iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Scottish Land Commission @scottishlandcom.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Sometimes it's easier to write things down than pick up the phone. Our new online enquiry form for the Tenant Farming Helpline lets you get in touch whenever it suits you. Share the details of your query and we'll get back to you. Find out more: buff.ly/heDd9Np

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Scottish Land Commission @scottishlandcom.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Scotland’s rural land market is becoming more cautious and selective, according to our new Rural Land Market Report 2026, produced with SRUC. After years of rapid growth, activity slowed across most sectors with buyers taking more time and looking more closely at long-term returns. buff.ly/ipqieB4

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Scottish Land Commission @scottishlandcom.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Come along and join the conversation at the Royal Highland Show. We’ll be discussing Scotland’s rural land market, transparency and why better land information matters for communities, people and the environment. 📍 SRUC Pavilion 📅 19 June 🕟 4.30–5.30pm 🎟️ buff.ly/LbIMlA2

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Scottish Land Commission @scottishlandcom.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

New Rural Land Market Data Report 2025 shows Scotland’s rural land market continued to cooled in 2024: 🌲 Forestry prices down to £10,054/ha - a drop of 34% from 2023 🏘️ Only 6 large-scale estate sales - a 5 year low 🚜Farmland prices rose slightly to an average of £16,502/ha buff.ly/0AC0lVI

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Scottish Land Commission @scottishlandcom.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Thank you to everyone who took part in our ScotLand Futures survey. More than 1,200 people shared their views, and 96% told us Scotland still needs further action on land reform 👇 buff.ly/tSiMkVO

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Scottish Land Commission @scottishlandcom.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

A valuable opportunity for researchers to dig into what’s driving the shift from largescale to smaller community acquisitions and how we remove barriers to communities taking ownership of land at scale. If you work on land reform, rural development or community wealth building, take a look 👇

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Scottish Land Commission @scottishlandcom.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

📌 Scotland takes important step towards fairer use and ownership of land Scottish Land Commission statement on the passing of the Land Reform Bill

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Scottish Land Commission @scottishlandcom.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Closing date approaching 📅 Applications for our Research Officer role close on Wednesday 21. If you are passionate about research and policymaking and want to contribute to land reform in Scotland this is an exciting opportunity. Full job description and details 👉 buff.ly/McYbcLg

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

📢 Job Opportunity at @scottishlandcom.bsky.social 📢 Probably the most exciting Research Job going in Scotland at the moment! Please share with networks and anyone you know who might be interested - if you are interested, please also feel free to ask me about the role!

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Great to see @scottishlandcom.bsky.social land markets reporting setting the context for today’s Public Landowners Conference!

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Delighted to welcome @caitlinhafferty.bsky.social to chat to @scottishlandcom.bsky.social colleagues this morning about her work and recent paper. Thoroughly interesting discussion, and an opportunity to consider our approach to land governance. Further thoughts 👇 www.linkedin.com/posts/james-...

linkedin.com

Diverse and Collaborative Governance – A Guide | James MacKessack-Leitch

Delighted to welcome Caitlin Hafferty to chat to colleagues at the Scottish Land Commission this morning about her work and recently published paper "Unpacking…

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Great to see our @scottishlandcom.bsky.social Governance Guide published! Full of inspiring and often untold stories from across Scotland and beyond that show how land can deliver for people and prosperity in innovative ways, this is also a call to action, and will be a regularly updated resource!

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Scottish Land Commission @scottishlandcom.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

📢 New @clanscot.bsky.social Website Launched! This is a new hub for researchers, policymakers & community landowners to share knowledge & collaborate, and features: 🔎 Free research library 🤝 Expert connections 📖 Open access resources Visit the website 👉 clan.scot

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

More updates to the starter pack! Amongst the new faces is @clanscot.bsky.social - about to celebrate a 3rd birthday in style - the leading network for academics (or indeed anyone!) with an interest in the latest developments in Scottish community land ownership research!

