1 Acknowledgements

Assynt Crofters’ Trust (ACT) wishes to thank Organisations Workshop and field trip leaders The following organisations gave generous Sarah Allen, Andrew Anderson, Claire Belshaw, (Achmelvich), Suil na Mara B&B (Lochinver) support, without which the event would not Amanda Bryan, Peter Cairns, David Cameron, Acorn Signs - roadside signs have been possible: Camille Dressler, Catherine Francis, Richard Anne Edwards – co-ordination, administration, Ullapool Construction Frew, Maggie Fyffe, Iain MacDonald, Alastair bookings, etc Tilhill Economic Forestry Maciver, Iain Maciver, Laura MacLean, Cathel Bertie Buchanan – electrics Royal Bank of Scotland MacLeod, Durrant MacLeod, Iain MacLeod, Duncan McInnes – youth event management Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise Norman MacLeod, Sarah MacLeod, John training Highlands and Islands Enterprise MacKenzie, Kenny MacKenzie, Mark Grants Tent Hire – marquee hire Highland Wellbeing Alliance MacKenzie, David MacPhail, Calum Millar, Hector MacKenzie – site water Leader + Robin Noble, Bob Perrett, Chris Perkins, Jon HOST & Local TIC Staff – TIC ticket sales at Crofters Commission Priddy, Bill Ritchie, Wilma Robertson, Becky Durness, Lochinver & Ullapool Crofting Community Development Scheme Shaw and John Toal, for leading workshops KSM Motors – transport European Union: Community Economic and field trips. Limelight Audio Services - stage, sound, Development. lights Note-takers Lochinver Hall Committee – loan of till Local helpers Claire Belshaw, Kenny Graham, Munro Gauld, Lochinver Transport – carriage of marquees The many local people – including members Mandy Haggith, Donnie Mackay, Norman to and from Mallaig of the Assynt Crofters’ Trust - who helped in MacLeod, Andrew MacKenzie, Madeline MacGregor Industrial Supplies - generators a huge variety of ways - Claire Belshaw, MacPhail, Chris Perkins, Alex Scott and John North of Scotland Marquees - equipment Stuart Belshaw, Mathew Bulch, Chris Ford, Toal, for taking notes of discussions at hire Jennifer Grant, Marcia Hendry, Stuart Hill, workshops and on field trips. Performance Ticket Printers – ticket printing John Holdsworth, Ailsa Kinnaird, Anji Scotiakabins - toilets Kneebone, Mark Kneebone, Ishbel Macaulay, Chairs and facilitators Stoer Grazings Committee – hire of site Mairi MacKay, Catherine MacLeod, Julianne Kenny Mackenzie, Simon Fraser, Andy Stoer Hall – workshop venue MacLeod, Marion MacLeod, Andrew Wightman and Graeme Scott, for chairing Signcentre – T-shirt printing Mackenzie, Eachan Mackenzie, Fiona and facilitating sessions. SMG – security MacKenzie, Frances Mackenzie, Iain Wester Ross Events (Tommy Beavitt & Jan Mackenzie Bordan, Kenny MacKenzie, Morag Musicians and entertainers Robinson) – venue, transport, bands etc Mackenzie, Flossie MacPhail, Madeline Kenny John Matheson, Kenny & Marlene Ullapool Catering (John and Jo) – catering, MacPhail, Kirsty Mason, Dougal Menzies, MacKenzie, Andrew Mackenzie, Agnes venue planning, equipment & power. Catherine Matheson, Donald Matheson, Dickson, Annella Bulch, Mathew Bulch, Kenny John Matheson, Sheila Matheson, Calum Millar, Lochinver School Choir, North The conference report Avishia Russell, Andy Sanders, Maureen Assynt Junior Choir, Blue Ridge, Tommy David Reid - compiling and editing the report Sanders, Maureen Scott, Joseph Shepherd, Beavitt, Peat Bog Faeries, Graeme Mitchell Karen Grant - design and layout Marianne Simpson, Gary Smith, Meg Telfer, Scottish Dance Band, Ishbel MacAskill, Iain Heather Walker - proof reading Grace Vine, Heather Vine; all those who MacKay, Woodland Orchestra, Carol Anne Photos - large cover images and the cover donated sandwiches and other food for MacKay, Graeme Scott, for music, photo of children were taken by Andy evening events. entertainment and feis classes. Summers. The other photos were supplied by Assynt Crofters’ Trust and others. The 10th Anniversary Working Nature guides Group Highland Council Rangers Andy Summers, The report was printed by Posthouse Printers, Anne MacCrimmon, Mark MacKenzie, Laura Julianne Macleod, Tina Loyd Jenkins and Findhorn, Moray, on Scottish-made recycled MacLean, Durrant MacLeod, Sarah MacLeod, Claire Belshaw, for the Rockpool Rummage paper using vegetable inks. David MacPhail, Issie MacPhail, Calum Millar and Guided Walks. and Andy Rushton, for organising and coordinating. Contractors and suppliers Accommodation - Achnacarnin Chalets, Speakers Ardglass Guest House, Ard na Mara B&B ACT under 30s (Laura MacLean, Sarah (Stoer), Clachtoll Beach Campsite, Cruachan MacLeod, David MacPhail and Calum Millar), Guest House, Culag Hotel, Ellen MacKenzie David Cameron, Camille Dressler, Maggie B&B (Stoer), Flossie MacPhail B&B (Stoer), Fyffe, David Green, Kenny Maciver, John Flora Young Caravan (Clachtoll), Mackenzie, Bill Ritchie, John Watt, Andy Inchnadamph Hotel, Inverlodge Hotel, Wightman and Allan Wilson. Polcraig Guest House, Shore Caravan Site

The Fling in the Fank was held over three days at the end of August in 2003. A number of marquees were erected on the green at Stoer and used for the conference during the day, for ceilidhs in the evenings and for a feis on the Saturday afternoon. The organisers used local organisations and resources wherever possible. Catering was provided by a local firm and local bands played at the ceilidhs.

2 Contents

Acknowledgements 2

Towards an agenda for the next ten years: key themes and issues 4

The conference Welcome and introduction: Kenny Mackenzie and Laura MacLean 7

Community land ownership: sharing the experience Embarking on a buy-out: David Cameron, North Harris Estate 8 Business planning: John MacKenzie, Assynt Crofters’ Trust 9 Looking to the future: Maggie Fyffe 10 Involvement of the young people of Assynt: Laura Maclean, Sarah Macleod, David MacPhail and Calum Millar 11 The Long Haul: Kenny Maciver 13

The wider context The political context: John Watt 15 Strategic action on landownership: Bill Ritchie 15 Current legislation: Allan Wilson 16 The crofting community right to buy: Bob Perrett 18 Sustainable development 19

Challenges and opportunities Crofting in the 21st century: David Green 20 Surviving CAP reform: Becky Shaw and Sarah Allen 21 Housing: John Toal, Maggie Fyffe and Wilma Robertson 22 Supporting young people’s involvement: Allan Wilson 24 Working together: John Watt 25 Organising for change: Camille Dressler 27 Developing fishing and wildlife tourism Angling: Cathel MacLeod, Iain MacLeod, Calum Millar and Mark Mackenzie 29 Wildlife tourism: Peter Cairns 30 Forestry Crofter forestry in Assynt: Bill Ritchie and David MacPhail 31 Culag Community Woodland Trust: Claire Belshaw and Robin Noble 31 Forestry and Rural Development Scheme: Chris Perkins 32 Renewable Energy Assynt Hydro Scheme: John MacKenzie 33 Options for communities: Iain MacIver and John Priddy 34 Building on cultural resources: Norman MacLeod and Iain MacDonald 35

Appendices Appendix One: Conference programme 36 Appendix Two: Field trips and workshops 37 Appendix Three: Participants 37 3 Towards an agenda for the next 10 years

Key themes and issues from the conference

• There is a growing movement in community landownership. The achievements are impressive (particularly those of the last ten years), but represent only a few steps on a long road. It is important to keep up the momentum: as they move forward, new buy-outs inspire, encourage and support aspiring communities.

• The political context, new legislation, reforms (proposed and in progress) and the support available to communities (from agencies and other organisations) indicate that the tide is in communities’ favour.

• Individual communities must seize opportunities, but there is a need for a strategic approach and an awareness of the full variety of the different forms of community landownership.

• Release of government-owned land would be a means of recreating communities in emptied areas and of helping existing community landowners to ease shortages of land for housing and new crofts.

• It is a huge privilege and opportunity to have control of the land, and to take responsibility for sustainable social, environmental and economic development. However, self-reliance is not an easy option.

• Communities can achieve much through partnerships, particularly if they approach these flexibly, ready to assume whatever role is the most appropriate in their circumstances.

• Nearly all existing community landowners currently depend on large amounts of voluntary effort in running their affairs, accessing funding and taking forward projects.

• In recent years community landowners have had access through the Community Land Unit (CLU) and the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) to a wide range of support not available in the past to either the Stornoway Trust, in the distant past or the Melness Crofters Ltd or the Assynt Crofters’ Trust in the last decade.

• The activities of Melness Crofters Ltd and Assynt Crofters’ Trust show clearly that action by crofting community ownership groups achieves positive economic, social and environmental impacts for the wider community as well as for

4 crofting members. In these two cases in which all the land is in crofting tenure, the motivation is to facilitate better economic returns for the crofting tenants but the activities pursued to achieve this benefit the whole community.

• Communities must look after their members and encourage their participation by being inclusive, open, democratic, accountable and engaging (by communicating, consulting and listening); and by providing opportunities for them to receive training in a wide range of project development and other skills.

• Communities’ long-term welfare and viability depends on the active participation and involvement of their young people. Several communities are already benefiting from the work of their young people.

• Many existing and aspiring community landowners see the return of local people who left after schooling as an important factor in securing their long-term viability.

• They see the availability of affordable housing as a crucial factor in encouraging potential returners and as a very important measure of success in meeting community needs.

¥ Virtually all community landowners are confronted by a serious shortage of affordable housing and of the resources needed to provide it.

• Imagination and readiness to innovate may be as important as finance in devising and developing projects which can generate income and support livelihoods. Communities should not underestimate the potential economic benefits of projects based on the sustainable development of cultural and natural resources.

• There are many benefits for individual communities in networking, which should be encouraged in ways which meet local needs and which can be greatly facilitated by electronic means.

¥ It was important to agree key issues and action points (see page 6)

5 Issues and action points

t the closing session of the conference participants identified what they considered Ato be the most important issues and action points for the next ten years:

Issues Housing: Community landowners need to be in innovative ways, such as paying honoraria able to ensure the availability of good, out of core funding, arranging secondment inexpensive housing for their young people from private companies and drawing on the and for those they hope will come back. experience of other sectors of the social economy. Mutual learning: Community landowners can benefit greatly from Actions sharing information and Land: Action to bring about the release of experience. There is a need to land for community needs, especially for new develop effective ways of housing and new crofts. There are huge maximising the benefits. The opportunities for the release of land - 12 per conference was a timely event cent of rural land in the Highlands and Islands and a stimulus to the networks is in public ownership. The framework exists that are beginning to develop. to make this possible though the procedures There is a need for regular may be complex. conferences at different venues at which people can explore the commonalities. From this process bigger, stronger and more powerful networks can grow.

