Falkland Estate, once home to Stuart monarchs and a series of noble families, is undergoing significant change. Current owner, Ninian Stuart and his family wish to secure the long-term sustainability and vibrancy of the place under a new form of steward-ownership for the wellbeing of future generations.
Spanning 1,700 hectares in Fife, Falkland Estate is a rich historic and natural landscape welcoming over 250,000 visitors annually. It includes woodlands, farmland, organic farming and horticulture, cottages, recreational spaces, a hutting site, event venues and two popular cafés.
Over recent years, the Estate has led and contributed to a range of initiatives: Living Lomonds Landscape Partnership’s Community Engagement programme; Reforesting Scotland’s A Thousand Huts Campaign; Fife’s Rural Skills (Our Bright Future) programme with young people; many community archaeology digs on East Lomond with Aberdeen University; hosting activities by charities and community groups; and running great events from Big Tent Festival to GO Falkland (Regenerative Agriculture) gathering.
In order to fully get behind this transition, Ninian Stuart is stepping back from day-to-day estate management to focus on succession planning (beyond his family line) into a charitable body, the natureof which is under consideration.
An Estate Director is currently being recruited to lead the estate team, strengthen business sustainability and plan for the future. We are seeking an inspiring leader who shares our values of stewardship and social justice. The post- holder will work with staff, tenants, partners, the community and volunteers to adopt an ecology for the future, realising the potential of this special place. Details are on the “Work with Us” section of the estate website.

THE FUTURE

Falkland Estate’s vision is to become a beacon of learning and sustainability in Scotland where stewards  tend a place of wellbeing. The aim is to: adopt an ethical, reciprocal and enabling model of enterprise; work closely with local community, as well as regional and national partners; and secure the support and resources needed to transfer into steward-ownership by 2029.
Towards this end, the Stuart family, Estate Trustees and the charity Falkland Stewardship Trust are delighted that Dona Milne has agreed to Chair a new Partnership Board to facilitate this change. Dona has recently retired as Director of Public Health in Lothian NHS and a career in youth work.
Ninian Stuart says that “This is really a milestone moment for Falkland Estate. Exactly 600 years after the Royal Stuarts took charge of the land at Falkland, it is time to find a way of moving this beautiful land into an even more resilient form of governance that will tend the wellbeing of this place for future generations. It is time for a big move for the sake of the future.