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Moorlands Past & Present | Ownership | Legislation & Government | Global Importance | Multi-Purpose Moorlands
Ownership
The physical nature and the history of Scotland has meant that ownership and management of moorland has always been in large units. In 1873 only 118 people owned half of Scotland, but by 1999, with the break up of many of the large old estates, that had been diluted fivefold so that half of Scotland is now owned by an estimated 608 people or organisations.
The “private sector” in the form of individuals, companies and trusts still own some 90% of the moorland area, ranging from big estates to small hill farms. The patterns of wealthy enthusiasts from all over the world investing external funds in Scotland's moorlands , selling up after a few generations and making room for new wealthy enthusiasts, has changed little. It has given the upland economy deep strength and stability, a variety of stewardship and a cosmopolitan human interest that cannot be found in other remote places. The appetite for ownership of moors remains undimmed and has been strengthened by a new interest in alternative management styles from both individuals and well funded charities.
The main organisations representing the private sector landowners are :
- Scottish Rural Property and Business Assocation
- Scottish Estate Business Group
- National Farmers Union Scotland
- Scottish Crofting Foundation
The State, mainly forestry Commission and SEERAD, is Scotland’s largest landowner overall, while Scottish Natural Heritage and the Ministry of Defence also own large areas.National Trust for Scotland is now is the third largest Scottish landowner, including traditional moorland estates such as Mar Lodge. In the past few decades more estates have been bought up by other charities, such as RSPB and John Muir Trust . Crofting associations and other community groups have become the most recent owners exercising their right to buy under the Land Reform Act 2003
In practice, management of the moorland is either carried out directly by employees, “in –hand”, or devolved to agricultural or sporting tenants. The estimated 3 million hectares of moorland broadly equates to the area classified as 'rough grazing' in the Scottish Agricultural Census 2007 (3.4 million ha) which comprises of 22,196 agricultural holdings, or farming businesses.
Research by the University of Strathclyde estimated that there were 485 active grouse moors in Scotland in 1991 covering 1.86 million hectares.
There is a thorough analysis of land ownership in Scotland, please see - Cairngorms National Park Moorland Project
Different owners and tenants will have different key objectives, all management is ultimately governed by the same framework of legislation to ensure that precious features and wildlife are looked after.