Sustaining the momentum: Many communities rely on substantial contributions of time, energy and ideas from volunteers for sustaining momentum. They need to be able to access training and other forms of skills development. They need to explore ways of reducing the pressure on volunteers Involving young people: Action to encourage young people to take on important roles in project planning and strategic planning for the future. There may be practical problems to overcome. Young people under the age of 18 cannot serve as directors of a company limited by guarantee, but it may be possible to co-opt them as directors.

Core funding: Action to ensure that core funding is made available for the training and skills development necessary for community landowners to prosper in the long term. The groups also need to be able to pay contractors and/or staff to carry out basic project work. Without this volunteers burn out and new volunteers are discouraged from participating. 6 Welcome and introduction

enny Mackenzie, Chairman, Assynt Crofters’ Trust, welcomed everyone to the conference, Kparticularly those representing other community land buy-outs. He said that they were all part of a movement that started long ago and they had a responsibility to keep it going. The purpose of the Fling in the Fank was to look forward and form a clear vision for the next 10 years and he hoped there would be cross-fertilisation and positive discussion - but it was important not to lose touch with the past.

In his view, the aim of community landownership was to attempt to redress the wrongs of the past by switching on some of the lights that had gone out. The Assynt Crofters’ Trust had been working on several fronts: forestry, housing, hydro-electric power, deer management, fishing. It had been a slow business but the Trust still existed and was still positive.

The last 10 years and the next 10 years Laura MacLean, ACT under 30s

uring the early 20th century things people owned 300,000 acres of land in Dwere far from easy for the people of the Highlands and Islands. But those Assynt. The young people left to find work, 300,000 acres amount to only three per generation after generation. In a book cent of Highland and Islands land. published in 1955, Frank Fraser Darling called Clearly there is still a long road to travel. our home ‘the disintegrating parish of Assynt’. Nevertheless advice, support and funding are now much more easily It has taken hard work and strong beliefs to available from a range of sources than begin to recover from those times. The they were just ten years ago. Several creation of the Assynt Crofters’ Trust, Assynt crofters have been instrumental through the hard work and determination in providing or creating these new types of the communities of North Assynt, was a of resources for community groups big step forward in 1992. Everyone here took embarking upon a buy-out. Taking part in that step to try to create a better future for all. this sort of work has been a great honour for all those involved. The Assynt Crofters’ Trust has now owned this land for a full 10 years. There have been Assynt Crofters’ Trust aims to celebrate the ups – not least that of ‘winning the land’ on 10th anniversary with many of the people 8th December 1992 – and who helped them achieve there have been downs. landownership. Our main Above all there has been focus has been to provide the courage and commitment in opportunity for people from tackling the task of running across the Highlands and the land on behalf of the Islands to come together to community. It has been a share experiences and hard and daunting task. It is discuss the key issues of the impossible to sum up all that has been day. In that way all participants will be able learned along the way. Today there are some to learn from each other and highlight the 50 island or Highland communities that have things that matter most to the community taken their land into community ownership. of Assynt and to other communities like Assynt. In 2001 it was estimated that about 26,000 7 Community land ownership: sharing the experience Embarking on a buy-out David Cameron, North Harris Trust

avid Cameron began his presentation was eventually elected was of an appropriate Dby thanking ACT for helping the North size and structure, and had legitimacy and Harris Steering Group in the early days. In credibility, being open, transparent, accessible describing the North Harris experience he did and engaging. not wish to be thought prescriptive, for every community buy-out was different. The Steering Group drew up a tight remit for the feasibility study and took trouble over the 750 people live on the 55,000 choice of someone to carry it out. It asked acres of the North Harris eight consultants to say how they would Estate, half of them in Tarbert, approach the task, and then invited three to half on crofts. The estate had elaborate on their ideas, before choosing been owned by a succession Graeme Scott with whom they were to of landlords who were develop a good working relationship. interested in the castle, the fishing and the shooting, but During the consultation period that followed, to whom the potential of the it was established that four criteria would rest of the estate meant have to be met: nothing. Because most people • The financial contribution required were quite comfortable with from the community had to be realistic. the landowners, the idea of • The land had to be viable. buying all or part of the land • Expertise had to be available locally or was the last thing in people’s readily obtainable from elsewhere. minds. However, in late April 2002, Alasdair • There had to be a minimum of risk in Morrison MSP called a meeting under the the whole operation. auspices of the Scottish Crofting Foundation, and a Steering Group was formed. The group received Graeme Scott’s draft feasibility study with little time to spare. At The Steering Group called a meeting to the public meeting at which it was discussed confirm that it had a mandate from the one individual who had been a vociferous community to explore the possibility of a opponent of the buy-out announced that he buy-out, and then asked other people to had changed his mind. For the first time the contribute to its work, to give it more group felt there was a chance of a positive balance. It also wrote to every household, outcome to a ballot on whether to purchase recommending that if the buy-out was or not. Within 24 hours they contacted every successful a group should be elected to household by letter, urging a ‘yes’ vote. In explore all the options. It proposed that the the postal ballot that followed, 75 per cent elected group would have nine members, of those entitled to vote did so, with 75 per each representing a geographical area and cent voting in favour of a buy-out. There about 60 people. Five members would had been a lot of listening to reasoned represent crofting areas, and four the town argument, and in the end the Steering Group of Tarbert - an acknowledgement that the received very strong support indeed. crofters, though numerically outnumbered, controlled much of the land, and that Tarbert The bid excluded parts of the estate the should not dominate. Thus the group which community was not interested in, as the 8 Steering Group had accepted that it would openness and time to form a view: the idea be necessary to divide the estate to safeguard of change could be unsettling. the community’s investment for future • The process of consultation with the generations. However the bid was declared community was as inclusive as possible. ‘not acceptable’ - later amended during a The Steering Group made a point of meeting in Edinburgh to ‘not acceptable in involving young people, and also of its current form’. When in February 2003, inviting to their meetings women as well after several more steps in the bidding as men, and individuals opposed to the process, a joint offer was eventually accepted, idea of a buy-out. There was an emphasis the community was the first to know - a in the consultation on providing tribute to the many who had helped. opportunities for young people to come back. • The group controlled information and Participants in a follow-up workshop managed the media. They did not tell the identified the following key factors in the press about public meetings, but briefed success of the bid: later. They kept out of the press reports • It might well have needed someone to of negotiations with the selling agents as give an initial push as Alasdair Morrison these could have given rivals an advantage. had, but the community had also needed

Business planning John MacKenzie, Assynt Crofters’ Trust

ohn MacKenzie quoted a passage from the ¥ Population retention or growth (with the Jintroduction to the Business Plan associated stimulus to local services). prepared for ACT by Steve Westbrook and ¥ More control over community Graeme Scott in August 1992: development, especially through the types of housing developed, through the leasing “The economic principle for policy for any housing for purchasing the land is to rent and through exerting ensure that the income and influence on the Crofters wealth, which it is capable of Commission to deal with generating, stays within the the problem of absentee local community. Much of crofters. the potential benefits will ¥ New job opportunities, only be realised in the long generally of a part-time term, however, and the nature and thus crofters are as much compatible with crofting interested in providing the activities. next generation with a ¥ Improved estate sounder base, as in management in terms of improving their current farming practices, natural economic welfare.” woodland regeneration, deer population control, The economic and social benefits were enhancement of sporting value, attraction classified in the report as follows: of tourists and other visitors, wildlife and ¥ Psychological benefits (in terms of botanical conservation and enhancement. self-confidence, etc) to the crofters ¥ Opportunities to generate a surplus and their families from being in control forre-investment in the estate. of their own destiny, rather than being ¥ Improved potential for co-operation constrained by the policies, attitudes between resident crofters in undertaking and whims of external landlords. development programmes, agreeing 9 conservation measures, providing social forestry, fishing, and renewable energy most and residential facilities in townships, etc. of the objectives set out in the ACT Business ¥ Removal of constraints which landlords Plan have been achieved, to a greater or lesser have imposed on the development by extent, during their first 10 year period. (For local people of shops or other small- more details, see Involvement of the Young scale service businesses. People of Assynt (page 11) and the sections on Housing (page 22), Fishing and Wildlife John MacKenzie concluded by saying that Tourism (page 29), Forestry (page 31) and as a result of developments in housing, Renewable Energy (page 33).

Looking to the future Maggie Fyffe, Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust aggie Fyffe reviewed the benefits that properties in a rolling programme of repairs, Mthe Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust (IEHT) undertaken by Eigg Construction Ltd, which has achieved in the past six years. She hoped will take several years to complete. It also has further progress would be built on these. a five-year woodland management programme including regeneration and the IEHT has set up three subsidiary companies reinstatement of a bog which is a Site of (Eigg Trading Ltd, Eigg Tearoom Ltd, Eigg Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). In advancing Construction Ltd). These companies have these projects it has invested in machinery responsibility for the day-to-day and training.

In the last financial year the Trust and its subsidiaries had a joint turnover of about £360,000 of which nearly £90,000 was paid out in wages, a significant achievement considering none of the jobs had existed five years before.

By its nature the Trust is a partnership, ready to form larger partnerships with organisations that can provide relevant skills and experience. Through this approach the Trust has been very successful in accessing management of island businesses funding for projects. but they work closely with the Trust board on strategic issues The Trust is also committed to and on matters with large improving the infrastructure financial implications. of the island. It has set up two micro-hydro projects and has The three businesses have created initiated an island-wide multiple benefits - employment energy feasibility study, which for local people, better social and includes surveys of needs and economic opportunities, and aspirations and identification improvements to the island’s infrastructure. of possible sites. The Trust hopes to create The Trust has also embarked on major several new crofts, and is making low-cost projects, having accessed essential financial building plots available. assistance. It has renovated four of its

10 The Trust encourages private enterprise, hold workshops designed to help people to wherever possible, as a way of creating a express their aspirations and suggest wide and sustainable economic base. It has improvements - the Trust intends to evaluate provided a wide range of training the last five years and develop a Whole Island opportunities, offered low rentals to several Plan for the next five years. This will tourism businesses, and developed inclusive encompass all aspects of development. All marketing with the production of a visitor these projects have made a very real leaflet and the creation of an island website: difference to people’s lives – not just www.isleofeigg.org. With the help of the materially. Confidence has grown and young Residents’ Association - which continues to people are beginning to return.

Involvement of the young people of Assynt

Laura Maclean, Sarah Macleod, David MacPhail and Calum Millar, ACT under 30s aura: The members of the L group became involved in Assynt Crofters’ Trust activities through the previous year’s consultation process. Through their voluntary work they all learnt a lot about organising and running events, project funding and grants, marketing and a range of other topics very relevant for their working lives and for voluntary work on behalf of the community.

