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Acknowledgements

Assynt Crofters’ Trust (ACT) wishes to thank

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

OrganisationsThe following organisations gave generoussupport, without which the event would nothave been possible:Ullapool ConstructionTilhill Economic ForestryRoyal Bank of ScotlandCaithness and Sutherland EnterpriseHighlands and Islands EnterpriseHighland Wellbeing AllianceLeader +Crofters CommissionCrofting Community Development SchemeEuropean Union: Community EconomicDevelopment.

Local helpersThe many local people – including membersof the Assynt Crofters’ Trust - who helped ina huge variety of ways - Claire Belshaw,Stuart Belshaw, Mathew Bulch, Chris Ford,Jennifer Grant, Marcia Hendry, Stuart Hill,John Holdsworth, Ailsa Kinnaird, AnjiKneebone, Mark Kneebone, Ishbel Macaulay,Mairi MacKay, Catherine MacLeod, JulianneMacLeod, Marion MacLeod, AndrewMackenzie, Eachan Mackenzie, FionaMacKenzie, Frances Mackenzie, IainMackenzie Bordan, Kenny MacKenzie, MoragMackenzie, Flossie MacPhail, MadelineMacPhail, Kirsty Mason, Dougal Menzies,Catherine Matheson, Donald Matheson,Kenny John Matheson, Sheila Matheson,Avishia Russell, Andy Sanders, MaureenSanders, Maureen Scott, Joseph Shepherd,Marianne Simpson, Gary Smith, Meg Telfer,Grace Vine, Heather Vine; all those whodonated sandwiches and other food forevening events.

The 10th Anniversary WorkingGroupAnne MacCrimmon, Mark MacKenzie, LauraMacLean, Durrant MacLeod, Sarah MacLeod,David MacPhail, Issie MacPhail, Calum Millarand Andy Rushton, for organising andcoordinating.

SpeakersACT under 30s (Laura MacLean, SarahMacLeod, David MacPhail and Calum Millar),David Cameron, Camille Dressler, MaggieFyffe, David Green, Kenny Maciver, JohnMackenzie, Bill Ritchie, John Watt, AndyWightman and Allan Wilson.

Workshop and field trip leadersSarah Allen, Andrew Anderson, Claire Belshaw,Amanda Bryan, Peter Cairns, David Cameron,Camille Dressler, Catherine Francis, RichardFrew, Maggie Fyffe, Iain MacDonald, AlastairMaciver, Iain Maciver, Laura MacLean, CathelMacLeod, Durrant MacLeod, Iain MacLeod,Norman MacLeod, Sarah MacLeod, JohnMacKenzie, Kenny MacKenzie, MarkMacKenzie, David MacPhail, Calum Millar,Robin Noble, Bob Perrett, Chris Perkins, JonPriddy, Bill Ritchie, Wilma Robertson, BeckyShaw and John Toal, for leading workshopsand field trips.

Note-takersClaire Belshaw, Kenny Graham, Munro Gauld,Mandy Haggith, Donnie Mackay, NormanMacLeod, Andrew MacKenzie, MadelineMacPhail, Chris Perkins, Alex Scott and JohnToal, for taking notes of discussions atworkshops and on field trips.

Chairs and facilitatorsKenny Mackenzie, Simon Fraser, AndyWightman and Graeme Scott, for chairingand facilitating sessions.

Musicians and entertainersKenny John Matheson, Kenny & MarleneMacKenzie, Andrew Mackenzie, AgnesDickson, Annella Bulch, Mathew Bulch,Calum Millar, Lochinver School Choir, NorthAssynt Junior Choir, Blue Ridge, TommyBeavitt, Peat Bog Faeries, Graeme MitchellScottish Dance Band, Ishbel MacAskill, IainMacKay, Woodland Orchestra, Carol AnneMacKay, Graeme Scott, for music,entertainment and feis classes.

Nature guidesHighland Council Rangers Andy Summers,Julianne Macleod, Tina Loyd Jenkins andClaire Belshaw, for the Rockpool Rummageand Guided Walks.

Contractors and suppliersAccommodation - Achnacarnin Chalets,Ardglass Guest House, Ard na Mara B&B(Stoer), Clachtoll Beach Campsite, CruachanGuest House, Culag Hotel, Ellen MacKenzieB&B (Stoer), Flossie MacPhail B&B (Stoer),Flora Young Caravan (Clachtoll),Inchnadamph Hotel, Inverlodge Hotel,Polcraig Guest House, Shore Caravan Site

(Achmelvich), Suil na Mara B&B (Lochinver)Acorn Signs - roadside signsAnne Edwards – co-ordination, administration,bookings, etcBertie Buchanan – electricsDuncan McInnes – youth event managementtrainingGrants Tent Hire – marquee hireHector MacKenzie – site waterHOST & Local TIC Staff – TIC ticket sales atDurness, Lochinver & UllapoolKSM Motors – transportLimelight Audio Services - stage, sound,lightsLochinver Hall Committee – loan of tillLochinver Transport – carriage of marqueesto and from MallaigMacGregor Industrial Supplies - generatorsNorth of Scotland Marquees - equipmenthirePerformance Ticket Printers – ticket printingScotiakabins - toiletsStoer Grazings Committee – hire of siteStoer Hall – workshop venueSigncentre – T-shirt printingSMG – securityWester Ross Events (Tommy Beavitt & JanRobinson) – venue, transport, bands etcUllapool Catering (John and Jo) – catering,venue planning, equipment & power.

