Landscape Scale Land Management EP2 - RLUPS - David Balharry and Rachel Skene by Ariane Burgess MSP - Scottish Greens

My guests for the second episode on Landscape Scale Land Management are David Balharry and Rachel Skene. We'll be discussing community land management, partnership working and Regional Land Use Partnerships.

David Balharry is one of Scotland's most respected, community focused conservationists. In 2020, he took up post as Chief Executive of the John Muir Trust. Before that he worked for the Scottish government where he was part of the team looking at rural policy after Brexit.

He's also been a director of Rewilding Britain, a community development company, and previously worked for the Crofting Commission and the Deer Commission for Scotland.

Rachel Skene is the Regional Land Use Partnership Manager for Northwest 2045. A partnership of public bodies, environmental charities, landowners, development trusts, and members of the community in Sutherland, Northwest Highlands.

Rachel brings 30 years plus experience of living and working in the Northwest 2045 and Sutherland area. Now also, raising a young family here means she is very aware of the reality, the good and the more challenging.

Rachel grew up in Tongue and returned after university. She's worked as a freelancer in the third sector and the public sector, and that varied experience is useful for her work with the Regional Land Use Partnership, which she will tell us all about.