The first of what is hoped to be an annual series of conferences on rural law took place at Aberdeen University on 3rd September 2009. The event was sponsored by Terra Firma and members Dr. David Parratt and David Logan led a lively discussion on the current hot topics of diversification and resumption as well as the widening of assignation rights under s10A of the 2003 Act.  Other topics covered were public access, the community right to buy and national parks.

The focus of the event was not restricted to legal issues and benefitted greatly from excellent addresses from Peter Cook, Agricultural Economist, and Jim McLaren, President of the NFU.  The conference concluded with a tour de force by Malcolm Strang Steel of Turcan Connell who provided the conference with the benefit of his longer term view of developments.

The whole day was very well attended and again benefitted from representation of the various interest groups in rural affairs including surveyors, factors, the Scottish Government as well as many of the leading lawyers in the field (!).