Michael Russell

Global best practice could help Scotland unlock fairer, greener land taxation, report finds A new report from the Scottish Land Commission shows how lessons from around the world could help Scotland modernise the way it values land and property, strengthening the foundation for fairer taxation to support sustainable public finances, and action on climate change.

A new report from the Scottish Land Commission shows how lessons from around the world could help Scotland modernise the way it values land and property, strengthening the foundation for fairer taxation to support sustainable public finances, and action on climate change.

£12 million fundraising appeal bid to rescue Robert Burns’s farm

An ambitious £12 million appeal is seeking to rescue Robert Burns’s Ellisland Farm and restore the birthplace of Auld Lang Syne

Michael Russell: There is overwhelming support for more land reform A NEW national survey has found that 96 of people say Scotland needs more land reform ...

Interesting feedback from the @scottishlandcom.bsky.social “Scotland Futures” consultation www.thenational.scot/politics/256...

Scotland Futures: Future Voices", a publication just out yesterday from the Scottish Land Commission www.landcommission.gov.scot/downloads/69...

See also the sister document "What we Heard": www.landcommission.gov.scot/downloads/69...

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

Mull's 1940s romantic comedy that brought Gaelic to cinema I Know Where I'm Going was made 80 years ago but still has an impact today.

“I know where I’m going “ is a great film but good to see Werner Kissling’s use of Gaelic in his 1935 documentary also acknowledged www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Peat Bog Restoration - Blog of photographer Chris Puddephatt - Chris Puddephatt Photos of North West Scotland - Peat Bog Restoration Blog of photographer Chris Puddephatt

#PeatlandRestoration is not the most photogenic of subjects, but this blog from our partner #AssyntFoundation explains why it's important & what those diggers are doing on the heather. 👉 buff.ly/0yI3qFP Thanks PeatlandACTION. Great to see more carbon storing work happening in Assynt.

Sorry, no

MSPs back Land Reform Bill after debating more than 350 amendments MSPs have backed a bill that is described as being the “most radical land reform legislation in the history of devolution”

www.thenational.scot/news/2559996...

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 👇

📌 Scotland takes important step towards fairer use and ownership of land

Scottish Land Commission statement on the passing of the Land Reform Bill

The result of the Stage 3 vote on the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill is:

✅ Yes - 85
❌ No - 28
🟣 Abstain - 9

The Bill is therefore passed.

You can find out more online at: https://ow.ly/g4AC50XnkZw

BREAKING: MSPs have backed a bill that is described as the 'most radical land reform legislation in the history of devolution'

The Scottish Parliament passed the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill with 85 in favour, 28 against and 9 abstentions

The gentlest, firmest, weapon for us to use in the culture wars, from Goethe:

"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."

Across the Loch Episode 14 - 1st November 2025 - Across the Loch 2025 sees the 50th anniversary of the opening of Kilmodan Primary School in the Clachan of Glendaruel , in Argyll, Scotland.   This brought together two small primary schools in the ColGlen ...

www.buzzsprout.com/2292967/epis...

coralboxwebcam.co.uk/widecam.html

It's day twinty-seiven o #Scotstober 2025! The day's wird is: rammie

It will be worth reading.

At last….. www.facebook.com/share/14M1or...

Robert Crawford · Poem: ‘Enheduanna’s Song’

‘My Leddy, gaird o ivry unco airt!
Ye’ve gaithered the airts, ye’ve held them in yir haun,
Ye’ve braided the airts, smooricht thaim tae yir breist.’

From Robert Crawford’s Scots version of ‘Enheduanna’s Song’, a Sumerian hymn: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

51. Scotland’s Land Reform Journey: What’s the destination? Podcast Episode · ScotLand Matters: The Scottish Land and Estates Podcast · 13/10/2025 · 44m

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/5...

Isle of Eigg, Scotland, 1920s

Photographer: Mary Ethel Muir Donaldson

#photography
#portrait
#scotland

RNCI reaches almost 20,000 pupils in record-breaking 2024/25 school year

RNCI reached 19,893 pupils this year, teaching sustainable farming, food and countryside skills through projects, visits and events.

Congratulations to the ColGlen Shinty team in their promotion to the MOWI Premier Division - shinty’s top flight. It is a remarkable achievement for a team from such a small community . www.facebook.com/share/p/1Q3P...

Its day ten o #Scotstober 2025! The day's wird is: swick

The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and Human Rights - UK in a changing Europe Andrew McCormick explains the role ECHR membership plays in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement.

"The underlying point is that, given the history, there was nothing like sufficient trust that the UK state could, or would, provide the safeguards and protections of minority rights in Northern Ireland, and that remains the case today."

ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...

Calls to accelerate funding for community buyouts in Scotland Land reform campaigners and community landowners have called for a £25 million annual fund to maintain Scotland’s "world-beating"…

Calls to accelerate funding for community buyouts in Scotland. Scottish Land Fund (SLF), which provides funding for the scoping and purchase of community buyouts. is heavily oversubscribed with applications this year. 150 applications outstanding. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2552487...

In today’s National (Scotland), you can find a feature article celebrating thirty years of the Scottish Oral History Centre. And about their recent ‘Lost Villages’ project, recording memories of community and deindustrialisation in East Ayrshire. 🎤📼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Its day sax o #Scotstober 2025! The day's wird is: quair

Rhoda Meek: When Storm Amy hit, every network failed. The analogue lifeline must stay I CHANGED my column topic at the 11th hour this week. Why? Because, as luck would have it, only a few weeks after I wrote about how island…

Absolutely correct. Though we kept our supply this time we were without electricity , water, phone & internet during Storm Eowyn. Rural/ Island Scotland needs a more resilient & customer focused set of services, capable of meeting climate related challenges. www.thenational.scot/comment/2551...