SCOTTISH actor David Hayman and journalist and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch are set to co-host a major conference on land reform in Scotland next month.
The pair will lead the the day as REVIVE’s national conference is held in Perth, encouraging delegates to discuss issues around land reform and land ownership with the launch of a campaign titled "The Big Land Question".
The event will take place at a time of increasing public demand for more ambitious land reform policies and features a panel including Andy Wightman, author, land reform campaigner and former MSP, Kevin Cumming, director of Rewilding Britain, Donna Smith, chief executive of the Scottish Crofting Federation, and Michael Russell, chair of the Scottish Land Commission.
Participating political figures include Rhoda Grant MSP (Scottish Labour) and Arianne Burgess MSP (Scottish Green Party), both representing the Highlands and Islands, and a Scottish Government minister is also expected to attend
The question at the core of the conference is the fact that 433 individuals control half of Scotland’s private land, an imbalance that has far-reaching consequences for local communities, wildlife and the environment.
Hayman said the conference has the potential to "drive change" and he was "proud to be part of it".
He added: “For too long, Scotland’s land has been in the hands of the few. The Big Land Question is about bringing people together – from activists and policymakers to those directly impacted – to ask the tough questions about what land reform means in practice. This is an important conference with a provocative and inspiring programme. Ultimately, it’s about fairness and how we ensure that Scotland's land benefits the many.
“Access to land and decisions about how it’s used affect so many aspects of Scottish life, from housing and the economy to recreation and wellbeing. The highly concentrated nature of Scotland’s land ownership is a roadblock to unlocking the potential prosperity of our nation’s natural resources. We need bold, innovative solutions and more ambition in our policy approach, and this conference is where those conversations will happen."
Max Wiszniewski, campaign manager for the REVIVE coalition, said: "This conference comes at a pivotal moment where there is growing recognition that the current patterns of land ownership are holding back Scotland. Our polling data demonstrates strong public support for policies that would limit the amount of land any one person or business can own, increase community ownership, and ensure that land use aligns with climate and biodiversity goals.
“The Big Land Question conference will provide a platform for serious discussion on how to address these demands, and it will launch a campaign of independent research with the aim of enhancing and informing policy development to create a more democratic, fair, and sustainable vision for Scotland’s land.”
Polling carried out for the REVIVE coalition and Community Land Scotland by the Diffley Partnership in May this year showed that a clear majority of Scots want land reform policies to go much further than the land reform bill currently proposed by the Scottish Government.
The new year-long programme of research will build on those initial findings, using a combination of surveys and moderated stakeholder roundtables to provide rich data and insights that will be shared with political parties and policy makers.
The Big Land Question Conference takes place on Sunday, November 10 at Perth Concert Hall. Tickets cost £8 (£5 concession) and are available from the venue or online.
