CLAN Gathering 2026- Last chance to register!

Registration for the world's first academic conference dedicated to community land closes on Thursday 30th April. Please register through this link.

The 2026 CLAN Gathering (“What we know, and what we need to learn”: History, policy and practice of community land) will bring together academics, policymakers and practitioners to discuss the state of research in this area and how it relates to history, policy and international comparisons. It is also an opportunity to help define and guide the future of the network.

The programme is being confirmed but we delighted to share that the conference will host an 'In Conversation' session between two of the biggest names in community land research.

Prof James (Jim) Hunter has literally written the book on community landownership in Scotland. Jim's career cannot be neatly summed up in terms of academia, having served in a range of other roles dedicated to the sustainable development of the Highlands and Islands region. A prolific writer and proud Highlander, his combining of these attributes drove the understanding of the Highlands and Islands 'on their own terms', and his work stands as some of the most respected texts on this topic.

Andy Wightman is one of the most high profile researcher/activists in Scotland, with his life's work dedicated to discovering 'Who Owns Scotland'. His formidable and forensic approach to researching the history of land ownership and its present implications is perhaps best outlined in his epic 'The Poor Had No Lawyers', while his ongoing work in mapping landownership in rural Scotland now constitutes the most comprehensive dataset available on this topic.

I have no idea what Jim and Andy will talk about. But that's the exciting bit! Sign up now and be a part of the conversation in June.