THE CROFTER SCF is dedicated to campaigning for crofters and fighting for the future of crofting AUGUST 2022 Number 127 Control of wild geese: there clearly is no plan THE LACK of government planning regarding geese is lamentable. © Lorne Gill, NatureScot A few weeks ago the Scottish Parliament rural affairs, islands and natural environment Greylag geese, Uist replacement at about 25% (2,000) or more per committee took evidence on the petition lodged year. So even with current shooting levels the by SCF, Calling on the Scottish Parliament to expected, the goose population has exploded. flock is increasing at 1,250 birds per year. Just to urge the Scottish Government to address the The minister has responded to SCF’s lobby by halt increasing numbers, we need to shoot 2,000 problems created by increasing populations of reinstating only £6,000 to each of the Hebridean birds minimum this year (£16,000), but we have wild geese in the crofting areas as a matter of schemes. to reduce them, so let’s say 3,000 birds, £24,000. priority; reassess its decision to stop funding As we reduce the numbers, the proportion will existing goose management programmes and Let’s look at figures. Uist is a good example, reduce so the cost will diminish year by year. assign additional resources to crop protection and but the proportions are the same for the other Realistically we can get numbers back to an adaptive management programmes, to ensure Hebridean islands. There are about 8,000 greylag this threat to the future of crofting is averted. The geese in Uist and we need to aim for a population ...Continued on page 3 committee was seeking to establish whether the of no more than 3,000. It costs £8 per bird to shoot petition’s request has been addressed or should them so this year we could see a reduction of 750 the petition be kept live. birds. The bird numbers increase through natural We argued that the situation has worsened. In 2013, when the petition was lodged, there were 8,000 greylag geese counted in the entire crofting counties. There are now 8,000 resident birds in Uist alone and the numbers in Lewis and Tiree are similar. These are the areas that the minister for environment and land reform, Mairi McAllan, referred to when saying, “I understand how serious the impacts can be for crofting communities and for the unique machair habitat and biodiversity that their traditional form of agriculture supports.” Scottish Natural Heritage established four adaptive management pilot projects in 2012. The schemes were very successful and were on track to getting numbers down to a sustainable level – allowing crofters and geese to live together. But every year the budget diminished. Then in August 2021 SNH announced it would cease funding. As Access to crofts is everyone’s responsibility THE INCREASE in budget for the Crofting INSIDE THIS ISSUE Commission has recently been ratified reap huge benefits. by ministers and will allow more staff A great example was the meeting held in • Crofting law reform to help clear the back-log of administrative • Local SCF meetings report applications and will free up experienced staff Lewis recently where a team from the Crofting • Bracken eradication to get back to regulation. Commission met with landlords – from community- • Fencing feature owned estates, private estates and government- • SCF AGM report This will facilitate more follow up of absentees owned estates. It was a very successful initiative • SCF gathering and those sitting on unused crofts. But it’s not only which helped landlords to see the place they have • SCF welcomes new staff about using the stick that the law allows. in crofting regulation and the part they can play in • Young crofter award ensuring crofting’s health. … and lots more The commission development team are taking forward the approach that this is everyone’s There will be more events like this, as well as responsibility and that we all have a part to play other initiatives, such as meeting with crofting in the health of crofting. It makes sense that communities to explore their role in managing involving individual crofters, townships, grazings their crofting assets and in making unused crofts committees, landlords, development bodies, available. membership organisations such as SCF, the commission and other government agencies will There will be more on the management of ministers’ crofting estates in the next issue.
2 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 Message from the chair... Donald MacKinnon WELCOME TO the summer issue of is due to be launched over the summer. This will The Crofter. As usual, it is packed be an important opportunity to contribute to the full of interesting articles, opinions discussion on future policy. and features. I hope you enjoy the read. With the timetable for the agriculture bill We haven’t had much of a summer yet in becoming clearer, we hope that a bill to reform Lewis; it’s been damp and miserable, but the crofting law will not be far behind. We were grass is growing and the lambs seem to be disappointed when Scottish Government failed coming on well. A break in weather to get the to mention any plans for new crofting legislation shearing done and for crofters to get silage cut in the Programme for Government. It was in the coming weeks would be very welcome. reassuring when the cabinet secretary restated her commitment to deliver crofting law reform in The pressure will be on this summer to get this parliamentary session. Finally that process as much winter fodder as possible, with inflation is under way again, with the Crofting Law likely to continue to affect feed prices; and ever- Stakeholder Group now reconvened. rising fuel costs will push up the price of bought-in feed. As input costs rise, far faster than prices With a busy summer of consultations ahead, I for outputs, our already tight margins will be am very pleased that SCF has recently employed squeezed even further. Miranda Geelhoed as policy and projects coordinator. Miranda’s experience of agriculture These are very uncertain times and it is policy, having previously worked in a similar role crucial that both governments keep a close eye with the Landworkers’ Alliance, will be invaluable on how this situation develops, with appropriate in the coming months. interventions made when necessary. What is at last becoming clearer is the shape that Scottish Getting the views of our members on these Government’s agriculture policy is going to take. issues, as always, is very important. I have enjoyed getting out and about over the past few The National Test Programme is now underway weeks to speak to members at the Highland with Track 1, support for carbon audits and soil Show and on a recent trip to Shetland. We will sampling launched earlier this year. Track 2, more be following this up with more specific questions focused work with selected businesses, is due to about upcoming policy positions. be launched shortly. A consultation on the upcoming agriculture bill Plans for a new agriculture policy for Scotland continue to gather pace IT IS LIKELY that we will see the they are grounded in climate invited to take part, to ensure good and how a new payment system launch of a consultation on the measures, they can also be useful representation across the sector. could be delivered. agriculture bill over the summer. tools for helping identify changes Some crofters will have already This will be an important step that crofters can make to their received an invitation to complete SCF continues to engage towards the new policy being businesses that will not only save a survey. This is the first part of the with the Agriculture Reform implemented post 2024. Scottish carbon but will also improve the Track 2 work. This survey may be Implementation Oversight Board Government has made clear its bottom line. opened up to other businesses in and other forums, as well as direct intention to make 50% of support the coming weeks. This will be an representation to government conditional, requiring businesses Track 2 is the next stage of the opportunity to look more closely officials and politicians. It is critical to undertake measures to reduce NTP and will be more focused at how these businesses function that we get this right for crofting. carbon emissions or to enhance than Track 1. Businesses will be SCF has established principles biodiversity The first practical step that are guiding our engagement towards this is the National Test with the policy. These include the Programme (NTP), as reported in concept of peripherality to guide the last edition of The Crofter. future support, in particular on a replacement for LFASS. Track 1, part of the NTP, open to all businesses with a business At the moment 86% of claimed reference number, has already land is categorised as Less been launched. The intention of Favoured Area. This has to this scheme is to get producers change. This part of the support engaged with the transition to the needs to be better targeted to those new agricultural policy, and start businesses facing the greatest baselining their carbon position natural constraints. Conditions and nutrient status. Payments should be proportionate to the are available for businesses size of the business and opt-outs which undertake, or have recently should be available to the smallest undertaken, an approved carbon business with a minimum level audit. of support set at a reasonable amount to encourage all crofting For businesses which already businesses to engage with the have a carbon audit, payments new policy. are available for soil sampling. Both these options are geared We are keen to hear your towards producers better views on your experience of the understanding the starting point NTP so far and what you think our for their businesses. While priorities should be for the future of support payments.
THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 3 Control of wild geese: there clearly is no plan ...Continued from page 1 Competing grazers acceptable level in three to five years. To maintain them at 3,000 will then cost £6,000 per year. If we don’t get past that threshold and the goose numbers go up instead of down, the clearance of crofters to make way for geese will escalate. Crofters have already started to give up and go out of business. That will rapidly spiral. If this happens, all the good associated with crofting – the high biodiversity of the machair and the preservation of heritage crops – will be sacrificed. The Scottish Government, in spite of its pro-environment claims, is standing by watching this catastrophe unfold. The committee decided to keep the petition live and to write to the Scottish Government and NatureScot for an update on goose management projects and to request details of the timetable and likely scope of the five-year review of goose policy scheduled to take place in 2022. The committee also asked what consideration NatureScot has given to undertaking an assessment of the impact of geese numbers on biodiversity in order to inform both geese management and biodiversity policy. Crofting law reform back on the agenda the SCF campaign, the Crofting Commission has been asked by Scottish Government to generate a list of amendments that they need to enable them to discharge their duties effectively. This is a very important point as the commission is in the ideal place to ensure the law works for crofting. It is not about watering down legislation to make the commission’s job easier, or simply to amend the wording of existing legislation to make it work better. It is also to suggest changes that will help this regulated system of land tenure to work better in the interest of crofting. So, welcome to the new and returning commissioners; you have an increased budget, an expanded staff, a crofting development team and a regulation and land use team. THOUGH delayed for nearly a year, amendments previously identified in The Sump We need to see legislation that will work has started to ensure a Crofting and phase 2 would work on the more complicated, stop things like the collection of Reform Bill is passed in the course of or controversial, issues. multiple crofts to the exclusion this parliament. of others, or the decrofting of Given the time limits, this was a good approach, house-sites by absentee tenants The government crofting bill team will be as attempting to do it all in one could result in a or owners, or the breach of duties led by the existing crofting policy team, which bill not being ready in that session and so being that sees crofts lying idle and makes sense as they already have a great dropped. As it turned out, it was dropped anyway neglected, not being passed on to deal of experience in crofting. In the last term of due to the requirement to put all legislation teams new entrants. Scottish Government, a lot of work was done on on to the task of preparing for Brexit. preparing a bill. We reiterate our request that you do everything The approach this time around is to pick up in your power to get this excellent system of land Because the work was started quite late in the where it left off, to write up the 31 amendments tenure into shape, starting with the fundamental session and had to start from point zero, it was identified last time in phase 1 and add the – the law. deemed best to have a realistic target of one light- improvements that were resolved for phase 2. weight bill going through and a second prepared There are also the recommended revisions from There may be a few phase 2 issues that the for the next parliamentary session. Phase 1 was the Scottish Law Society research work which bill team do not envisage getting done easily, so to clear up the most urgent and straightforward took place in the intervening time and, a win for want to exclude to prevent the main bill being held back. And a consolidation bill is required to bring all the amending acts together in one act (last done in 1994). Government is not committing to this, but we have to aim to get as much as possible sorted out, as realistically we cannot count on crofting law reform being picked up again for some time.
