Habitat and Landscape Management
Enhanced Greening for Corn Buntings
Since 2015, farmers in Scotland have had to put a proportion of their arable land into Ecological Focus Areas (or EFAs) as part of the greening requirements of the Basic Payment Scheme. In 2026 there was a significant change to the EFA rules, referred to as enhanced greening, which introduced requirements to establish specific sward…
The Value of Pollinators for High Yielding Bean Crops
With the price of barley plummeting, growers are looking for alternative crops to sow in spring. Field beans are becoming an increasingly strong contender. They act as a break crop, provide an excellent source of plant-based protein and fix nitrogen reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers – benefiting your farm’s carbon footprint. But beans have…
Farm Ponds and Wetlands: Practical Benefits for Land, Water and Wildlife
Farm ponds and wetlands can offer practical benefits for farmers and crofters, supporting biodiversity while improving how water is managed on the farm. Well-designed and maintained ponds and wetlands can provide valuable habitats for wildlife, improve water quality by trapping sediments and nutrients, and help slow water movement across the landscape during periods of heavy…
Getting Ready for Muirburn Licensing
In 2026, muirburn legislation changed in 3 important ways: Everyone will need a licence to undertake muirburn. To obtain a licence everyone taking part in muirburn will need to undertake online and practical training. The muirburn season dates have changed to 15th September – 31st March. The basis on which muirburn is permitted has changed. The graphic below shows the 5 purposes that it…
Managing the Impacts of Beavers – A Practical Guide for Farmers and Land Managers
Beavers are well established in several river catchments in Scotland and are likely to continue to spread through natural dispersal and translocation. Conflicts with land management are most likely where watercourses adjoin high quality agricultural land on floodplains and include damage to riverbanks and flood defences through burrowing, flooding due to dam-building and damage to…
Managing Corncrake Cover – Get Advice on your Smartphone
In Scotland, particularly in the islands and some mainland areas, corncrakes are an iconic species. Their distinctive “crex-crex” call is woven into the cultural history of crofting and traditional farming landscapes. If you’d like support with helping corncrake, you can request a free virtual consultation with a corncrake advisor through the Corncrake Cover Advice service….
River Catchment Management at Landscape-Scale
Biodiversity conservation is often more effective when implemented across larger areas than a single farm. Collaboration within farmer clusters and with other stakeholders enables farmers to implement measures to enhance biodiversity at a landscape-scale. It can also help foster a sense of community and shared responsibility for the environment. This is particularly the case within…
Muirburn Licence Scheme Changes
It has recently been confirmed that the implementation of the licence scheme will be delayed until Autumn 2026. It was previously expected that by 1st January 2026, it would be a requirement to have a licence to carry out muirburn with the online application process launching on the NatureScot website. The reason behind this change…
Conserving the Corn Bunting in Scotland
Biodiversity conservation is often more effective when implemented across larger areas than a single farm. Collaboration within farmer clusters and with other stakeholders enables farmers to implement measures to enhance biodiversity at a landscape-scale. It can also help foster a sense of community and shared responsibility for the environment. A multi-year period of partnership working…
Valuing Scotland’s Game Bird Sector – The Pheasant
The pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is not a native species to Scotland or the UK, but it has become a well-established part of the landscape, especially due to its role in driven game shooting. The species belongs to the Phasianidae family (related to partridges, quails, and junglefowl) and is a ground-nesting, omnivorous bird that are native…