The conference reportDavid Reid - compiling and editing the reportKaren Grant - design and layoutHeather Walker - proof readingPhotos - large cover images and the coverphoto of children were taken by AndySummers. The other photos were suppliedby Assynt Crofters’ Trust and others.

The report was printed by Posthouse Printers,Findhorn, Moray, on Scottish-made recycledpaper using vegetable inks.

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Contents

Acknowledgements 2

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

The conferenceWelcome and introduction: Kenny Mackenzie and Laura MacLean 7

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

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

Challenges and opportunitiesCrofting in the 21st century: David Green 20Surviving CAP reform: Becky Shaw and Sarah Allen 21Housing: John Toal, Maggie Fyffe and Wilma Robertson 22Supporting young people’s involvement: Allan Wilson 24Working together: John Watt 25Organising for change: Camille Dressler 27Developing fishing and wildlife tourism

Angling: Cathel MacLeod, Iain MacLeod, Calum Millar and Mark Mackenzie 29Wildlife tourism: Peter Cairns 30

ForestryCrofter forestry in Assynt: Bill Ritchie and David MacPhail 31Culag Community Woodland Trust: Claire Belshaw and Robin Noble 31Forestry and Rural Development Scheme: Chris Perkins 32

Renewable EnergyAssynt Hydro Scheme: John MacKenzie 33Options for communities: Iain MacIver and John Priddy 34

Building on cultural resources: Norman MacLeod and Iain MacDonald 35

AppendicesAppendix One: Conference programme 36Appendix Two: Field trips and workshops 37Appendix Three: Participants 37

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

• The political context, new legislation, reforms (proposed and inprogress) and the support available to communities (fromagencies and other organisations) indicate that the tide is incommunities’ favour.

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

• Release of government-owned land would be a means ofrecreating communities in emptied areas and of helpingexisting community landowners to ease shortages of land forhousing and new crofts.

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

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

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

• In recent years community landowners have had accessthrough the Community Land Unit (CLU) and the ScottishLand Fund (SLF) to a wide range of support not available inthe past to either the Stornoway Trust, in the distant past or theMelness Crofters Ltd or the Assynt Crofters’ Trust in the lastdecade.

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

Towards an agenda for the next 10 years

Key themes and issues from the conference

5

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

• Communities must look after their members and encouragetheir participation by being inclusive, open, democratic,accountable and engaging (by communicating, consulting andlistening); and by providing opportunities for them to receivetraining in a wide range of project development and otherskills.

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

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

• They see the availability of affordable housing as a crucialfactor in encouraging potential returners and as a veryimportant measure of success in meeting community needs.

• Virtually all community landowners are confronted by a seriousshortage of affordable housing and of the resources needed toprovide it.

• Imagination and readiness to innovate may be as important asfinance in devising and developing projects which can generateincome and support livelihoods. Communities should notunderestimate the potential economic benefits of projects basedon the sustainable development of cultural and natural resources.

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

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

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IssuesHousing: Community landowners need to beable to ensure the availability of good,inexpensive housing for their young peopleand for those they hope will come back.

Mutual learning: Community landownerscan benefit greatly fromsharing information andexperience. There is a need todevelop effective ways ofmaximising the benefits. Theconference was a timely eventand a stimulus to the networksthat are beginning to develop.There is a need for regularconferences at differentvenues at which people

can explore the commonalities. Fromthis process bigger, stronger and morepowerful networks can grow.

Sustaining the momentum: Manycommunities rely on substantialcontributions of time, energy andideas from volunteers for sustainingmomentum. They need to be able toaccess training and other forms ofskills development. They need to exploreways of reducing the pressure on volunteers

Issues and action points

in innovative ways, such as paying honorariaout of core funding, arranging secondmentfrom private companies and drawing on theexperience of other sectors of the socialeconomy.

ActionsLand: Action to bring about the release ofland for community needs, especially for newhousing and new crofts. There are hugeopportunities for the release of land - 12 percent of rural land in the Highlands and Islandsis in public ownership. The framework existsto make this possible though the proceduresmay be complex.