4 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 Crofting Commission news IT MAY not feel like it with some of the weather that we we attended the Caithness, North our previous paper applications are well underway and it is expected have experienced recently, but Uist and Dornoch shows; in North also being updated. It’s vital that all that the new commissioners will be summer is well and truly upon us Uist we had a stand where crofters crofters and agents only use the able to take up their appointments at the Crofting Commission. With and agents could receive specific most up-to-date version of each by the end of this summer. summer comes a busy season of advice on grazings committees form to avoid unnecessary delays. agricultural shows throughout the and living succession, in addition to All of our current application forms The commission would like to crofting counties. support for general crofting matters. can be found on our website. thank James and David for their In August the commission will be hard work and dedication throughout Staff and commissioners attending the Black Isle show, the The development team have their term of office and wish them all attended the Royal Highland Show, Voe Show, the Grantown Show and expanded their advice and support the best in their endeavours for the where many useful discussions the Mid-Argyll Show. Commission to crofters, which is also available future. were held in relation to the proposed staff will have a stand at the Black on our website. This is as a direct and speculative changes which may Isle show to offer support on result of the enquiries which they Lastly, some readers may have come with upcoming legislation, in living succession, the new digital take on a daily basis from crofters been invited to take part in a fields such as land reform, climate application system and issues or potential crofters and will be Scottish Government survey which change and the new crofting bill. surrounding grazings committees. updated frequently to reflect the seeks views on the National Test Commission staff were glad to have questions and queries that come Programme: Track 2. the opportunity to make connections Our digital applications have in to the commission. They have with other interested organisations now expanded to include additional recently updated information on Track 1 was announced earlier and crofters on these matters and applications. Crofters and agents diversification, planning, tourism in 2022 and dealt specifically with look forward to continuing these are encouraged to use the new and traditional methods of crofting. helping to future-proof individual discussions in the future. system where possible. At present, holdings. The second track deals assignation, subletting, short term let Two of our appointed with future-proofing the whole Throughout the month of August, and decrofting are available as fully commissioners, James Scott and sector. The commission is keen commissioners and staff will be in digital applications. In addition to the David Campbell, are set to leave the to see that crofters respond to attendance at many shows. In July introduction of digital applications, commission in late summer this year. this survey to ensure that crofting The public appointment process is matters are taken into consideration for future policy. Speaking up for crofting THE MOST important work the SCF does for its board, the Scottish Parliament members is representation. cross-party group on crofting, We are the only organisation the Scottish Government crofting dedicated to the representation of crofters and crofting. stakeholder group, the Scottish Government crofting law reform bill We do this by putting forward the group, the national sea eagle forum crofting perspective in stakeholder and the national and local goose policy groups, government round- management groups. tables, meetings with officials and politicians, responses to We publish in The Crofter, in consultations and public policy our monthly online newsletter, in statements. news releases, regular columns in journals, on TV and radio and on We attend around 30 regular social media. groups and policy meetings; and SCF staff and unpaid officials Our voice is strong, but can clock up hundreds of hours putting always get stronger with more forward the case for crofting on members. Let your neighbours know that SCF is standing up for your behalf. Current official groups crofting and that we need all crofters we attend include the agriculture to speak with a collective voice to reform implementation oversight ensure that all policy is croft-proofed. © 2004 Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group On Crofting SCF HAS organised the cross-party group on crofting since the Scottish Parliament was reconvened in 1999. The group is a very powerful forum for informing MSPs and encouraging their support for pressing the Scottish Government to act on crofting issues. The main topic of the last meeting was crofting law reform. Michael Nugent from the Scottish Government crofting bill team outlined an action plan to prepare a bill to reform crofting legislation. Brian Inkster from the Crofting Law Group gave a lawyer’s view of crofting law and the amendments needed. This was followed by a lively discussion. Bill Barron, Crofting Commission, gave an update on the work of the commission and this was followed by John Cowan, SG bull stud manager, who gave an overview of the crofting cattle improvement scheme.
THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 5 Royal Highland Show THE ROYAL Highland Show was And the weather held up for the entirety! Other local shows coming up: 6 August 2022 held live again this year, after Voe Show, Shetland 6 August 2022 three years of absence. SCF will also have a stand at the Black Lorn Show, Benderloch 11 August 2022 It was very well attended and the SCF Isle show on 3rd and 4th August and at Grantown Show 13 August 2022 stand was even busier than usual. A great the Skye Agricultural show on 6th August. Sunart and District Agricultural Show 27 August 2022 deal of interest in Scottish Crofting Produce We’ll be very pleased to see you there for Lochaber Agricultural Show 27 August 2022 and many visitors coming just for a crofting a blether. Lairg Crofters Show blether. Our thanks to Alec Campbell, Rogart, for A popular question was “When will his area’s contribution of half of the stand SCF training resume?” This depends on cost at Black Isle from local funds. funding, which we are working on. Edward Mountain MSP, Mairi MacKenzie crofting commissioner, Brian Inkster, Patrick Beth Rose, Scottish Crofting Produce coordinator, Patrick Krause, Anas Sarwar, Scottish Krause Labour leader, Donald MacKinnon Livestock health Donald MacKinnon, Arthur MacDonald, CC head of crofting development, SCF member Richard Briggs (Shetland lamb) planning for Beth and Jim Hume, convener of National Rural Mental Health Forum assurance – what it means for you HEALTH PLANNING has long been considered a useful way of proactively managing livestock health and welfare, providing an opportunity to avoid disease pitfalls and optimise productivity. Veterinary input helps to ensure such plans are robust, effective and strategic. In line with other UK assurance schemes, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) introduced a requirement for annual veterinary visits and veterinary sign-off of health plans to their cattle and sheep standards in 2020. QMS recognised that the inclusion of these standards was a big change for some of the crofting community. In response, a dispensation was made to provide additional time for crofting enterprises to adapt. Two years have passed since then, with these changes being implemented in full when the new cattle and sheep standards went live in April this year. To give an overview of the changes, QMS has been presenting and taking questions at a series of SCF local meetings throughout the crofting counties. We have visited Skye, Fort William, two Shetland venues, Lewis and Harris. A further series in Orkney, Wick and Strathpeffer are coming up and more will be added as the year progresses. To find out more, please go to the SCF website or phone the SCF office.
6 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 TRAINING Crofting skills for local food SCF training manager Tina Hartley questions about SCF membership, Of the 220 participants invited to do reports on another successful 92 said they were existing members so, 124 responded (56% return rate) project. and 46 requested further information as follows: on membership. FUNDED BY the National 1. Participants will develop core Training Transition Fund, Participants- Current Role primary and secondary production © Transition Turriefield SCF was commissioned to skills relevant to local food run 20 training courses between Other 20 40 60 80 production: Beets July 2021 and March 2022. Worker •• 54% felt they had developed Spinning course Business Owner These free courses were aimed at Self-Employed new skills; people aged 25 and over who were Changing Career •• 24% felt they had enhanced unemployed, at risk of redundancy Unemployed or required upskilling or retraining. Student existing skills; The project’s aim was to support Volunteer •• 22% felt they had both crofters to develop skills that would help them create and contribute 0 developed new and enhanced to robust local food supply chains existing skills. throughout the Highlands and We asked participants to Islands. describe their role to meet funder 2. Participants will gain requirements: - knowledge and confidence in a Courses covered a varied range •• 27 (15%) were either not range of marketing options and be of primary and secondary subjects, able to choose the most appropriate with growing proving a popular working or changing career; for their situation: theme: •• 78 (43%) were self-employed •• market garden organic This was course dependent, but or owned their own business; of the courses attended, 40% of vegetable growing •• 76 (42%) identified as workers; participants felt they had learnt new •• how to start a meatbox scheme •• and of the 220 participants, marketing techniques and 60% felt •• growing under cover the course they attended did not •• wool as a by-product 39 (18%) chose the “other” apply. •• butchery for beginners category. •• introduction to strained wire 3. Participants will be upskilled Age to develop small-scale food fencing production activities, thus improving •• designing, planting and 40 their diversification and income generation potential on the croft. managing or restoring hedges 30 Crofters and aspiring crofters will and shelterbelts have the opportunity to explore •• introduction to tree fruit and nut 20 and implement appropriate growing in the highlands and diversification opportunities islands 10 suitable to their time, skills and •• introduction to spinning land, generating more income from •• introduction to drystone walling 0 primary and secondary production. x 2 (both were two-day events) •• introduction to soft fruit growing 25- 30 85% of participants felt courses in the highlands and islands 31 - 36 helped them to consider new ways •• preparing a lambing shed 37 - 40 of working. •• introduction to felting 41 - 46 We achieved 22 courses overall 47 - 50 All in all, another excellent training and received 448 applications, 51 - 56 project. Once again we would like confirming that interest remains 615&7 -Ov6er0 to thank the National Transition high for demand-led, non-vocational Training Fund for their support, training. 220 people went on Gender our training team and also Lynne to attend face-to-face practical Kennedy and Adam Mulholland courses or Zoom events. Places 150 who agreed to be case studies for were limited, given social distancing 100 the project. for face-to-face courses, but Zoom 50 events allowed us to reach a wider audience. 0 Participants Waiting List 68 Withdrew Female Male Neither 57 Not to Say DNA Prefer 88 Applied 448 Attended There were a good mix of © Birchwood Croft 220 age ranges, with the majority of participants identifying as female. It was great to note that of the 138 participants who responded to At the end of each course we invited participants to complete an evaluation form that allowed us to monitor acheivement of outcomes.
THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 7 MEMBERS PAGES SCF annual gathering is back A FTER THE intermission SCF Future of Crofting event a few years ago due to the pandemic, we are pleased to be able To date, the relationship between want more wildlife and more native can inform answers to the new and to host an in-person gathering complex challenges society faces. again this autumn. This will be a crofters and rewilders has often been woodlands. But their most pressing We aim to start to bridge the gulf. gathering of crofters to explore the theme of revival. adversarial rather than collaborative. concerns are more affordable We will hold a participatory, face-to-face event over two days There is an ongoing debate in The former understandably see housing and better transport in a crofting area, from lunchtime to Scotland, especially in the Highlands lunchtime to allow for travel. and Islands, which concerns land the human species as the most links. Until rewilders and crofters use and management. This has The gathering also affords the been driven by response to the important ones in their local recognise each other’s perspective perfect opportunity to present the climate and nature emergencies Young Crofter Award, sponsored and associated targets. It will involve ecosystems, whereas the latter too and develop their offer to include by The MacRobert Trust. land-use change and funding for peatland restoration and tree often ignore them and their needs these elements as a holistic whole, planting. Imminent changes to agriculture support aim to deliver completely. What is empty wild land the gulf between them will remain. regenerative agriculture. Crofters need to know more about this and to the latter is historically populated, This event aims to explore what policymakers need to know more about how crofters can contribute. post-clearance landscape to the the role of crofting is in the future and There is an increasing interest former. Few local people would not how this unique form of land tenure in rewilding, and concern over the rise of so-called green lairds, which has brought attention to the forms of land management and the ownership of land. For the most part, ongoing public discussion has not sufficiently understood nor engaged with crofting or the communities where crofting is the predominant form of land use, even though crofting has always been known for its sustainability. Crofting has recognised challenges to address, but has a crucial role to play in the future of a sustainable Scotland. Young Crofter Award – celebrate the future WE WANT to hear about young crofters Helen O’Keefe (aged 16-40) who are making an active contribution in their crofting community. The award, sponsored by The MacRobert Trust, is aimed at giving recognition to the next generation of crofters who will ensure a future for crofting. Whether involved in keeping livestock, producing horticulturally or taking a different approach, we would love to hear what our young crofters are doing to keep crofting sustainable. You can enter yourself or you can nominate someone. The winner will receive £500, the Euan Macrae quaich and one year’s free membership of SCF. Nominations are open now. You can download the nomination form on the young crofters’ page on the SCF website, email [email protected], or give us a call on 01599 53005 and we will post one out. The winner will be announced at the SCF Gathering in November. Previous winner, Helen O’Keefe of Elphin, said “The Young Crofter Award has been a great way to share the message about how important crofting is, especially for our communities”. If you were nominated for the award last year, which was postponed due to the pandemic, your nomination will be carried forward.
8 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 RHODA GRANT MSP As featured on BBC Alba, Reporting Scotland and Highlands & Islands Regional MSP (Scottish Labour) Sunday Politics Scotland 01599 230 300 Constituents’ Telephone Surgery [email protected] croftinglaw.com (During Parliamentary Sessions) inksters.com Wednesday 1.30pm - 2.30pm 0131 348 5766 [email protected] PO Box 5717, Inverness IV1 1YT www.rhodagrant.org.uk Alasdair Allan MSP scot All enquiries welcome Constituency Office: 20 Kenneth Street, Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2DR Office open: Mon, Wed, Fri 10am-3pm E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 01851 700357 www.alasdairallan.scot Crofting advice through National Advice Hub the Farm Advisory T: 0300 323 0161 Service E: [email protected] W: www.fas.scot Call the Farm Advisory helpline for up to half an hour of free advice on all crofting and agricultural matters, available for all crofters and smallholders, whether new starts or old hands! And for advice tailored to your croft and situation, benefit from an annual subscription with SAC, part-funded through the Farm Advisory Service, for £74.90 plus VAT (£89.88) for two hours of advice, newsletters and updates. @FASScot Contact your local SAC office or the free FAS helpline for independent, unbiased, local and up-to-date advice.
THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 9 MEMBERS PAGES SCF annual general meeting OUR AGM was held on Friday 15th July, deliver a bill in this parliamentary session. good progress in identifying opportunities for with 27 people attending, via Zoom. Early work on the contents of the bill has now developing the brand. Crofting Diversity Pays!, The usual company business took resumed. We will be looking to incorporate a project led by Maria Scholten, entered a new place, with the annual accounts approved and some of the thinking developed in our access phase this year. The project looks at indigenous an amendment to the Memorandum and Articles to crofts campaign into proposals for reform of strains of grain and how they can be used, with of association adopted which clarifies the length of the law. We continue to meet regularly with the end products potentially ranging from breads time an SCF chair spends on the board. Crofting Commission to discuss a wide variety to beer and even whisky. We continue to look of issues and topics. for opportunities to develop new projects and SCF chair Donald MacKinnon reported to the recently secured some funding from the Prince’s AGM as follows. “We have also spent much time and effort on Countryside Fund to hold an event looking at wildlife management policy, with representation the future of crofting, in the autumn. “The pandemic has continued to impact the on the national goose forum, local goose groups organisation over the past year. Online meetings and deer management groups, as well as on “The past year has seen changes to the staff give us the opportunity to participate in more the national sea eagle stakeholder forum. On and board. After many years on the board, meetings, representing members’ interests in a geese, our campaigning on the withdrawal including a stint as chair, Yvonne White recently wider range of settings and reduces our travel. We will continue online meetings and hybrid It’s vital that there are came to the end of her term as a director. meetings, but it has been great to see a return voices arguing the case Yvonne isn’t going far and remains on the to in-person meetings and events in the last for crofting as the new SCF council. I would like to thank her for all few months. the work she has done for SCF over the years. policy is finalised. Sandra and Erin continue to keep everything “SCF focused on a number of key areas over the past year. The future of agricultural of funding and subsequent meeting with the running in the office in Kyle. Helen left us last policy remained a priority. We engage in minister resulted in some funds being directed to geese management in the islands. This is year but we were delighted to recruit Deanna various forums and lobbying to ensure that not enough and we continue to push for more. to support the work in the office. Finally, we the new policy works for crofters and crofting. recently recruited Miranda as a policy and As possible replacements for the current “The climate emergency dominates and we projects development coordinator, a very subsidy regime begin to become clearer, we are ensuring that we align our proposals with the important appointment that will help us deliver will respond in more detail to proposals and principles of carbon reduction and increasing more for our membership, supporting Patrick will be looking for member input, particularly biodiversity. Crofting has a positive story on both and the board in campaign and future project members’ experiences of the National Test of these fronts, but we must also be aware of development. Program. This is a huge opportunity for crofting some of the challenges. On carbon credits we “I thank our staff and all our volunteers who and one that we want to see realised; but there urge caution and call for more information. make the organisations work so well.” are many competing interests in the debate. It’s vital that there are voices arguing the case “Funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery After the AGM, delegates heard from Bill for crofting as the new policy is finalised. The fund is delivering a project looking at the Scottish Barron, Crofting Commission chief executive. agricultural bill consultation will launch in the Crofting Produce Mark. Beth Rose has been Bill gave an update on the work of the summer and we will submit a response. working on this for us and has been making commission, emphasising that an increased “Crofting law reform has also continued to budget and enhanced staff numbers would be a priority for SCF. We were disappointed enable them to reduce application turnaround that Scottish Government did not include times and increase focus on crofters fulfilling any reference to crofting law reform in the their duties, leading ultimately to getting more Programme for Government last September. crofts into active use. We have since been reassured by the cabinet secretary’s re-statement of their intention to Questions from the floor followed, covering a wide range of topics.
