Scottish Crofting Federation THE CROFTER rooted in our communities The journal of the Scottish Crofting Federation, the only member-led organisation dedicated to the promotion of crofting and the largest association of small-scale food producers in the UK DECEMBER 2010 Number 89 TAKING THE FUTURE INTO OUR OWN HANDS Celebrating 25 years of the only member-led organisation dedicated to promoting crofting “ E’VE COME A LONG WAY, but Some of the issues back then in ’88 don’t there’s still much to be done." Those sound that unfamiliar: concerns on the EEC Wwere the words of Scottish Crofters sheepmeat regime and the lack of recognition Union president Angus MacRae at the SCU’s of the practical diffi culties facing producers in second annual conference in Skye in 1988. remote mountainous areas; crofter housing; Two and a half years after the ground- changes to the Crofters Commission; creation breaking crofters organisation was inaugurated of new crofts; rates reform; croft diversifi cation in November 1985 Angus was able to report a and more. “We must ensure the crofting strong membership of 4000 and still growing. interest is kept to the forefront,” Angus The federation of the area-based crofters’ union’s uniting as a single body in the Scottish Crofters commented. The mission of the SCF today Union was an unprecedented success and remains the same. surpassed all expectations. The need to stand On this and the centre pages we look together as one, to have a strong united voice, back at some of the milestones of the was recognised. This need is just as valid today SCU/SCF and look ahead at the path with crofting being constantly under threat. before us. Martin Benson © Effective solutions to our own problems Frank Rennie, fi rst SCU president, looks back any organisation before were motivated and excited to throw their efforts behind the SCU. INSIDE THIS ISSUE N THE HECTIC WEEKENDS of 1985 as This resulted in a major revitalisation of the Scottish Crofters Union took shape the Highlands and Islands. Not just crofting • Crofting reform Ithere was one remarkable phenomenon communities in isolation, it provided vigour to • SCF gathering that pervaded Highlands and Islands discussions on environmental conservation, • Looking back over 25 years crofting communities – the quietly optimistic business development, estate management, • More tractor restoration anticipation of change. local housing, rural transport and a dozen • Crofting resources programme As the branch and area structures grew, other issues that are vital to a vibrant society. • Membership matters some of the usual community activists came Slowly, some of the establishment bodies forward to take up elected positions, but also an • Crofter's wife came to the surprising conclusion that rather enormous number of new faces came forward And much more … too. People who had never been involved in Continued on page 14 2 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 3

Message from the chair... Eleanor Arthur SCF ANNUAL GATHERING which is an international food Soil Association Scotland. It was on 25th November and in other event that showcases indigenous an exceptionally good night and areas over the winter. One size doesn’t fi t all – 25th anniversary foods. It proved a very humbling the young folk were very brave Norman has been busy N ORGANISATION’S 25th anniversary The proceedings concluded with a series of Landward viewers will have seen, and they experience in one sense and very when it came to speaking, singing representing the SCF in Brussels should be marked by a special occasion, were very good indeed – meat supplied by rich in another. It really brought and playing instruments for the and was joined by Patrick to attend workshop sessions on current crofting issues, and SCF’s 2010 annual gathering held Robin Calvert and baked by MacLeans of home what indigenous means, 400 people in attendance; and it a CAP discussion with, amongst A which left behind some nagging questions in Oban was indeed a special one, with over Benbecula. The pies are a bit of fun but with a in people, animals, culture and was great to hear a set of pipes others, the commissioner for raised by one of the groups. Has SCF lost its one hundred delegates attending. very serious purpose – to fi nd new markets for heritage: 5000 delegates attended being played in the parliament agriculture Dacian Cioloç. radicalism? Are we too close to government? The choice of venue was important too mutton – which in turn helps to keep sheep in from 150 countries – and yet we hall. A huge thank you has to go to Norman was also joined by the Why is it virtually impossible these days to get – an acknowledgement that Argyll is an the hills and to put a bit of extra income in the could relate in so many ways. the people who made this project Shetland Isles Council veterinary crofters out to branch and even area meetings? important crofting county. SCF retains a pockets of crofters. The viability of crofting is I have just returned from possible and to all the children offi cer, Hilary Liebeschuetz, for Do people think that the battles have been strong membership there, which was well what will sustain its future, and that was really Edinburgh where a group of who have participated to date. the sheep and goat meat advisory won? Or is it simply that a generation has represented with delegates from the mainland what this gathering was all about. us attended the parliamentary Patrick and Derek Flyn came committee on which he sits. passed? Well, not really, because the young and most of the islands attending. The media working group on support to Shetland to deliver an update Hilary has written about this in men and women that we see in the photos Thanks are due to all who made the gathering coverage was special too, as viewers of BBC’s mechanisms to crofting on the Crofting Act 2010 and the this issue. from 25 years ago may now be middle aged, a success, especially to Carol Anne Stewart, Landward will know. A 25th anniversary calls UMMER has defi nitely gone; agriculture, the parliamentary proposed community mapping Not long now until Christmas; but while they remain active crofters many Karen Campbell and Mabel MacAulay for for a special dinner and the superb menu of Shetland has had horrendous cross-party group on crofting, programme. We arranged a few I wonder where the year has are now in important positions of power and organising the event; to Highlands and Islands Scottish crofting produce served up by the Sweather this month. the steering group for the crofting meetings which were very well gone. Our boys were lying on infl uence. So what is the answer? Enterprise, the European Union and Argyll Caledonian Hotel certainly lived up to the In fact the weather has affected community mapping programme attended and useful discussions the sitting room rug writing their To end on a lighter note: the pies! Well, and Bute Council for funding; and to Susy occasion, as did the after-dinner speech given crops in a variety of ways over the which SCF is developing and a took place. The act has some Santa lists while I was thinking we tasted them at the chair’s reception, as MacAulay for co-ordinating media coverage. by Alistair MacIver, a loyal supporter of crofting season; the Shetland cabbages meeting with Jim Mather MSP, criticism, naturally, but Derek was beef, lamb, pork or turkey for the for 25 years and more. have not hearted the same as minister for enterprise, energy able to put things in perspective Christmas dinner? Isn’t it sweet The theme of the gathering was “One size they usually would, the cereal and tourism, to talk about crofting very well. to think crofters produce and eat doesn’t fi t all”, refl ecting the broad diversity crops have not been as good, renewable energy projects. The mapping programme is a quality premium product, which within crofting itself and the diffi culty we have some varieties of tatties have not Perhaps the most important being seen with great enthusiasm fi ts the glove of slow food without as small producers fi nding a niche within a been as fl oury as they normally event of this busy trip was the and there are already a few any fuss? European agriculture policy designed around are – but plenty of grass! And Crofting Connections reception in communities putting themselves It takes an awful lot of hard work industrial-scale agribusiness. better stock prices, which have parliament. This event celebrated forward to participate in the pilot to be recognised for our efforts Europe and the CAP were inevitably woven held up so far. the successes of the school scheme. Patrick and Derek also and it is surprising how many through the programme. George Lyon MEP Carol Anne and I attended children involved in this project, went to Stornoway for a similar other small producers around the gave us the latest thinking on the post-2014 Terra Madre in Turin, in October, run by SCF in partnership with meeting and will be in Helmsdale world fi ght the same battle. prospects for agricultural support and Vicki Swales, head of land use policy with RSPB asked the pertinent question “Does the CAP Director's blog fi t crofting?” As always, SCF’s international connections were to the fore with presentations New SCF director John Gilles from lots of evidence of agriculture in as the Louisburg Fortress which 19th August, having planned the from Heike Schiebeck, a small farmer in Austria the Isle of Raasay contributes the the past but little or none today. is still in the period when the holiday to fi t in with getting the representing the international small producers’ blog for this issue. It is amazing that so much has English and French fought for shearing fi nished and not having organisation, Via Campesina and Brendan Neil Mitchison, Scottish representative of the EC, hosted the evening dinner changed from when the land was control of the area. to start silage until the middle of O’Malley of the Irish Farmers’ Association. ULY AND AUGUST were cleared by the people who settled I was glad to see that Gaelic is still August. We were then fortunate Heike works a highly diversifi ed co-operative quite different this year there and it is now covered in well used in some places and that in getting good weather in early farm in the Austrian mountains which, as is J than was usual, in that I weeds and trees. Some fi elds ceilidhs and concerts are on most September to secure the harvest. common in Austria, has its own abattoir. If they went on holiday. I saw were comparable in size nights throughout the summer. As I write this we have just can do that in Austria, why not in Scotland? This was a belated honeymoon to some crofts here on the west Unfortunately three weeks were fi nished gathering the hill for lamb We need to fi nd the answer to that question. as I got married last year but my coast but were of far better Diversifi cation was also on the Irish agenda, not long enough to get round the and cast ewe sales and I hope to wife and I were unable to go away quality. Considering how good the as Brendan described how his hill farming whole of Cape Breton and Nova be in Stirling for the fi rst tup sale after the wedding. But more on soil was I was surprised at even operation, which would look familiar to many Scotia but it was back home on on Saturday 2nd October. the holiday later. how little vegetables were grown. crofters, was now highly geared to tourism. A Early July meant checking We went to a farmers market highlight of the gathering for many was Heike our WGS plantation fences and in Mabou where I saw only one Schiebeck’s forensic analysis of George Lyon’s repairs to stock fences. Then it farmer from Nova Scotia and the presentation, in which she very neatly summed was on to the most important job rest of the stalls sold baking, a up the failings of CAP for small producers. of shearing. With the weather small amount of salad and crafts. Crofting reform was on the agenda too, mixed for July we were lucky to I felt that it was such a shame naturally enough. The minister, Rosanna Delegates enjoying the crofters' pies get fi nished by the 22nd thanks to that land use in much of Cape Cunningham, gave her keynote speech fresh Malcolm White and his gang (Marty Breton seemed to mean so little from the passing of the 2010 Crofting Reform and Nigel) and also having sheds to the people who lived there, Act. Later in the day, SCF director Derek to keep 500 head under cover. despite them being descended Flyn took us through the legislative changes. The following night we enjoyed a from the original settlers from A nagging doubt remains. The timetable for dance with the Cast Ewe Ceilidh the west of Scotland, whilst we enacting the reforms is over three years, and band in the Community Hall and still put so much emphasis on there’s a Scottish general election in six months. then had the weekend to pack for crofting here. Some people still How much of this will see the light of day? our holiday in Nova Scotia and have their tractors but only with We heard also from Pete Ritchie about his Cape Breton. On Monday we left toppers attached to keep the inspiring organic farming and local food marketing for Glasgow, fl ew to Heathrow and weeds down. business in the borders and from Peter North of on to Halifax, where we picked up I have to say I enjoyed driving Liverpool University on local currency initiatives a motor home which would be our through the Skye Glen, where designed to ensure that local economies benefi t home for the next three weeks. there are a few dairy farms and local people. There were presentations on the We fi rst travelled the eastern the land is being used. variety of projects that SCF is involved in either shore of Nova Scotia, which is Much of our holiday was a directly or as a partner or supporter. Karen heavily wooded with not much combination of trying to listen to Campbell spoke on the SCF young crofters’ scenery. When we crossed to as much live music as possible, group; Pam Rodway gave an update on Crofting Susy Macaulay