Sarah: Last winter there was a workshop for 16 – 30 year olds to discuss The young people’s ideas for action included: what was good and what was bad about ¥ A music festival (now taking place). living in Assynt and what they would like to ¥ Active management and promotion of see done. The group agreed that Assynt was fishing while “keeping it wild and untouched”. a great place, but had concerns which ¥ Development of more tourism activities focused on: to make the most of the very fine coast, ¥ The lack of affordable housing for rent beaches and hill ground – for example, and affordable house sites for self-build. water sports, orienteering, triathlon and ¥ The main work opportunities being bird watching. focused on the sea (work as a deckie or in ¥ Building bunkhouses with good facilities fish farming) or tourism. linked to such activities. ¥ The lack of public transport which ¥ Maintaining good access to the beaches. tended to cut young people off from each ¥ Improving and extending the community other. taxi service for younger people and elderly ¥ The very few young people in North Assynt. people so that they can get out more easily ¥ The lack of social events for the younger at weekends and in the evening. age group. ¥ Organising a study trip to Ireland to see how they run tourism there.

11 Wider community consultation showed that ¥ Creation of a decent Assynt Crofters’ what the majority of people liked most about Trust Office at the heart of the North Assynt was: community - then using this building ¥ The scenery, landscape and open to improve access to other facilities, spaces. including a shop and better community halls. ¥ Being part of a community. ¥ The freedom – the peace and quiet. The most popular topic proved to be ‘Agriculture and Horticulture’. Ideas included: ¥ Marketing of local produce. ¥ Access to machinery and equipment through machinery groups and rings. ¥ Access to cheaper feed and other supplies through a local feed co-op. ¥ Trying to stop the rapid advance of bracken and rushes across the croft lands. ¥ Trying to repair dykes and peat roads. ¥ Organising information about grant options and other kinds of support.

These ideas were now under discussion by the Assynt Crofters’ Trust Board of Directors who aimed to produce a Whole Estate Plan The things the majority of people most in the coming months. disliked were: ¥ The long distance to leisure facilities. David: In the past ten years ACT has done ¥ The land being taken over by bracken much to create work and other benefits. With and rushes. the support of the Trust, the townships of ¥ Problems in accessing housing and North Assynt have planted 800 hectares of employment. native woodlands through crofter forestry schemes. That planting has created some The three most popular aspirations for the £193,000 of contract work in the parish of future were: Assynt, which is the equivalent of three or ¥ Achieving co-operation, vision and four full-time jobs during the past seven direction. years. Much of this work was taken up by ¥ Implementing development ideas. younger people who also worked on similar ¥ Creating a community where young forestry schemes across the county and people want to stay or return. beyond). In an effort to make the most of local resources, the Trust has developed a Laura: Other development ideas put forward hydro-electric project with commercial as a result of the consultation last winter partners (for further details, see Renewable included: Energy, page 33). The Trust has also put in a ¥ Continued action on housing issues. lot of work to try to tackle the housing ¥ Trying to improve transport for young problem and this year four Housing Association people and elderly people. properties are being built in Stoer township. ¥ A focus on developments which create even short-term local work. During the past ten years there have been ¥ Development of children’s play parks 13 new entrants (under 45 years old) to at Clachtoll and Drumbeg. crofting in seven North Assynt townships. ¥ Continued efforts with woodlands and Since over 35 per cent of our North Assynt forestry to maintain the local economy communities are over retirement age this has and environment. an important impact. ¥ Imaginative support for tourism. 12 An area of Trust work which depends on very The Trust’s activities in developing the fishing significant voluntary effort is the have been varied – stocking the Manse administration. This is unglamorous, system, building traps, tagging smolts, buying demanding and time-consuming, whether it eight new boats, creating a brochure and involves croft administration or secretarial selling permits. All of these activities depend chores. The Trust relies on an average of on a huge amount of voluntary effort. During 48,000 voluntary hours per year to maintain the season Calum works on a self-employed its activities. basis, teaching fly-fishing and taking people fishing and stalking. Calum: A key area of Trust activity has been the development of the brown trout fishing. The fishing and stalking are very important This is a main source of income which helps for local tourism. Tourism provides direct to maintain a long-term part-time job – that employment or income for over 20 per cent of the Cuidiche. Assynt’s brown trout fishing of local households and an even greater is a very precious asset with a great deal of number when the positive impact for local potential. The Trust wants to manage it well shops and other services is taken into account. but at the same time keep it ‘wild and Through ACT activities over one thousand new untouched’. ‘bednights’ have been created in the parish before the conference.

The Long Haul Kenny Maciver, The Stornoway Trust extends to over 28,000 hectares. It CT and IEHT have been in existence comprises 40 crofting townships and Afor relatively short periods, includes 1339 crofts with associated compared to the Stornoway Trust (ST), common pasture held in crofting tenure; which is now almost 80 years old. Kenny 279 small allotments held by individuals on Maciver, a trustee for the last 17 years, annual tenancies; some agricultural land reviewed what he called the Long Haul - leased to various tenants; other tracts held the continual effort required to ensure the on seasonal tenancies; residential and long-term survival of the Trust. commercial sites; the 600 acre woodland park known as the Lews Castle Policies; and The reality of survival is the need to also some fishings and shootings leased to maintain the Trust’s lands by generating a local groups. Around 14,000 people (two- surplus from the sale of some product or thirds of the population of Lewis and the charging of rents. It is a privilege to Harris) lives in the Trust area. In the 100 be entrusted with the administration of the years to 1985, the rents have remained land, but it is no easy ride. I wish I could unchanged, averaging £1.50. Currently the say that it got easier but that would not average rent is in the region of £10. be true. The Trust has to depend on its own efforts for there is no one else to bail The trust is a democratic organisation. it out. However this has not always been the case. Until local government reorganisation in The Trust has existed since 1924. In that 1974 only five of the ten trustees were year Stornoway Town Council responded directly elected (but only by those whose positively when Lord Leverhulme offered names appeared on the valuation roll). The the island of Lewis to its people - although other five were nominated by the the greatest part of the island wanted Stornoway Town Council. Since 1994 nothing to do with landownership. The however everyone whose name appears on Trust’s land, the old parish of Stornoway, the electoral roll has been entitled to vote 13 at elections held every three years. At each opportunities to attract long-term election half the trustees stand down but investment and seek finance for projects are eligible for re-election. likely to result in enhanced facilities and job opportunities. Examples include a £1 million grant from the Millennium Commission for the Lews Castle Policies, which helped to provide new planting, a new sawmill, an interpretation centre and new jobs. The most spectacular has been the Arnish Fabrication Yard, which provided a steady rental income for a long period until its closure, which brought financial difficulties. The Trust went to court to safeguard the fixed assets of the yard, and worked in partnership with local and national agencies to bring about its re-opening and the creation of new jobs for local people.

The Trust is currently in negotiations with Unfortunately there is no several agencies, both great public interest in the public and private, work of the Trust unless about a huge wind farm people feel that their project, which could interests are threatened. transform the Trust’s Then they realise the value financial outlook. It is of having a landlord they well aware of how little know, whom they can it can do on its own and approach and whom they of the need, when could replace if working in partnership necessary. with other agencies, to play the most appropriate role, which is The Trust makes land available at nominal sometimes that of facilitator. The trustees are charges for public housing, public utilities and always conscious that they have been elected, community ventures, and in encouraging new that the whole community are their younger crofters has shareholders and that their first duty is to The Trust makes land available allowed tenants to keep advise on many mundane but important at nominal charges for public their houses and gardens, issues such as boundary disputes and before this right was transfers of tenancies that can be so time- housing, public utilities and enshrined in law. A consuming. They are conscious of the community ventures. continuous income privilege of owning their land and have been stream from rock very aware of the responsibility, especially at quarrying, which started in the 1940s, has been periods during the long haul when there vital for the Trust’s survival. seemed no light at the end of the tunnel. However they believe in the importance of The Trust has tried to attract industry and community landownership and in managing encourage employment, providing up to 50 their own affairs to the best of their abilities. per cent subsidies for community projects for the long-term unemployed in the 1970s and 1980s. It has always looked for

14 Community landownership: the wider context

The political context

John Watt, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE)

upport for community landownership with what we normally mean by planning. It S operates in a context in which is about the strategic alignment of agencies government policy favours an emphasis on to deliver public services more effectively, community involvement and partnership with community involvement in the process. (working together) in the delivery of the social inclusion and sustainable development Community land ownership is agendas. It does so at a time of significant real community planning at restructuring in British society with a move the local level: it is community away from the old-fashioned welfare state led with agency support. and top-down, state-driven development Increasingly community through the direct intervention of public sector landowners have aspirations to agencies to community involvement and a role move into new areas: for civil society and the social economy. community-owned commercial renewable energy; Partnership is very much in vogue. There are community ownership of the public-private partnerships and community- marine resource, both of the led partnerships. There is also ‘Community portion of the sea-bed owned Planning’, which has been given a high by the Crown Estate and of fish prominence and is still evolving. However, it quotas; and most recently, is neither led by communities, nor has to do community broadband.

Strategic action on landownership

Bill Ritchie, Assynt Crofters’ Trust

any countries are engaged in Minister when he spoke in Stoer about M land reform - righting the injustices “enabling existing communities to be of the past through the redistribution of land. ambitious and to take responsibility for their In these countries land reform is about own lives”. putting lights back on in the emptied glens – as it should be in Scotland. It is what the These objectives are very laudable, and many people of the Highlands and Islands wanted community land-owning groups, including 200 years ago, what the Clashmore crofters ACT, have demonstrated what can be done wanted 115 years ago, and what people today once local people own the land. But will they should be demanding from land reform. lead to lights being switched back on in the However it is not clear whether the emptied glens? government agrees. In 10 short years 31 new community trusts When the Land Reform Bill was introduced have been created in the Highlands and in Parliament the government stated clearly Islands, with about 11,000 members that the bill was not about redistributing managing around 250,000 acres - about 2.5 land, a view endorsed recently by the First per cent of the land. The Scottish Land Fund 15 has helped over 100 community groups with Consider the following “wee idea”, based on an amazing range of initiatives, large and two facts: the government owns 1.7 million small. But these all focus on existing acres of land, most forested and many of communities and on their economic and them in emptied glens; and it is proposing to amenity welfare. There is only one exception make it possible to create new crofts and so – Fearnaig Community Trust, which plans to new crofting communities. If people could create nine new small holdings on 110 acres. persuade the government to turn 10 per cent of its forest land into woodland crofts and The Land Reform Act was then use the Land Reform Act creatively to designed to facilitate such action turn these into community trusts, they could by existing communities. What put a thousand new lights on in the glens. it did not do was address the That would be a big step forward on the long situation where the glen has road of land reform. The government has been emptied and remains the resources and the power to make it empty. It is highly unlikely that happen, but does it have the political will? It there will be a major overhaul of would be exciting if people could agree to the Act in the foreseeable future, act jointly to persuade the government to so people need to be very take that step. Then they could tackle the creative and strategic about the privately-owned empty glens. use of the power they have.

