Countryside

AND SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE
1 Introduction
The National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage have a shared interest
in the conservation, enjoyment and understanding of Scotland’s natural heritage. This
shared interest led, in 1999, to the signing of a concordat between the two organisations
with the aim of strengthening the existing good relationship and identifying how the two
organisations would work together to achieve common purposes. In the first six years of
operation many of the original commitments were met, and many other developments in
the shared interests in Scotland’s natural heritage took place. The concordat forged closer
links between the two organisations and has been seen as a model of good practice.
This new Concordat reinforces the basis for this strong and successful relationship and
provides a framework for working together in the coming years. It also makes reference
to how this partnership is managed in operational terms and how experience gained can
inform future actions.
The National Trust for Scotland (the Trust) is a charitable body whose purposes are
set out in the National Trust for Scotland Order Confirmation Acts of 1935 and 1938,
which state that “the National Trust for Scotland shall be established for the purposes of
promoting the permanent preservation for the benefit of the nation of lands and buildings
in Scotland of historic or national interest or natural beauty” and “access to and enjoyment
of such buildings and places by the public”.
In pursuit of this, the Trust owns and manages buildings and land of national importance
for their natural and cultural interest. The Trust owns and manages some 75,000 hectares
of Scotland’s finest landscapes, including 5 National Nature Reserves, a World Heritage
Site and significant elements of Scotland’s first two National Parks. Trust property
management aims to protect key cultural, natural and landscape features of conservation
importance, whilst encouraging public access and enjoyment of them. The Trust is able to
declare land and buildings inalienable.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is a statutory body established under the Natural
Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991, as the Government’s agency for natural heritage
in Scotland, accountable through the Scottish Ministers to the Scottish Parliament.
It promotes the care, improvement, understanding and enjoyment and sustainable use of
Scotland’s natural heritage – its wildlife, habitats, landforms and landscape and its natural
beauty and amenity, recognising the role that people have played in designing, shaping
and managing these features.
SNH works where possible in partnership by co-operation, negotiation and consensus
with all relevant interests, and operates in a devolved, open and accountable manner.
www.snh.org.uk