Cape Breton we went up the wildlife watching and visiting Connections; and Mary Norton reported on the All © north west coast where there was places of historical interest, such Farm and steading, Canada Uist blacklands project. SCF chair Eleanor Arthur welcomed delegates 4 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 5 CROFTING REFORM CROFTING CONNECTIONS GO TO PARLIAMENT A sense of community Decrofting and sale of crofts While we await recent changes attention of Crofters Commission. Eilidh Ross, solicitor, Inverness, crofting community in that in crofting law to be brought In future the principal method will outlines issues raised by the new act locality or communities; into force, board member Derek be self-certifi cation. Every crofter, • the sustainability of the Flyn was asked to explore and tenant or owner-occupier, will be HIS TOPIC may not landscape of the locality or area; explain how changes in crofting required to declare that the duties always engender polite • the sustainability of the law might be used to enhance of (1) residency and (2) non- Tconversation around a environment of that locality or crofting communities. neglect have been complied with. dinner table, but if the number area; Those who fail to do so can expect of calls I have received in • the social and cultural INCE ITS INTRODUCTION to draw attention to themselves. connection with the decrofting benefi ts associated with crofting. in 1976, some people have A secondary level of reporting and sale of land to parties out Sregularly criticised crofters' will require a grazing committee to with the crofter’s family is any Where the reasonable right to buy. Others have found report regularly on the condition of guide, it is one which needs purpose is associated with it useful. It became the cause of the grazings and on the condition to be discussed in light of the development of the croft which some tension between tenants of crofts in the township. At fi rst impending changes in the law. has planning permission, and owner-occupiers in a few sight this may appear unpalatable, At the moment, it is fairly the Commission may take communities. As nothing could but it is working crofters who widely known that a crofter may, in to account the effect such be done, most of us learned have raised these concerns. The if approached by a third party development would have on the to live with it. But now, with door is being opened to allow and if the crofter is minded croft, the estate and the crofting the equalisation of the duties such crofters to discuss misuse to negotiate, obtain planning community in that locality. of owner-occupiers with those or neglect and to see it as a permission for (usually) a house The new act therefore allows of tenants, both are now to be symptom of a problem, a problem and then apply to the Crofters the Crofters Commission a defi ned as crofters, with almost which might be tackled locally and Commission to decroft the site much wider discretion in its identical roles.This disagreement more sensitively than by seeking of the house. The crofter may decision whether or not to can now be put behind us. outside help. If it works, only wilful then request a title deed to decroft land and it seems likely All crofters, both tenants and misuse or neglect need be drawn the land from his landlord and, that the current presumption owner-occupiers, are required to to the attention of the Crofters significantly, request that the in favour of decrofting where be normally resident on or within Commission. title deed be drawn directly planning permission exists may Pupils from Balivanich, Paible and Lionacleit below Edinburgh Castle Pupils Mhairi and Hannah from Kilchoan Primary show their woven wall display, with 32km (20 miles) of their crofts. As for the new register of in the name of the third party. no longer be assumed. The their teacher Lynne McLuckie and Mary Scanlon MSP Those who cannot must ask for crofting, the proposals for This third party is known as the Commission’s policy criteria in consent to live elsewhere. There community mapping put forward crofter’s nominee. This direct this regard will be essential in Rob Gibson MSP On display were their quiches from Balmacara by Laurna Dawson from is also adjustment and clarifi cation by the SCF can provide an transfer of title means that the interpreting the new provisions; hosted a reception at the very varied items from black rock eggs. crofter is not required to pay the Macaulay Institute. of every crofter's duty relating opportunity to strengthen, deepen indeed, little can be predicted Scottish Parliament on potatoes, artwork, oatcakes The event was very to his croft. He or she must not and expand local connections; to the landlord a share of the The book will be printed about the effect of them until 10th November on behalf to weaving plus woodwork successful with an exceptional misuse or neglect the croft. S/he to examine local assets, needs market value of the land (or for all schools involved in the act commences and the of Crofting Connections. from Farr High School. attendance. Guest included must cultivate and maintain it or and opportunities. By engaging else wait for five years until the policy criteria are known. Crofting Connections. put it to another purposeful use. people in a meaningful way, current clawback period has Forty schools The Scottish Crofting MSPs, Scottish Government The children made the most The neglect of a croft is not they are more likely to become expired), known as landlord’s Sale participated in the event, Produce Mark provided offi cials, representatives from easily defi ned but most will know involved with the community. claw-back. bringing 81 children from canapés for the evening our funders: HIE, Leader, of their visit to Edinburgh The ability of the crofter to it when they see it. How is it to be Such community engagement is This procedure, known as the as far afield as Shetland, with a selection of mutton SNH, HLF and the Craignish by going to workshops nominee procedure, is currently request that a title deed be Lewis and Argyll. The pies from Sandy and Ali Trust as well as many other identifi ed? How is it to be dealt a high priority with many funding at Dynamic Earth, SASA with? Changes in 2007 allowed sources. It will identify emerging utilised by many crofters and is granted in the name of his pupils provided musical Granville, potato scones supporters of Crofting for individuals, either landlords leaders, encourage strategic likely to become more difficult nominee is also to be curtailed. entertainment and talked topped with black pudding Connections. and a tour of the Scottish This curtailment will have two or members of the crofting thinking and open up possibilities when the Crofting Reform Act about their experiences or wild mushrooms and The new Soils of the parliament and various stages, namely, (1) the closing of community, to draw matters to for the future. 2010 commences. Whilst it is with the project. Calina’s chutney plus mini- Croft book was launched museums and art galleries. difficult to gauge how much the so-called nominee loophole, more difficult at this stage, a and (2) the extension of the summary of the new provisions period during which a former and their possible effects may crofting landlord may negotiate be helpful. a claw back payment. The fi rst stage is contained Decrofting in section 40 of the 2010 Act, which clearly stipulates that only Decrofting provisions are a member of the crofter’s family contained in Part 4 of the 2010 may be the crofter’s nominee. Act, section 43. These provisions In practice, this is likely to are additions to the existing law mean that only a transfer to a (the 1993 Act as amended by, member of the crofter’s family amongst others, the 2007 Act) is without threat of a landlord rather than replacements. They wishing to claw back some of provide the following: the development value. There When the Commission is are likely to be transfers to non- deciding whether the purpose family members, but these are for which decrofting is requested likely to require negotiation with is reasonable (as is already the landlord regarding payment required by the existing law), for the land. they may take in to account what The second stage of the effect that purpose would have measure is contained in on the following matters:- section 41 of the 2010 Act, • the sustainability of crofting which provides that the claw- in the locality of the croft or other back period will be ten years relevant areas; (rather than five under the Martin Benson

© • the sustainability of the current law). Pupils displaying their Crofting Connections work Lachlan and Lauchlan from Dalwhinnie play the whistle 6 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 7 CROFTING RESOURCES PROGRAMME CROFTING RESOURCES PROGRAMME Promote your Scottish Crofting Produce North European cereal varieties for the north of Scotland COTTISH CROFTING produce comes from a croft (or By Peter Martin, Agronomy eight days earlier and two of Produce has received huge similar small agricultural unit in Institute, Orkney College UHI these, Gustav and Vilde, yielded Smedia attention through the the Highlands and Islands) and within 10% of Waggon (5.8 and summer and autumn, starting with that the producer is a member of N ARTICLE in the previous 5.7 t/ha, respectively). It is likely the Royal Highland Show back in the Scottish Crofting Federation edition of The Crofter that Vilde could have been June and culminating in coverage and meets certain laid-down Avdescribed the start of harvested four days earlier than of the Oban gathering on BBC’s standards of quality, animal research trials on north European its actual harvest date and its Landward programme. health and welfare, hygiene and cereal varieties being run by the estimated straw yield was slightly As a brand, Scottish Crofting total traceability. The criteria for Agronomy Institute (AI) at Orkney higher than that of Waggon. Produce is established in the membership are available on College UHI in collaboration with In the oat trial, Firth and all consciousness of discerning the SCF website. Crofters who the Orkney seed merchant William north European varieties were consumers of quality local food. run any kind of food business on Shearer (WS) and the Swedish harvested on 19 September (157 So what we need now is for more the croft are invited to apply by seed company SW Seeds. days after planting). Harvesting of producers to become involved in describing what they produce, the This research stems from the varieties in this trial was delayed the scheme, raising the profi le and origin of their raw materials and successful cultivation of a Finnish by wet weather, but it is clear from building critical mass. the processes involved. wheat (Anniina) and oat (Fiia) grain moisture measurements If you produce beef, pork, lamb, Membership of Scottish in Orkney since 2005 and the that most of the northern varieties mutton, potatoes, vegetables, Crofting Produce costs £20 to adoption of these two varieties were ready for harvesting earlier fruit, eggs, dairy produce, honey, cover administrative expenses by growers for local milling and than this – probably about six to preserves, wool, knitwear or craft (£10 for existing members’ specialist feeds. nine days earlier for the varieties products and sell either direct to renewal). Members will receive Russell Smith and the SCF stand at Cawdor The 2010 trials were Aveny, Ringsaker and Fiia. The customers or through retailers, labelling and publicity material established to try to identify a grain yields of Aveny, Belinda you should apply for the Scottish and space on the SCP web To fi nd out more please visit www.crofting.org, phone head offi ce wider range of early-maturing and Ringsaker (5.9, 5.8 and Crofting Produce (SCP) mark. page with links to members’ own (01599 530005) or email [email protected]. Existing members varieties which might be of value 5.3 t/ha, respectively) were all The mark implies that the websites if they have them. needing labels or leafl ets please contact head offi ce. to growers in the north of Scotland considerably higher than both the which would help to widen the UK variety Firth (4.9 t/ha) and Fiia harvesting window, enable more (4.6 t/ha). The estimated straw A fresh look at mutton crops to be harvested as dry grain yields of Aveny and Belinda were and possibly supply specialist similar to that of Firth. T THE TIME of writing are well fi nished and carefully and consumption, that can only be abandonment and environmental local markets like milling or In the wheat trial, Paragon was (early November) wedders selected, preferably straight from good news for crofters and for the degradation, is the result of sheep malting. The 2010 trials were all harvested on 26 September (164 Awere fetching around £50 in the hill, is the best you can get. hills and moors of the highlands coming off the hills. A renewed planted on 15 April and consisted days after planting) which was the sale ring at Portree. Changed This message is slowly getting and islands. The vast land demand for mutton would go a of three separate trials, one each also the fi rst opportunity when days for those of us that remember across. Intensive meat production resource that exists in crofters’ long way towards reversing these for barley, oats and wheat. The the weather allowed the northern the price for these prime animals with its heavy demands on common grazings is underused trends, improving the economics of trials compared six varieties of varieties to be harvested. Although being stuck at the £20 mark for grain, water and oil, and output and the skills of the hill shepherd hill sheep, giving encouragement barley, four of oats and four of Paragon had the highest grain The variety trials have provided investigate the suitability of all two decades or more. of powerful greenhouse gases, are in danger of dying out with the to stock clubs and township wheat from SW Seeds with the yield (6.0 t/ha), grain moisture some very encouraging initial varieties for specialist markets. Does this mark the start of a is rightly being questioned for present generation. collaboration and maintaining Finnish varieties and standard measurements indicated that the results, suggesting that there Growers who might be interested genuine mutton renaissance or is its sustainability. Extensifi cation That, together with land rural skills of inestimable value. UK varieties (Waggon – barley; northern varieties were ready for are several early-maturing north in ordering seed of these it just a refl ection of general short and slow-maturing, hardy, native Firth – oats; Paragon – wheat). harvesting considerably earlier European varieties of cereals varieties for planting in 2011 supply in the sheepmeat sector? breeds grazing natural herbage Some of the most promising (seven days for Demonstrant, 10 which could make a useful should contact Richard Shearer It is disappointing that the must surely form a large part of varieties for yield and earliness days for Anniina and 18 days for contribution to agriculture in the (Tel. 01856 873189) before the organisations within the red meat the answer. are described in the paragraphs Berserk). Amongst these three north of Scotland. While the main middle of January. industry charged with product The mutton renaissance below. Yields are presented at northern varieties, Demonstrant advantage of northern barley and Photographs: The oat variety promotion continue to ignore campaign has succeeded in 15% moisture content. was highest yielding (5.3 t/ wheat varieties was earliness, mutton, perhaps still refl ecting attracting some celebrity chefs In the barley trial, the highest ha) followed by Anniina (4.8 t/ several oat varieties combined trial in August (top) and wheat the image problem suffered by and top restaurants to the cause. grain yield was from Waggon ha) and then Berserk (4.3 t/ha). earliness with a higher yield than variety trial in September mature sheepmeat. For some of (www.muttonrenaissance.org.uk) (6.3 t/ha) which was harvested The estimated straw yields of the UK standard. (bottom). In both photos, the UK us old enough to remember, that The campaign, launched in 2004 on 8 September (145 days after Demonstrant and Anninna were The AI and WS are now hoping variety (centre) is still green and is image is of the strong taste (and by Prince Charles, has now come planting). However, four of the similar to that of Paragon while to test some of the more promising fl anked by plots of earlier maturing smell!) of a bony yet over-fat hunk up with a defi nition of the product northern varieties were harvested Berserk’s was lower. varieties on a larger scale and north European varieties. of meat left boiling away for too which is genuinely helpful: sheep long on the Rayburn; not exactly must be over two years old and tempting to the burger and pizza animals must have a forage- generation, or to consumers based diet (for example, grass, conditioned by the myriad of heather and root crops). 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PAPN the marketing jargon) as a prime, where an animal is reared, its ATNOTNE®ONNE®TONE® PAPANTONE® 11327 C8 C 316203 C C natural, healthy meat. That is one breed and age at slaughter. Some Excellence through experience. reason for SCF’s much-publicised of these standards are similar venture into pies that took place to those adopted for Scottish over the summer and even Crofting Produce and a number of Broadford, Isle of Skye IV49 9AP featured on BBC’s Landward. mutton producers have become 01471 822 555 The pies are just one aspect. members of that scheme. 28 QUEENSGATE INVERNESS IV1 1YN • T: 01463 239393 Most crofters already know that If mutton can be brought back F: 01463 222879 • E: [email protected]

