Over the last year, we have engaged with MSP's, Ministers and government departments to ensure that any new legislation that affects Scotland’s rural communities gets the appropriate attention, and that the interests of our members are properly represented in these areas.

In particular, we advised on new legislation relating to grouse shooting, heather burning, trapping of pest species, deer management, land reform, residential outdoor education for school pupils, firearms and many more. We cannot be as effective as we are in our campaigning work without the continued engagement with our members and supporters.

Hunting

Thursday 3 October 2024 marked the one-year anniversary of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act enactment. The Scottish Countryside Alliance worked with members to ensure that the licensing scheme administered by NatureScot, was fit for purpose and adhered to the parameters contained within the legislation, as passed.

NatureScot are undertaking their first review of the guidance that accompanies this legislation, and it is understood that this reviewed guidance will be published in early 2025. It is our aim that NatureScot continue to consider the evidence we present, and that of the experienced operators working on the ground, enabling them to implement positive changes that create a fluid working relationship in the future.

Shooting

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 21 March and became an Act on 30 April 2024. The Scottish Countryside Alliance was involved through all stages as the Bill progressed through parliament to try and ensure the proposed licensing schemes would be workable and fit for purpose.

The Act introduced a new licensing scheme, valid for five years, for taking red grouse by any means, along with a Code of Practice for managing that land; and strictly regulates the use of muirburn, the controlled burning of vegetation on peatland. The Act also included legislation that bans the practice of snaring. This ban came into effect on the 25 November 2024 in Scotland.

The NatureScot licensing scheme for taking red grouse has been in place since 15 July 2024, and it is expected that the Muirburn scheme will be rolled out before the start of the 2025 muirburn season. The wildlife trapping licence will be introduced in early 2025. Training is already underway, and details of the training bodies can be found on the NatureScot website. The Scottish Countryside Alliance was part of the small team that developed this course.

We also continue our work on the Firearms Licensing and Explosives Group to seek changes in legislation to remove moderators from firearm certificates and to support the justification for 10-year licences. The non-toxic ammunition transition also remains under our scrutiny.

Deer Management in Scotland

The Scottish Countryside Alliance have been invited to collaborate on a new Ministerial Forum that will look at our wildlife in Scotland and how we manage it in future. Deer will be a focus for us, given the proposed implementation of the intrusive Deer Management and Nature Restoration Orders (DMNRO’s) that the Scottish Government wish to enforce.

We recently co-hosted a Deer Management Parliamentary Reception, which was well attended by MSPs from the SNP, Labour and the Conservatives. Representatives from the government and NatureScot were also in attendance.

The Scottish Countryside Alliance will spearhead a campaign to ensure that The Scottish Government helps to create a market for venison. The consumption of venison should be normalised, and more support and funding is needed for professional and recreational stalking.

Farming

The 28 November 2024 saw hundreds of farmers, land managers and stakeholder organisations descend on the Scottish Parliament asking the Scottish Government for more clarity on future agriculture funding ahead of the budget announcement on 4 December. Our team and many of our members attended the rally to show our support for Scottish farming. We spoke to a number of Conservative and SNP MSPs attending the rally to reiterate our calls for adequate funding for the rural sector.

Rural Communities

Land Reform Bill

During 2024, we fed into land reform consultations and took part in an evidence session for the bill. We made clear our position that we fully support community engagement under the bill but whatever changes made should not be to the detriment of the rural sector when selling or lotting land for sale. We do not want this bill to create unnecessary barriers when forming legislation. The Scottish Government understands that we are ready to fully engage throughout the passage of this bill.

Agricultural and Rural Communities Act

This Act provides a framework for Scottish Ministers to support agriculture, rural communities and the rural economy, including through the facilitation of on-farm nature restoration, climate mitigation and adaptation. Venison and game meat (farmed and wild) businesses have been recognised in the Act as food producers, thus allowing these businesses to access government funding and grants. This, in turn, will promote these food products to a broader consumer audience.

Wood-burning Stoves

The New Build Heat Standard was introduced on 1 April 2024, effectively banning the installation of wood-burning stoves in new build homes and conversions. We spoke to Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie, MSP, about the concerns of rural residents and raised our view that the proposed legislation surrounding wood burning stoves needed to be reconsidered.  In November 2024, the Scottish Government reversed their decision to ban wood-burning stoves. An amendment to regulations now permits the installation of any type of secondary heating systems from 1 January 2025.

Heat in Buildings Bill

The proposed bill, as introduced, will provide for a new Heat in Buildings standard. The standard consists of two broad types of changes: Minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES): achieved primarily by improving the insultation of a property, and clean heating systems: achieved by installing a system such as a heat pump, instead of a gas or oil boiler.

The Scottish Government intend to pass the Heat in Buildings Bill by the end of this term of the Scottish Parliament (in May 2026). We will engage with parliamentarians on this bill as it will have potential implications for our rural residents, due to difficulties with poorly insulated homes and the expense and necessary technical expertise required to install and manage these new clean heating systems in often remote and isolated areas of Scotland.  

Circular Economy Act – Fly-tipping

The Circular Economy Bill was passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament on 26 June 2024 and became an Act on 8 August 2024. During the consultation phase of the Bill the Scottish Countryside Alliance responded to questions on household waste, fly-tipping, littering from vehicles, and enforcement powers in respect of certain environmental offences.
Our organisation has been actively campaigning for tighter controls on fly tipping and littering from vehicles, which have a detrimental impact on local communities.

Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

The Scottish Countryside Alliance recently voiced its support via the consultation on the Members Bill, introduced by Liz Smith, MSP. The Scottish Government remain neutral concerning passage of the bill through parliament; however, they have expressed concern over the financial costs of imposing this legislation on education authorities. This bill is currently at Stage 1 and this stage is expected to be completed by the end of March 2025.