SCOTTISH Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business membership organisation, has appointed two new Chairs covering the South West of Scotland.
Laura Warrender, from Minuntion Estate near Girvan, Ayrshire, takes up the role of Clydeside Chair. Sir David Hope-Dunbar of St Mary’s Isle Estate, Kirkcudbright, is SLE’s new Dumfries & Galloway Chair.
In their new key roles for SLE, Laura and Sir David will work with SLE Chairman Mark Tennant, SLE’s Chief Executive Sarah-Jane Laing alongside local colleagues and members to ensure that the needs of farmers, rural businesses, estates and local communities in South West Scotland are considered by government both locally and nationally.
Welcoming the appointments, Mark Tennant, Chairman of Scottish Land & Estates, said “I am delighted to have Laura and Sir David join the team at Scottish Land & Estates at such an important time as we emerge from the pandemic. Together their land management experience, passion for wildlife and the environment and their first-hand understanding of the key issues impacting rural businesses, will help us ensure that rural Scotland thrives. I would like to thank Simon Craufurd of Craufurdland Estate for his hard work and dedication, as he steps down after two years as SLE’s South West Chair.”
Commenting on her new position, Laura Warrender, Clydeside Chair of Scottish Land & Estates said “I’m delighted to have been appointed Clydeside Chair. I am looking forward to helping SLE and Clydeside members continue to play a key role in developing new thinking and approaches in land management and biodiversity, which I am very passionate about. As a Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) accredited estate, I would like to help other farms and estates to become accredited by WES – a programme run by SLE which recognises landowners who are committed to best practice in conservation, habitat and wildlife management.”
Sir David Hope-Dunbar, Dumfries & Galloway Chair of Scottish Land & Estates said “After enjoying more than 55 years of hands-on management of the farms and other aspects of St Mary’s Isle Estate, I am looking forward to retiring this year. Land managers play a hugely important role in tackling climate change and my new position at SLE will enable me to use my knowledge and experience to help other land managers, rural businesses and communities, especially across Dumfries & Galloway.”