Claire Nicolson www.strathprint.co.uk meat from older sheep which into the mainstream of production © 8 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 9 ON THE CROFT ON THE CROFT Crofting cattle improvement scheme Controlling liver fluke HE BULL HIRE SCHEME, from low TB risk areas (no less than should provide information such be available from farm staff. IVER FLUKE DISEASE has been are effective against. now evolved into the four years testing interval). as herd composition, breeding If you wish to participate in the estimated to cost the Scottish livestock • Use the right drug at the right time and don’t crofting cattle improvement The bulls are health screened industry in excess of £50 million per T plan, health status, marketing and scheme or require any further L over-use any particular drug. For acute fl uke scheme, is open to applications when they return to the stud, which year due to deaths of infected animals and details of any agri-environmental information please contact: infections a drug which is effective against for the 2011-12 season. involves blood testing for johnes and other community schemes condemnation of affected livers at slaughter. immature fl uke is required, whereas a fl ukicide The scheme is open to groups disease etc and sheath washing and initiatives. John Cowan The latter is becoming even more important. with activity against the adult parasites is of at least two crofters within the for campylobacter foeti. They then The information in the plan will Stud Farm Manager Latest QMS fi gures suggest ±25% of lamb required to treat chronic fl uke and/or prevent crofting counties and provides good- receive vaccinations for BVD, IBR, and cattle livers are condemned at slaughter be used to monitor the scheme, Knocknagael Farm egg laying and pasture contamination. quality, high-health bulls in areas leptospirosis, louping ill and a 10 in in Scotland. Liver fl uke disease is on the assist with future planning for the Inverness IV2 6AJ • Use a fl ukicide rather than a combination where it is impractical to keep bulls 1 vaccine for clostridial diseases. increase in Scotland, in both sheep and cattle stud and also to demonstrate the T: 01463 231261 M: 07767673717 wormer as part of a specifi c fl uke control and over winter them and where no This not only protects them whilst so it is therefore important to work with your john.cowan@crofterscommission. strategy. alternative hiring facility exists. away from the stud, but also benefi ts the scheme provides. As vet and develop liver fl uke control strategies Breeds supplied include: reduces the risk of spreading always, advice and assistance will org.uk specifi cally for your croft. • Remember to include cattle in control Limousin, Simmental, Aberdeen disease between township herds. programmes aimed at sheep fl ocks on mixed Angus, Charolais, Shorthorn, If a bull out on hire develops Symptoms crofts. Cattle are often relatively unaffected by Luing, Salers and Highland. If a problem, a replacement is The disease is caused by the parasitic fl uke but represent a signifi cant maintenance demand for any other breed was provided at no additional cost www.crofting.org fl atworm, Fasciola hepatica and the type host for the parasite. demonstrated, we would consider once veterinary advice has of disease seen depends on the type of Prevention adding to our range, provided it been obtained. infection. • Your vet can diagnose past or current fl uke was deemed to be cost-effective The cost of a hire is £1281.25 if Acute fl uke is caused by the movement of
Dunlop Tractor  Spares   infections using faecal, blood or milk samples. and value for money. the bull is over-wintered at the stud large numbers of young parasites through the Our bulls are selected on a farms and £922.50 or £973.75 if A WIDE RANGE OF
 PARTS   STOCKED   FOR  FERGUSON, MASSEY Your abattoir may also be able to supply liver. The resulting liver damage can cause information about the fl uke status of the livers combination of attributes such as wintered on the township, subject FERGUSON, FORDSON DEXTA AND MAJOR, FORD, FORD sudden death in lambs and sheep in autumn FERGUSON,

   DAVID BROWN AND  INTERNATIONAL.   of the animals you send for slaughter. correctness, good legs and feet, to farm staff approval. The prices and winter. Fortunately, acute fl uke is relatively Send stamped  
   addressed envelope, 47p, for price list. good locomotion, size range to suit have increased this year to refl ect rare in cattle. • Avoid grazing livestock on heavy, low- the many variations of herds within the 2.5% rise in VAT, which groups   !"#  $%& '#  %("% lying pasture – this is ideal snail/fl uke habitat. 67a Crankill Road, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland BT43 5NN Chronic fl uke is caused by the establishment the crofting counties and estimated may be able to reclaim. A VAT Boggy areas should be fenced off if possible Fasciola hepatica T: 028 2565   2560 F: 028 2565    2563 M: 07834      455 082 or 07834  455 083 breeding values. We try to select invoice is available on request. of adult parasites in the bile duct, usually seen and drainage should be considered on crofts [email protected] animals which are above the top From this year, groups !" #$ %&'&  & % ()$ %*%++*+% %'  %' in late winter/early spring. The blood-feeding with severe fl uke problems )*%+www.dunloptractorspares.co.uk ))),"#  (#   (#,- habit of the adults can cause severe anaemia WHEN RESPONDING 40% for the breed, with many being participating in the scheme will have • Adopt a quarantine strategy. Your vet will in the top 20%, whilst still ensuring to complete a basic development %"+ * %.,"#  (#   (#,- and poor productivity, reduced fertility, poor TO AN ADVERT, wool quality in sheep, reduced milk yield/ be able to provide advice on which fl ukicide value for money. Animals have to plan, very similar to the plan used to use and when to use it to treat a particular PLEASE SAY YOU SAW IT IN be of known health status and come in previous bull schemes. The plan quality in cattle and depressed lambing/ THE CROFTER calving rates. fl uke problem on your croft If you would like a free eight page newsheet Control Crofter advertising: on liver fl uke please contact Maggie Bennett at Claire Nicolson Dave Thompson The main way to treat and control liver fl uke The Moredun Foundation, Pentlands Science Angus MacNeil MP disease is through strategic use of a fl ukicide. Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ or tel: 01471 833239 There are a number of products on the market, phone 0131 445 5111 or visit the website [email protected] Constituency Office MSP though they differ in what age of parasite they www.moredun.org.uk 31 Bayhead Street for Highlands and Islands Stornoway Regional Office Isle of Lewis HS1 2DU Thorfin House Mun àm seo dhen a’ bhliadhna Bridgend Business Park UN ÀM SEO dhen a’ bhliadhna, tha Ged bhiodh chemist 's e ri taobh a-rithist air fàs bitheanta ann an corra aitidhean Dingwall corra ghalaran air aire chroitearan aig 'Son 'refi nadh' na fala air a’ Ghàidhealtachd; ged-tà, chan eil i idir Tel no 70 2272 IV15 9SL Ma bheil stoc. An tè air an tig am poca tràth ann an Sealtainn, far a bheil lagh pàrlamaid E-Mail [email protected] ’S docha gur h-e an glupad as mò a ni call air Bheir am bàs leis i as t-earrach. ag òrdachadh gum faigh a h-uile caora, reithe Tel: 01349 864 701 crodh is caoraich air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus ’Sna seann làithean bhiodh croitearan a’ is uan a thèid a cheannach a-steach snathad Enquiries welcome – office open Monday-Friday ann an Sealtainn; tha dùil aig muinntir SAC fosgladh caora a bha air bàsachadh, agus Email: [email protected] doramectin aig a’ chidhe ann an Lerwick. ri call mòr a-rithist am-bliadhna air a sgàth. fhuaradh a-mach leotha gruthan air seacadh Cho math ris a’ chlaimh is ris na biastan, Bhiodh e glè dhoirbh cur às dhan a’ ghlupad, agus ‘liabagan beaga’ na bhroinn, oir tha gheibhear cuidhteas an gartan agus am oir tha e na chreutair aig a bheil beatha gheur- coltas liabaige air a’ ghlupad. mial-chaorach leis an diobadh. Chan eil am innleach toinnte. Thèid cur às dha le dòs airson caoraich, mial-chaorach glè bhitheanta san Eilean Cuimhnicheamaid gu bheil a làthaireachd agus snathad no pour-on airson crodh. Chan Archie Nicolson Sgitheanach, ged a tha e pailt ann an caoraich an crochadh ri na tha ann as t-samhradh de eil dìon an aghaidh nan drogaichean na Shealtainn far am bi e bristeadh na clòimhe ROB GIBSON sheilcheagan beaga – tha mu threas cuid m’ thrioblaid mòr fhathast, ach tha e air ceann Painter & Decorator Scottish Crofting Federation gu dona. Air an làimh eile, tha an gartan ìngne annta - a tha beò san talamh fl iuch a a thogail ann an corra aitidhean. Tha pour- MSP uile-lathaireach air feadh na Gàidhealtachd tha pailt an ceann an iar-thuath Alba. Bidh ons ùra a’ chruidh cuideachd èifeachdach an Interior & Exterior for Highlands and Islands ged is gann gu bheil e ann idir ann an Our mission is larbhaidh a’ ghlupaid a’ meudachadh anntasan, aghaidh biast a’ chraicinn, no mialan mar a Painting, paper-hanging, Welcomes All Enquiries mus sgaoil iad anns an fheurach gun tèid an chanas cuid riutha. Sealtainn. Cha bhiodh guth air a’ ghartan air a’ gheamhraidh sna làithean a dh’fhalbh, agus taping & filling etc to safeguard ithe le beathach. Lorgar biast a’ chraicinn ann an clòimh WICK OFFICE Nì an glupad call air a’ ghruthan. Tha bàs chaorach cuideachd, ach chan eil i idir cho an fhuachd air cur às dha; ach bho chionn Distance no object and promote the 4 Grant Street, aithghearr bitheanta leis ann an caoraich, callmhor ris a’ chlaimh no scab. “Millidh aon corra bhliadhnaichean tha e - agus na galaran rights, livelihoods ach ma thig am milleadh mean air mhean, ’s caorach chlaimheach an treud” their an a thèid a sgapadh leis, leithid a’ chrith - air a T: 01470 552 248 Wick, KW1 5AY dòcha thairis air mìosan de thìm, nochdaidh seanfhacal, agus sgapaidh i eadar treudan bhith nochdadh cho tràth ris an Fhaoilleach, and culture of Tel: 01955 605016 comharraidhean nas fhaide air adhart dhan a’ chaorach gam measgachadh air talamh cùl- comharra eile air blàthachadh na talmhainn M: 07768 246 757 gheamhradh; caillidh stoc òrdan, agus chithear cinn. Feumar diobadh deireadh an fhoghair, ann am beachd cuid. crofters and their Fax: 01955 604963 balg-fo-chraicinn mun àmhach aca – oedema no snathad de chaochladh sheòrsaichean. Le taing do Dhòmhnall Iain Mac’Illinnein, an [email protected] ris an canar ‘am poca’. Mar a bh’ aig am bàrd Bho rinneadh gnothach saor-thoileach communities Email: [email protected] t-Àth Leathainn. 7 Flodigarry, Isle of Skye Alasdair MacFhearghuis às na Hearadh ann seach riatanach dhen diobadh ann an - ma an Òran a' Ghlupaid: ’s math mo chuimhne - 1992, tha a’ chlaimh Neil McRae An t-Samhain 2010 10 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 11 ON THE CROFT The CAP towards 2020 Pack fi nal report Changes and HE EUROPEAN COMMISSION let slip expected payment a non-paper a few weeks ago called HE LONG-AWAITED final report of T“The CAP towards 2020: meeting the inquiry into future support for the food, natural resource and territorial T agriculture in Scotland, headed by 1HHGWR rates for LFASS challenges of the future”. Brian Pack OBE, has been published. This is a leaked copy of a policy paper On the face of it the report, ‘The 2011-2013 under preparation that offi cials want to be Road Ahead for Scotland’, is an ROFTERS should be seeing a seen in order to get feedback but that is improvement on the interim version in welcome increase in their LFASS not an offi cial draft paper. Strange way of that it appears to take more account Cpayments when they hit the bank behaving and as one offi cial put it, “It is not of the less favoured areas and the WDON" in early 2011. so much leaked as irrigated!” wider role of agriculture in the more The paper lays out the drivers of the CAP: For fragile and very fragile areas this marginal areas. However, SCF cannot  food security; provision of quality and diversity accept Mr Pack's guiding principles will be 19%. Meanwhile those in the of food produced sustainably in line with our that larger payments must be given to standard area on grade A or B land will get environmental, water and animal welfare occupiers of the best 12% of Scottish a 38% increase, while those on the better ambitions; maintaining viable rural communities. &DOO land. He claims that they are somehow C and D land will see an increase of 5%. Of note are two aspects of this report – one best placed to deliver on the global For the period 2011-2013, minimum that it endorses the public getting a return on stocking densities have been reduced to its investment through the provision of public challenges and Scottish priorities 75% of previous levels, to offset the loss goods and the other that small producers have a detailed in the reports remit. of ewe hoggs and heifers, which no longer valuable place in food production. Nor can we accept that more *$7(3267 count in calculations. Minimum levels The commissioner for agriculture and rural agriculturally productive units are which now apply are A. 0.09 LU/ha B. development, Dacian Cioloç, said in a recent faced with disproportionately higher 0.15, C. 0.30 and D. 0.45. seminar in Romania "I am convinced that as regulatory costs and therefore RQ require higher rates of support. If your historic stocking levels long as small farms are in a position to market their production and contribute to maintaining were already below this, then eligible Quite the reverse is often claimed landscapes and the vitality of rural areas, hectares will be restricted. To calculate, by representatives of these same  then they must be supported". divide your eligible hectares from your units – that they, through economies The fi nal version of this communication will SAF by the minimum stocking density of scale, are more viable. So why be published as we go to press and will be and multiply the result by the historic would they need more public money 0RQGD\)ULGD\ summarised in the next edition of The Crofter. stocking density. If your historic density spending on them? was above the 1.4 maximum, eligible The European Commission has  hectares will be restricted by dividing Install micro-renewable made it clear that there has to be the maximum SD by the historic SD greater accountability over the use of and multiplying the eligible hectares by technology public spending on agriculture (see &RQILGHQWLDOOLVWHQLQJDQG the result (clear as mud). Multipliers ROFTS ARE ideally suited to micro- ‘CAP towards 2020’) and that public for cattle top-up are 1.35 for more renewable energy technologies spending has to be justified by the VXSSRUWVHUYLFH than 10% LU ’s and over 50% is 1.70. Csuch as wind turbines or solar PV delivery of public goods – such as The figures below are for all eligible panels which can be placed onto land and environmental protection, increased hectares; there is no need to apply a buildings to help crofters diversify and have bio-diversity, carbon sequestration IRUWKHIDUPLQJDQG grazing category multiplier. an additional income stream. and so on. Public money is not there to increase the wealth of the more viable SA Standard area FA Fragile area Feed in Tariffs were launched in April 2010 ODQGEDVHGFRPPXQLW\ VFA Very fragile area by the UK government. Energy suppliers must agri-businesses; but that is apparently make regular payments to those generating not how Mr Pack sees it. LFASS 2011-13 their own electricity from renewable or low Despite the size of the report LQ6FRWODQG S.A F.A V.F.A £ per eligible ha carbon sources. A minimum payment for all (108 pages) there is a lack of detail electricity generated, as well as a separate which makes it difficult to respond  Cat A 8.71 10.37 11.92 payment for the electricity exported to the conclusively to parts, such as the Cat B 17.37 20.68 23.76 national grid, is guaranteed. top up fund and standard labour ZZZUVDELRUJXNJDWHSRVW The recent spending review made two requirements – these will have to be Cat C 22.76 36.36 42.02 changes to the Feed in Tariff that should detailed further and we will comment  encourage crofters to invest in micro- in the next issue where we will present Cat D 27.30 43.61 50.40 renewables quickly, to ensure they receive our response to the report. the best tariff available.  