Involving young people: Action to encourageyoung people to take on important roles inproject planning and strategic planning forthe future. There may be practical problemsto overcome. Young people under the age of18 cannot serve as directors of a companylimited by guarantee, but it may be possibleto co-opt them as directors.

Core funding: Action to ensure that corefunding is made available for the training andskills development necessary for communitylandowners to prosper in the long term. Thegroups also need to be able to pay contractorsand/or staff to carry out basic project work.Without this volunteers burn out and newvolunteers are discouraged from participating.

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

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D uring the early 20th century thingswere far from easy for the people of

Assynt. The young people left to find work,generation after generation. In a bookpublished in 1955, Frank Fraser Darling calledour home ‘the disintegrating parish ofAssynt’.

It has taken hard work and strong beliefs tobegin to recover from those times. Thecreation of the Assynt Crofters’ Trust,through the hard work and determinationof the communities of North Assynt, was abig step forward in 1992. Everyone here tookthat step to try to create a better future for all.

The Assynt Crofters’ Trust has now ownedthis land for a full 10 years. There have beenups – not least that of ‘winning the land’ on8th December 1992 – andthere have been downs.Above all there has beencourage and commitment intackling the task of runningthe land on behalf of thecommunity. It has been ahard and daunting task. It isimpossible to sum up all that has beenlearned along the way. Today there are some50 island or Highland communities that havetaken their land into community ownership.In 2001 it was estimated that about 26,000

people owned 300,000 acres of land inthe Highlands and Islands. But those300,000 acres amount to only three percent of Highland and Islands land.Clearly there is still a long road to travel.

Nevertheless advice, support andfunding are now much more easilyavailable from a range of sources thanthey were just ten years ago. SeveralAssynt crofters have been instrumentalin providing or creating these new typesof resources for community groupsembarking upon a buy-out. Taking part inthis sort of work has been a great honour forall those involved.

Assynt Crofters’ Trust aims to celebrate the10th anniversary with many of the people

who helped them achievelandownership. Our mainfocus has been to provide theopportunity for people fromacross the Highlands andIslands to come together toshare experiences anddiscuss the key issues of the

day. In that way all participants will be ableto learn from each other and highlight thethings that matter most to the communityof Assynt and to other communities like Assynt.

Welcome and introduction

Kenny Mackenzie, Chairman, Assynt Crofters’ Trust, welcomed everyone to the conference,particularly those representing other community land buy-outs. He said that they were

all part of a movement that started long ago and they had a responsibility to keep it going.The purpose of the Fling in the Fank was to look forward and form a clear vision for the next 10years and he hoped there would be cross-fertilisation and positive discussion - but it wasimportant not to lose touch with the past.

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

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

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David Cameron began his presentationby thanking ACT for helping the North

Harris Steering Group in the early days. Indescribing the North Harris experience he didnot wish to be thought prescriptive, for everycommunity buy-out was different.

750 people live on the 55,000acres of the North HarrisEstate, half of them in Tarbert,half on crofts. The estate hadbeen owned by a successionof landlords who wereinterested in the castle, thefishing and the shooting, butto whom the potential of therest of the estate meantnothing. Because most peoplewere quite comfortable withthe landowners, the idea ofbuying all or part of the landwas the last thing in people’s

minds. However, in late April 2002, AlasdairMorrison MSP called a meeting under theauspices of the Scottish Crofting Foundation,and a Steering Group was formed.

The Steering Group called a meeting toconfirm that it had a mandate from thecommunity to explore the possibility of abuy-out, and then asked other people tocontribute to its work, to give it morebalance. It also wrote to every household,recommending that if the buy-out wassuccessful a group should be elected toexplore all the options. It proposed that theelected group would have nine members,each representing a geographical area andabout 60 people. Five members wouldrepresent crofting areas, and four the townof Tarbert - an acknowledgement that thecrofters, though numerically outnumbered,controlled much of the land, and that Tarbertshould not dominate. Thus the group which

was eventually elected was of an appropriatesize and structure, and had legitimacy andcredibility, being open, transparent, accessibleand engaging.

The Steering Group drew up a tight remit forthe feasibility study and took trouble over thechoice of someone to carry it out. It askedeight consultants to say how they wouldapproach the task, and then invited three toelaborate on their ideas, before choosingGraeme Scott with whom they were todevelop a good working relationship.

During the consultation period that followed,it was established that four criteria wouldhave to be met:• The financial contribution required

from the community had to be realistic.• The land had to be viable.• Expertise had to be available locally or

readily obtainable from elsewhere.• There had to be a minimum of risk in

the whole operation.