Current Legislation

Allan Wilson, Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development llan Wilson congratulated the Assynt able to exercise the right to buy in addition ACrofters’ Trust on the 10th anniversary to those already qualifying under the original of its acquisition of the North Assynt Estate. threshold of 3,000. Over 600,000 people in It had made the first big step in community Scotland will potentially be able to benefit. ownership, which required skill, planning, commitment and determination; and many Some communities may prefer to negotiate other communities had already learned from with landowners rather than register their its experience. interest and then wait for land to come on the market. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act is very important for future generations of The Crofting Community Right to Buy communities throughout rural Scotland. It The crofting community right to buy gives them an opportunity to ensure their introduces a strategic change in the communities remain sustainable and to relationship between crofting communities enjoy the benefits of community ownership and the land, and gives them rights of if that is what they are determined to purchase which they may exercise as they achieve. choose. These rights recognise their contribution and commitment to their land. The Scottish Executive is currently consulting on the draft order supporting the community The aim of the proposed legislation is not to right to buy.* The consultation highlights the seek vengeance for past wrongs, as some new proposal that communities with have alleged, but to make it possible for populations of up to 10,000 will have the crofting communities increasingly to be in community right to buy. If the proposal is charge of their own development and future, accepted, another 117 settlements would be for which the control and use of land is

*The section of the Act dealing with the community right to buy came into force on 14 June 2004. Under it all 16 communities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants qualify for the community right to buy. fundamental. Assynt has been successful He went on to state that the crofting without such legislation, but other crofting community right to buy section of the Land communities now have legal rights to buy land. Reform Act failed to consider communities in which nearly all the land The legislation is complex, as was in crofting tenure. He it must preserve the freedom opposed the requirement that and rights of individuals as a majority of all adult well as communities. residents in crofting Exercising the right to buy communities, and not just a is a serious undertaking for majority of crofters, must crofting communities. vote in favour of a buy-out. However, it is clear that the He stated that many in very existence of the crofting communities legislation is important in welcomed in principle the bringing about change, for long overdue legislation but crofting communities are in were outraged by the a much stronger position in abandonment by the negotiating with their legislators of the original landlords, as discussions in the Uists have pattern created in Assynt. North Assynt already illustrated. Estate was bought for the crofters by the crofters of Assynt and their supporters. Revised Crofting Legislation However, other groups of crofters would not The Executive has taken on board many of be able to make similar purchases under the the comments on the White Paper. The main provisions of the new legislation and the rules proposals are: governing support by the Scottish Land Fund. ¥ To make it possible for crofts and common grazings to be put to wider Andy Wightman welcomed the extension of income-generating uses than the the community right to buy to larger Crofters Act currently allows. communities. However, despite the fact that ¥ To remove the veto which a landlord only six of the additional 117 communities currently has over crofter forestry. were in the Highlands, the announcement ¥ To enable the creation of new crofts helped to perpetuate the myth that land to meet local needs. reform was exclusively for the Highlands and ¥ To counter the dereliction of croft land. Islands. In reply Allan Wilson said that he ¥ To allow resumed or decrofted land to shared the aspirations of those who wished return to crofting. to see land reform extended to urban and ¥ To simplify procedures and cut suburban communities. However the Land through red tape. Reform Act was not a mechanism for ¥ To provide a right of appeal against extending reform to urban areas and there decisions of the Crofters Commission. was a need for other mechanisms. ¥ To ease the development of wind farms and other energy generation on croft land. Bill Ritchie asked whether the Scottish Executive was considering releasing some of Discussion the 1.7 million acres of land it owned for In an earlier presentation, John MacKenzie, community ownership. Allan Wilson replied ACT, had taken issue on two points, firstly in the affirmative: the Executive was the motivation for land reform: “For the considering how to take forward policy on Assynt crofters the aspiration to be free for dispersals of Forestry Commission land. evermore from the dictates of an autocratic absentee landlord was at least as important a motivation as accessing the potential for economic development”. 17 The crofting community right to buy

Workshop and discussion led by Bob Perrett. Scottish Executive, and members of the Community Land Unit articipants in a workshop on the crofting In order to complete the purchase, the crofting Pcommunity right to buy reiterated John community body had to prepare all the legal MacKenzie’s reservations about the work and retrieve the necessary details from requirement that a majority within a crofting the owner. If this could not be done by community must vote in favour of a buy-out negotiation then it was possible to force the in a ballot (which must also demonstrate a owner to hand over the required details under majority of crofters in favour). Assynt Crofters’ section 86 of the Act. The crofting body would Trust would not fall within have six months from the date of the valuation the definition of a “crofting to prepare all the legal documents for the sale. community body” in terms of the Act. The valuation was assessed in terms of the market value of the land, which could be It was pointed out, however, increased by the potential for windfarms. This that the requirement was in was a point of contention and it was suggested line with the Scottish that an owner could take advantage of this Executive’s policy on social factor. The value might also be affected by the inclusion. It was suggested interest that such use of the land would create. that Assynt Crofters’ Trust would have been able to A crofter’s right to buy his or her croft would work within the constraints of the definition be suspended from the time when the Minister to achieve the same result. The “body” would consented to the application until the sale was be a company limited by guarantee consisting concluded. The right to apportionment would of 20 or more individuals, of whom more than not be affected, but this issue was legally half must be crofters, of voting age and living complex. However, the Act would not affect within 16 kilometres of the croft (not the continuing right to purchase by negotiation. absentees). There was discussion about owners attempting Other points raised to circumvent the crofting community right to Participants in the workshop also discussed buy, for example by leasing, attempting to other aspects of the crofting community right resume land, or withholding a “ransom strip”. to buy legislation, which applied to eligible croft However, an owner must have “reasonable land including common grazings, mineral and purpose” to resume land from crofting tenure. salmon rights, and included limited rights to It was accepted that the Crofting Reform Bill acquire additional land. would remedy any problems that arose in this area. There was also mention of the Transfer of Details of the procedure for making an Crofting Estates Act, which facilitates the sale application for a crofting community buy-out of estates owned by the Scottish Ministers to were set out in the Act.* Certain criteria had to crofting communities. In many cases, such sales be met. The community could force a sale, but would previously have been prevented by terms this involved finding out all the details of the and conditions attached to these properties estate without the co-operation of the owner, when they were first acquired. so negotiation was advised. It was suggested that the Scottish Executive included this provision to encourage negotiation.

* For guidance on buy-out applications go to www.scotland.gov.uk 18 Discussion on the community right to buy

Led by Richard Frew, Scottish Executive, and members of the Community Land Unit n a workshop on the community right to There was also discussion on the potential of Ibuy, discussion touched on a number of tactical registration of land from an anti- issues. It was initially thought that there development viewpoint rather than pro- would be five registrations a year. Now with development (e.g. protecting green belt). One the upsurge in community land purchase and question raised was tactical registration of the increase in population threshold from all land around a township. Scottish Ministers 3,000 to 10,000, the number of applications would need to be satisfied that the legislation could be considerably higher. It was was not being used to blight development, impossible to predict. particularly on land identified for development in local plans. A separate The group asked whether an urban planning process already existed, which is used community could register an interest in to determine whether such development is “rural” land, if they were able to demonstrate in the public interest. a “connection” to that land. It was confirmed that members of an urban community could One key challenge for communities was to be members of a rural community’s generate their own electricity and encourage community body, as long as rural members the cheap economic location of business. formed the majority. However, the Act required the community body to represent a The workshop ended with confirmation that rural community and members of urban registration itself was free, but all other costs communities could not therefore be included such as setting up a company would have to as part of the rural community or register be raised by the community. an interest as an urban community body.

Sustainable development

Workshop led by Amanda Bryan, Aigas Associates he objective of land reform was to sustainability. Network 21’s Sustainability T remove the land-based obstacles to Checklist was used as a tool to look at some sustainable development, according to the case studies and most participants found it Land Reform Policy Group. Participants in a useful as it provides a framework asking workshop on sustainable development sensible and practical questions. There was identified key elements of a sustainable some concern that some agencies might community as: people, community choose to use the checklist in an inflexible confidence, good communication, good way, thus reducing its usefulness as a guide quality of life, community inclusion, to communities. The Community Land Unit voluntary contributions, partnership working, was cited as an example of an agency that better local housing provision, better public managed to meet the needs of the facilities, a secure and stable economy, community at a local level. effectively managed resources and adequate employment. It was also suggested that people should think of crofting communities in a more inclusive The workshop explored what implementing way, encompassing all those involved in sustainable development meant at a crofting activities and acknowledging the community level and how to assess the contributions of all family members, not just impact of individual projects in achieving single representatives from each croft. 19 Challenges and opportunities

Crofting in the 21st century

David Green, Crofters Commission avid Green reviewed some of the It has become involved in a number of grass Dhuge changes which had taken place in roots projects working with crofting crofting in recent times. communities and other partners. In Shetland Jane Thomas, in partnership with the Crofting Just over ten years ago, Achiltibuie was still and Farming Wildlife Advisory Group, has suffering from many of the obstacles to full developed a programme of croft walks agricultural production identified in the Report designed to show people the range of of the Commission of Enquiry into Crofting crofting activity, past and present. On Conditions (the Taylor Report) published in Westray she has begun looking at the 1954: absentee tenants, aged tenants, tenants demand for new crofts. The next step will be absorbed in other occupations, lack of capital, to consider how to meet the demand, limitations on individuals’ initiatives, marketing, working with partners such as the Crofting transport facilities and costs. The reasons Taylor Entrants Scheme and the Community Land gave for people leaving crofting still applied Unit. In the Western Isles Yvonne Richardson too: hardship and lack of amenity; no work for has agreed to give financial support in young men; young women no longer satisfied partnership with the Western Isles Council with their traditional role in crofting; a and Western Isles Enterprise to co-ordination restricted life with few exciting prospects and by Lewis and Harris Cattle and Sheep not much hope of marriage. Producers.