If there is a higher than expected deployment of micro-renewables, an earlier  Support to crofting agriculture government review date than 31 March 2012 Renewables update HE SCF is working on a number could be triggered, with tariffs reduced from OLLOWING ON from the very  of fronts in an attempt to improve the current rate of 41.3p per unit of electricity informative SCF renewable energy Tsupport payments for crofting. for solar panel owners. The tariff will be cut by Fseminar held in Balmacara in June,  On LMOs we are preparing a submission £40m, or by 10% in 2014 and 2015. we met with Jim Mather MSP, minister for to Scottish Government which would see “Many people don’t realise they are in energy, to discuss the diffi culties crofters face a more fi t-for-purpose suite of options a position to have their own green power in trying to benefi t from renewable energy available for crofters to choose from. station on their land which can make and production – something that should be a On CCAGS we are asking the government save them money,” said Iain Sloan, co- huge opportunity for crofters. Mr Mather’s to better refl ect the additional costs of founder of Icon Energy. suggestion is that we get together some of our building in remote and peripheral areas, by “Any property with suitable roof space people and those experts, representatives of increasing the grant rate payable. can have a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel the energy companies etc, who can inform   On area support and the Pack enquiry and anyone with a bit of land can introduce the meeting. The government will host the we are developing a position which will a small turbine. The current feed-in tariff rate meeting which we are aiming to hold mid-  then be circulated to area representatives is guaranteed for 25 years, so people should December. The outcomes will be reported on 6FRWWLVK&KDULW\1R6& for comment within the next few weeks. make the switch to micro-renewables now.” in the next issue of The Crofter. 12 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 13 CELEBRATING 25 YEARS ANOTHER AWARD-WINNING YEAR Crofters securing the future for themselves HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS MEDIA AWARDS OT LONG AFTER it became known that there was a job for a union to do and that that I was to be the fi rst director of there would be enough backing for such a Thinking of starng your own business? Nthe then not-quite-launched Scottish union to make it a viable proposition. Crofters Union (SCU), I was visiting Skye to This proved to be the case. In November Do you want to develop your exisng venture? which my family and I were shortly to move. 1984, I presented my – strongly positive – Driving down the single-track road into fi ndings to a public meeting in Inverness. At Keith MacKenzie Braes, south of Portree, I saw by the roadside that meeting, I was asked by a Gairloch crofter, Sports Writer of the Year The Business Gateway can help one of the crofters I’d interviewed some time Donald MacLeod, if I’d come and explain my before when – on behalf of the Highlands and report to crofters in his area. Although having Islands Development Board (HIDB) – I looked no real standing with regard to what might Murray MacLeod Business Gateway is a free service offering advice on every into the feasibility of crofters having their own come next, I said I would. Feature Writer of the Year aspect of starng, developing and running a business, from representative organisation. On a wet and windy night at the beginning of and highly commended in the feasibility to financial planning and market research. We I stopped to talk with the crofter in question, December 1984, the possibility of establishing provide free business skills workshops and specialist advice an elderly gentleman. “Well,” he greeted me, a Scottish Crofters Union was put – somewhat Bord na Gaidhlig Award tentatively – to a gathering of crofters in to help you take that next step. “you’re a brave man.” Not being aware of having done anything very heroic, I asked Poolewe. Would such a union work? What Willie Urquhart what he meant. Soon his meaning was plain would it do? What benefi ts would it bring? There highly commended in the We can also connect you to the Prince’s Scosh Youth enough. While it might be fi ne in theory for were plenty of such queries. But there was real Photographer of the Year award Business Trust, the Enterprise Europe Network and to a crofters to have their own union, I was told, enthusiasm too. Before the evening ended range of financial support. the thing would never work in practice. There – and nearly a year in advance of its offi cial was simply no way that any worthwhile launch – the SCU had its fi rst branch, to be Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul known as Gairloch and District, its fi rst branch For further informaon, please contact: number of crofters would pay the exorbitant Angus and Annie Macleod after Angus received his MBE Bord na Gaidhlig Award annual subscription – £8 was the fi gure under chairman, Kenny Urquhart, its fi rst branch consideration – likely to be requested by the secretary, Aimi Macdonald, its fi rst branch Alistair Danter SCU. The union, as a result, would never get treasurer, George Macleod and, perhaps most Regional Development Officer off the ground. And I, as a further result, would signifi cantly, its fi rst subscriptions – of which The newspaper of the quickly be out of a job. there were no less than 38. Business Gateway, PORTREE Much has changed in the 26 years since Tel: 07921 758451 Such pessimism about the SCU’s land, the language, prospects was far from unusual in the run-up then. But one thing, I believe and will always to the new union’s launch. It was a pessimism believe, has remained the same. If crofting is the people Email: [email protected] I sometimes shared myself. But as I’d told to have a future, that future will not be secured Angus Macleod, the SCU’s founding father by Crofters Commissions, Land Courts or and the man who’d persuaded the HIDB to government agencies of any kind. It will be fi nance that feasibility study, I was personally secured, and it can only be secured, by crofters NEIL FERGUSON CHARTERED ARCHITECT themselves – crofters prepared to get together Based at: 1 School Park, Knock, Point, Isle of Lewis. HS2 0BS. of the view that crofting and crofters were urgently in need of just the sort of organisation in suffi cient numbers to make their collective ANDERSON MACARTHUR Also at: 12 Skinidin, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye. IV55 8ZS. voice heard in the places where it matters. The Mobile: 0774 326 5337 E-mail: [email protected] Angus had long been pressing for. Hence the assurance I’d privately given Angus before 38 crofters who signed up to that proposition Solicitors A design service can be tailored to meet your needs where in Poolewe in December 1984 were the fi rst of the plans for your home, sheds and croft can be developed starting my month-long commission from SCU conference in Thurso in 3D while at the same time providing land plans, building the HIDB in the back end of 1984 – this thousands who were to join the SCU. Crofting Simon A. Fraser, OBE, D.L., M.A., N.P. layout drawings, material quantities and energy schedules – all assurance being to the effect that, barring needed those thousands then. Crofting needs based on a Building Information Model (BIM) using the latest such thousands still. every single crofter I met telling me there Autodesk Revit and SiteMaster software. Jim Hunter Duncan M. Burd, LL.B., Dip.L.P., N.P. never could be an effective crofters’ union, I’d Practice Manager: Michael I. Ferris, C.A assure the development board that the union, given a little bit of start-up backing from the Solicitors and Estate Agents www.crofting.org HIDB itself, would be a roaring success. In the event, I didn’t need to doctor the serving the Highlands and Islands evidence too greatly. Sure, it wasn’t hard to fi nd doom and gloom about the prospective for over 100 years Lewis Crofters Ltd union’s prospects. But it wasn’t hard either to fi nd people who took an entirely opposite view. By the time I’d completed my grand tour Old Bank of Scotland Buildings, Stornoway, of the crofting areas, I’d spent time with lots of crofters – the late Roddy Steele from South Isle of Lewis HS1 2BG Uist and the late Angus MacRae from North Tel: 01851 703356 Fax: 01851 702 766 Strome were two who did much to shape my thinking – who were fi rmly of the opinion both Jim Hunter at his new desk 1986 Iain MacIver, Angus MacRae and Jim Hunter 1986 SHEEP FEED CATTLE FOOD www.anderson-macarthur.com DRENCHES VACCINES FERTILISERS HARDWARE MacDonald House, Somerled Square, SEEDS CLOTHING Portree, Isle of Skye IV51 9EH FENCING TRACTOR PARTS Tel: 01478 612197 Fax: 01478 612 451 FOOTWEAR CAR TRAILERS Simon Fraser is accredited by the Law Lewis Crofters Ltd Society of Scotland as a specialist in Island Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis Crofting Law. Telephone 01851 702350 Fax: 01851 703077 www.lewiscrofters.co.uk Early meeting of the SCU's Skye and Lochalsh area committee Alastair Campbell and Neil Jones on the ferry to Harris 14 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 15 CELEBRATING 25 YEARS CELEBRATING 25 YEARS Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose The big men Common themes across the years HEN I STARTED work as director Other signifi cant events were the pioneering benefi tting those crofting today. Alastair MacIver, former SCU president, HINKING BACK twenty fi ve years to the mind that I benefi ted greatly from his example of the Scottish Crofters Union in work the SCU did in conjunction with the So whilst the world may have changed, remembers some of the big players in the mid 80s and those early days of the SCU when I took over the post of area president for WMarch 1990, the world was a very RSPB which culminated in the publication in the challenges facing crofting have not – and organisation’s history Tbrings back many good memories of a Uist and Barra, a post which I held until the different place. 1992 of the Crofting and The Environment the requirement for an articulate and forceful new, vibrant and very busy organisation fi ghting beginning of 1991. Y VERY FIRST involvement with the Or was it? We had a Tory prime minister, report. This was a seminal publication which crofting organisation remains the same. the cause for crofters from the local level to the As for Messrs MacLeod and MacRae, well organisation was in November 1985 were in the middle of a recession, house for the fi rst time redefi ned the contribution of I count it an enormous privilege to have had highest level of government at the time. they had that special presence and simply when, along with John MacDonald prices had dropped by 10% on the previous crofting to society. At a time when mainstream a bit part in the fi rst 25 years of the SCU/SCF M For me, as a much younger crofter, it inspired anyone present at a meeting or in the and Alistair MacRae, I attended the meeting year and GDP was predicted to fall by 1%...... agriculture was moving ever more towards and I wish you all the very best for the next was a great privilege to take part in board audience at any gathering. The former, Angus in the Cummings Hotel Inverness which and Rangers won the Scottish League Cup industrialisation, crofting was increasingly quarter century and beyond. meetings alongside some big men with very (Ease) Macleod, worked tirelessly to form the established the Scottish Crofters Union. campaign that started that year. being viewed as outdated and anachronistic. big hearts and a great passion for crofting union from the earlier federation and the reign George Campbell I suppose that if I were to be asked to name Some of the issues facing crofting also The joint report articulated crofting’s social, and the success of the union. I refer of course of Angus MacRae as overall president of the all those whom I have encountered in my twenty resonate with today. Crofters were not happy cultural and environmental contribution. It to gentlemen such as Roddy Steele, Angus union was, in my view, crucial to the early fi ve years in this organisation I could probably fi ll MacLeod and Angus MacRae. success of the organisation. with what the government was proposing defi ned these contributions as public goods quite a few pages of The Crofter. However I have for them and fi rmly rejected the proposal to and argued successfully that they were worthy Roddy provided me with tremendous From that period, through to my own time as been given a limit within which I have to stay so I support and advice in these early days as a local area and branch offi ce-bearer, I seem transfer the DAFS (remember them?) estates of public support. will restrict myself to those who stand out for me. on Skye into community ownership. We also campaigned on crofter housing, less I wrote recently in The Crofter, giving an to have kept most of the documents and many Every crofter in Scotland owes a huge account of some of his achievements prior of the letters from that time. Some of the topics It is interesting to note just how quickly favoured area support, headage payments, debt to the late Angus MacLeod, for it was he and fundamentally the attitude to crofting the tup and bull scheme, the crofting counties to his untimely death just as the union was sound familiar even today, twenty fi ve years on who had the vision and determination which getting off the ground. There is no doubt in my – for example the problem with greylag geese and community ownership has changed in agricultural grants scheme, land reform and allowed him to persuade all the right people in Uist and yet another discussion paper on the intervening two decades. I do count it a crofting reform – sometimes successfully, that the time was ripe to set up a crofters getting croft land into active occupancy. privilege to have been around when two of the sometimes not. union – and the rest, as they say, is history. Also among the papers are some interesting pioneering crofter buyouts took place – Assynt