherd.bsky.social in the North Lakes. The 3 days looked at regenerative grazing practices, reducing wormers and antibiotics, soil health, all to help boost profitability and nature.

What would it mean to complete Scotland’s land reform journey? In Part 1 of our ScotLand Futures blog series, 4 contributors share bold ideas & reflections on land, power & the public interest: Deborah Long, Dee Ward, John Watt & Morag Paterson Read: www.landcommission.gov.scot/news-events/...

We welcome this walk as a great opportunity to raise awareness of the archaic and deeply unjust issues around land ownership in Scotland. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2533690...

Eigg doesn’t keep its independence to itself. To paraphrase what the iconic Hebridean island’s younger generation say: “Our parents’ generation (1990s) brought about Eigg’s freedom from landlordism. Our generation’s task is to share that freedom back into the wider world.”

We were delighted to welcome this year’s Front Three, Cornet Patterson and his right- and left-hand men, Bailey and Chris! We presented Cornet Patterson with a small gift and wished them all the best for Friday. Hope everyone has a wonderful Common Riding! Safe Oot, Safe In! 🐎💙 #CommonRiding2025

What the Scottish Government minister says here about community land (and other asset) trusts using peer-to-peer learning to build confidence & competence is important, and effective now that +500 land trusts control nearly 3% of Scotland. May England achieve likewise. @communitylandsc.bsky.social

Another day, another endangered historic Scottish story, but hopefully one this time that's writing a happier next chapter! Our huge congratulations to the Borders community around Bedrule Church and the Clan Turnbull on their impressive fundraising activities 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I have blogged, about a consultation on Scotland's community rights to buy. #landreform basedrones.wordpress.com/2025/07/14/c...

Amazing to see the land justice movement in Scotland continue to grow. @landworkersuk.bsky.social are doing great work showing an alternative to our outdated landownership patterns which concentrate wealth and power in the hands of so few www.thenational.scot/news/2530749...

Our travels took us to Tonypandy in Wales today where we visited the wonderful Cambrian Village Trust. What a day to visit their community hydro, cafe and garden. Thanks to @coalfieldsregen.bsky.social for taking us 😊

The Scottish Government's Community Right to Buy review is live!! Members, we will be sending out a briefing on the review www.gov.scot/news/communi...

Great to see this research published by UHI. It shows the opportunities for nature restoration whilst also pausing for thought on how biodiversity can be measured. Whether people or planet actually benefit needs to be the first assessment www.heraldscotland.com/news/2528963...

AFFORDABLE #HOUSING Scotland’s community housing, land & development bodies have launched a new Community Led Housing Alliance to help tackle the national housing crisis and enable communities everywhere to thrive. @communitylandsc.bsky.social ‪@nationwidefdtn.bsky.social‬ @cdalglish.bsky.social

@katharinehay.bsky.social www.scotsman.com/hays-way/wor...

Brilliant to see work about to begin on the community owned Ionad Thròndairnis / Trotternish Centre in Staffin, which will be a focus for Gaelic language and culture. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2528514...

We’re at the @clesthinkdo.bsky.social Community Wealth Building Summit in Manchester today. Good to see a strong Scottish contingent and hear from other countries

We are delighted to see the first phase of Tarras Valley signage going on site this week! The signage has been designed by Studio Walden, funded by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) and being installed by Simon Richardson Contracting fencing team as part of our ‘Welcome to Tarras Valley’ project.

We are recruiting. We are currently seeking a Community Funds Advisor to support the team delivering a portfolio of work in south-west Scotland for a 12 month fixed term contract. ℹ️Find out more about the role here: tinyurl.com/yc2uku8z