When we think about land ownership in Scotland we tend to think of rural areas – highland estates, grouse moors and community owned islands – but in the first episode of Who Owns Scotland? journalist Martin Geissler investigates our urban land. From city centre landmarks and public parks to derelict buildings and dying town centres, Martin shows how land matters to all of us and asks whether the way we think about and care for our urban land needs to change.

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This is the story of Scotland’s neighbourhoods, towns and cities. It shows how a lack of clarity about who owns what causes problems for residents, limiting aspirations and affecting physical and mental health. It also asks where responsibility lies – or should lie – when it comes to owning urban land.

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In the second episode of Who Owns Scotland? Martin Geissler investigates our rural land – who owns it, what they’re doing with it, and what the future might hold for it.  

 

Because of the way land ownership has historically been recorded in Scotland, it can be even harder to find out who owns our rural land than it is to find out who owns the land in our town and cities.  With the help of researcher and writer Andy Wightman, and the visualisation skills of design collective Lateral North, Martin explores what we do and don’t know about land ownership in rural Scotland, and finds out why it matters.

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This is the story of our moorlands, forests, farms and fields.  It asks whether the way we think about, use and value this land is changing, or needs to change.  And it investigates the important role that this land will play in the future as we seek to revitalise our economy and combat climate change.  

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