However, what made it all worthwhile was My fi rst personal contact with Angus was records of a small local committee, the Uist and Borve. the unstinting support I got from my colleagues: when the Rogart Branch invited him to open land use committee, on which I represented Other highlights of my four years at the Fiona Mandevile, John Toal, Angus Graham, our fi rst attempt at fundraising in the form of the union. Scottish Crofters Union were the passage of Neil MacLeod, Drew Ratter and the SCU’s a sale of work. Not only did Angus agree but This committee was formed by the late Calum MacDonald MP’s Crofter Forestry Bill 4,500 members, 57 SCU branches and he brought with him a length of tweed to sell; Dr Denis Branagan, secretary to the Uist and the subsequent publication of the SCU’s particularly the SCU’s ruling council. such was the commitment of the man. council of social services at the time, and Crofter Forestry Handbook. The fact that The elected members of the SCU council Angus MacRae MBE – a giant of a man in was set up with the aim of assisting the local in the mid 90s crofter forestry represented were an extraordinary group. They gave freely stature as well as ability. It was said of Angus authority, the Crofters’ Commission and other the greatest contribution to new planting of of their limited time and considerable talents that he could do the cryptic crossword in the bodies and local communities in creating the forestry in Scotland was a great tribute to all to further the cause of crofting. Whilst some P & J quicker than most others could do the most advantageous policies as regards land of the individuals and grazings committees of the changes in support of crofting policy ordinary one. Alasdair MacEachan and Alistair MacIver tenure, use and development. who seized on the new opportunities that the they infl uenced have long been forgotten, the Angus was the one who encouraged me Interestingly, a paper Crofter Forestry Act afforded them. positive impacts of these changes are still to take an active part in the affairs of the written outlining the SCU and supported me through these early case for the land use years, very much my friend and mentor over committee describes a number of years until his untimely death – ALLANS OF how the proposal had Effective solutions to our own problems a huge loss to crofting and crofters. arisen from prolonged Many people in the organisation and consideration of the Continued from page 1 nearly always wrong, but allow me to share fl exibility in the types of employment that beyond have commented on his ability GILLOCK LTD present predicament and presence and my abiding memory of some opinions. I think that crofting has a can be done from rural areas – internet of the crofting system than the apathy they expected from these Angus will always be my fi rst attendance at GILLOCK52 SEAFIELD MAINS, ROAD, GILLOCK, very promising future – but not as we would retail, distance working, environmental and within Uist and of the communities, there was instead a ferment a meeting of the Hill Farming Review along recognise it 25 years ago! Production food tourism, renewable energy and many WICK,INVERNESS, CAITHNESS. IV1 1SGKW1 5UR factors which bear of ideas, innovation, and enthusiasm. The with the great man. This was the annual margins are tighter, but there is also a more commercial opportunities that were TEL: 01955 661211 upon the means Highlands and Islands Development Board meeting where government ministers and TEL: 01463 713270 of improving that greater demand for local produce, farmers’ simply not available 25 years ago, but can was a very early supporter of the crofting be combined nicely with crofting. civil servants listened to all the hard luck predicament. markets and food traceability. movement and later declared that it was The SCU was pro-active, it did not stories from farmers and crofters and then YOUR LOCAL BUILDERS & AGRICULTURAL MERCHANTS The report went on Income from croft produce is down as a went away and decided how to reduce next the possibly the single best investment that simply wait to react to events, so we need stockists of to describe how the they had ever made in terms of regional percentage of household income, but the to follow this lead. Community-owned year’s support, particularly to crofters. proposal for this land development outcomes. crofting location allows an even greater estates offer a massive potential for local There were quite a number of senior use committee was Why was this change so astonishingly regeneration and community revitalisation representatives from all the major organisations further prompted by successful? Quite simply, it’s because and we need to build on their successes. sitting round the table all chatting quietly until the FENCING MATERIALS the recognition that, people learn about power through having We need to actively encourage crofter co- meeting got underway and a representative from sooner or later, the the opportunity to exercise it. We have operatives and other forms of collaboration each organisation presented the case from their Western Isles would the collective ability to provide effective – social housing, district energy schemes, point of view while a low murmur of background and GATES be obliged to develop solutions to our own problems when stock clubs for cattle and sheep, local food conversation continued. Finally Angus was its indigenous natural we have the opportunity to analyse and initiatives, smart transport solutions. asked to speak. Angus got slowly to his feet and resources as a explore them – and the confi dence to take We choose to live in these communities suddenly an absolute silence descended on that counter to declining action on our conclusions. because we see the myriad advantages; room, truly a measure of the respect that Angus SHEEP and CATTLE external support. Much has changed since the launch in millions of visitors want to sample this commanded wherever he went. Well, sooner or later 1985 – in political, economic, social and environment as a contrast to their own Any account of the SCU/SCF could not be indeed, some very true environmental terms we are operating in lifestyles, even through buying books, made without mention of Jim Hunter and his words spoken those a very different world. The web had not art and music of the region. We have contribution to the crofting cause. His literary HANDLING and twenty fi ve years ago been born; climate change was a thing that a golden opportunity to support and works and his campaigning on behalf of the as we today debate happened between seasons of a year; no encourage what is the very best in the organisation he did so much to set up will the very same themes mobile phones or electronic tagging; there crofting communities and to share this surely guarantee him a well-deserved and FEEDING EQUIPMENT in the light of possible was no Scottish Parliament; and no land with the world on our own terms. special place in crofting history. threats to the way that reform on the political agenda. The SCF is the natural successor to In closing I have to make special reference our economy has been So what’s the future? the SCU and what a wonderful horizon of to the staff and friends of SCF who kept the CAITHNESS, ORKNEY, SHETLAND, INVERNESS supported in the past. I’m always suspicious of people who challenges is open to us! organisation alive in a very diffi cult period. Tel: 01955 661211 • 01856 761594 • 01950 460417 • 01463 713270 Fax: 01955 661244 • 01856 761709 • 01950 460013 • 01463 713393 make predictions, because they are Let’s use them. Alistair MacIver Alasdair MacEachen Benbecula 16 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 17 CELEBRATING 25 YEARS TRACTOR RESTORATION 25 not out and still at The crofting Banned from the kitchen Edd Green, who describes himself as an old good order or are already restored. the stump movement in Shetland enthusiast, sets the scene Parts are readily available and tractor HAT HAS a cricket Agnes Leask outlines the history displays, shows, ploughing matches, rallies Y INTEREST IN TRACTORS was allegory got to do with of the crofting movement in and charity events are a good time to discuss WSCF? Shetland born when I started my working restoration projects with the people who have Well nothing really, but if you M life during the war years, when done the job and who are usually willing to N 1958, Davie and I were check the members list of the the transition from horses to tractors was give advice to novices. Hong Kong Cricket Club (HKCC) looking for a croft of our own. making big changes to the way in which There are some beautifully restored old – that bastion of pastoralsim and IThe lady who had the croft at farming was carried out. machines of all makes on display throughout community-based agriculture – Cott was retiring and she kindly Because money was short during that the northern area which are a credit to the then the list contains swathes of offered the tenancy to me. The period, the tractor man had to learn how things owners and should encourage more young Jamiesons, MacRaes, MacKenzies, trustees of the estate, which was worked and to make repairs to keep tools and enthusiast to get involved. Mathiesons and so on . bankrupt, decided not to re-let so tractors on the move. It was natural that after Good Luck! Edd’s collection of tractors in his shed are a Ferguson It is called “stickability”; it is they refused the assignation and a working life in another occupation, I should 1947 TEA petrol, a 1954 Ferguson TEF diesel, a 1957 My address for tractor collection is what has made the SCF the force it was put on the market and we go back to my roots amongst tractors – and so Ferguson FE35 grey/gold diesel and a 1967 Massey Achnandarach, Plockton Ferguson 135. it is today. In much the same way had to buy. began my interest in restoration. as those from the crofting counties The house was habitable but Firstly I would point out that this is not for made their way in the wider world was a very small but ‘n ben, with the fainthearted as it requires a lot of money, and stuck to their beliefs, then no mod cons. getting dirty, cold and frustrated. But if you are the SCF is delivering that original Hughie Donaldson We applied to the Crofters mechanically minded, can spray paint and you vision of the SCU. Commission for a grant and don’t mind being banned from the kitchen for The HKCC could be replicated are different rules now. loan to build a new house, were getting grease on the fl oor and staying half the in places like Argentina, Australia, Advocacy and casework have refused because I was deemed to night in the shed, you can overcome all these Canada, South Africa and other always been a key element be the landlady of a vacant croft stumbling blocks – then there is no reason places too. of SCF’s work and that work and they refused to accept Davie why you cannot restore old tractors The open forums held at the continues to this day – where the as a tenant because he was my Agnes Leask We have now reached the situation that a lot Oban gathering in September dead hand of beaurocracy and husband. I couldn’t get grants for at which time I was appointed of good old tractors have been dismantled by gave members a chance to have the infl exible attitude of some lead anything, either fencing, draining as vice-president. About 1996 enthusiasts who found the job not so easy and their say. A comment which jarred to confusion and despair. or re-seeding. Jim Johnson retired and I was they lie in bits all over the place, lost and rusting was “It’s not the same, the buzz I believe we will soon be asked Soon after, I think about 1960 or appointed president. In 2002 away, which is a great pity as most of them only has gone”. I think we should pay off for tea and cold drinks (they 1961, I heard about the Crofters the presidency became a joint needed a bit of TLC. Unfortunately prices have some heed to that; but I do want to need to talk to us) before returning Federation. The president for position and I was joined by Peter gone crazy and people who have old tractors dismiss the off-the-cuff remarks of Shetland at time was John At the Strathspey Railway Company’s steam fair: a display for passengers doing the round trip on the steam train to the crease to despatch whatever Dodge, Aith, Cunningsburgh. have been given the wrong idea that they are from Aviemore to Broomhill station, end of the line for the steam trains from Aviemore station until the last section of those protected by public money is thrown at us to the boundaries. Johnson. I contacted him and he The Shetland branch of the worth money. This is only the case if they are in track is completed to Grantown on Spey. or quango funding . Crofting’s place is in the came to the house with all the Federation is served well by all its The SCF is not the same. We communities where it was nurtured information. I joined and have been offi ce-bearers who spend many have no core funding, we have and where we are beginning to see a member ever since. During the hours doing their best to make no sponsorship from Scottish that politicians and policy makers last 15 to 20 years, thanks to the sure that crofters throughout the From horses to machines Government and we have to fi ght recognise the overall benefi ts hard work of the Scottish Crofters Highlands and Islands are treated Neil MacDonald remembers his early interest a David Brown 950 1961 which I use for for every penny of revenue. It is of of place-based policy and local Union, as it was 20 years ago, with the respect they deserve as in tractors vintage work, pulling a 1923 Albion Binder deep regret to me that so much owner occupier crofters now have organisations to deliver. the original environmentalists. and for charity runs. staff time is taken up with sourcing the same rights as tenants. ORN AND BROUGHT UP on a croft The SCF is just such an Shetland was honoured in My interest in old machinery continues funding and I would like to record If I remember right the next in Ross-shire, one of fi ve brothers, I organisation, and as we move forward 2006 when Norman Leask was and I am on my fourth tractor renovation, a the highest praise for all our staff the development of community- president for the Shetland branch elected national chair of the SCF Bwatched my father working with horses 1968 Nuffi eld 465, a 1965 Massey Ferguson efforts in remaining at the stump. based solutions to seemingly was Hugh Bowie, who was and then this year Shetland was on 30 acres, cultivating the land 130 ,a 1965 Ferguson TEF 20 which I have We have dodged a few “no balls” intractable individual problems will followed by Lollie Grahan. About again honoured by the election of Then came the fi rst tractors to the area, just completed – with a Fordson Super Major and managed to score a few sixes release a new wave of optimism for that time Violet Smith retired as Eleanor Arthur. putting the horses into retirement. next in line. along the way. The recent award the future. Over-reliance on the past treasurer and I was appointed. I am completely confi dent the I ploughed with a Fordson N and a of funding for extensive training is will damage the future. Alternatives When Lollie Graham retired Neil present SCF is still carrying on Cockshut No 6 plough at the age of 14. That a fi ne example of the stickability of will be found to ensure the future Jones took over the mantle which the fi ght for crofters and long may was me hooked. On leaving school I worked our volunteer staff. Many people health and well being of crofting. was then passed to Jim Johnson, they continue. on farms for about 10 years. In 1979 I bought my own croft which I worked in crofting will benefi t from this SCF is batting for that cause part time; and full time as a fencing contractor. programme. and for every member’s overall I always had an ambition to renovate an Well done guys. interest in that cause. old tractor so in 2005 I bought and restored Let’s celebrate the 25 and not out – 25 and just achievements of today in the getting warmed up, more like. context of the realities we have to deal with. For sure lets Hughie Donaldson, former remember the struggle but there SCF director, Strontian