10 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 FENCING FEATURE A close focus on fencing SCF council member Marcus MacDonald consider what you want the fence line to achieve. exist and offer varying guarantees of quality explores the basic principles of agricultural The standard agricultural stock fence in Scotland and longevity. Stock netting is assigned a fencing. tends to be stock netting with a single top wire. three part identification code referring to the A basic fence like this is quick and cost effective mesh construction which is common across FENCING IS a matter of interest to almost to erect and adequate for livestock in most all manufacturers. C8/80/15 is probably most every crofter in one way or another. circumstances. The matter of keeping wildlife out commonly used for stock fencing. The C8 Typically, we think of fencing as a means is significantly more costly and difficult. indicates 8 lines of medium weight mild steel to mark boundaries and keep livestock separated wire, 80 the height of the net in centimetres, and or enclosed. This also extends to keeping grazing Stock netting 15 the horizontal spacing of the vertical stays in animals, both livestock and deer, out of areas Stock netting is a term for rolls of fencing centimetres. where they are not wanted, such as cropped fields, silage ground or young trees. We will also wire supplied where a series of line wires and A myriad of different height, wire specifications look at the duties of crofters and common grazing interconnected vertical wires are supplied and mesh patterns and knot options are available, shareholders to maintain boundaries. complete. The brand name Rylock is commonly so it is best to ask your fencing material supplier (and somewhat inaccurately) used to describe or fencing contractor to advise on your specific Many readers of The Crofter will have little this product, although multiple manufacturers requirements. need for any guidance on fencing and will be well qualified to advise on the subject. Some, Stock netting is generally supplied in 50m or however, will be new entrants to crofting or 100m rolls. There is no significant cost saving on aspiring crofters who would like to know what larger rolls but it avoids unnecessary joining if long goes in to the making of a good fence. Hopefully straight runs are to be fenced. Larger rolls are even experienced hands might find something difficult for one person to carry and move of interest. Plain wire The components of a strained wire fence A standard stock fence generally has at least When specifying a new fence, you should one run of plain wire approximately 10-15 cm above the stock netting to increase the height
THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 11 FENCING FEATURE Metal post Hinge joint netting. Hinge joint is by far the most commonly used Typical end knot of the fence and give a neater appearance. but are most resistant to being pulled out as the wooden post dries and splits. Fencing A well-built stock fence will generally have a staple guns are a relatively new and very effective labour-saving device, but only run of plain wire below the bottom of the stock reasonable for full-time fencing contractors due to their cost. net. Many fencers will also run one, two or Galvanised gates and matching hinge three “save wires” supporting the mesh and sets and closures can be found in almost any size or combination to suit your intended connected to the netting by rings or pigtails. application. Most are of a similar quality and price so speak to your preferred supplier for These additional line wires are not necessary if advice on what they can provide. In terms of material and labour it is not cost-effective to using HT stock netting but will give noticeable make timber gates, but some may find them more suitable in certain locations. extra support to mild steel netting. Any new gateway for vehicle access These runs of plain wire are often 2.5mm should be at least 12’, bigger if the approach to the gate is not straight. With ever-larger high tensile (HT) wire, which can be a little machinery used by agricultural contractors, a wider gateway will save a lot of headaches more difficult for beginners to handle and when the time comes for a mower, baler or lime spreader to pass through. tie, but are stronger and have the distinct Tools advantage of not stretching once tensioned. It would be outwith the scope of this article Larger diameters of HT wire are more to lay out every tool from every fencer’s bucket. If you are starting from scratch, you might start commonly used on very long runs or on deer by visiting your nearest independent tool dealer, agricultural merchant or fencing supplier and fencing. They are considerably stronger but asking to have a look at the fencing tools. If you explain what you are intending to do there should much harder to handle than 2.5mm. be someone available to point you in the right direction. wiiTamibw(nttpechnhhsohecTgeetiiraclariieheednmmhsleldenesuiaalsnesduneojntroipdsutatsoehareseslnnlebodrruyistrlrioaeetspewdotlaatlyrnfyeiceidoccpnscnahcvreitgaosioaksg,rsneinnomuhoii.onstfsntnaaeiTnpdgiloeonoanlleearaiftlgnrauisfeobmngelrildfnroed,niewmlsawredmcaiseviatrklosofedrintoctsrhbedersfeiesoteyttossiehrlwsm)ummeiwwsilirletisieoialwsrradshaerbhssnikord.lsateedreuiwt3neseafil.tsdsitode2ticseehlrmltihynuh,baegmtraioessss.tRingcWigGkfalnoanorncruahonkPgdaldattsrndosstaitienhdes,dtaegentteisernx2oremqgeata1iudnicpcrgaeteoaohlolyatnsitftoabdytatlfsholltlewoegsiwsafonradaertyemrheodresfeofeqeffctereuratm2hrorranee,etuilostadifabitieyttrplcmhefssraeaetsoeonnroamonrdmnbovrtidautgmlpeahrtir.nrseayogeiryconebcfefahryostauahnssnslveutd.usyepTt.pcipmTlchplaalaheilrbeisgeseserseeerisrr.. A lot of fencing repairs can be done with a diameter is the most commonly used mild steel Strainers few relatively inexpensive tools which you most wire. A standard stock fence strainer is round, 8’ long likely already have. There are a great number of people who have worked at and repaired their Barbed wire is often run on the fence as the top and 7” in diameter. Around the crofting counties own fences all their lives and have never had the wire or somewhere close below if the fence should you will notice everything from granite slabs to need of any expensive speciality tools imported be cattle proof. Barbed wire is usually used as a railway sleepers or standing trees repurposed from New Zealand. deterrent to cattle testing fences, which works to as strainers, to varying effect. Digging in strainers some extent; but many owners and neighbours and installing end assemblies the correct way is by That being said, erecting new fencing, setting of lively cattle might be left with questions about far the most labour-intensive and time consuming strainer posts and straining wire can be a fairly its effectiveness. Barbed wire does pose risks to part of the fencing job, so it pays dividends to tool-heavy business and many of the tools humans, new oilskins, livestock and dogs. For do the job right and use the best materials you required are essentially single purpose: they are that reason, it might be quite desirable to avoid can source. Many suppliers stock creosote or tar- normally only used for fencing. If you have to buy barbed wire entirely if circumstances allow. treated strainer posts, offering long guarantees a pair of shuvholers, a punch bar, a mell, a set of wire strainers and more to tackle one small Posts against rot. These are more expensive than the fencing job, your tool bill will be several hundred A large variety of post sizes and shapes are green tanalised strainers normally used but there pounds before you start to buy materials. If this is is little doubt they are worth the extra cost if the the case it might be time to speak to a contractor. commonly available. The standard stock fence manufacturer’s claims are true. post would generally be a 5’6” long, 3” square post. Your needs will depend on where you Staples, gates and ironmongery are in the country, ground conditions, desired A normal staple is a 40mm galvanised wire height of finished fence and to some extent the construction of adjoining fences. staple. Barbed staples are less commonly seen,
12 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 FENCING FEATURE A close focus on fencing Professional help I spoke to Andrew Ross, a fencing contractor from Laide in Wester Ross who works around the north west Highlands and beyond. Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your business? I started my business, Andrew Ross Fencing Contractor, in 2015 after coming home with a degree in Agriculture from SRUC. I was brought up on a croft in Laide, Wester Ross where there wasn’t enough work to sustain me full time, but busy periods meant that I couldn’t be too far away. I had been fencing at home as well as on a farm I worked on and I really enjoyed it. I decided to go self-employed, the phone started ringing and thankfully it hasn’t really stopped since! Now my working year consists of year-round fencing with other agricultural contracting through the spring and summer, as well as running my own flock of NCC ewes alongside the home ewes. I cover all aspects of fencing including stock, deer, wooden garden and equine so every week is different. I really enjoy the variety. Have you seen any trends in the kind of job you’re being asked to do over the last few years? There’s definitely more deer fencing happening now, from large forestry plantations to domestic customers wanting to stop the deer eating their prize garden flowers. Deer fencing on productive agricultural ground is also more common, as I have customers who need to keep grass for turning ewes and young lambs onto, or to protect the silage ground for making winter feeding. What do you think makes a good stock fence What common mistakes do you see people How do you price a job? and what would make a professional job make? First I organise a site meeting with the stand out? One mistake that I see a lot is concreting in customer and have a chat to find out what A good stock fence is only as good as your strainers. It might seem like a shortcut at the time they want to achieve with their new fence. We strainers, or strainer assemblies. Everything but your strainer will rot out far sooner if it’s buried discuss the appropriate style or spec of fencing pulls from there, so if they are a weak point then in a lump of concrete, as the water has nowhere that will best meet their needs. It’s always the rest of the job is a non-starter. Using the to go it just sits at ground level and eats away good to have a map or a plan ready to give the best quality materials is also important, as sub- at the post. Once it’s rotten and falls over the contractor which outlines the new fence line. standard posts and wire will let you down and be rest of the fence is compromised, and it’s also I walk round and measure the line, marking twice as expensive over time. a nightmare for the next fencer to remove and every turn and gateway on the plan, to help replace. me when it comes to working out the materials I think a professional job stands out by the required. I can then write out an itemised list of details, like making sure all wires pull from the What advice would you give to someone materials with their associated costs. centre of the strainers, having an understanding considering whether to have a go at a job of the physics and stresses that are being applied, themselves or get a contractor in? The labour aspect is very variable. Can I get no hard stapling – and re-treating any cut end the materials right up to the job with the pickup? timber. Often the things you don’t necessarily It’s a very physically demanding job in all Do I need a quad bike or tractor? Do I need to notice at first glance make the difference. weathers, so that will come into consideration. carry materials in by hand? Is the ground rock Having a go yourself will save you money over hard or soft? How many turns or end strainers the project, which is always welcome, but there’s are in the fence line? Is it nice long pulls of wire nothing like the peace of mind that comes with a or lots of small sections? Is there an old fence professional contractor taking on the job. to remove beforehand? These things will add to the difficulty and overall time taken on the They will liaise with you during the planning job and will need to be priced accordingly. This and quotation stage, make sure the fence meets end figure will also be compared to my guide your requirements, choose the correct materials figures for price per meter. Once I’ve got an and specification, order materials through trusted idea of how many days the job will take, I will suppliers and finally carry out the job safely and put together the full quotation and email it to to a high standard from start to finish. If you’re the customer to decide. not sure whether you are up to the job yourself, you could contact your local contractor for advice.
THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 13 FENCING FEATURE Support for fencing What does it cost? SAC’s Janette Sutherland outlines contractors. For CAGS you will The cost of each fencing job will obviously be largely dependent on the the grants available for fencing. need at least two and maybe three quotations. Whoever is doing the gross quantity of material, labour and time required to complete it. To a lesser BEFORE YOU think about fencing for you will also need to extent it will also depend on the quality of materials used and where they what fencing support is have at least two or maybe three are sourced from. Fencing timber is usually available at timber merchants available, it is important to quotations for materials. and building suppliers. However the timber quality and choice was generally plan what you are fencing for and lower and the prices were universally higher than suppliers specialising in what kind of fencing you require. If you are a woman and you agricultural fencing. For example, a horticultural want to learn to fence, you may enterprise that is selling produce be able to access Women in Speaking to a number of material suppliers from Argyll to Shetland, prices may be able to justify rabbit Agriculture practical skills training: of materials tend to increase with distance from the larger depots, although netting under CAGS (Crofting www.scotland.lantra.co.uk/women- this is not always the case. Every effort has been made to compare like- Agricultural Grant Scheme) agriculture-practical-training-fund. for-like products. All prices are excluding VAT and correct as of June 2022. whereas a sheep enterprise would not. Crofters can get a 60% grant for fencing on their own crofts and Types of fencing (list not apportionments. You will not get exhaustive) grant support for lengths of fence •• electric portable in decrofted areas ie gardens etc. •• plain wire •• Rylock with plain and barbed There is also support for shelter belts, so consider if incorporating a wire hedge or shelterbelt would be good •• deer fencing for isolating newly-bought-in stock •• rabbit fencing or shelter. This may also provide •• fencing with a shelter belt/ benefits for wildlife. hedge CAGS for common grazings •• new technology ie No-Fence Common grazings committees collars in office can get CAGS support for fencing. The grant rate is 80%. Woodland fencing All the information in the section There is a lot of support for above, including the table, holds for common grazings. woodland fencing. Read Grant Support for Croft Woodland The key difference is to ensure Creation: A Comparison | you have agreed the expenditure Information helping farmers in of the project before applying and Scotland | Farm Advisory Service have decided how to fund the initial (fas.scot). Phone the FAS line 0300 outlay. More information is available 323 0161 or your local SAC office from: Finance Forms for Common for a paper copy. Grazings | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service Who is going to do the fencing? (fas.scot) Under CAGS you can do Further advice fencing work yourself. It’s good to If you require further advice, get a mentor, if you have not done it before, as RPID will inspect to please contact the FAS helpline ensure it meets their standards. 0300 323 0161 or contact your local SAC office. You can also use fencing Type of fencing supported by CAGS Item Lowest Price Highest price electric portable Yes – can be supported if your 5’ 6” x 3” square post 3.39 5.80 plain wire management systems justify it Yes – can be supported if your management systems justify it 8’ x 7” round strainer 28.00 35.50 Rylock with plain and Yes – can be supported if your 7’ turning post 18.35 20.72 barbed wire management systems justify it Coil 2.5mm HT wire (c.600m) 51.50 64.00 50m C8/80/15 hinge joint netting 56.00 59.11 deer fencing Yes – can be supported if you can 12’ 7 bar gate with hinge set 106.00 126.75 demonstrate deer pressures on your rabbit fencing croft Yes – can be supported if your enterprises justify it One contractor’s per metre for stock fencing was £10-£14. fencing with a shelter Yes – if you can demonstrate belt/hedge justification of trees, ie shelter A final word on pricing, the quality of a finished job and buying good quality new technology: Nofence Yes – can be supported if your materials. I am reminded of a wise neighbour, distressed that three strainers collars management systems justify it he had put in on a new fence seven years previously were all rotten at ground level. “Well boy,” he sighed, “I really hoped that they would outlive me.” dry stone walls Unlikely, due to cost – but worth seeking advice on a case-by-case basis
14 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 UNLOCK YOUR GRAZING POTENTIAL • Effective and flexible fencing option • Create and manage pastures in the Nofence app • Animals learn to respond to the boundary audio warnings • Graze areas where physical fencing is not an option • Receive information about your animals in the app 10% discount available to members of the Scottish Crofting Federation Nofence UK Ltd. | nofence.co.uk | +44 1952 924044 | [email protected]
THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 15 FENCING FEATURE The law on fencing crofts and common grazings Whilst the legal position on fencing of croft land However, if the crofter renews such a provide, maintain and replace necessary fixed is not always clear-cut, there are certain points boundary fence, that would become a crofter’s equipment. As we have already seen, the of principle from where one can start, advises improvement and the landlord can no longer be definition of fixed equipment includes fences. Brian Inkster of Inksters Solicitors. called upon to renew it. A grazings committee has a duty to ensure Crofts Otherwise, in the event of a landlord providing that stock is kept on the common grazing. Under statutory condition 4 of Schedule 2 fencing on a croft, the landlord would be under Any fence for the purposes of keeping stock no obligation to maintain it. That obligation on common grazings, even if erected by the of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 “the crofter would fall on the crofter. landlord, falls to be maintained by the grazings shall provide such fixed equipment on his croft committee. This includes fences which divide as may be necessary to enable him to cultivate If the fence is a mutual one with the crofter the common grazings from individual holdings. the croft”. The definition of fixed equipment of a neighbouring estate, each crofter is bound includes “all permanent fences, including to equally maintain the fence. Maintenance of march fences between two hedges, stone dykes, gate posts and gates”. township grazings on the same estate falls to be Where there is a fence between two crofts on determined by agreement or by the regulations, Whether a fence is necessary to enable the same estate, the obligations of maintenance failing which by custom. cultivation of a croft is another matter and one may be determined by “use and wont” (ie in that does not appear to have been judicially accordance with past practice). A grazing committee is under no duty to decided. Thus, you will find crofts that are maintain a fence erected by an agricultural unfenced with possibly no mechanism to force Decrofting and resumption tenant who is not a crofter, simply because it is fencing unless and until purchased. On decrofting, it is likely that the Crofting on the boundary between the common grazings and a farm. Where a croft is purchased by a crofter, the Commission will make it a condition that the landlord will invariably make it a condition of the decrofted area is fenced in. The Land Court will Apportionments purchase that the crofter fences, in so far as not do likewise when granting a resumption order. Where an area of common grazings is already done, and maintains stock-proof fences on the boundaries. In a purchase ordered by A landlord selling off such a decrofted or apportioned, it is always a condition under the the Land Court, they are likely to impose such resumed area is likely to make it a condition apportionment order that the crofter obtaining a condition. in the title deeds that the purchaser will be the apportionment erects stock-proof fences responsible for erecting and maintaining the around the apportionment. Where this fence A crofter and a landlord would be equally boundary fences. forms part of the boundary with the remainder liable to maintain a mutual fence at the of the common grazing, then liability for its boundary of the croft and other land belonging Common grazings maintenance will fall on the individual crofter to the landlord (that is not common grazings). There is a duty on a grazings committee and not the grazings committee. to maintain the common grazing and to
16 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 ON THE CROFT Donald’s hortiblog Fencing is a theme of this issue. Good supplemented by low-cost deterrence as in the fences are, of course, an essential of crofting picture. The planting along the boundary also I’VE SAID it before and will no doubt say it horticulture. Deer are an increasing problem in provides nesting sites, and the flowering trees again. We’re still learning after thirty years of most crofting areas, not least in this eponymous and shrubs help to support the bees and other crofting horticulture. parish of Duirinish, “headland of deer”, and pollinators. There are other edible species there I’ve always advocated an early start if you’re an early morning visit by them can cause too: rowan and loganberry. The bracken is in growing tomatoes in the northwest. We tend absolute devastation. Deer fencing is the only the neighbouring unoccupied croft! to sow them in a propagator on our sunniest absolute solution, but it’s very expensive and window sill in mid February. This year, the first difficult to erect for those without the necessary Finally, and continuing the fencing theme; sowing failed completely, so was repeated, but equipment and skills. we all tend to accumulate offcuts of stock fence the same thing happened. This, we think, was over the years. They’re too expensive to throw due to the lack of daylight that continued well So far we have got away without deer fences away and might be useful sometime, so they lie into the spring. What a disaster for our most by a combination of dense planting along our in a corner and get stuck in the grass. So here’s important summer crop! side of the fence line, including prickly species a good use for them. They make excellent pea such as hawthorn, blackthorn and brambles, supports, as the second picture illustrates. Thanks to our friends at West Coast Organics, all was not lost. They advised that a sowing as late as April would probably catch up. Meantime we had bought a few plants just to get us started. Further advice was that, if we allowed strong side shoots to develop on these, they could be taken as cuttings and potted up to grow into new plants. Both these strategies have been successful. We usually expect our first few ripe tomatoes in the last week of June and this year has been no exception, despite the awful summer we’re having on the west coast at the time of writing (early July). The later varieties are coming on well too, boosted by our home-made liquid feeds of seaweed and comfrey. Have you seen our National Advice Hub helpsheets for T: 0300 323 0161 Common Grazings? E: [email protected] W: www.fas.scot Visit the Common Grazings section of the Farm Advisory Service website to read up on 12 Common Grazing Dilemmas and how to tackle them, such as • Contributions from inactive shareholders • Splitting the payment for the Township Bull • Who is responsible for fences? You can also read our inspirational Common Grazing Case Studies from Shetland, Argyll, Uist and Caithness. @FASScot visit www.fas.scot/discussion-groups/common-grazings/
THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 17 ON THE CROFT The problem with bracken EARLIER THIS month SCF chair Donald MacKinnon wrote to Lorna Slater MSP, Bracken eating into productive ground minister for green skills, circular economy and biodiversity (yes, quite a mouthful!). The minister was reviewing the extension in place for the use of Asulox in bracken management and had indicated an end to the extension. We pointed out that in the absence of a suitable alternative, the minister should not end the emergency authorisations for its use. Bracken has become a scourge that crofters have to deal with on an annual basis, with many hillsides lost to its pervasive spread. There is already far too much crofting land under bracken. While the emergency authorisation has now been approved for a further year, the minister is keen to explore a solution for more sustainable, long-term alternatives to Asulox. It is clear from the minister what the long term direction of travel is, with the ultimate plan to ban the use of this particular chemical. We know that this will have implications for biodiversity. There can’t be many less diverse or productive habitats than a bracken-covered hillside. While SCF will continue to argue that these chemicals should be retained, it is important that we look at alternative methods of control. Mechanical methods are the obvious choice but there are many situations where this simply is not possible or safe due to the terrain. One example that could be explored is the use of bracken hillsides as a feed pad in the winter months, moving cattle using electric fencing, feeding them silage and moving them on. The hoof action from the cattle should, in theory, damage the growth point of the bracken and over time reduce its spread. We would be very interested to hear your experiences of bracken control, the importance of Asulox to your business and any alternative methods you employ. Meantime, below are some comments we have already received from members. “I took over a croft fourteen years ago that was one third under bracken. Large areas were too steep and rocky to be cut and spraying was the only alternative. I might add that, due to bracken advancing from the absentee-held crofts on both sides, this is an annual task. There is already far too much crofting land under bracken.” “We need something to control bracken where mowing is impractical. Whilst not agreeing with blanket use of toxins, in the case of bracken what else is there when you cannot mow it? Mowing is very successful when the ground allows. Cutting does not work in my experience. I have spent a significant amount of time over past years hand cutting bracken with a range of scary-looking tools, to no avail. Turn your back for two weeks and it’s as bad as before. Cutting is meant to weaken it, but it seems to grow back stronger. It’s a case of Asulox being managed responsibly and looking urgently into workable alternatives.” “I stockpiled Asulox and continued spraying. It took me 20 years to exterminate bracken from 50 acres of inbye land. Spraying late and at 5x strength. Now clearing the hill – burning the old bracken in July, then glycophosphate in August on dense areas then Asulox in September. Until there is an alternative selective killer of bracken, it must be retained. And it should be eligible for 100% grant aid.”
