Retired local MSP and former Guardian journalist host discussions on land reform
On Wednesday, April 20, Peter Hetherington and Rob Gibson, two seasoned land reform campaigners, are meeting MSPs in the Scottish Parliament at 6pm to discuss the ideas in their two recently published books both launched during lockdown.
Peter Hetherington, a former Guardian journalist and past chair of the Town and Country Planning Association reviews examples of land renewal from north Scotland to southern England. Entitled, "Land Renewed – reworking the countryside", he assesses green lairds, community projects and climate change which all contribute to a mixed picture across these islands.
His work builds on a previous review of land reform prospects north and south of the Border in "Whose Land Is Our Land: the use and abuse of Britain’s forgotten acres", published in 2015.
Rob Gibson retired as MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross in 2016 and has written "Reclaiming Our Land" which ranges from his early student days as a land campaigner to being elected MSP in 2003. As convener of the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment committee from 2011 to 2016 he helped to shepherd and improve the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016.
Rob said: "I have worked with Peter since his 2015 book was discussed in Holyrood.
"With the Covid restrictions we thought it best to share a platform and have a face-to-face, belated live book launch this April. We hope with ongoing commitments to a new Scottish Land Reform Bill next year that we can contribute some of our knowledge accrued over years of campaigning."
Additionally they will be presenting their books for discussion on Thursday, April 21 in Inverness at La Tortilla, Castle Street between 7pm and 9pm.
For details and further comment contact Rob Gibson 07879 674335