Iain MacIver, former SCU president An aspiring crofter Ray Dutton (former SCU director), Donnie Maclennan, John MacKintosh (former SCU presidents) 18 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 19 MEMBERSHIP PAGES Actions from the membership survey HI-Scot ARLIER THIS YEAR a under half of the respondents organise meetings and are survey was sent round answered this question. driven from the grass roots. HQ credit Emembers in The Crofter to Of the 145 responses to this could do more to help with this fi nd out their views on the priorities question, getting on for a quarter and maybe the next steps are – union for for the SCF. were to do with local activities, more • HQ to check with branch and I reported in the last Crofter meetings, more activities, more area offi ce bearers to see whether crofters on the main results. Now we can info on contacts and meetings. The they are still active and use The N 1ST NOVEMBER see what actions the SCF needs next biggest category was training Crofter or a mail shot to advertise 2010 the Highlands to take to meet the aspirations (10%). This pattern holds for most any vacancies. Oand Islands saving of its members as put forward in of the breakdowns we looked at. • HQ could then help with and lending organisation HI- the survey. The only exception was for the organising meetings by arranging Scot credit union was offi cially The results were very under 40s who thought training speakers, doing advertising up-and-running. This has grown clear that the most important was the most important. Training or whatever to get branches from a development of the issues facing crofting today can overlap with local meetings energised again. Western Isles credit union to cover are to do with legislation, since many talks have an element • Our crofting resources the Highlands and Islands. grants and subsidies and the of training or updating skills and programme and our new skills Credit unions have huge lobbying of various levels of knowledge, depending on the training programme (see below) potential for all who want a government that goes with speaker. Otherwise, whether the can set up training sessions more ethical and community- these regulations. respondent was male or female, around the areas. minded way of saving and However, when the survey worked a croft or didn’t, lived on • There might even be a case borrowing than banks, but are asked “What should SCF be a croft or didn’t, they all put more for an SCF roadshow to tour especially relevant to crofters doing differently?” a separate local activity at the top of the list areas, provide assistance, boost who may fi nd a bank reluctant set of concerns surfaced to and training as second. membership and generally raise to lend to someone with a part- do with local branches and The traditional structure for the profi le. time or variable income. Even • Continue with providing an training. This suggests that SCF SCF is local branches run by local lending on tenanted crofts could SCF presence at agricultural is tackling the big issues but, in members. A number of branches be considered in the future. In shows around the Highlands and doing so, we have neglected then combine to form an area; and short, a credit union is a friendly Islands, as it does every year. the local areas and branches. the area elects a delegate to sit on alternative to a bank. If you don’t know who your Encouragingly, the third the SCF council, which consists SCF aims to nurture a branch reps are then get in biggest category was of area reps and the board. The relationship with HI-Scot and are touch with HQ for their contact expressions of general support council sets the strategy and keen to help publicise it to crofting details or ask for help in reviving such as “Keep up the good priorities for SCF. communities – as the more savers your own branch. in the credit union the more it is work”, “More of the same” Thus the branches and areas able to help with loans. and “Doing a good job”. Just depend on local members to Russell Smith www.crofting.org Crofting skills for the 21st century Young

HE SCF’S Crofters and food production skills to secondary develop appropriate skills for crofters group Small Landholders Skills pupils in 23 schools across the crofters, smallholders and rural LANDMAPS T THE ANNUAL gathering Tfor the 21st Century crofting counties. contractors in the Highlands in Oban Karen talked training scheme will provide The entry level and practical and Islands area. The skills about the aims for the courses at entry level (the skills courses will be delivered in programme will be delivered A young crofters group she is in crofting induction course) seven areas across the Highlands through a structured system the process of setting up. Landmaps provide accurate maps that are suitable for all aspects of covering subjects ranging and Islands: Inverness and East conforming to a range of national land management from buying or selling land, to farm and forestry After this there was a fl urry from tenancy and ownership Highland; Skye, Wester Ross and occupational standards which management. We can define croft boundaries for land registry purposes of media interest with articles and provide Ordnance Survey maps, aerial photos and land use maps. laws to livestock and land Lochalsh; Western Isles; Argyll have been specifi cally designed in the Press and Journal and management, landscape and the Islands; Northern Isles; by LANTRA in consultation with the West Highland Free Press. and wildlife conservation, Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey; crofters and smallholders. All types of area measurements We have had a good response Ordnance Survey maps forestry, horticulture, fi nance Caithness and Sutherland. Scottish Government from this attention and also from Land use surveys and marketing, the European During the life of the project funding for the programme information in The Crofter and De-crofting plans dimension and community it expects to provide training of £99,000 was confi rmed Property sale plans and land registry maps through word of mouth, but we development. to around 210 people at entry Croft, farm and estate management maps by environment minister still want more people to get This is followed by wide- level and 420 on the practical Maps for SRDP applications Roseanna Cunningham in her involved directly. Maps for planning applications ranging practical skills options skills programme. It will be keynote address to the SCF’s A study tour has been put under various individual unit delivered by specialists and annual gathering in Oban. It is on hold till the spring. If you are headings of crofting livestock; accredited practical trainers who to be matched by contributions interested in coming on this tour, land management; conservation are themselves in tune with the from Highlands and Islands or alternatively if you think you LANDMAPS and environment; crofter small scale nature of crofting and Enterprise, LANTRA, Scottish have something to offer to the forestry; crofter horticulture and smallholding in the Highlands. Natural Heritage, Scottish young crofters group please do crofting heritage skills. While the entry level course is KELSO Agricultural College and contact us. TD5 7QE The 18-month programme is aimed at aspiring and new entrant Forestry Commission Scotland. We will be doing the tour over 01573 225 028 responding to a recognised and crofters and small landholders, two days and plan to visit crofts of 07789 220 469 pressing need for appropriate and it is expected that the courses Information about the courses [email protected] all types to get an understanding affordable training in the crofting will also attract existing crofters is available from SCF hq on www.landmaps.co.uk of the range of activities that can sector. It will also complement wanting to develop their skills 01599 530 005 and at be done with croft land and also SCF’s existing SCF/Soil and ensure they are keeping up www.crofting.org have a look at fi nancial aspects. Association Crofting Connections to date with law and industry- Also from Su Cooper on If you have any ideas of what programme which provides approved good practice. 01463 796 836 and at you would like to see included, crofting, land management and The aim is to underpin and [email protected] please get in touch. 20 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 21 MEMBERSHIP PAGES The Land Settlement Association By Peter Clarke of chicks and breeding of pigs New face for SCF training were supplied by the estate John retiring – UST OVER 75 years ago the service depot. The men were OHN BANNISTER, retiring courses (now called entry level London government started bound by contract to co-operate surely not! SCF training manager induction courses) and a whole Jan experiment to re-settle via the LSA. They could be Jhas been replaced by Su bunch of other relevant practical unemployed miners, engineers evicted for elicit selling – that OHN BANNISTER, until he is in Africa doing a stint Cooper, a lassie who hails from courses are delivered to as and others from heavy industries is selling independently locally recently SCF training as a conservation volunteer the Inverness area. wide a crofting and smallholding in the depressed coalfi elds onto – and pocketing the money. J manager, says he is on a brown hyena survival John said, “Su impressed the audience as possible.” agricultural small holdings. The men received about retiring and handing over to programme – so we will see selection panel members at her Su is a busy lady, undertaking This resettlement was to two years training, during Su Cooper. Whilst the hand- go on until the outbreak of which time they continued to what that means. interview in early November. voluntary work as a science over has taken place and Su is war in September 1939. But receive their unemployment The SCF owes John a huge She is a qualifi ed and experienced ambassador, involved with our new training manager, the ecologist, having an MSc and a this was not the end of the assistance benefit. They were vote of thanks, not only for nation-wide surveys including ‘retiring’ bit doesn’t ring true. BSc in environment, economics Land Settlement Association joined by their families after the amount of voluntary time birds, plants and butterflies John left the Midlands and expertise he has given to and ecology. She also has a (LSA). It continued until 1983 three to six months. as well as the Highland cycle Police force and moved to crofting – which was deservedly considerable background in to give men with agricultural By March 1939 the LSA held Kylerhea in Skye in the early campaign. In her spare time recognised with the award of an teaching and training in formal, experience the chance to 11,063 acres allowing for 1,479 1990s to retire. Since then she is studying for maths and IT MBE a couple of years ago – but informal and community learning. get onto the first rung of the holdings, of which 1,100 were this remarkable man has with the open university. perhaps more importantly for his “Su is well suited to this fi eld farming ladder. developed. Twenty six estates established a successful croft Her recent work with support and friendship to us all of work and I’m sure she will be There were a number of had been created. 3,809 business from scratch and was a worthy asset whilst working the RSPB brought her into different agencies engaged people had been transferred instrumental in the forming through thick and thin. with us in the Federation. Su will working contact with farmers to deliver the scheme for the but not all remained. About half of the Skye and Lochalsh Our very best wishes to you and be a part-time contractor for the and crofters throughout the unemployed, but the biggest of the 1,728 men transferred horticultural development Beryl in your ‘retirement’, John. initial 18 months of the project, Highlands and Islands. No time was the Land Settlement had given up. At the outbreak association; has served as starting in November. Her remit for a rest however – welcome, Association which operated in of war there were 853 grazings clerk in his township is to ensure that the induction Su, to the SCF. England. Scotland had its own smallholders in occupation, and secretary to the Sleat and much smaller scheme, which 408 as tenants and 448 as Strath branch of the SCU; was did not involve the creation trainees. 692 families were significantly involved in the of new holdings and resettled at the estates including about establishment of the Glenelg only 72 men. 2,069 children. ferry community company; The LSA’s first estate was set The LSA also ran a scheme designed and managed the up at Potton, in Bedfordshire of group holdings. This scheme SCU/SCF crofting induction and this provided the model pre-dated the LSA by a couple courses that have grown in for development elsewhere. of years but under the LSA popularity and geographical At Potton 30 full-time holdings it expanded rapidly. These spread year by year; formed were created (average size were quarter-acre holdings and administered the Highlands five acres), each with a newly- devoted to poultry keeping and Islands crofters and small built dwelling, clustered around and allotment cultivation in landholders training panel and on the outskirts of an industrial viable smallholdings which is an estate service depot. The groups of ten or twenty with recently secured funding for town in the Midlands or directly relevant to crofting holdings were equipped for a communal hut. A few had the SCF training programme, South of England. They were today. But two things the three-legged stool of pigs, pigs or a glasshouse instead which now employs Su. That’s designed to give unemployed poultry and horticulture. Each of poultry. By 1939 2,519 men predominantly: survival is an interesting definition of married men over the age of had a greenhouse, pig sties were working in 161 groups determined by the degree retiring! But John says that 50 a means of subsistence of social cohesion and co- he is going to be taking it and chicken hutches. throughout England. whilst their adolescent operation. a bit easier now. As I write, Everything on the holding Starting in 1937 the LSA had to be done by hand; the also established 201 cottage children found employment in men were not permitted to own homesteads on five estates. the nearby towns. Peter Clarke spent his youth in the tractors. Tractors and other This was a half-acre equipped There is much to learn from village of Potton. He is currently Karen attends young SCOTTISH CROFTING FEDERATION services such as packing, holding with a detached house the experience of LSA and its working on a book about the grading and marketing, the grouped together with a small tenants about how to organise return of the unemployed to the Scotland and Northern WANTED propagation of plants, incubation number of cottage homesteads and not organise economically land, based on his PhD thesis.

