But a shake-up is underway that could result in local communities taking over when big estates come up for sale.
For centuries, the lairds were all-powerful, but in recent years many have been selling out to investors, such as Anders Holch Povlsen, the Danish billionaire who now owns 89,400 hectares of Scotland. With this has come growing concern about the adverse effects of scale, when so many of the nation's natural resources are in so few hands. Campaigners say that knowing who owns and controls the land is crucial in building a "fairer, greener Scotland".
This story is from the September 2023 edition of BBC Countryfile Magazine.
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This story is from the September 2023 edition of BBC Countryfile Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Guilt-Free Meat? - Should the world stop eating meat to tackle the climate crisis? Chris Baraniuk meets an experimental farmer who says we don't all have to become vegetarians
Should the world stop eating meat to tackle the climate crisis? Chris Baraniuk meets an experimental farmer who says we don't all have to become vegetarians. Livestock farming around the world is facing scrutiny because of its greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, the sector contributes somewhere between 11.1% and 19.6% of total emissions. Meat production is roughly twice as bad as the production of plant-based food, according to some analyses. And beef is the worst of all. Study after study has suggested that, in order to curtail the devastating effects of climate change, we ought to shift to a diet containing less meat - or even go vegetarian or vegan.
Discover Cider Country - Explore mellow golden countryside, pedalling between medieval villages, historic inns and fruitful orchards, on a delightful Herefordshire Cider Circuit adventure with Julie Brominicks
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