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

Blountfield, Mouswald

5 year SLDT opportunity extending to 15 hectares. Would suit cattle or sheep.  

• Blountfield Opportunity
• Blountfield Site Plan
• Blountfield Access Route Map

Fort, Castle O’er 

Conservation grazing opportunity extending to 4.6 hectares. Sheep only.

• Fort Opportunity
• Fort Site Plan
• Fort Access Route Map

Wilsontown Conservation Grazing, Near Forth, South Lanarkshire

5 Year SLDT opportunity for conservation grazing extending to 10.6 hectares. Would suit sheep only. 

• Wilsontown Opportunity
• Wilsontown Map

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.