‘Glenlivet Estate 2050’ is a community-focussed, partnership project which has produced a new, long-term vision for the Estate to 2050 – and has also identified specific opportunities and recommendations for the next five years.
The project
Work began in 2022, broken into two stages, with the aim of identifying how the Estate could best adapt for the future in a way that:
- Supports local jobs and investment
- Attracts the next generation
- Improves the environment
- Helps to address the challenges of the climate emergency and nature crisis
Stage one activity
During stage one, we asked people with an interest in the Estate - including members of the community, tenant farmers, local businesses, children and young people, and project partners - to help us establish a vision of how the Tomintoul and Glenlivet area could be developed in the long term.
Several key themes emerged from their feedback, illustrating the kind of future they hoped to see:
- A thriving farming sector which manages the transition to net zero, where farm tenants are supported and valued as stewards of the Estate, its soils and its wildlife
- An approach to woodland planting and management based on the principle of having ‘the right trees in the right places’
- Sporting and wildlife management that supports healthy ecosystems and a vibrant rural community
- Safeguarding water resources for future generations
- Balancing tourism with environmental and community interests, encouraging visitors to stay and explore the area and become a rural exemplar of ‘active lifestyles’
- Housing stock that provides affordable, high-quality, energy-efficient accommodation
Stage two activity
In stage two, all project stakeholders came together to help refine the themes which had emerged – and establish clear priorities for the Estate.
Three working groups were formed to discuss strategic priorities themed around:
- Farming
- Forestry and Moorland (including Sporting)
- Community and Wider Economy
Contributions from these working groups fed directly into the Land Use Strategy, incorporating a Vision and Action Plan for the Estate based on everything we had learned from our stakeholders.
The new Vision and associated Action Plan will help to shape future decision-making and investment into the Estate and will help to deliver the collective aims identified.
Glenlivet Estate today
Glenlivet Estate is a unique upland estate, rich in natural and cultural heritage and home to a wide range of enterprises and interests from farming and forestry to whisky distilling, shooting, fishing, mountain biking and skiing.
The Land Use Strategy identifies several strengths of the Estate, which it seeks to build upon; and a range of weaknesses, which it seeks to address.
Current strengths
- Diverse landscape and abundant ‘natural capital’
- Rich in biodiversity
- Internationally recognised ‘dark skies’ status
- Strong cultural heritage
- High quality farming businesses
- Diversified industries including forestry and sporting enterprises
- Large number of recreation and tourism businesses
Current weaknesses
- Limited diversity in the local economy, with a strong reliance of land-based businesses and tourism
- Young people are leaving for educational and job opportunities elsewhere
- Recent rises in costs of energy, transport, food, and materials are affecting living standards
- Housing is not affordable for local people on local wages
Glenlivet Estate: how we see the future
Our vision for Glenlivet Estate in 2050 is of a place where people and the environment thrive together through effective collaboration and sustainable management, supporting:
- A diversified estate with a vibrant community, where people of all ages are able to live, work and spend their leisure time.
- Balanced use of land and buildings that meets the needs of businesses, communities, visitors,and nature.
- A measurable reduction in net carbon emissions to help tackle the climate emergency.
We aspire for Glenlivet Estate to be an exemplar estate. Our collective goals will be achieved through collaboration with local partners, agencies, tenants, community, and wider stakeholders.
Through Glenlivet Estate 2050, we aim to address the dual challenge of the climate and biodiversity crises, to promote well-designed and successful places, reduce inequalities and promote sustainable economic growth.
Exemplar priorities
The three working groups established in stage two of the project have considered where and how Crown Estate Scotland and its partners could make an important contribution to their areas of interest – and help make Glenlivet Estate an exemplar of estate management.
They have identified the following priorities:
Farming
- Improving farm business viability
- Providing opportunities for new entrants
- Improving provision for retiring farmers
- Encouraging a circular economy
- Adopting best practice in sustainable agriculture
- Collaborative problem-solving
Forestry and Moorland (including Sporting)
- Landscape scale planning
- Creation of new woodlands and trees
- Restructuring and adapting existing commercial forestry stands
- Managing regeneration of non-native species
- Baselining, integrated land use planning and research
- Sporting tenancy
- Deer management
- Peatland restoration
- Habitat restoration and species recovery
Community and Wider Economy
- Improving existing Estate housing stock
- A range of housing options and lease arrangements to offer affordable, energy efficient homes
- Reviewing redundant buildings for potential conversion or reuse
- Providing commercial space and supporting entrepreneurship
- Expanding training and apprenticeships to develop rural skills and retain young people
- Establishing a ‘destination estate’, promoting sustainable tourism
- Infrastructure fit for the future, including water management, active travel, and green infrastructure
These priorities – and the options and actions arising from them – are more fully explored in the Land Use Strategy, Vision document, and Action Plan which can all be downloaded here separately.
Next steps
We are now working on delivery of the Action Plan, which covers the first five years of the project’s life cycle.
We will post progress updates here on an annual basis.
If you would like to contact us about this project, please email info@glenlivetestate.co.uk.
Partners
‘Glenlivet Estate 2050’ has been led by Crown Estate Scotland, in partnership with Cairngorms National Park Authority, Moray Council, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The Scottish Land Commission have also provided advisory support.
We would like to thanks everyone who has contributed to the development of this project, including community groups and members, tenants, staff and stakeholders.