About Us

The Scottish Farm Land Trust (SFLT) aims to hold agricultural land in trust for public benefit, to rent it out in small parcels on an affordable basis.
We are a registered BenCom, and you can read our rules here

​Our Vision & Values
We want to see a food system where farms are connected to their communities and produce nutritious and affordable food in a way that makes a positive contribution to the health of communities and the natural environment.  This can be achieved by supporting small-scale agroecological farms.  We want to see our farming system thrive, with a greater diversity of farmers and business models. Improving access to land and widening participation in the ownership of land is essential for this to happen.  

Our values are centred around transparency, democracy, grassroots-led, ecological sustainability and fairness

Our Aims
  • Advance rural regeneration by enabling land use that more directly benefits local communities, fostering local food systems that generate training & volunteering opportunities and promote good quality & healthy food.
  • Advance education about sustainable land use, access to land, and the need for a more equitable food and land-use system.
  • Advance protection and improvement of the environment by enabling small-scale agro-ecological farming that improves soil health and reduces chemical use.
  • Advance animal welfare through non-intensive and free-range methods of husbandry.
  • Remove the barriers that currently prevent a more diverse range of people from entering farming.

Our Staff and Board

Cara Gillespie (Development Coordinator). Cara has over 20 years' experience across the more than profit sector, including in consultancy and senior management roles. She brings a wide range of skills and knowledge to SFLT, as well as a passion for increasing access to sustainable local food. As a domestic grower at home in Galloway, she is in awe of those who manage it commercially and successfully! 
Roz Corbett (Chair).  Her background is in community growing, market gardening and community development.  She currently works as an organic market gardener and also keeps bees.  She is also a member of the coordinating group of the Landworkers' Alliance (LWA) and is the LWA Policy and Campaigns Coordinator in Scotland.  
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​Malcolm Harris (Treasurer).  Malcolm has worked on ensuring financial viability for a variety of organisations, using forecast models, performance measures and cash flow analysis. Having analysed the effectiveness of various approaches to international development for many years, Malcolm has since been exploring fairer & environmentally sustainable economic models.
​Kirsty works in science communication and knowledge exchange at Strathclyde University. She has extensive experience in funding outreach activity and a detailed knowledge of the Higher Education sector and potential funding mechanisms, which she hope to bring to further the aims and objectives of the SFLT. She'd love to also be a small-scale farmer (eventually!)
​Miesbeth Knottenbelt (Dr) works part-time for Nourish Scotland where her focus is mainly on projects that aim to support and expand the local food sector.  Alongside this she spends a lot of her spare time helping to promote cycling, especially in low-income communities. For many years, she worked for the University of Edinburgh supporting lecturers and postgraduate students in their teaching roles, and doing research on food and related policy. 
​Paul Mallis has an active interest in local issues and supporting proactive environmental causes. Enthusiastic about small scale agriculture/horticulture, Paul continues to gain knowledge and broaden his understanding for the future. He currently works between a community trust and a local authority supporting urban arboriculture in central Scotland.
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John Fraser is a biodynamic farmer at Burnorrachie farm (45 acres) just a few miles south of Stonehaven in the north east of Scotland. He grows a mix of mainly winter vegetables, plus soft fruits, autumn goodies such as peas, beans and courgettes, and occasionally, beef. They run a weekly fruit and vegetable box scheme, and attend farmers' markets. The farm is organic and biodynamic, and all produce has Demeter certification.

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​Donald Buglass is a PhD researcher and teacher in the law school at the University of Glasgow. His research focuses on Food Sovereignty under the Common Agricultural Policy and how agricultural policies can deliver on the Right to Food. Through his research he has developed an interest in alternative models of farming and land management.