Scottish landowners and tourism stakeholders will come together next month to discuss expanding country sports tourism, an industry worth over £240million per year to the Scottish economy.   The event, sponsored by Bell Ingram, will be held at Finzean, Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire on Tuesday 15 May.  The event begins at 9.30am, opening with registration and refreshments, and will finish at around 3.00pm following an optional site visit. To register attendance please contact Joyce Karch at Scottish Land & Estates on 0131 653 5400.

With its fascinating historical features, enchanting scenery and strong links to the end of the last major ice age, i Parkwood on the Gower is a popular tourist location. Forestry Commission Wales has stepped in to ensure a smoother passage into this environmental jewel after the Welsh Government woodland became the victim of its own alluring beauty. The road allowing access to the site of special scientific interest (SSSI) was showing signs of serious wear and tear, with badly pot-holed areas testifying to Parkwood’s popularity.

Commenting on the announcement on CAP Reform by EU Farm Minister, Dacian Ciolos, Andrew Arnott, a partner of  Saffery Champness Landed Estates & Rural Business Group says: “There was not much in the announcement that had not already been leaked. However, it confirms the intention to distribute subsidies more evenly by way of a cap on payments to farmers at 300,000 euros (£261,240) per year.  A progressive levy, to be applied on all payments exceeding 150,000 euros (£130,620), was also announced as a proposal. Assuming that the proposals will be approved by both the EU parliament and all member states, this will be bad news for many large arable farmers and some medium scale farming businesses, including those in the uplands.It remains to be seen whether the ‘sustainable and inclusive growth’ for European agriculture can really be achieved through these proposals.  I think they could, as they stand, have the opposite effect, acting as a disincentive to invest for farm businesses that are highly-mechanised with lower staffing levels”.