18 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 ON THE CROFT The Crofter’s wife by dense, shoulder-high bracken. the whole process: watching for a It’s stifling and oppressive and I can window of weather that allows for Claire Nicolson continues her red rowan berries steal the show. cower, guiltily, indoors ignoring the mowing followed by days of turning popular column. I’m the kind of person who walks growing list of outdoor chores, only and raking the grass to bake it dry. doing the essentials: dogs and hens One evening I’ll be walking home IT’S NO secret that I don’t like through a patch of grass without primarily. from work when the bah-dum- summer. If the temperature either tucking their breeks into their thwump (surely the best machinery never rose above nineteen, socks or wearing midgie spray and Though shrouded by this gloomy noise ever) of the baler reaches my if we never had humid or calm ends up with a dozen angry bites summer persona, there are days ears and puts a rare summer smile days, I’d be perfectly happy. that itch for days on end. I sneeze, I when the world feels right. The sun on my face. stream, I itch when the pollen count shines, the breeze blows and I’m I try to enjoy June with its long is high and when it is low. drawn outside, casting it off like an Making feed to sustain our days, clear light and abundant wild extra layer when the sun comes out. beasts through the winter is hugely flowers, but come the first of July I The verdant landscape, much- Happily, this often coincides with satisfying. Once it is safely stored, I just want to fast forward seven or loved by most, smothers the haymaking. know that we are but a short sprint eight weeks to the late August days playground that Gryff and I enjoy from the summer’s finishing line. when the edges of the bracken throughout the other seasons. The For a good number of years Come 1st September I am ready begin to caramelise and vibrant, banks of the burns are choked with now we’ve made hay – or silage to make my peace with nature, dig growth; woodland clearings forested – summer’s redeeming feature! out the waterproofs and embrace There’s something powerfully whatever is headed our way. attractive, to me at least, about Three STep Sheep NutritioN SolutioN Feet & Fertility improve conception rates and combat foot issues Feed Spring to Autumn Energyze Forage Booster energy and nutrient support for the early stages of foetal growth and development Feed Autumn to Winter Energyze Vitality Aids prevention of twin lamb disease. improves colostrum quality. helps produce strong, healthy lambs Feed late Winter to Spring Contact your nearest Harbro Country Store for details: www.harbro.co.uk/country-stores FOLLOW OUR FEEDS
THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 19 ON THE CROFT The importance of biosecurity for livestock management Dr Amy Tindall from Moredun on taking steps to before introduction to your existing animals. in animal buildings and in feed storage areas. prevent the introduction and spread of infectious Check the quarantine period for diseases you Quarantined animals should be fed, watered disease on the croft. are trying to prevent, as these will vary. For most key diseases it is crucial that you isolate rather and inspected last, followed by hand washing AS A critically important part of disease than separate incoming stock. Never mix animals where possible. prevention and control, biosecurity together without considering the possible disease should be continually addressed as risks. Health plans – Check and test animals for part of normal farm and croft management. disease and treat if necessary. For the individual Diagnostic tests and preventative vaccines crofter there is an economic benefit to quarantine It’s not only about introducing a disease that – Diagnosis is critical to effective disease treatments, as any required treatments are you currently don’t have, but it may also apply to control and many key diseases now have confined to a small group of animals rather than a introducing a problem you don’t have. Think about sensitive diagnostic tests and/or preventative whole flock or herd. Develop proactive strategies treatment failure as well as the disease itself, such vaccines available. Any testing and vaccination for disease prevention rather than adopting a as anthelmintic or microbial resistance. programmes are best discussed with your vet reactive approach. Discuss the development of and included in interactive health plans to ensure health plans, disease surveillance programmes The biosecurity big five timely and accurate application. and disease response strategies with your vet on a regular basis. Interactive health plans are now Livestock movement – Good biosecurity Hygiene – Good environmental hygiene, such commonly used, allowing both vet and crofter to practices do not only apply to newly purchased as clean, disinfected premises, equipment and work remotely on the same document ensuring livestock, but also to returning stock from personnel is very important in the prevention regular updating and checking overwintering or summer grazing. The same and control of disease. Different diseases may good practice guidelines should be applied as require particular disinfectants. Poor hygiene and Finally, croft security is critical for disease for bought-in stock. Run closed herds and flocks, environmental conditions lead to increased risk control. Examine ways in which you can improve otherwise buy from accredited schemes or trusted of infection. Strive to improve standards outside, security to prevent animals or people inadvertently sources. When buying replacement stock, try to bringing diseases in. Focus on boundaries such purchase directly from individual flocks or herds as fencing, croft entry and exit points and croft and move them straight from the farm of origin buildings. to their new premises in your own transporter. Learn more about the importance of biosecurity Quarantine – When moving animals onto the with our short animations, available to view on croft, always ensure they undergo an adequate the Moredun website: https://moredun.org.uk/ period of quarantine in secure accommodation resources/animation-series. Ciamar a thèid ar biadhadh san àm ri teachd? ‘S ann bho chrodh agus caoraich air cùisean an-dràsta - talamh-àitich toradh de mheasan agus glasraich seo feumach air taic mhath bhon na monaidhean agus air feurach a gu deas as aonais bheothaichean, a dhùblachadh gus in-malairt a riaghaltas gun teagamh ach tha thig a’ mhòr chuid den fheòil againn agus talamh feurach as aonais bàrr lughdachadh. Gus torachd na cruaidh fheum air sin. Dh’fheumadh san àm ri teachd. eile. ‘S e na prìomh mholaidhean talmhainn àrdachadh bu chòir taic a bhith ann do thuathanaich, san aithisg: nas lugha de ghràn farsaingeachd pheasraichean agus dh’fheumadh taic a bhith ann don SIN A rèir aithisg a thàinig bhon talamh-àitich, agus sin gun phonair a dhùblachadh. Bhiodh t-sluagh air ciamar a dh’ itheas a-mach bho Sustainable todhar gallda a tha cho mòr an sin cudromach airson an dà chuid iad agus dh’fheumadh taic a bhith Food Trust o chionn goirid, eisimeil air ola, an gràn a bhios ann an talamh fhèin agus mar thùs ann do na slighean riarachaidh agus e na deagh naidheachd do a’ dol gu biadh dhaoine agus glè pròtain don t-sluagh. Tha an aithisg bidhe gus biadh ionadail a chumail chroitearan agus tuathanaich sa bheag do bheothaichean. Mar sin ag aideachadh gum feumadh ris na daoine. Bhiodh taighean Ghàidhealtachd. Seo a’ chiad bhiodh fada na bu lugha den fheòil dòighean-ithe atharrachadh, nas spadaidh ionadail na phrìomhachas. turas a chunnaic mi oidhirp cheart againn a’ tighinn bho mhucan agus lugha de fheòil ithe, agus fada Chosgadh na leasachaidh seo air dealbh a dhèanamh air ciamar cearcan, agus a’ mhòr chuid bho bharrachd biadh ionadail ithe seach uile airgead mòr ach bhiodh na a rachadh muinntir na dùthcha chrodh agus caoraich ag ionaltradh biadh cèin. Bhiodh buaidh mhath aig buannachdan susbainteach air seo a bhiadhadh ann an dòigh a air talamh feurach. sin air slàinte dhaoine ge-tà. slàinte dhaoine, uachdranas bidhe bhiodh maireannach, seasmhach. agus slàinte na h-àrainneachd. Tha fhios againn uile mu na Tha an aithisg a’ moladh an Bhiodh na h-atharraichidhean dùbhlanan: atharrachadh san le Gabhan Mac a’ Phearsain ghnàth-shìde, ola a’ ruith a-mach, call torachd san ùir, mì-chinnt air A report from the Sustainable malairt nam measg. Food Trust, Feeding Britain from the ground up, a vision for the Mar sin feumaidh a’ mhòr chuid future of farming, suggests, among den bhiadh againn tighinn bhon other things, that the majority of talamh againn fhìn. Tha an aithisg meat should come from grazing seo Feeding Britain from the sheep and cattle rather than ground up a’ cur air adhart nan from grain-fed pigs and poultry. atharrachaidhean a tha an t-Urras https://sustainablefoodtrust.org/ a’ meas iomchaidh airson seo a’ tachairt. Tha iad a’ moladh barrachd measgachaidh, seach mar a tha
20 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 Grant rates boost for creation of croft woodlands In April Scottish Forestry introduced an increase to the grant rate for woodland planting schemes © Doug Flint within the crofting counties, writes Rory Finlay, Woodlands Trust advisor for North Highland and Iona Hyde and Viv Halcrow on the croft in Berneray, North Uist. Moray. THE INCREASE of £840 brings the grant rate up to £7,560 per ha for planting small new native woodlands on crofts and smallholdings. The grant includes an initial payment for planting and fencing and annual maintenance payments spread over five years. The increased rate applies to native broadleaves in the Northern and Western Isles (NWI) woodland creation option, which is capped at 1 ha for the Northern Isles and 3 ha for other eligible sites within the crofting counties. Applications for the NWI option can be made for anywhere in the crofting counties where exposure is high and Scottish Forestry agree it is the best option for successful establishment of new native woodland. For exposed coastal sites a higher stocking density of trees is required to provide mutual shelter to aid establishment. The NWI option has a minimum Trees for Trees are a valuable source of woodfuel and the crofting provide important shelter for your livestock, community crops and buildings. Argyll Small Woods Cooperative The Woodland Trust offers free planting and woodland management advice to crofters, common grazings and small holders. Find out how useful trees are. Get in touch. Image: John MacPherson/WTML 01738 635544 [email protected] woodlandtrust.org.uk/croft-woodlands
THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 21 stocking density of 3000 trees/ha. There is growing interest across the crofting counties in establishing woodlands, but the costs involved can be a major barrier. The cost of materials and labour are often disproportionately higher in rural areas, particularly island sites, so this increase in grant assistance is welcome. The benefits of targeted woodland planting, particularly on exposed coastal sites, can be substantial – by reducing wind speeds and increasing shelter for livestock, providing a source of firewood, improving habitat and food supply for wildlife, along with improving the amenity value. Pictured is an example of a small-scale planting scheme on a croft in Berneray, North Uist. The 0.58 ha site was planted through the NWI grant option in 2019 with assistance from the Croft Woodland Project. The croft is exposed to salt-laden coastal winds so stocking density at planting was kept high. 1740 trees were planted including alder, downy birch, grey willow, eared willow, hawthorn, hazel, aspen and sessile oak, with a strip of non-natives along the edge to protect the broadleaved trees from the sea wind. Three years on and the site is establishing well and in time will provide much-needed shelter. The Croft Woodland Project offers free advice and support to crofters and smallholders wishing to plant trees throughout the crofting counties. For more information, please contact [email protected] Camusnagaul pollarded oak Camusnagaul oak in Queen’s Green Ancient Canopy SCF member Mike Foxley has Our pollarded oak has been at destroyed the Campbell covenanter sky on top of Ben Nevis for her contributed this account of an old the centre of historical events in army, forcing the Marquess of Argyll coronation. oak tree in his township, the only Lochaber throughout its life, as to flee in his birlinn. entry from a crofting community detailed in the story below which The magnificent Caledonian woodland. The other listed we submitted to the Queen’s When Prince Charlie raised his MacBrayne steamer TS King ancient trees in Scotland are on Green Ancient Canopy judges. The standard at Glenfinnan, I stood George V, named after the Queen’s large estates or in the grounds of woodland was mapped by Roy in silently to attention as the Jacobite grandfather, was a regular visitor mansions and castles. 1750. clans – MacLeans, Stewarts, from Oban. I witnessed the Napier Camerons and MacDonalds – Commission come to take evidence QUEEN’S GREEN Ancient Here I proudly stand, a pollarded marched past to join him. from the crofting community, Canopy is a nationwide oak in an ancient woodland including Treslaig, where rentals network of 70 ancient managed for centuries by the Fort William was under siege at were significantly reduced, arrears woodlands and 70 ancient MacLeans of Ardgour. I am very old, the end of this last Jacobite rising, written off and crofters given trees dedicated to Her Majesty with a girth measuring four metres. relieved just before the battle security of tenure, stopping further in celebration of the Platinum of Culloden when the bloodied clearances. Jubilee. This woodland was protected clansmen scattered for home. I from grazing animals by a stone witnessed brutal acts of retribution, Sadly, I hear less Gaelic today. Our pollarded oak, aged about and turf dyke, topped by a wattle including the Royal Navy shelling Shoals of herring and runs of 350 years, is a very rare survivor fence during replanting phases. homes in the adjacent township of salmon are distant memories. from the past and grows in the I was pollarded so bark from my Treslaig. ancient woodlands of Camusnagaul branches could be used to cure Every spring my leaves feed and Achaphubuil in Lochaber. The animal hides and the wood burnt The caoineadh (wailing) of the hungry caterpillars produced by woodlands were bought from the on a stone-faced platform to make women on the three emigrant ships winter moths. Sometimes they Forestry Commision by a group charcoal. The charcoal went by sea bound for Australia in the 1850s strip the leaves and a second of crofters from Treslaig and to fuel the iron furnaces at Bonawe filled the cleared glens around me. flush of leaves will appear called Achaphubuil in 1995, sponsored by – including making the cannonballs Lammas growth. Blue tits time their SNH (now NatureScot), a first for a used at Trafalgar. Suitably shaped The 19th century saw the building breeding so that their young feed on crofting community and for SNH. branches would be used for the rib of Telford’s Caledonian Canal, thousands of caterpillars. of a boat or the cruck frame for a the West Highland Railway and We regenerated the native house. the opening of the first local legal The north face of my trunk is woodlands by excluding grazing distillery by Long John MacDonald. covered with mosses, benefitting animals and removing non-native I witnessed MacIain of Glencoe’s The aluminium factory was built, from the shade and damp climate. species. Three local crofters, Ewen struggle through the snow to attempt powered by massive pipes carrying The southern side is covered in Morrison, Tony Boyd and myself, to give his oath of allegiance to water from Loch Laggan. All these lichens, including the big leafy extended the network of paths by William III. He was refused and I can still see today. Then came lungwort. an additional 2km over the winter of the infamous massacre followed electric lights and the first cars. 2020/21. Our woodland was highly in 1692. I now have many other admirers commended, coming second in Royalty have been a regular on the path network created by the the important community section of Across the loch I viewed the sight here, from Victoria’s long crofters, sponsored by Ardgour Scotland’s Finest WoodsAwards 2021. second battle of Inverlochy in holiday at Inverlochy Castle, to Community Council and enjoyed 1645, when Montrose and his force Queen Elizabeth’s three visits, with especially during the Covid of MacDonalds and Irish largely HMS Britannia anchored nearby. lockdown. I watched the beacon light up the https://queensgreencanopy.org
22 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 ADVERTISING FEATURE Keder greenhouses Inside the Keder Greenhouse after two months. Terry and Julie’s own automatic watering system, with feed pipe, hosing, timer and sensors Terry and Julie live in an exposed location over- longer than expected due to the weather.” looking Loch Harport on the Isle of Skye. Winds can Terry was very impressed by the quality of the com- reach speeds of 100mph. ponents and the manufacturing. “It’s clear that a lot “We’ve seen cauliflowers ripped out of the ground. of thought has gone into the design and manufac- High rainfall, low temperatures and limited daylight ture. That’s why it’s so strong and durable and will in the winter make challenging conditions to grow last us a lifetime.” vegetables. A greenhouse or polytunnel needs to be very strong and highly durable,” explained Terry. “It became clear there was really only one choice – a Keder greenhouse. “Keder greenhouses have been around for over 25 years, in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England. I have seen many on our island and research showed lots of them across Orkney, Shetland and the Heb- rides. Someone on Skye said, ‘In all the weather we have up here, other types of greenhouses and poly- tunnels only last a year or so, but my Keder green- house has not moved.’ That’s the comment that did it for me.” It took them about a year to get the ground organ- For the best ised. There was a burn and the ground was not level. After additional base material, rubble and top soil, growing conditions… the site was ready. In February 2020 they ordered a 3m wide x 6m long …no matter the weather Keder greenhouse, side staging and an automatic roof vent. Then Covid arrived and things shut down Extreme The best for From extending for a while. Nevertheless the team at Keder kept weather resistant sunlight and your growing them informed. “They are great, a nice family busi- 140+mph winds temperature season to a ness that cares. Really helpful, knowledgeable and management gardener’s informative. By mid April we got a call saying it was sanctuary on the way.” By the beginning of May it was built. “I decided to do kedergreenhouse.co.uk Scan to it myself. The instructions were very clear and all the rviaengwe.o..ur parts were labelled and easy to identify. We started T 01386 49094 on a Friday and it was completed by Tuesday, a little E [email protected] Made with heart in Worcestershire Keder Greenhouse, Newtown, Offenham, Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 8RZ
THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 23 Countryside skills at college – who knew? Every year UHI West Highland welcomes a Raasay walled garden, West Coast Hugh in Drumfearn diverse group of students to our Broadford Organics, Beinn Eighe National Nature base to study NQ Countryside Skills, writes Reserve, Dundreggan tree nursery, SkyeSkyns, North Talisker sheep stock ICheryl MacRae. club plus numerous crofts, farms and F YOU thought college is just for estates. The range of units are well 16-year-olds, you might be surprised balanced, with desirable industry tickets that most years we have folk of all in chainsaw, ATV, first aid and many more. ages and backgrounds; some retired, some with young children or some just Student of the year for the course just leaving school. ended was Hugh Vowles. Hugh came with an incredible CV which included a former They are all attracted to take part in career in the military and in forestry. He the NQ Countryside Skills course – a was attracted by the mix of modules and fun and varied course led by two young industry tickets. When asked what drew crofters, Cheryl McIntyre and Phil Knott. Hugh to the course, he said “to keep my The course covers mostly practical topics. mind busy, be physically active and learn Introduction to a wide variety of tools and new skills. It is also a big ‘in’ to the local techniques is great for beginners and rural and crofting sector, with a long list of for those who simply need a little more contacts and field visits. For someone who confidence. Traditional crofting is well already has or who is thinking of taking on covered, but the course also looks at new a croft or garden, you will leave with a lot aspects which ensure crofting continues of confidence and a mind full of ideas. I to deliver