Now there is a new school in Ullapool, a new In Badenoch and Strathspey, Archie MacNab community hall in Achiltibuie, a new fire depot, has been working with the Cairngorm a new £1.4 million water treatment plant, a Crofting Group to ensure that appropriate new path up Stac Pollaidh, a majority of crofters consideration is given to crofting needs and involved in tourism, a pilot Broadband opportunities in the new National Park in connection for crofters and a much better which there are over 100 crofts. In social infrastructure - all bringing better partnership with the park authority, he is amenity and job opportunities and offering carrying out a baseline study of crofting much more to entice young folk to consider activity and how it could be developed in line coming back. with the aims of the Park. In Sutherland John Toal has been working with the North West There have been changes at the Crofters Cattle Producers Association to reverse the Commission too. Just over ten years ago it decline in cattle production, the Commission was a mainly regulatory body, totally under the contributing over £2,000 to a study of the wing of the Department of Agriculture. Today options for supporting cattle production. On the Commission is modernising, becoming Islay, Colonsay and Jura work is being done more open and accountable, and streamlining on creating new crofts or making better use some of the regulations. It now meets in public of existing ones. in different venues in the Highlands and Islands. It has restructured its staff into Area Teams, The future for both the Commission and and the Board has taken on a strategic role. It crofting communities is bright and scrutinises the spending of the public pound challenging. What ACT has done has been and is keen to re-energise efforts to develop an inspiration to all. The new Crofting Act crofting. will mean a new Commission with its own 20 budget and staff and a clearer focus on There are four major challenges ahead: crofting. It will have more freedom to move ¥ To develop more grass-roots initiatives. forward with a broader sustainable ¥ To encourage creative and innovative development remit. The Land Reform Act approaches to land management. creates new opportunities for sustainable ¥ To help ensure sustainable populations in economic development, e.g. through use of crofting areas. mineral rights and salmon fishing. There are ¥ To work in partnership to help secure other opportunities through the Community economic opportunities and Land Unit, The Crofting Communities incomes for crofting people Development Programme and the review of and their communities. the Crofting Buildings Loans and Grants Scheme - and it may be possible to do more with Increasingly, people see crofting croft land to provide affordable housing. as a model for sustainable rural development and a valuable Agriculture will continue to be the anchor, with an mechanism for retaining emphasis on quality produce and local marketing. population in fragile rural areas, There are opportunities in developing public access, a view supported by recent and securing environmental benefits, perhaps research. I am confident that through land management contracts as part of crofting will continue to change wider, more crofter-friendly agri-environmental in ways that will benefit those schemes, which currently less than 5 per cent of two great resources – our land crofters can access. and its people.

Surviving Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform

Workshop led by Becky Shaw, Scottish Crofting Foundation and Sarah Allen, The Highland Council

ecky Shaw and Sarah Allen reviewed The main elements are likely to be: B current CAP support and outlined ¥ Financial discipline: European proposed reforms. enlargement will spread existing payments more thinly. Scotland currently receives £450 million in ¥ Cross-compliance: Payment of subsidy CAP subsidies per annum. 80 per cent of will depend on meeting certain criteria the total (Pillar 1) goes on production - relating to the environment, public and subsidies e.g. Suckler Cow Premium (SCP) animal health, animal welfare. and Slaughter Premium (SP). 20 per cent of ¥ EU modulation: the transfer of a the total - £88 million – subsidises rural percentage of the funds in Pillar 1 to development (Pillar 2), e.g. Rural Stewardship Pillar 2. The first £3,300 of subsidy under Scheme (RSS), the Less Favoured Areas Pillar 1 schemes will not be modulated, so Support Scheme (LFASS). It has been claimed smaller-scale producers, including most that the 20 per cent for rural development crofters, will not lose money. brings significant money into the Highlands ¥ Decoupling of support: current subsidies and Islands. are linked to over-production. The reforms will allow producers to step off The Proposed Reforms the treadmill of overstocking to keep up The Council of Ministers are due to decide headage payments. There will be a shift on the reforms soon after the conference in to single income payments, based on September 2003. 2000-2 payments. These will be linked 21 to the producer not to the land, the Department (SEERAD) will be able to define intention being that farmers and crofters the criteria for cross-compliance in Scotland, will respond to market drivers. the Good Agricultural and Environmental Payments will be conditional on Condition can be defined “locally”, and the farming to an agreed standard – the Good degree of decoupling is negotiable. Agricultural and Environmental Condition. Producers entitled to a Discussion decoupled single income payment will Participants felt that decoupling was likely be able to trade their entitlements. It is to have a negative impact in the Highlands expected there will be big negative impacts and Islands, but the national envelope should on marginal areas. There will be a national have a positive impact on crofting (but was reserve fund for new entrants. not likely to be available for infrastructure). ¥ National envelope: Scotland will have It would be important to develop local brands, the power to take 10 per cent of the Pillar 1 as Orkney had done. The shift from subsidy of sheep or cattle and put it into subsidising production to support for wider related schemes (e.g. marketing, rural development including social and supporting production in fragile areas). environmental values meant there should This measure is intended to mitigate be scope to argue for Pillar 2 money to be the negative effects of decoupled support spent on communal action and township (£17 million will be available for a schemes. There was a need for the Scottish beef national envelope). The challenge Crofting Foundation (SCF), the National is going to be to make sure a beef Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS), the national envelope is targeted Highland Council and others to formulate effectively. a Highlands and Islands position. The Highlands and Islands were well placed to There will be some flexibility. The Scottish receive continuing support, but would have Executive Environment and Rural Affairs to work hard to make a case for it.

Housing

Workshop led by John Toal, Crofters Commission, Maggie Fyffe, Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust and Wilma Robertson, Melness Crofters Trust

here was ready agreement in the Community landowners may have a mix of T Housing workshop and on field visits housing on their land – private houses, croft (to see the new houses being built in Stoer in houses, rented Housing Association houses, Assynt) that housing was a major issue for or community-owned properties let to sitting community landowners. tenants. Some community landowners (e.g. Eigg and Gigha) have acquired a high The availability of affordable housing is a key proportion of properties in poor condition factor in encouraging young people to stay and in need of repairs or renovation. in their communities and in helping to persuade those who have left to return. Yet Addressing the situation in many areas there is a shortage of Community landowners have addressed the affordable housing, particularly for young situation in several ways: people and key workers. In the short term at least there is very little land both suitable ¥ Renovating existing houses: The Isle of for housing and available at prices which local Eigg Heritage Trust (IEHT) created its own people or housing associations can afford. construction company to carry out

22 renovations, and accessed public funding ¥ New approaches in crofting communities: that covered 75 per cent of the cost of There is a need to explore the possibilities the work. of using croft land to provide land for housing for family members while ¥ Acquiring land and building new houses: retaining it in crofting tenure; and of Eigg crofters gave land on which Lochaber taking land out of common grazings for Housing Association (LHA) built five housing for members of crofting houses (with priority for the elderly). IEHT communities. and LHA are trying to make plots available for £3,000 rather than at the market Difficulties encountered valuation of £15,000. In Assynt all but ¥ There is a need for low-cost sites for one of the 13 crofting townships have private housing, which will also generate agreed in principle to identify land for income for the community landowner. housing. One site has been made Local people, especially young people, available to Albyn Housing Association for cannot pay the prices asked for plots on £1,000. In Harris, where the only available the open market which only second land is croft land, the North Harris Trust homers and retired incomers can afford. approaches crofters about house sites on ¥ Making croft land available for housing behalf of enquirers. On Islay help from involves negotiations with townships and agencies including the Scottish Land Fund requires their co-operation. (SLF) and the Community Land Unit (CLU) ¥ Even when land is made available, there was crucial in acquiring 18 hectares, for can be long delays (up to two years in housing, leisure facilities and crofting. Assynt) before agreements are reached CLU also helped the local housing with the Scottish Environmental association to buy two croft house sites. Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Water. Six houses are to be built under a ¥ There is a need to ensure that an collective Rural Home Ownership Grant affordable plot or house is not lost to the (RHOG) scheme in which the new owners community if the owner tries to sell it on will share planning and design costs. for profit. Eigg and LHA have a payback Melness Crofters Ltd have provided land scheme. The policy of HSCHT is to have for 13 new houses, including four for local rights of pre-emption on plots and houses. people, and five for people with local In Assynt the new houses are housing connections. Six more houses are planned association houses, to which for young people wishing to return. the right to buy does not apply. (Only housing ¥ Housing surveys: A housing survey on associations that are Eigg, carried out before IEHT was recognised Scottish established, identified that most of the charitieshave houses on the island were Below Tolerable exemption from the Standard (BTS) and that many people lived right to buy.) A new in caravans. With the help of the Act, the Titles Conditions Scotland Act, Highlands Small Communities Housing (which comes into force in November 2004) Trust (HSCHT), Assynt also carried out a will help with the imposition of conditions survey to establish housing needs in their on the disposal of affordable housing. community. ¥ When the number of applicants exceeds the number of new houses for rent, issues ¥ Community planning: IEHT also carried out arise about highest priority need and a community consultation on where new there can be conflicts over the competing houses should be built. As a result two areas claims of local people and incomers. Albyn were identified. The exercise gave community has a Local Lettings Initiative that allows backing to planning applications and the community to decide on the categories proposals to zone the land for housing. of greatest housing need (e.g. young 23 married people, the elderly, key workers, ¥ Extending the Crofting Buildings Loans etc) before it selects tenants from and Grants Scheme to new houses on applicants in these categories. new crofts. ¥ Reducing or waiving VAT on the Solutions renovation of existing buildings. In conclusion, workshop members drew up ¥ Sharing information amongst community a list of initiatives that would improve the landowners. housing situation: ¥ Developing appropriate allocations and ¥ Using rights of pre-emption to protect lettings policies. affordable housing. ¥ Lobbying for joined-up thinking on ¥ Making more croft land available for planning and housing issues at strategic levels. housing with the co-operation of ¥ Extending exemption from the right to crofters. buy to all housing associations.

Supporting young people’s involvement

Allan Wilson, Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development llan Wilson stated that as community In the last two years, YoungScot.org, a Aland purchase was for the longer term, national youth information portal, has it was vital to include the views of the provided: younger people within the community, as ¥ Over 2,000 pages of high quality, accurate ACT had done. The people of Assynt had information that is updated every day. demonstrated, by holding workshops ¥ 17 information channels covering topics targeted at young people, that they were ranging from benefits and volunteering listening to the young people and had taken to health, relationships and education. their views into account. ¥ A national and local on-line news service ¥ Local information, produced by teams It is also vital that young people appreciate of young people who write up information the important role they can play in ensuring on what is happening in their local area. the success of community purchases, and ¥ UrSay Discussion Forums through which that they are given both support and young people can take part in on-line opportunities to fulfil that role. They must national and local discussions, on an be well informed about the issues on which informed basis, about topics relevant to them. they have to make personal choices, and ¥ A postcode search facility to allow young must understand how to influence those people to search for local services in their area. who take the decisions that affected them. ¥ Other features such as the Vote of the Day, entertainment and gossip. One form of support is Young Scot. Young Scot one of the most comprehensive and The portal is part of the Dialogue Youth advanced information services in Europe, Project, a partnership between the Scottish which provides information in hard copy and Executive, Young Scot, COSLA, local electronic form for all young people as well authorities and their community planning as other benefits, such as: partners, and young people themselves. It is ¥ The Young Scot card, which entitles a major national initiative funded by the holders to discounts in thousands of Scottish Executive. Units are being shops in Scotland and across Europe. established in all local authorities across ¥ A free, confidential 24 hour Legal Advice line. Scotland. The project aims to: ¥ An Action Fund to provide grants to ¥ Promote cross-departmental and joint help young people turn ideas into action. agency working. 24 ¥ Provide a focal point for engaging with The Scottish Executive has been discussing young people at a local and national with the Scottish Youth Parliament the level. support it requires to strengthen and build ¥ Stimulate lifelong learning, youth on its record of success. It is important that mobility, community safety, healthy it is able to engage fully in both rural and lifestyles and enterprise education. urban areas of the country and in all sectors ¥ Promote citizenship and social of our communities. inclusion by involving young people as full partners in the design and The Scottish Executive is committed to delivery of services and facilities. supporting and enhancing all aspects of rural life in Scotland, and recognises that the No other country has such an advanced and involvement, energy and enthusiasm of comprehensive means of informing, young people are a crucial part of rural life, educating, consulting and engaging with its and integral to its success. Youth projects in young people. Aviemore, Orkney and Lochinver have benefited from awards from the Scottish Active democracy Rural Partnership Fund, an annual, Society needs its young people to engage in competitive fund that offers grant aid to rural the democratic processes on which so much communities with innovative projects for of its citizens’ lives depend. The building tackling local problems or creating a wider blocks of a structure for youth democracy range of opportunities. In 2003-4 awards are in place in Scotland e.g. local youth totalled £2.8 million. One qualifying activity forums and youth councils in schools and for the Rural Challenge Fund in 2004-05 is wider communities and the Scottish Youth providing opportunities for young people. Parliament, which is the only youth-led youth parliament in the world.