Ireland programme short-term local course directors - in seven Highlands and Islands areas HE YOUNG UK and Ireland Programme exists to develop the communication skills of people in the early stages of Suitable persons with use of telephone and IT skills are Ttheir working lives or who are performing voluntary work in required to undertake part-time (home-office based), self the community. employed work organising local delivery of the Federation's It does so through an annual series of residential courses and competitions of between two and four days' duration. The programme Entry Level Crofting Induction Courses aims to encourage the research, writing and presentational abilities Visit us online at of delegates, helping to build confi dence where it is fragile as well as Courses are part-time over ten weeks www.crofting.org enhancing the talents of more experienced participants. and are typically undertaken as winter vocational Karen Campbell, SCF membership administrator and young evening classes of two hours per week. crofters’ group contact, attended the course at the end of October. The judges noted that her paper on Nocton’s super The work is over an average of 16 weeks at average of dairy and intensive agriculture had the power to shock with her three hours per week, commencing December 2010. facts and statistics. Karen commented: “It was a very useful and insightful programme Further details, including fees and allowances from: covering many topics. We had very interesting discussions and SCF Training Manager – Su Cooper overall I would say that it has helped to boost my confi dence when email: [email protected] tel: 01463 796836 speaking to large groups of people and also for working in groups.” 22 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 23 The implementation and impact of sheep EID Crofter's wife column

Hilary Liebeschuetz reports on a presentation demonstrating that sheep can be traced reduced and animal welfare improved. The 'M KNOWN for liking a fairly traditional bouts of mirth and hilarity and even being which she delivered to the sheep and goat meat through CCPs and how this could be used to sheep’s ears would stand more chance of Christmas – church, tree, modest gifts, reduced to tears. advisory group in Brussels in October. The gain farmer buy in through limiting paper work being fi t to hold the tags and the electronic Irelaxing with family, good food etc. However, As the sun sets (somehow we always visit was funded by the European Forum for and cross-compliance issues. chip in the tag more likely to be in place and in recent years a new tradition has snuck its seem to have a good day of weather) and Nature Conservation and Pastoralism. Hilary, I had always thought that it was only the UK functional when they move off the holding of way onto the pages of the season's diary and the temperature plummets we make our way who has been campaigning on the issue of that was against this regulation. It seemed that birth and need to be traced. already I wouldn't miss it for the world... back up the croft in high spirits, red-cheeked, sheep EID for a long time, is a vet who works the views of European governments were very Mr Pavon’s response was largely a repeat The weekend before Christmas my sisters, freezing cold but full of real happiness. For for the Shetland Island Council managing the different to those of the farmers. of his previous statements, which so angered nieces and their friends come to the island me, there could be no better start to the Shetland animal health schemes and helps Mr Pavon reminded us that this system the committee that the discussion had to be from the Big City. On Saturday afternoon we Christmas season. with the family farm. had been proposed to deal with highly brought to a rapid conclusion. head down to the shore at the foot of the infectious disease with huge economic The German representative then stated croft. There, the lone tree that stands guard O chionn ghoirid, cho-dhùin An Croitear gun ERGIO PAVON from DG – SANCO, impacts. He challenged the view that the that four German farmers, with the support of by the old ruin is decorated by a multitude of robh làn-thìde againn tòiseachadh air joba the section responsible, gave an system didn’t work using the Scottish data of their union and a collection to raise funds, are eager, gloved hands: lanterns lit with candles, mhòr.... sgioblachadh na garaids againn. A Supdate on implementation of the 96% read rates, denying that farmers would taking the commission to court – challenging paperchains (we're really thumbing our noses dh'innse na fìrinn, chan e garaids a th' ann ach sheep EID regulation. be penalised through cross compliance for the EID regulation, intending to go right to the at health and safety here, aren't we?!) and bùth-obrach/stòr is e a bha làn sean stuth – This was proceeding well with no serious technological failures. European court of human rights. chocolate novelties. One year it even had a stuth feumail is stuth gun fheum! issues reported so far from member states. The debate over-ran into the lunch break. I We must also keep up the political pressure visit from a robin! Mar chroitearan air feadh na Gaidhealteachd, It soon became obvious that this was not the think we had better not dwell on the subsidised at European, UK and Scottish levels, While we build a fi re on the shore and chan eil sìon nach cumadh seanair a' chroiteir... view of the majority of persons in the room and staff canteen prices or why mountains of reminding our politicians that the goal of cook, in the fi rst instance, sausages, the 's dòcha gum biodh e feumail uaireigin! things got a little heated. Here are some views steak are on display – cooked to order, as for traceability and disease control is a good one children's chatter and excitement must Chòrd an obair seo rium... ged nach robh put forward by the country representatives. a high class hotel. but it is necessary to enable the breeders of surely carry for miles across the water – a fi os agam gu tric dè fon a' ghrian a bh' anns ‘Sheep end up with no ears – they end My presentation detailed the import controls sheep, often in extensive systems, to remain real spreading of Christmas cheer. Later an rud seo agus an rud sin eile agus, na bu up with the remains of ears and we still and health status already achieved in Shetland in business, such that there remain some the children commandeer the fi re and in the chudthromaich na sin, am bu choir dhuinn have to identify’ and how the Scottish EID pilot is operating sheep to trace. embers create sickly sweet “smores” with a chumail? ‘I am surprised the Commission has there. I gave examples of issues relating to The commission listens only to facts, but gooey marshmallows and chocolate biscuits. Tha sinn air a bhith trang leis fad trì indicated there are no problems with this the application of EID: animal welfare, cross is committed to animal welfare, so keeping Bellies full, we sing Christmas songs and feasgaran Dòmhnaich a-nise agus cha mhòr regulation. We would be very grateful for them compliance, lack of access to broadband/ records of ear damage caused by tags will carols; eeking out the last few pieces of wood nach eil sinn deiseil. Às dèidh dà thrup gu visiting member states to look at how this is mobile phone networks in remote areas, lack be useful to crofting representatives to take to delay the cold penetrating our bones. lagais na comhairle tha sinn gar lorg le rùm gu applied in practice.’ of computer skills, cost, variable tag quality, forward to Brussels. And before dusk falls the children perform ‘This system will eradicate sheep unknown durability of technology and stress. leòr airson a bhith ag obrachadh air innealan In conclusion, if like me you are struggling to – usually a slant on the Nativity or a song farmers. Rules cost too much.’ I challenged the view that sheep need to is acfhainn croite agus tha a' bheing-obrach comply, pondering over your poster-sized EID (the “Twelve Days of Christmas” being a cho glan is cho sgiobalta 's a bha i a-riamh le ‘Please travel around member states and be identifi ed with an individual number on the particularly memorable year!) while we fi lm we will teach you something.’ holding of birth for foot and mouth control. I regulation summary sheet, listening out for dachaidh ann airson fi ù 's gach tarrag! Abair the knock of the inspectors at the door, I think it for posterity. Regardless of their intentions obair shàsachail! ‘The legislation is imposed on us. We do not requested that individual identifi cation of sheep this is always a comedy performance with see how we can cope.’ on the holding of birth be made voluntary, with there is some reassurance to be gained from cast and audience regularly succumbing to Nollaig chridheil dhuibh uile! © Claire Nicolson © Claire Nicolson ‘Go out into the fi eld. Do not develop animals able to be identifi ed with a single my experience in Brussels, which showed that legislation sitting at your desk.’ fl ock tag and upgraded to an electronic tag farmers across Europe are feeling just the The more moderate NFUS view detailed with individual ID when they move off. In this same way as you. the success of the Scottish EID pilot in way the cross-compliance burden on farm is [email protected] Crofters Commission SAC Consulting SAC Terra Madre Regulating crofting to sustain ROFTERS FEATURED prominently in want to be supported to work the land in ways be that are causing the problems.” and enhance rural communities SAC Consulting provides leading edge, independent and a recent edition of BBC Radio Four’s that are good for the land and good for our The programme also focussed on the impartial advice throughout the crofting counties. CFood Programme which reported on crofting culture. reindeer herding Sami of northern Europe who Riaghladh croitearachd gus coimhearsnachdan a major international gathering of agricultural “For so long crofters have been treated have been at the forefront of a resurgence in dùthchail a chumail suas agus a leasachadh. Our consultants combine local knowledge with extensive communities in northern Italy in October. by the powers-that-be as a problem needing indigenous cultures over the last fi fty years. experience and are supported by our team of renowned SCF chair Eleanor Arthur and project offi cer solved. What we are learning from Terra Indigenous peoples are being supported by Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness IV3 8NW specialists. Carolanne Stewart visited Terra Madre, which Madre is that other peoples have been treated the United Nations in claiming land and political T: (01463) 663450 F: (01463 ) 7118 20 Among the services we can provide are is organised by the international Slow Food in the same way, but they are fi ghting back rights, as well as giving legal foundations for their Email: [email protected] U }i˜iÀ> >}ÀˆVՏÌÕÀ> >˜` LÕȘiÃà >`ۈVi movement and held once every two years and showing how it is often the powers-that- languages and cultural practices and beliefs. in Turin. The event allows more than 5,000 representatives of different food communities www.crofterscommission.org.uk throughout the world to meet one another and share knowledge on issues of common interest. The crofting delegates met with members of some of the many different indigenous groups represented at the event, such as the Sami and the Maori. They also spoke to the Food Programme's presenter Sheila Dillon. She described how crofters were making a common cause with indigenous groups and concluded: “Indigenous peoples’ ways of life – their inherited knowledge of plants and animals and their agricultural methods – have something crucial to offer a world looking œ˜Ì>VÌÊޜÕÀʏœV>Ê-
ʜvwÊVi\ÊÊ iÀ܈VŽÊ Êä£x™xÊșÎxÓä for answers on how we are going to feed a >ˆÛ>˜ˆV Ê ä£nÇäÊÈäÓÎÎÈ "L>˜Ê Êä£ÈΣÊxÈÎä™Î growing population.” Eleanor Arthur said “It is great to discover, >“«LiÌœÜ˜ÊÊ ä£xnÈÊxxÓxäÓ *œÀÌÀiiÊ Êä£{ÇnÊȣә™Î through being at Terra Madre, that there are ˜ÛiÀ˜iÃÃÊ ä£{ÈÎÊÓÎÎÓÈÈ -̜À˜œÜ>ÞÊÊä£nx£ÊÇäΣäÎ so many other groups out there for whom ˆÀŽÜ>ÊÊ ä£nxÈÊnÇÓșn / ÕÀÃœÊ Êä£n{ÇÊn™ÓÇ£™ working the land is about more than just food See our website www.sac.co.uk production – as one of the Maori delegates SAC is a charity registered in Scotland, No. SC003712 said: “It is about who we are as a people”. We Eleanor Arthur (L) and Carol Anne Stewart (R) at Terra Madre 24 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 25 CROFTING RESOURCES PROGRAMME Shetland cattle herd book society centenary Clare Abernethy reports