employment, food, biodiversity got everything I wanted out of the course and carbon storage well into the future. and more”. The majority of practical elements are Whether it is crofting, gardening, delivered with community benefits in voluntary work or a rural career, the mind. Last year we helped clear sections broad remit of the course makes the NQ of paths for the community; opened up the Countryside Skills a popular choice. The Broadford arboretum for public access; NQ Countryside Skills course starts in late created a new trail to Corry Capers October and runs Monday–Wednesday in educational forest nursery; cleared non- term time until late May, with applications native invasive species in numerous open now. locations; and several jobs at the Growers To find out more visit Hub in Broadford. www.whc.uhi.ac.uk/courses We mix the practical in with field trips: EILIDH ROSS Local outdoor Crofting Law Specialist courses on your doorstep Experienced advice and assistance on all matters of crofting law. Complex and/or contentious matters welcome. At our local college centres, we have a For crofters, prospective crofters, law firms, grazings number of hands-on practical courses in committees, sheep stock clubs, private companies and others. the great outdoors, including: visit www.camus.scot Broadford + Countryside Skills NQ E: [email protected] T: 07876 513404 + Outdoor Adventure NQ Camus Consulting, c/o Auction Mart Mallaig Humberston, Bailechaul Road. Dingwall, Ross-shire. IV15 9TP + Maritime and Aquaculture Skills NQ + Shipping and Maritime Operations NC Apply now | whc.uhi.ac.uk
24 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 Beautiful sites wanted to host Ian Blackford MP single campervans. Member of Parliament for Hassle-free income with no Ross, Skye & Lochaber capital investment required. Future Surgery dates will be advertised in the local press Tel: 01349 866397 29 High Street Email: [email protected] Dingwall Twitter: @IBlackfordSNPMP Facebook: facebook.com/IanBlackford.SNP IV15 9RU Web: http://ianblackford.scot Wild With Consent T: 01806 335577 [email protected] E: [email protected] www.polycrub.co.uk Developed 13 years ago. Great for growing, storage or small livestock. CAGS compliant. For all your design and Angus B MacNeil MP printing needs, call on Na h-Eileanan an Iar Ask us today for a free quote Available for surgeries All enquiries welcome Broadford, Isle of Skye, IV49 9AP Tel: 01471 822 555 Constituency Office 31 Bayhead Street, Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2DU www.strathprint.co.uk Telephone E-Mail 01851 702272 Proud printer of The Crofter [email protected] CLASSIFIED ADS Sell your unwanted croft equipment (and other stuff) for just 30p per word. Get in touch: [email protected] or 01599 530 005
THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 25 Dear SCF members My name is Scott Henson and though I live on a small farm in As a second phase, I’m conducting the survey included with Tennessee in the United States, our family feels closely connected this issue of The Crofter to gather widespread opinions about to the Scottish crofting community. Our ancestors were farmers these issues, ranging from economic and regulatory questions and Scottish immigrants to America and our family farm today to rapid social change and the pandemic. Your participation in shares many of the land and community values instilled in the this survey will help further this research and provide valuable crofting tradition. insights concerning the future of crofting. While working on my doctoral studies on enterprises that Thank you for taking time to assist this project. All information have both economic and social purposes, I became even more will be used for research purposes only and your answers will be interested in crofting because of its unique role in the agricultural kept anonymously. economic and social fabric of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. My research began in 2020 by interviewing crofters to identify You can take the survey at: challenges and opportunities confronting crofting today and in https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crofting. the future. Dear editor We are being encouraged to prepare to this area cannot afford, that other areas muscling in on the bonanza by buying benefit from carbon capture credits and can. Help with affordable housing is just land locally at inflated prices, for example payments. one. Standard Life and Brewdog. However it is hard to find information Instead, there is going to be a bonanza I worry this is the start of the new anywhere on how this all works or what in carbon credit payments for land Highland Clearances, with the final death likely payments will be. I doubt they will ownership/management, whether from nail in hill farming and sporting interests. be of any real value to the average small peatland or forest or whatever. Local Big corporations bidding for land to cash unit. However it indicates something communities could benefit from a share of in will put it out of reach for genuine rural significant is happening that the general this, like wind farms get – especially as it Highlanders wanting to make a living public is unaware of. is government (and our taxpayer) money from the land. We live in the Cairngorms National Park that is used to improve the peatland by Why should communities not benefit and in our area wind farms are prohibited. “restoration” to enhance these carbon from this cash gold rush that is about to There is no chance of community benefit capture payments. happen? Is it moral to sell the heart and payments from these schemes, so we are I would really like to see more transparency soul of the highlands to mitigate dirty disadvantaged – for instance Badenoch on this issue and communication of what industries to keep on polluting? and Strathspey no longer has a public seem to be secret underhand financial swimming pool, a necessity to prevent payments and deals. I have heard Yours sincerely accidental drowning incidents in lochs rumours of a £10 million deal very close to Ruaridh Ormiston and rivers. Because of lack of community me to offset carbon produced at Gatwick Kingussie benefit money there are so many things Airport. We all know about others
26 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 New funding for renewable methane capture system John Farquhar of SAC Consulting and Dr Carol-Anne Duthie from SRUC at SRUC’s Easter Howgate Farm in Midlothian In practice, farmers could benefit A STATE-of-the-art shed from an additional income stream which will use cattle tonnes of carbon dioxide per farm EPI Centre, Edinburgh-based No of up to £40,000 a year, while it is waste products to power per year. Pollution Industrial Systems Ltd, estimated that a 100-cattle shed Galebreaker Agri, Organic Power using the GreenShed system could After receiving £200,000 last also save them £1,000 a year in fertiliser and heat energy costs. a methane capturing system and year to refine the system’s design, Ireland, N2 Applied and Saturn Professor Wayne Powell, grow indoor crops has received GreenShed has now received Bioponics, will begin in Midlothian principal and chief executive of SRUC, said: “GreenShed provides nearly £3 million from the UK a further £2.9m from the direct later this year. an innovative working example of how researchers, businesses and Government through its Net Zero air capture and greenhouse gas The shed’s anaerobic digestion other partners can collaborate effectively to shape a more resilient, Innovation Portfolio (NZIP). removal programme, part of plant will use waste cattle bedding nature-positive producer supply chain that’s aligned with the aims Led by Scotland’s Rural College the UK Government’s net zero to produce energy to run a of the national food strategy. We are hugely grateful to ministers for (SRUC), the GreenShed system innovation portfolio. It is hoped methane capture system. Excess their support.” will also produce low-carbon that the building of the shed, which energy will then be used to power SRUC’s Dr Carol-Anne Duthie, who leads the project, said: “We’re fertiliser and has the potential is supported by partners at the a vertical farm and low-carbon thrilled to have received this funding to make the exciting GreenShed to remove the equivalent of 237 University of Strathclyde, Agri- fertiliser system. project a reality. The value of the project is clear: farmers will improve their profitability, expand their saleable food products and reduce the environmental impact of beef production.” The GreenShed funding is part of a £54m government investment for projects across the country to develop technologies which remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere. Energy and climate change minister Greg Hands said: “This £54 million government investment announced today will help establish a greenhouse gas removal industry in the UK, which could be worth billions to our economy, bringing in private investment and supporting the creation of new green jobs.” Gift Aid makes a huge difference GIFT Aiding your subscription makes a huge difference to If your subscription is £68, you need © CJM Gilmour the work that SCF can do for to have paid at least £17 in Income crofters. Tax or Capital Gains Tax in the same tax year to be able to Gift Aid your A substantial number of our subscription. We can then claim back members already Gift Aid their £17 from the government. It all adds subscription – thank you – and some up, and it will not cost you anything. other members will not be eligible to. But if you don’t currently Gift Aid your If you don’t Gift Aid already please subscription because you are not sure do consider it and if you would like to whether you can or what it means for find out more just give us a call in HQ you, we hope this might help shed on 01599 530005. some light. The question you need to ask is: Am I paying enough tax to Gift Aid my membership subscription?
Scottish Crofter Advert_1216_Scottish Crofter Advert_0511 16/12/2016 10:34 Page 1 27 THE CROFTER, AUGUST 2022 CROFTERS INSURANCE HELPING YOU WEATHER THE ELEMENTS SINCE Find out more by contacting your local NFU Mutual branch at nfumutual.co.uk The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No. 111982). Registered in England. Registered Office: Tiddington Road, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. A member of the Association of British Insurers. For security and training purposes, telephone calls may be recorded and monitored.
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