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Ramblers Scotland @ramblersscotland.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

We welcome the Scottish Land Commission's calls for the new #LandReform Bill to require many more estates to create Land Management Plans.🗺️ We hope Ministers take the recommendation seriously. It'd encourage more land managers to proactively support access, inc to greenspace on people's doorsteps.⤵️

ramblers.org.uk

Targeting improvements to the latest Land Reform Bill

Ramblers Scotland wants targeted changes to the latest Land Reform Bill so that that more communities can benefit from our world-class access rights.

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Really pleased to see our advice on Part 1 of the Land Reform Bill published this morning! This has been in the works for a wee while and contains a wide mix of advice from technical tweaks, to significant simplifications, to bolder public sector leadership.

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Scottish Land Commission @scottishlandcom.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the impactful work we’ve done this year that has helped shape Scotland’s land reform journey. Swipe to explore some of the highlights 👀 Looking ahead, we remain focused on making more of Scotland's land—stay tuned!

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

A few more updates for the new year! Now joined by my irrepressible SLC colleague @kgrantslc.bsky.social and newly minted Land Commissioner @calummacleod.bsky.social

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

The @scottishlandcom.bsky.social Rural Land Market Data Report is now out! 👇 Key point is forestry land sales significantly down - farmland and estates steady. Reinforces earlier findings around challenges in the timber sector and a reality check on carbon speculation. #LandReform #Maps

Heatmap showing distribution of number of rural land sales 2020-2023 in Scotland

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Kathie Pollard @kplanning.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Excited to be working on this!

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Beth Landon @bethlandon.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

This pack is a super useful springboard onto bluesky thanks so much @jamesmackl.bsky.social

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

A few more interesting perspectives added to the pack!

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Open letter to the Treasury written by Jeremy Moody on behalf of Scotland’s Tenant Farming Advisory Forum (TFAF). The letter concerns the impact of changes to APR and BPR on the inheritance of Scottish agricultural tenancies. www.caav.org.uk/budget-octob...

caav.org.uk

Budget - October 2024 - Scottish Tenancies - TFAF Letter 22 11 24 - The Central Association for Agricultural Valuers

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Scottish Land Commission @scottishlandcom.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

In the latest Tenant Farming blog Peter MacDougall explains why there is no better time than now to put a family tenancy in order 🚜 www.landcommission.gov.scot/news-events/...

Collie sits in the back of a Toyota pickup looking at grazing sheep

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

"If the government wished to give current farm owners the same opportunity to avoid inheritance tax as owners of other assets, it could, for example, make lifetime gifts of agricultural property made before a certain future date inheritance tax free, regardless of the timing of the death."

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

An always interesting bunch of perspectives here!!

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Reposted by James MacKessack-Leitch

Scottish Land Commission @scottishlandcom.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

🗣 “Scotland has a unique opportunity to use CWB legislation for the benefit of our people and places...” In our latest guest blog, Naomi Mason shares how natural capital projects can empower communities to co-create and benefit locally. Read more on our website ⬇️

Aerial view of North Berwick Suburbs. Credit Valentine Kulikov, Pexels

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

I’ve never understood why leasehold remains in England and Wales - Scotland abolished the remnants of feudal tenure ~20 years ago and hasn’t looked back… Coincidentally, leasehold abolition was one of my top recommendations to @guyshrubsole.bsky.social in our discussion earlier this week!

bbc.co.uk

Leaseholders tell BBC of fight with major freeholder Assethold

A BBC News investigation reveals multiple complaints about charges imposed by a major freeholder.

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Last week I shared reflections on IHT/APR changes and potential unintended consequences - one being increased use of tax planning and legal avoidance mechanisms Interesting to see UKG Ministers in the news over the last day advocating farmers make use of such - an odd approach to revenue raising?

linkedin.com

Reflections: Inheritance Tax / Agricultural Property Relief changes – unintended consequences?

While there has been much anger and fear following the changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) Agricultural Property Relief brought in by the recent UK budget – and there are many better qualified than I to ...

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James MacKessack-Leitch @jamesmackl.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Can’t help noticing the same impetus driving people here is also what drives land reform Dissatisfaction with the way power and control is centralised, unregulated, and exercised - leading to a decentralised, collaborative, community centric approach Where land reform leads will tech follow…?

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