Working together

John Watt, Highlands and Islands Enterprise ohn Watt explained that support existed The Community Land Unit (CLU) works with Jto help communities wishing to take land community landowners on a range of varied into community ownership to overcome projects with the aim of generating income obstacles and exploit opportunities. from assets: for example, land management (including game management) in Knoydart In the three years of its existence (prior to and Harris; renewable energy in Knoydart, the conference in August 2003) the Scottish Eigg, Stornoway and possibly Pairc and the Land Fund (SLF) has approved nearly 120 Uists; forestry in Abriachan, Anagach and applications for assistance and over £9 Laggan; and housing – everywhere. million in grant assistance. It has provided technical assistance at a pre-acquisition Tips for working together within communities stage in a third of all cases, but this accounts include: for only about 1 per cent of the fund. 10 per ¥ Agree a shared vision and action plan cent of the fund has been allocated to the (refresh this regularly). purchase of buildings; 10 per cent to post- ¥ Be open and democratic in decision-making. acquisition development; 10 per cent to ¥ Ensure boards are as representative as possible. development plots and amenity areas; and ¥ Maintain discipline in governance (it is 70 per cent to large multi-sectoral land easy to slip into bad habits). management projects, e.g. Knoydart, Gigha, ¥ Maintain good communication with the Harris, Anagach, Bhaltos. wider community and engage them 25 through newsletters, public meetings, environment led development AGMs, involving young people (as in - Abriachan, Knoydart, Harris. Assynt), and encouraging attendance at ¥ Local Enterprise Companies. board meetings. ¥ Local authorities. ¥ Engage and value members, both local and others. Engage with the Community Planning ¥ Manage conflict - by listening, persuading process. and using external assistance for conflict resolution. Working together between communities ¥ Record achievements There is now a growing movement of There is now a growing and tell people about community landowners and considerable movement of community them – members, the accumulated experience. HIE has assisted landowners with considerable community, the press. groups to exchange experience. For example, accumulated experience. ¥ Engage and exploit agencies. Gigha talked to Eigg; Harris to Assynt, Bhaltos and Knoydart; Anagach to Abriachan. HIE had When working with agencies, communities also funded get-togethers, e.g. as at this need to: conference in Assynt, and on Eigg, and training ¥ Understand where agencies are sessions in Inverness and Abriachan. It also coming from - consider their agenda helped with the three volumes of case studies and the wider policy context; seek to published by the Not-for-Profit Landowners inform their policy thinking. Project Group. There needs to be more of this. ¥ Take advantage of the creative tension between top down and bottom up. Some kind of formal working together is Agencies need communities to deliver important. This will grow organically when: their policies. The political tide is in ¥ There is a critical mass of members. communities’ favour. ¥ It is needed and people want it. ¥ Use CLU to the maximum: it has a wide ¥ Members have the capacity to contribute. range of powers to assist. ¥ There is a clear agreed purpose (e.g. ¥ Be clear about what the community lobbying, exchange of information and wants and seek agency help. good practice, training, other services). ¥ Try not to be suspicious of agencies. ¥ It is not being provided elsewhere. ¥ It can be sustained without external There are good examples of community subsidy. landowners working with partner Is electronic communication a solution? organisations which are represented on their boards: for example, with agencies (The In conclusion: Highland Council in Knoydart and on Eigg, ¥ There has been huge progress in the Highlands and Islands Enterprise on Gigha); last ten years. with environmental NGOs, (the John Muir ¥ Working together is fundamental to Trust in Knoydart and Harris, Scottish Wildlife the process. Trust on Eigg); and with the private sector ¥ Communities need to continue the (in North Harris). move forward: e.g. Bill Ritchie’s ideas for newer and bigger communities on With Community Planning prominent, state-owned land. agencies are keen to support community- ¥ Communities must be clear about based local development, for example: what they want and be ambitious. ¥ Communities Scotland - housing & ¥ They must use all the resources made regeneration, e.g. Gigha, Knoydart, Eigg. available by agencies. Communities ¥ Crofters Commission - Islay & Colonsay. should aim to drive the agencies, and ¥ Forestry Commission - Anagach & not be driven by them. Abriachan. ¥ Communities should learn from each ¥ Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) – other – they are rich in experience. 26 Organising for change - a proposal for a Community Land Action Network (CLAN)

Camille Dressler, CLAN n her presentation Camille Dressler The CLAN accord lists the following aims, I argued that community landowners objectives and benefits: needed to form a network to help them meet the challenges of community Aims landownership, sustain the momentum, ¥ Tohelp communities achieve their goals and take advantage of the opportunities of sustainability, regeneration, social available at a time when there was growing inclusion and healthier economies. support for the social economy. A network would allow communities to exchange information, skills and experience as well as support each other in encouraging active community involvement and understanding of community development and the social economy.

Background to the CLAN proposal The idea of a networking organisation for community landownership initiatives emerged at the Eigg Community Forum on Land Reform in June 2000. The aim of the conference was to reach a consensus on what community groups really wanted out of land reform and to inform the policy makers. The following aims for the network were identified: ¥ To promote solidarity, and build mutual support between community land groups. ¥ To empower and build the capacity of communities which have responsibility ¥ To build self-confidence, understanding of the fortheir land and their future. democratic process, and ¥ To help remove the land-based barriers participation in local democracy. to the sustainable development of rural ¥ To ensure that communities’ needs and communities. aspirations influence mainstream policies and services. The Community Land Action Group (CLAG), was formed on a voluntary basis, and set Objectives up in September 2000 a prototype website ¥ To set up a self-help ICT network with an e-discussion group. Through of community ownership initiatives (CLAN feedback from its e-group, CLAG was able info website). to take part in the last stages of the ¥ To set up a database of community consultation process for the Land Reform ownership initiatives to be used as Bill. A year later an accord for a reference, template and idea bank Community Land Action Network (CLAN) (community pages). was circulated and adopted by 12 ¥ To facilitate exchange of ideas and community groups. airing of views (discussion group). 27 ¥ To offer guidance and advice to Discussion increase understanding and knowledge In workshop discussion it was agreed that of organisational, communication and there was a need to strengthen community media skills (tool kit, useful links, event landowners’ capacity building and that a bulletin). network had huge potential to contribute. ¥ To provide regular info-digests It could help with training and provide (newsletter). access to new ideas. However CLU was ¥ To provide networking opportunities currently providing new community (yearly forum). landowners with substantial help in these areas. Benefits to members ¥ Rapid access to useful and targeted It was suggested that the principles for information. setting up a network were essentially the ¥ Regular update on what’s going on in same as those for developing a community community development and the initiative: build from the grass roots, and social economy. start from the needs of members. It was ¥ Access to first stop legal advice, also suggested that, initially, a series of participative methodology, facilitators. annual meetings of community landowners ¥ Training for community activists. at different venues was more useful than ¥ Having an opportunity to make their a website alone as a networking tool: voice heard. people needed to come together and get ¥ Effective networking, exchange visits. to know each other for a website to be sustained and used to best advantage. At the Abriachan community conference Community woodland groups had taken in December 2002 a broad consensus two to three years to get to know each emerged that CLAN should be set up as other before they began to network. Such an independent self-help network. In May meetings helped to formulate the 2003 Camille Dressler obtained a Level 1 objectives. In setting up a network it would award from Scotland Unlimited to take be important to start small, on a scale that CLAN forward. people knew they could manage, to let those involved sell the benefits by word of Those attending the Fling in the Fank mouth, and to be very clear about the conference were invited to help make specific aims. CLAN what they wanted it to be.

28 Developing fishing and wildlife tourism

Angling Field trip led by Cathel MacLeod, Iain MacLeod, Calum Millar and Mark Mackenzie

ngling is very important for tourism obtained from hatcheries at the Seafield Ain Assynt and has an important role Centre, Loch Kishorn in Wester Ross, were to play in the survival of the Post Office, released into the headwaters during this shops and B&Bs. The wild brown trout and period. During the year 2002, over 1,000 sea- sea trout fishing impressed visitors as far going smolts were caught in the trap, and back as the middle of the 19th century. The tagged before being released into the sea. lochs still provide very good fishing, so loch That year, the return rate of tagged fish to fishing seems to be sustainable. the system was 33 per cent. (The national average return rate is estimated at 10-12 per However, the sea trout fishing collapsed cent.) At the Manse System, ACT countrywide during the volunteers are also engaged, in 1960s. Back then association with the members of Assynt University of St Andrews, Angling Club - all in a very important volunteers - took on the international experiment to difficult task of trying to improve the control sea lice infestations on sea trout. sea trout fishing in the Manse System, and during the 1970s a weir and fish pass were Angling provides ACT with a very welcome constructed to create a new loch at the source of core income, in the region of £4,000 outflow from the system into the sea. This each year, and has the potential to generate weir was built with the best of intentions but considerably more income in the future. unfortunately contributed further to the Visitors can fish any of 200 lochs for £5 a collapse of the sea trout fishings. Fewer fish day. Permits and boat hire are sold by the local than ever entered the system, partly because Post Offices, Assynt Visitor Centre, Cruachan of the inadequate design of the fish pass, Guest House and other volunteers. and partly because of the continuing decline of sea trout countrywide. After winning the land ACT made alterations to the fish pass, to allow better access for migratory fish. These have been successful, with several hundred adult sea trout now returning each year through a trap, where they are tagged before being released into the system.

