Buying a library Desperately seeking diversion from the midnight ravings of the squatter in the White House, I happened upon a story in the Times about another billionaire who has more shekels than sense.

Alan Taylor at his fluent best…. open.substack.com/pub/aftaylor...

Well deserved - many congratulations.

ScotLand Futures - creating new land opportunities for our built environment In the seventh blog in our Joining the Dots series, Katherine Pollard, Head of Policy at the Scottish Land Commission, explores how land reform connects directly to Scotland's built environment ambitions. Drawing on the ScotLand Futures initiative, which engaged over 1,200 people, Kathie argues that land reform is not just a rural issue but critical to addressing urban challenges from housing need to high street decline. She outlines three priorities for the next phase of land reform: opening new land opportunities, rebalancing power to ensure ownership works for the public good, and shaping change locally through strengthened planning. With 96% of respondents calling for further changes to land ownership and use, Kathie demonstrates how existing powers, from compulsory purchase to tenement maintenance models, can be better utilised to create thriving, equitable and sustainable places across Scotland.

Out now: the seventh in the BEFS Joining the Dots series ✍️

In this new blog, Katherine Pollard of the Scottish Land Commission explores how land reform connects to housing, high streets, retrofit and community empowerment.

Take a look:

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 – the first commencement The third Land Reform (Scotland) Act was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 5 November 2025, and received Royal Assent on 16 December 2025. Royal Assent, of course, is what makes a Scottish statu…

A blog post, about the first provisions of the newest Land Reform Act to be brought into force, on Land Commissioner functions and hutting (with a P.S. about the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026). basedrones.wordpress.com/2026/03/16/t...

Islay visit – 12–13 March

Following the earlier cancellation due to ferry disruption, Rob Black, Tenant Farming Commissioner, will now be visiting Islay this week.

If you’d like to arrange a meeting while he’s on the island, please get in touch - tfc@landcommission.gov.scot

Cette campagne a besoin de vous NON À LA VENTE DE LA MAISON DE KENNETH WHITE — OUI À SON PROJET DE MAISON D’ARTISTES

I have signed this petition and would urge others to sign it - Kenneth White has been a major cultural influence on Europe and honouring his wishes with regard to his house and library in Brittany would further confirm the Scottish dimension of his work. c.org/DG2nLcZBhZ

Care for others was at heart of Jeane Freeman’s life, thanksgiving service told Ms Freeman died on February 7 aged 72, just 25 days after being diagnosed with cancer in January.

www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

Tribute from Jeane Freeman's 'soulmate' at memorial service A thanksgiving service followed the private cremation of the 72-year-old who died on 7 February, just 25 days after being diagnosed with cancer.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Roadmap published on how Scotland can go further on land reform THE Scottish Land Commission has published a policy roadmap setting out how Scotland can go further in reforming the ownership and use of land.

www.thenational.scot/news/2589209...

Who Owns Scotland 2025 - Land Matters SCOTLAND’S CONCENTRATED PATTERN OF LANDOWNERSHIP CONTINUES TO GET WORSE Today I publish Who Owns Scotland 2025, the second annual report on landownership in Scotland. The first (Who Owns Scotland 2024...

Today I publish Who Owns Scotland 2025, an annual analysis of landownership across rural Scotland. The most significant finding is the continuing trend over past 15 years of fewer and fewer owners owning more and more of rural Scotland. andywightman.scot/2026/02/who-...

Fascinating indeed - 1300 was difficult but 1200 virtually impossible .

William Shakespeare wrote this speech 400 years ago about people in London wishing that immigrants go back to where they came from, performed by Sir Ian McKellen on the Stephen Colbert show:

Tributes pour in after death of former health secretary Jeane Freeman

NEW: Tributes have poured in following the death of former Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman

Jeane Freeman: SNP politician who led Covid response

Former Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman dies aged 72 Former Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman has died at the age of 72

More here: www.thenational.scot/news/2583473...

I have cleaned-up this fascinating autochrome of James Thin (famous for his chain of bookshops), who was born 202 years ago (in Edinburgh on 23rd March 1824), making him (so far as is currently known) the earliest-born person ever to have been photographed in colour. He is seen here in the garden...

Very saddened by this. A wholly decent man who played a vital part in securing a double YES vote in 1997 and in establishing the new Parliament in its early years.

A Man's A Man For A' That (Opening of Scottish Parliament) - Sheena Wellington YouTube video by Bruce Davies

Listen to Robert Burns, "A Man's A Man For A' That"
#poetry #Scots #Scotland #BurnsNight
youtu.be/hudNoXsUj0o?...

Mark Carney just shook up the world His speech in Davos might be the most important one ever delivered by a Canadian prime minister. Its consequences will determine his place in history — and ours.

My latest: Mark Carney just delivered the most important speech in recent Canadian history. Now, we wait for the fallout. #cdnpoli
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/20/o...

Mute | feorlean I was really sorry to see on social media today the announcement of the death of John Wallace. An amazing musician  (among other things the...

RIP the inspirational John Wallace

www.blipfoto.com/entry/345743...

Hutton to develop large-scale nature restoration plan at Glensaugh farm

James Hutton Institute secures £44k from NatureScot to develop a nature restoration plan at Glensaugh Farm in Aberdeenshire.

Wise as ever ….thanks Alastair

Power Shift: The Real Energy Question (at Celtic Connections) — Spring Power Shift: The Real Energy Question ( event at Celtic Connections ) Jan 18, 3pm [GMT], The Green Room, The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Killermont St, Glasgow G2 3NW Tickets: £13.82 (click ...

spring.site/blog/power-s...

Snow & the emigrants monument Helmsdale.

Never a Christmas Eve passes without me repeating this, if only to myself. Written by Hardy during WW1 , the message regarding hope is worth repeating in “these times” too:

www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/53215/...

www.landcommission.gov.scot/news-events/...

‘Three norths’ set to leave England for hundreds of years | OS The historic alignment of the three norths - true, magnetic, and grid north - is set to leave England three years after they combined, and not return for hundreds of years.

www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/news/three-n...

'Revealing': Lord Hodgson reviews 'British By-Elections 1769–2025' As the latest anthology edited by Iain Dale makes clear, by-elections are frequently enlightening and colourful affairs

Interesting review of the by-elections anthology to which I contributed a piece on the Hamilton one in Nov 1967. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

This report is a key part of the @scottishlandcom.bsky.social annual activity but we continue to need more data to better inform evidence based land reform & tenant farming policy.