Agriculture opportunities
Forestry and Land Scotland manages around 30,000 hectares of agricultural land in Scotland which is occupied under a range of short and long term agreements.
Starter units
We continue to work with other public and private landowners through the Scottish Government Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) group, promoting available opportunities for attracting new people into agriculture.
We routinely offer bare land opportunities on Scotland’s National Forests and Land whenever they become available. These small business units can provide new entrants with start-up grazing areas. This will help to build up their farming experience and stock numbers. These opportunities are typically on sites which require low input/output farming methods that enhance our environmental objectives. When available, current opportunities will be listed below.
Starter unit frequently asked questions
Current Opportunities
Katrine & Arklet, Trossachs
Conservation grazing opportunity extending to 245.7 hectares. Cattle only.
Shalloch on Minnoch & Craigenrae, Galloway
Conservation grazing opportunity extending to 53 hectares. Cattle only.
- Shalloch on Minnoch and Craigenrae Opportunity
- Shalloch on Minnoch and Craigenrae Site Plan
- Shalloch on Minnoch Access Route Map
Craigend, Mabie Forest
5 year SLDT opportunity for conservation grazing extending to 16.7 hectares. Cattle & sheep.
Blountfield, Mouswald
5 year SLDT opportunity extending to 15 hectares. Would suit cattle or sheep.
Fort, Castle O’er
Conservation grazing opportunity extending to 4.6 hectares. Sheep only.
Brackenhill, Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire
5 Year SLDT opportunity for conservation grazing extending to 2.9 hectares. Would suit cattle or sheep.
Wilsontown Conservation Grazing, Near Forth, South Lanarkshire
5 Year SLDT opportunity for conservation grazing extending to 10.6 hectares. Would suit sheep only.
Glendevon, Lesmahagow
5 Year SLDT opportunity for conservation grazing extending to 1.6 hectares. Would suit cattle, sheep or horses.
Muirmill
5 year SLDT opportunity extending to 8.61 hectares. Would suit sheep or cattle.
Dun moss
5 year SLDT opportunity extending to 9.89 hectares. Would suit sheep.
Starter farms
Between 2012 and 2015 we established 9 part-time starter farms on Scotland's National Forests and Land, giving new entrants to farming a unique opportunity to get a start. Our tenants are gaining valuable experience in growing and managing their own businesses, before moving on to larger scale operations at the end of their tenancy. We will not be offering any new starter farm opportunities.