Over a four-year period ACT carried out a re-stocking programme of the Manse System, with advice and assistance from the West of Sutherland Fisheries Trust, and with the blessing of the North and West District Salmon Fisheries Board. 200,000 unfed sea trout fry, 29 Wildlife Tourism

Workshop led by Peter Cairns, Northshots ildlife (or eco/nature) tourism is the per day. His community has established Wfastest growing sector of the fastest a wildlife tourism visitor centre. He and growing industry in the world. People living other local business people have in urban environments need to reconnect re-invented their village to provide with nature. Scotland can offer puffins, seals, community benefit. golden eagles, peregrine falcons, dolphins, otter, red deer, wildcats, buzzards and osprey Not all projects require major financial - all of interest to a great number of people. investment - often time and imagination are There is a lot of diversity and internationally more important. Many local communities do important breeding populations of golden not realise what they have to offer – because eagles, seals and seabirds. it is so familiar to them. Scotland has enormous potential, but the packaging and Peter Cairns described four case studies of presentation of the product must be very relevance to community landowners: good. If a community is to benefit, it has to ¥ Loch Garten Osprey Centre has had over work together to offer a good quality service. two million visitors, since it opened in Marketing also has to be of a high standard, 1954. RSPB has invested £250,000 in a using high quality photography - good new visitor centre, recognising that the pictures sell. people who visit the osprey centre are not birdwatchers, but tourists. No ospreys Projects can be as simple as setting up a bird nested there in 2003, but visitor numbers feeding station outside the dining room went up to 37,000 in six months. window of the local hotel or B&B. They could ¥ Speyside Wildlife Pine Marten hide: after progress to the provision of nest boxes, feeding pine martens for a year or so, the artificial floating platforms for divers or owners of the hide realised there was a feeding stations for birds or otters. It is all market and built (with grant aid) a down to imagination and innovation. comfortable, purpose-built hide for 20 people at £15 each per night. For further information, go to ¥ Gigrin Farm Red Kites Centre, a 200 acre www.greentourism.org.uk (for general upland sheep farm in Rhayader in Wales, information, case studies, research, latest attracts 70,000 visitors a year to its three developments, events, etc.) hides, shop, camp site, self catering See also www.speysidewildlife.co.uk, accommodation, guided activities, day www.gigrin.co.uk, www.AAospreys.org.uk. excursions, etc. Rhayader and the surrounding area is now known as Kite Country with local businesses benefiting from the farm’s activities. ¥ Norway: a small farmer in the west of Norway decided to take advantage of a (free) local resource, which also happened to be a passion of his - sea eagles. He now has four hides, for which he charges £90

30 Forestry

Crofter forestry in Assynt Field trip led by Bill Ritchie and David MacPhail he native woodlands of Achmelvich and The big fences also help to manage the deer TTorbreck have been part of the crofting on the estate. landscape for generations - used for firewood, shelter for livestock and as a source Participants discussed at length how crofting of hazel for creels. These semi-natural integrated all the different forms of land use. ancient woodlands, together with the 800 They agreed there was a need to campaign hectares of new crofter forestry schemes, strongly for CAP reforms that would support mean that 10 per cent of the North Assynt such integrated land use, particularly the estate (perhaps a fifth of the area, if the beneficial interactions between cattle and lochans are excluded) is under trees. That woodlands. Crofter forestry had also brought may be the maximum amount of woodland, significant socio-economic benefits to Assynt given the need to retain land for grazing. including a sustainable local tree-planting business. Bill Ritchie described the woods as The woods bring great aesthetic benefits, “a gift to the next generation”, who could use attracting tourists and enhancing the fishing. them as they saw fit.

Culag Community Woodland Trust Field trip led by Claire Belshaw, Secretary and Robin Noble, Project Officer

ulag Community Woodland Trust an allotment scheme, a community orchard C (CCWT) was originally created because and work to improve access from the road. of concern in the early 1990s over windthrow damage to the Culag Wood following the The field trip was limited to a whirlwind tour development of the harbour. A company after dropping off the other groups on the limited by guarantee with charitable status way. It included a visit to CCWT’s brand-new was created with support from Assynt office in Lochinver, the purchase of which was Community Council, and the Culag Wood funded by the Scottish Land Fund and the area was secured on a long lease from the Community Land Unit. It is partly an office local estate. A great deal of hard work for CCWT’s two project officers and partly a followed to reinstate old path networks, community room with four computers for provide access points and train volunteers internet access. There was also a brief look in chain saw use and other relevant skills. In at the 36-hectare Culag Wood on the 2000 the Little Assynt Estate, two thirds of edge of Lochinver. which had recently been planted with native deciduous species, came on the market. CCWT made a successful bid for this ground, which extends to 1100 hectares, and so became “community landowners”. Following wide local consultation varied plans for this ground were agreed and funding was secured for a project officer post (jobshare) for three years. Current activities include building an all-abilities path at Little Assynt, 31 Over the last 10 years the Trust has not only most wonderful bog in the middle improved the network of paths through this surrounded by mature trees. If this was mature mixed wood but has also set up a Canada brown bears would be living in the number of trails, “Orientreeing” and “All the wood. The latest project is a play area for Time in the World”. It is a gorgeous place to the under 5s with a woven willow igloo and hide from the weather and has a different a tepee about to go up. sort of feel around each corner. There is the

Forestry and Rural Development Scheme Workshop led by Chris Perkins, Scheme Co-ordinator

hris Perkins outlined the Forestry and interest in woodland management, including CRural Development Scheme (FRDS), a non-profit-distributing woodland groups, partnership project administered by crofting townships/grazings committees, and Highland Birchwoods, with the Forestry other constituted local community Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage, organisations. Highlands and Islands Enterprise, The Highland Council and the Crofters Applications should be made for assistance Commission as partners. with the total cost of projects. A mixture of European Agricultural Guarantee and FRDS has a budget of £2.9 million over the Guidelines Fund (EAGGF), Forestry next three years, with a dedicated £520,000 Commission SFGS, LEC and SNH funds will package for community groups. FRDS is make up the total project value. Applicants available only for the management of should discuss applications with Chris Perkins existing woodland and forestry, and is before submission, and the application must designed to improve the local forest resource be for an element of work entirely funded by and help to develop social, economic and FRDS. The maximum sum for each application environmental capital in order to contribute would be £25,000 EAGGF funds with match to the local economy. funding from the other budgets in the Scheme. Theme Three of the scheme is aimed at community-managed woodlands and Applications will be processed first by the crofting townships. It pays up to 100 per FRDS Scheme Co-ordinator to ensure that cent of actual costs for community-based they are eligible, and then scrutinised by a forestry-related developments. Theme Advisory Group (TAG) made up of organisations with an interest in community The aim of the community-based element woodlands. of the scheme is to help communities achieve greater social, economic and Discussion focused on the application environmental benefits by participating in procedure in more detail, questions on forestry. It covers wider operations than particular projects and the eligibility of those covered by the Scottish Forestry Grant particular woodland operations. Scheme (SFGS) administered by the Forestry Commission Scotland. The scheme takes a For further details, contact Chris Perkins, flexible approach to funding and supplied FRDS Scheme Co-ordinator at Highland public match funding for operations as part Birchwoods (01463) 811611 or email of the £520,000 package. [email protected]

Eligible applicants for the community element of FRDS are communities with an

32 Renewable Energy

Assynt Hydro Scheme Field trip led by John MacKenzie

ithin a year of the crofters taking operating the plant. Project funding also W possession of the Assynt Estate, an involved substantial borrowings from application for assistance with the cost of a Triodos Bank. feasibility study into the prospects for hydro- electric generation had been approved by The cost of environmental protection work Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE). dramatically exceeded original estimates. To While this study was in its infancy, Ian Lang, ensure the continued viability of the project, then Secretary of State for Scotland, the mechanical and electrical equipment was announced the first Scottish Renewables procured from the Czech Republic and Obligation (SRO1). The proposed feasibility Croatia, resulting in substantial savings in the study was transformed into an application capital cost of the project. However, projected within the SRO process, which attracted output and revenue have almost 200 expressions of interest. ACT was diminished, as the imported awarded one of the 40 contracts that machinery is less efficient resulted from this process and is contracted than the UK manufactured to deliver up to 220kW into the grid for a equipment originally period of 15 years. A substantial grant proposed. towards the capital cost of the project was secured from the Highlands & Islands The plant was commissioned Partnership under the provisions of the in September 2000 but since European Regional Development Funding then there has been a Programme. progressive annual reduction in rainfall. Output in 2002 was 56.9 per cent Discussions began with Scottish Natural of target and it is anticipated on current Heritage when it soon became evident that performance that the original design proposals to utilise the output in 2003 storage capacity of Loch Poll alone would not will be similar. ACT is contracted to deliver up be acceptable to them. This was principally Nevertheless, to 220kW into the grid over a due to their concern for the well-being of a repayment of the period of 15 years. pair of black-throated divers (a protected bank loan remains species). The significant variation in loch on target at approximately £1,600 per month level, envisaged under the original design and it is hoped that the loan will be entirely proposals, was considered to be detrimental extinguished within the originally agreed to the breeding prospect of these birds. This period of 10 years. At maximum output, created years of struggle for the Trust until current revenue amounts to approx. £1,500 the intervention of the Minister for the per week. On expiry of the contract between Environment at the Scottish Office brought ACT and HLP it has been agreed that there about a successful outcome. will be an equal distribution of any capital balance remaining after necessary plant ACT has formed a partnership with Highland refurbishment has been paid for. It is hoped Light and Power Ltd (HLP) that will endure that there will be a capital sum in excess of for the period of the SRO contract. The two £100,000 remaining for distribution and that parties have jointly subscribed share capital the entire facility, free of debt, will be wholly to Assynt Hydro Ltd, a wholly owned owned by ACT. The life of the plant is expected subsidiary of ACT, which was charged with to be in excess of 50 years. the responsibility of designing, building and 33 Options for communities Workshop led by Iain Maciver, Stornoway Trust and Jon Priddy, Community Energy Unit

on Priddy explained that in the Highlands funding, but it can provide 100 Jand Islands, HIE’s Community Energy per cent funding in very exceptional cases. Unit (CEU) implemented the Scottish CEU is able to point applicants to possible Communities and Household Renewable sources of match funding. Energy Initiative (SCHRI), which was funded by the Scottish Executive. It has a To be eligible for assistance under the SCHRI, team of five officers who cover the an applicant must be a constituted Highlands and Islands. community group with open membership and demonstrable support, which exists to CEU aims to assist deliver benefits to the community. community groups to make as much use as There is a variety of possible arrangements possible of renewable and partnerships for community groups to energy in running consider. Under the 1976 Act a crofting facilities, so reducing group and the landowner are each entitled their energy costs. CEU to a 50 per cent share of revenues, which does not get involved in might be in the region of £4,000 per large wind-farm megawatt generated. projects. Instead it targets its support on CEU is working with other organisations on community-owned or guidance to communities on the benefits community-managed they might receive from local commercial projects such as leisure renewable energy projects. This issue is facilities (for example, largely unresolved in this country, in contrast swimming pools), community halls, offices with European countries where communities used by community organisations, schools may have an equity share or outright (Scoraig Primary School recently received ownership of one or two turbines. funding for a replacement wind turbine) and also smaller scale projects such as mini- For further information contact Eric Dodd, hydro in the grounds of Lews Castle. CEU Manager on 01463 667271.

