News & Press Releases

24 November 2011

The Mar Lodge Independent Review Panel today (24 November 2011) presented its report to the Board of the National Trust for Scotland. The Panel has carried out a review of the management of moorland, woodland and deer at the Mar Lodge Estate, Braemar and made a total of eight recommendations.

On behalf of the Panel, the Chairman David Windmill said: “If implemented in full these recommendations will address many of the issues currently facing Mar Lodge Estate and enable the Trust to achieve its goal of successfully integrating the conservation of the Caledonian pine forest with managing a commercial Highland sporting estate.”

The Panel spent five months talking to a wide range of organisations and individuals to gain as broad an understanding as possible of the many opportunities and constraints that the Trust faces in its management of the estate. The Panel also met representatives of the Braemar Community Council to learn of the importance of Mar Lodge Estate to the local community.

David said: “We would like to thank most sincerely all those people who contributed to our review.”

The full report is available for public view here.

Contact David Windmill – 07813 672140 or d_windmill@yahoo.com

The Mar Lodge Independent Review Panel comprises David Windmill, Professor Rory Putman and Professor Jeff Maxwell.

8 July 2011

Independent Panel calls for evidence

The Mar Lodge Independent Review Panel is calling for written submissions from individuals and organisations interested in the management of Mar Lodge Estate.

The review’s remit is: 

To conduct an independent evidence-based  review of woodland, moorland and deer management at Mar Lodge Estate, having regard to the National Trust for Scotland’s overall objectives for the Estate, and specifically, fencing policy, deer culling, the regeneration of the forest and maintaining a sporting estate.

Panel Chair David Windmill said:

“We are keen to hear the views of as wide a range of individuals as possible, so that we can thoroughly examine the issues raised at Mar Lodge, understand their complexity and help our review to conduct its work thoroughly and openly.”

The panel may follow up on issues raised in written submissions by meeting with individuals or groups to discuss specific issues.

The panel asks that submissions must include the relevant evidence to support the views, comments and suggestions that you are putting forward.

All submissions received will be made available on the Review Panel’s Web Site unless there is a specific request not to do so.  http://www.marlodgereview.org.uk/

Submissions should be sent to: info@marlodgereview.org.uk, or  David Windmill, 12 Rutland Square, Edinburgh EH1 2BB.