ONDED BY common resolve, a coach- load of Shetland kye enthusiasts Bboarded the north-bound ferry to join the four-day Shetland Cattle Herd Book Society (SCHBS) centenary celebrations a few months ago. The Cunningsburgh show afforded an ideal opportunity to meet Shetland IInterestednterested inin generatinggenerating youryour ownown electricity?electricity? breeders, assess their exhibits and study the comprehensive display in the society marquee which also hosted Pearl Young's With the introduction of the UK Governmentʼs Feed-in-Tariff s (FiTs) for small scale low carbon captivating presentation of traditional electricity generation in April 2010, there has never been a better time to invest in renewable dairying. This popular demonstration energy. Payback could be within 4 years subject to wind speed. attracted a fascinated crowd to view the ancient skill of butter-making. Shetland kye enthusiasts A seminar embraced a bevy of • ProvenProven 3.23.2 kW,kW, 6kW,6kW, l5kWl5kW WindWind TurbinesTurbines • SolarSolar ThermalThermal andand PhotoPhoto VoltaicVoltaic PanelsPanels specialists from bovine genetics, niche beef production, animal health and • WindWind CroftingCrofting (3(3 X 15kW15kW WindWind Turbines)Turbines) • Ground/AirGround/Air WaterWater HeatHeat SourceSource PumpsPumps sustainable land management to regional Blackland project strategy issues. Collectively these experts RIMSAY is an island in the Uists liming. Soils scientist Tony Edwards spoke pointed a constructive way forward for the associated with a progressive, about the relationship between phosphorous society in its second century. Shetland Gdynamic yet sustainable fi shing and acidity in the soil. Ian Cairns of SAC, beef was the key component in the industry, but rooted fi rmly in its culture and formerly their consultant in Stornoway, dealt ensuing dinner, a fitting conclusion to a traditions, including seafaring, boatbuilding with appropriate croft-scale machinery. He stimulating day. and crofting. reminded us of the mini-baler trials in Lewis Local breeders on their home soil were It is appropriate that it is now the base for which had resulted in the development of a featured, a chance for guests to compare and an innovative project that seeks to show that micro-industry, substituting local for imported contrast individual herd policies in productive the land can once again be as productive as fodder. Bob Rees, a soil and climate change exchange with their owners. the sea. Behind that project is the Crofting scientist at Edinburgh University, gave us a Ronnie Eunson, mid-90s president of Environment Improvement Association fascinating statistic. Peat soils cover just 3% the SCHBS, expanded on his grass-roots (CEIA), a group of crofters from the east of the earth’s surface but hold one third of philosophies from the scenic vistas of side of the Uists who came together last year the planet’s soil carbon. The challenge for all his Uradale farm, whilst his routine dog- to investigate ways of restoring fertility and agriculturists is to increase both production handling won universal acclaim from productivity to the blackland crofts typical and environmental protection. Crofting appreciative bystanders. of the east coast of the islands which, until communities, he said, could again become Tommy and Mary Isbisters' Burland croft trail recent times, produced fodder for livestock self-sustaining. was an impelling contrast with its impressing and food crops for families. A questions and discussion session selection of native breeds, indigenous fl ora Crofting in Uist is better known for the fl at, was followed by tours of the croft led by and historic artefacts. fertile machair lands of the west coast with the experts and a demonstration of the Fortifi ed by Mary's lavish home produce their highly designated natural heritage sites, impressive array of small-scale machinery we veered south to admire two attractive maintained by crofters’ traditional practices. that the CEIA project has assembled. There heifer calves displaying ancient dun and However, the Uist blackland crofts are more were demonstrations and a display by the Uist white markings, pride of the new Beadies representative of crofting conditions on the Wool Development Group, which is working herd. This theme was further highlighted at western seaboard in general, whether in to establish a commercial wool mill for the Hillwell where a spectrum of colour from a Lewis, Wester Ross, west Sutherland or islands. In the evening, dinner was served selective breeding programme was on show. indeed Shetland. in CEIA’s new shed at Scotvien, consisting Owner Magnus Burgess also demonstrated At the end of September, CEIA held its of Uist venison and, most appropriately, wild the breed's commercial potential by an fi rst conference, “Blackland: from the ground goose! This was followed by a showing of impressive multi-suckling regime producing up”, at the experimental croft at Scotvein, archive fi lm of the islands, including footage thriving store stock. Grimsay. The theme of the conference was At Northmavine the group visited of a youthful Kenny MacKenzie conducting the past, present and future of this type an open air cattle sale in the 1970s. He hasn’t Addie Doull, current SCHBS president, of croft land. Its former productivity was who proffered the traditional Shetland changed a bit! The evening concluded with achieved by centuries of often back-breaking entertainment from a very talented group of hospitality against the backdrop of his work – drainage, stone clearance and We are fully approved and accredited suppliers and installers of Proven wind turbines. Islesburgh herd in its picturesque setting the island’s young musicians. addition of manure, seaweed and shell sand. Congratulations are due to CEIA for of trademark red granite. In recent years it has become invaded by The ultimate stop was the vintage this inspiring project and especially to Site Surveys • In-house Planning • Finance Options • Loan and Grant Applications • rank vegetation, waterlogged and underused Mary Norton, Dana MacPhee and all who Collafi rth herd of Robert Ramsay, SCHBS – a result of an agricultural policy that fi rst Installations • Grid Connections • Re-sale Contract Agreements • Aftercare Maintenance past president, his grandfather William organised the very informative and enjoyable encouraged overgrazing by sheep and then conference. For more information contact Ramsay being a founder member of the rapid de-stocking and abandonment. How SCHBS. Robert also bears the distinction of The Blackland Project, 5 Scotvein, Grimsay, CCallall usus todaytoday forfor a desktopdesktop quotequote onon 0844308443 570836570836 oror e-maile-mail [email protected]@iconenergy.co.uk could these crofts be returned to better North Uist HS6 5JA, 01870 602954. breeding, in 1990, Collafi rth Rasmie, the fi rst grassland, fodder production and cropping? red calf for generations, to which his current These topics were addressed by an The project has reprinted “Crofting Agriculture” descendants bear colourful witness. impressive panel of speakers. Ken Davies, a by F. Fraser Darling which, although fi rst Icon Energy (Scotland) Ltd We were proud to conclude our centenary weed and vegetation specialist with Scottish published in 1945, contains a wealth of Kingfi sher House, Auld Mart Business Park, Milnathort, celebration with this direct personal link to Agricultural College (SAC) said that moss is information relevant to crofters today who are the society foundation and now enter its Kinross KY13 9DA the main enemy. It holds two to three times its seeking to raise crops and livestock on the second century with the society’s positive own weight in water and takes up all available black soils of the west. The book is now on wwww.iconenergy.co.ukww.iconenergy.co.uk Tel: 0084438443 557083670836 millennium slogan: A breed from the past nutrients. It can be combatted by draining and sale from the above address. with a place in the future. 26 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 27 The gold standard OOKING THROUGH my folder of past issues of LThe Crofter it is clear that quality stock breeding and food production have a prominent place, including related animal health issues. In a wider context this was supported by the 2006 Scottish 1st increase in insulation levels Executive initiative, “A forward required by the revised Scottish Strategy for Scottish Agriculture: building standards. Within Next Steps”. outbuildings, similar issues have In addition to diet being affected to be addressed when keeping crofting communities. In harsh by what produce is available, animals warm and dry – and economic times we have to health and general wellbeing can feeding free from mould. reflect on our lives, the way we be affected, in particular, by the Curious, The launch on October 5th of the live, and our livelihoods and built environment. Outer Hebrides Design Guide by gear up for change. Crofter housing initiatives the Comhairle’s design champion, With skills programmes, local through the department of councillor Angus McCormack, is hydro schemes, wind power, Agriculture and Fisheries for a welcome step on the road to stonework, Chelsea gold for a and stated, “I’m convinced that we but not everyone knows Scotland (DAFS) encouraged improving design standards. Shetland croft house garden, are to work hard to ensure better post-war space standards to be http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/ woodland crofts and timber design quality in our surroundings adopted where generous living planningservice/designguide harvesting and Marina’s eco-house to attract and keep an active local we do pensions and sleeping space was adopted The accompanying images to name but a few features in this population in rural areas. This will in house design, all against a are infl uenced by that important magazine, is it not time to have a play an important role in developing national background to improve development; with the underlying gold standard for design innovation our identity and self-understanding, the living environment. theme being local context, through and a skills register to bring together and also to avoid feelings of With the desire to move the use of an existing poured and harness this vast resource remoteness ... the task made forward there was the downside concrete gable wall and modern of local skills and developing easier by demonstrating that better of dampness and condensation building attached with echoes expertise – reconnecting our young design is more economical...” associated with little understanding of the local traditional house or people with the resourcefulness of Let us gear up for change and of vapour levels in confi ned steading form. our forbearers. start to move forward. spaces and moisture migration It is the right time to have At a rural design Seminar at the within the building fabric and our very own crofting design Comhairle in Stornoway in October, Leis gach deagh dhurachd how to manage it – aspects to be guide to draw together all 1999, Arni Winther spoke of his agus le h-uile bheannachd. We do. addressed again with the October that is best throughout our work as an architect in the Faeroes Niall Ferguson Call us on 0141 225 3204 for a quote or contact your local NFU Mutual agent.

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NFU Mutual is The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No. 111982). Registered in England. Registered Office: Tiddington Road, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ. For security and training purposes, telephone calls may be recorded and monitored. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. A member of the Association of British Insurers. 28 THE CROFTER, DECEMBER 2010 Nickie May, Eigg crofter’s innovative crop CROFTER on the island of Eigg is 1958 – 2010 helping to save one of Scotland’s most A vthreatened and iconic wild fl owers. The delicate native bluebells which CF’S ORKNEY representative, carpet woods in colour are under severe Nickie May, died on Friday November threat from cross breeding with imported 12th 2010 at home on the island S Spanish bluebells. of Shapinsay, after a short fi ght against Eigg is a stronghold of the Scottish bluebell, cancer. Nickie is survived by her husband which transform swathes of the island into a Stewart, father and younger brother. sea of deep, rich blue each spring. An enthusiastic student, Nickie gained Now Irishman Eddie Scott is harvesting a masters degree in economics from wild seeds to help secure the native bluebell’s Cambridge university and later went on to future on the mainland. “The bluebells on Eigg become a registered chartered accountant. have never been exposed to the Spanish While living at Tankerville Farm in variety so have not cross bred to become Shropshire, Nickie developed a keen interest hybrids,” he explained. in keeping and breeding Shetland cattle. In “In a lot of places the hybrids and Spanish August 1999 Nickie and Stewart moved to bluebells have driven the native ones to the small island of Shapinsay in Orkney. the brink of extinction. Planting more pure Nickie, a keen environmentalist, turned Scottish bluebells will help strengthen their Farm of Garth into an organic unit where foothold once again. It’ll be great to see she bred Herbidean sheep along with her their beautiful colour and gorgeous, subtle Shetland cattle. Also a keen horsewoman, fragrance returning to woods and gardens she always kept a few horses as well. throughout the country.” Nickie was an enthusiastic member of her Eddie was head gardener at Ardross community and was always willing to help with any local or heritage issues. As well Castle Estate in Easter Ross, before moving as serving as a community development to Eigg in 2004. “I’d been visiting Eigg for offi cer she also worked as the community many years before moving here, playing at powerdown offi cer, stepping down only ceilidhs and gradually getting to know the when the initial planning and fi nancial place and the people.” issues had been addressed. As president Eddie grows fruit and vegetables in a of the local agricultural society she helped polytunnel on the croft, supplying surplus organise the annual Orkney county show produce to the shop and tea room, and is a of livestock, produce and crafts. volunteer on a range of community projects, Nickie joined the Scottish Crofting Federation such as helping to establishing an orchard in 2006 and was actively involved in setting on the island. up the Orkney branch of the organisation. The plan to diversify into seed gathering She served initially as the branch secretary came when Eddie realised his croft was a croft each year. before becoming Orkney area representative sanctuary for the threatened wild fl owers. Artist Saira Renny and graphic designer on the SCF council. A passionate supporter “I was trying to think what I could produce Ben Cormack are among the growing of crofting, her contribution to the work of the on the croft that would be light and easy to number of young people who have moved SCF was much appreciated. export off the island. to Eigg or returned to make the island their Nickie’s good friend Evelyn Leask “My idea was to grow plants for making home. They worked with Eddie to create commented: “Nickie was bursting with herbal teas; but when spring came I realised distinctive packaging for the seeds, which enterprise both at a personal level and the croft was awash with bluebells, which I are sold in the island craft shop and online. in her commitment to the many projects knew were becoming rare in many places.” Seeds can be sown from September to with which she was involved. Although her Staff from the botanic gardens in March and take two to four years to mature. boundless vitality will be missed, we must Edinburgh verified the purity of the For more information and to buy them online also rejoice in her lifetime of enthusiasm seeds, and Eddie obtained a licence go to www.eddieseiggcroft.com. and dedication. I feel privileged to have from the Scottish Government to harvest known so well this lovely lady.” a strictly limited number of them from the Pictures by Megan Frey

Scottish Crofting Federation rooted in our communities How to contact us [email protected] 01599 530 005 SCF HQ, Unit 26, Kyle Industrial Estate, Kyle IV40 8AX Crofter editor –FIona Mandeville fi [email protected] To advertise, contact Claire Nicolson on [email protected] 01471 833 239

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