CEU will assist projects using any renewable technology, or a mix of different technologies, which will result in a reduction of greenhouse emissions compared with the use of fossil fuels.

There are two streams in the funding provision for communities: ¥ Technical assistance, which can fund feasibility studies up to a maximum of £10,000. ¥ Capital assistance for projects up to a maximum of £100,000. CEU normally provides 40-60 per cent of total

34 Building on cultural resources

Workshop led by Norman MacLeod and Iain MacDonald of Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre he Taigh Chearsabhagh Trust was years regarding the Assynt buy-out. It was also T established as a charitable trust in 1994 an opportunity to have a look at how a and Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts community has changed over these last 10 years Centre opened in 1995. The Trust incorporates and to learn from them. two bodies - the Comann Eachdraidh Uibhist a Tuath (North Uist Historical Society) and the On arriving in Stoer I took the camping option Uist Arts Association. (something that I have not done in years) and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was Needing space for collections and exhibitions, breathtaking sitting on the beach watching the the directors of the trust identified a derelict sun slowly sinking into the Atlantic. 17th century Grade Two listed building close to the ferry terminal in Lochmaddy Although the participants in the and sought funding to transform workshop were few in number, it. Extended in 2001, the building there was plenty of quality, with now consists of a museum, two discussion of the importance of art galleries, a studio, a 45-seat and heritage, the possibility of a café, a print workshop similar centre in Assynt, and the darkroom, a research area, challenges of such a venture. The office and storage space. talk was kept very informal with participants encouraged to ask In Taigh Chearsabhagh there is a questions. shop which is the trading arm of the Taigh Chearsabhagh Trust. The Assynt would be a good location shop includes the Post Office, which moved to for a centre such as Taigh Chearsabhagh to give the building in 2002. The profit made by the it a focal point and a sense of history, as you are trading company is covenanted back to the creating your own history. It does not have to Taigh Chearsabhagh Trust. be anything big or fancy - only a living, breathing building. When speaking to local people the The focus of the workshop discussion was how general feeling I got was that possibly new blood Taigh Chearsabhagh was run. The Arts was needed in Assynt because there seemed to Association is responsible for the arts side with be a feeling of “burn out” with the community a planning and funding group making decisions having to work so hard to survive. There is a on the arts programme for the year with the feeling of the importance of art and heritage help of the arts officer. The Historical Society but this would be a new project and who would decides on its programme for the year with help progress the project? Hopefully the Fling will from the dedicated museums officer. Taigh encourage young people to return or new people Chearsabhagh has been a revenue client of the to relocate. Scottish Arts Council for the last year. Prior to this it relied on project funding. It also receives Assynt is a fantastic place. It has been about 20 revenue funding from the Western Isles Council, years since my last visit, but it most certainly and applies to charitable trusts for part of its will not be another 20 years before my return. project funding. In fact it will be Easter time.

Norman MacLeod writes: When Taigh For further information about the Taigh Chearsabhagh was asked to be involved in the Chearsabhagh Trust and its activities, contact Fling in the Fank it was considered quite an Norman MacLeod on 01876 500293 or by email: honour, for we had heard so much over the [email protected] 35 Appendix One: Conference programme

Thursday 28th August

9.30 am Introduction and Welcome Kenny MacKenzie 9.40 am The Last Ten Years John MacKenzie, ACT 9.55 am Strategic Action on Landownership Bill Ritchie, ACT 10.10 am The Last Ten Years and the Next Ten Years ACT under 30s 10.25 am Embarking on a Buy-out David Cameron, North Harris 10.40 am Looking to the Future Maggie Fyffe, Eigg 10.55 am Organising for Change Camille Dressler, CLAN 11.10 am Question and Answer Session 11.40 am Workshops 2.30 pm Field trips 7.00 pm Thursday Ceilidh House Kenny John Matheson & Friends

Friday 29th August

9.30 am Introduction and Welcome Simon Fraser 9.40 am Current Legislation Allan Wilson, Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development 10.00 am Working Together John Watt, HIE 10.20 am Crofting in the 21st Century David Green, Crofters Commission 10.40 am The Long Haul Kenny Maciver, Stornoway Trust 11.00 am Question and Answer Session 11.30 am Workshops 2.30 pm Field Trips 8.00 pm Ceilidh Blue Ridge and Peat Bog Faeries

Saturday 30th August

10.00 am Introduction and Welcome Graeme Scott 10.10 am Moving Forward Simon Fraser and Andy Wightman 10.25 am Group work: create display summarising key ideas from workshops and field trips 11.30 am Ideas Market Place 12.30 pm Key Issues for the Future Andy Wightman 2.00 pm North Assynt Feis 7.30 pm ACT 10th Anniversary Ceilidh Graeme Mitchell Scottish Dance Band, Ishbel MacAskill, Ian MacKay and others

36 Appendix Two: List of workshops and field trips

Field trips Leaders Crofter Forestry David MacPhail and Bill Ritchie Fishing, Game and Tourism Cathel MacLeod, Iain MacLeod, Calum Millar & Mark MacKenzie Housing and Community Facilities Sarah Macleod, Laura Maclean, Kenny Mackenzie & Durrant MacLeod Renewable Energy John Mackenzie Culag Wood Claire Belshaw and Robin Noble

Workshops Leaders Organising for Change Camille Dressler, Community Land Action Network Surviving CAP Reform Becky Shaw, Scottish Crofting Foundation and Sarah Allan, The Highland Council Rural Housing Maggie Fyffe, Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, Wilma Robertson, Melness Crofters Ltd & John Toal, Crofters Commission Building on Cultural Resources Norman Macleod and Iain MacDonald, Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre Crofting Community Right to Buy Andrew Anderson, Community Land Unit and Bob Perrett, Scottish Executive Forestry and Rural Development Scheme Chris Perkins, Highland Birchwoods Taking Control of Your Land David Cameron, North Harris Trust and Sandra Holmes Community Land Unit The Crofting Reform Bill Alastair Maciver, Scottish Crofting Foundation and John Toal, Crofters Commission Renewable Energy: Options for Communities Iain Maciver, Stornoway Trust & Jon Priddy, Community Energy Unit Sustainable Development Amanda Bryan, Aigas Associates The Community Right to Buy Catherine Francis, Community Land Unit and Richard Frew, Scottish Executive Appendix Three: Participants

Wildlife Tourism Development Peter Cairns, Northshots Di Alexander The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust Sarah Allen The Highland Council Andy Anderson Community Land Unit John Bannister Scottish Crofting Foundation - Skye & Lochalsh Claire Belshaw Culag Community Woodland Trust Maurice Black Erisort Trust Mark Brennan Crofting Community Development Scheme Amanda Bryan Aigas Associates Simon Byron Scottish Crofting Foundation Peter Cairns North Shots 37 David Cameron North Harris Trust Alasdair Campbell West Highland Free Press Diane Campbell Culag Community Woodland Trust George Campbell RSPB Scotland Lucas Chapman Community Land Unit Bob Cook Assynt Crofters’ Trust Robin Currie Crofters Commission Sandy Dear Visit Scotland Camille Dressler Community Land Action Network Ron Duncan Scottish Agricultural College Anne Edwards Assynt Crofters’ Trust Henry Fosbrooke Woodland Orchestra Catherine Francis Community Land Unit Simon Fraser Assynt Crofters’ Trust Richard Frew Scottish Executive Maggie Fyffe Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust Romany Garnett Culag Community Woodland Trust Munro Gauld Community Land Unit Rob Gibson MSP Kenny Graham RSPB Scotland Neil Graham Stornoway Trust Colin Gray Scottish Executive David Green Crofters Commission Brian Greene Community Land Action Network Mandy Haggith Achmelvich, North Assynt Sam Harcus Westray & Papay Development Trusts Sandra Hogg Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations Sandra Holmes Community Land Unit Roddie Kerr Clashnessie Grazing John MacAskill The Arkleton Centre for Rural Development, Aberdeen University Anne MacCrimmon Assynt Crofters’ Trust Iain Macdonald Taigh Chearsabhagh Alastair Maciver Scottish Crofting Foundation Iain Maciver Stornoway Trust Kenneth Maciver Stornoway Trust Donnie Munro Community Land Unit Kenny MacKay Erisort Trust Kirsteen MacKay Melness Crofters Estate Alastair MacKenzie Laide & Aultbea Community Woodlands Andrew Mackenzie Assynt Crofters’ Trust under 30s John Mackenzie Assynt Crofters’ Trust Kenny Mackenzie Assynt Crofters’ Trust Mark Mackenzie Assynt Crofters’ Trust Fiona Mackenzie The Arkleton Centre for Rural Development, Aberdeen University Morag Mackenzie Balchladich Township Laura Maclean Assynt Crofters’ Trust under 30s Ruairidh MacLennan Strutt & Parker Alister MacLeod North Harris Trust Cathel MacLeod Assynt Crofters’ Trust Donald MacLeod Assynt Crofters’ Trust 38 Donald MacLeod Kylesku Crofters Trust Durrant Macleod Assynt Crofters’ Trust Iain Macleod Assynt Crofters’ Trust Janice MacLeod Assynt Crofters’ Trust Croft Administrator Norman Macleod Taigh Chearsabhagh Rodney MacLeod Kylesku Crofters Trust Sarah Macleod Assynt Crofters’ Trust under 30s Issie MacPhail Assynt Crofters’ Trust Madeline MacPhail Clashmore Township Pat MacPhail Clashmore Township David MacPhail Assynt Crofters’ Trust Allan MacRae Assynt Crofters’ Trust Steve McCombe North Harris Trust Anna McConnell Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise Nuala McKay Community Land Unit Diane McPherson North Uist Community Council Caroline Middleton Laide and Aultbea Community Woodland Group Calum Millar Assynt Crofters’ Trust Jeremy Money Anagach Woods Trust Sandy Murray Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise Graham Newport North Highland Forest Trusts Robin Noble Culag Community Woodland Trust Charles O’Neill Achnacarnin Adam Pellant Culag Community Woodland Trust Chris Perkins Highland Birchwoods Bob Perret Scottish Executive Jon Priddy Community Energy Unit Shane Rankin Crofters Commission David Reid Conference Reporter Bill Ritchie Assynt Crofters’ Trust Wilma Robertson Melness Crofters Estate Uisdean Robertson North Uist Community Council Neil Ross Community Land Unit Alex Scott Scottish Natural Heritage Eleanor Scott MSP Graeme Scott Assynt Crofters’ Trust Becky Shaw Scottish Crofting Foundation David Shaw Gualin, Durness Ian Smith Economics Dept, University of Newcastle upon Tyne John Toal Crofters Commission Ilona Traut Community Land Unit Helen Turnbull Network 21 Piers Voysey Anagach Woods Trust Bruce Wares Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations John Watt Community Land Unit Andy Wightman Caledonia Centre for Social Development Land Programme Allan Wilson Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development

39 40