The group received Graeme Scott’s draftfeasibility study with little time to spare. Atthe public meeting at which it was discussedone individual who had been a vociferousopponent of the buy-out announced that hehad changed his mind. For the first time thegroup felt there was a chance of a positiveoutcome to a ballot on whether to purchaseor not. Within 24 hours they contacted everyhousehold by letter, urging a ‘yes’ vote. Inthe postal ballot that followed, 75 per centof those entitled to vote did so, with 75 percent voting in favour of a buy-out. Therehad been a lot of listening to reasonedargument, and in the end the Steering Groupreceived very strong support indeed.

The bid excluded parts of the estate thecommunity was not interested in, as the

Community land ownership:sharing the experience

Embarking on a buy-outDavid Cameron, North Harris Trust

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Steering Group had accepted that it wouldbe necessary to divide the estate to safeguardthe community’s investment for futuregenerations. However the bid was declared‘not acceptable’ - later amended during ameeting in Edinburgh to ‘not acceptable inits current form’. When in February 2003,after several more steps in the biddingprocess, a joint offer was eventually accepted,the community was the first to know - atribute to the many who had helped.

Participants in a follow-up workshopidentified the following key factors in thesuccess of the bid:• It might well have needed someone to

give an initial push as Alasdair Morrisonhad, but the community had also needed

openness and time to form a view: the ideaof change could be unsettling.

• The process of consultation with thecommunity was as inclusive as possible.The Steering Group made a point ofinvolving young people, and also ofinviting to their meetings women as wellas men, and individuals opposed to theidea of a buy-out. There was an emphasisin the consultation on providingopportunities for young people to come back.

• The group controlled information andmanaged the media. They did not tell thepress about public meetings, but briefedlater. They kept out of the press reportsof negotiations with the selling agents asthese could have given rivals an advantage.

John MacKenzie quoted a passage from theintroduction to the Business Plan

prepared for ACT by Steve Westbrook andGraeme Scott in August 1992:

“The economic principle forpurchasing the land is toensure that the income andwealth, which it is capable ofgenerating, stays within thelocal community. Much ofthe potential benefits willonly be realised in the longterm, however, and thecrofters are as muchinterested in providing thenext generation with asounder base, as inimproving their currenteconomic welfare.”

The economic and social benefits wereclassified in the report as follows:• Psychological benefits (in terms of

self-confidence, etc) to the croftersand their families from being in controlof their own destiny, rather than beingconstrained by the policies, attitudesand whims of external landlords.

• Population retention or growth (with theassociated stimulus to local services).

• More control over communitydevelopment, especially through the typesof housing developed, through the leasing

policy for any housing forrent and through exertinginfluence on the CroftersCommission to deal withthe problem of absenteecrofters.

• New job opportunities,generally of a part-timenature and thuscompatible with croftingactivities.

• Improved estatemanagement in terms offarming practices, naturalwoodland regeneration,deer population control,

enhancement of sporting value, attractionof tourists and other visitors, wildlife andbotanical conservation and enhancement.

• Opportunities to generate a surplusforre-investment in the estate.

• Improved potential for co-operationbetween resident crofters in undertakingdevelopment programmes, agreeing

Business planningJohn MacKenzie, Assynt Crofters’ Trust

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conservation measures, providing socialand residential facilities in townships, etc.

• Removal of constraints which landlordshave imposed on the development bylocal people of shops or other small-scale service businesses.

John MacKenzie concluded by saying thatas a result of developments in housing,

forestry, fishing, and renewable energy mostof the objectives set out in the ACT BusinessPlan have been achieved, to a greater or lesserextent, during their first 10 year period. (Formore details, see Involvement of the YoungPeople of Assynt (page 11) and the sectionson Housing (page 22), Fishing and WildlifeTourism (page 29), Forestry (page 31) andRenewable Energy (page 33).

Maggie Fyffe reviewed the benefits thatthe Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust (IEHT)

has achieved in the past six years. She hopedfurther progress would be built on these.

IEHT has set up three subsidiary companies(Eigg Trading Ltd, Eigg Tearoom Ltd, EiggConstruction Ltd). These companies haveresponsibility for the day-to-day

management of island businessesbut they work closely with theTrust board on strategic issuesand on matters with largefinancial implications.

The three businesses have createdmultiple benefits - employmentfor local people, better social andeconomic opportunities, andimprovements to the island’s infrastructure.The Trust has also embarked on majorprojects, having accessed essential financialassistance. It has renovated four of its

properties in a rolling programme of repairs,undertaken by Eigg Construction Ltd, whichwill take several years to complete. It also hasa five-year woodland managementprogramme including regeneration and thereinstatement of a bog which is a Site ofSpecial Scientific Interest (SSSI). In advancingthese projects it has invested in machineryand training.

In the last financial year the Trust and itssubsidiaries had a joint turnover of about£360,000 of which nearly £90,000 was paidout in wages, a significant achievementconsidering none of the jobs had existed fiveyears before.

By its nature the Trust is a partnership, readyto form larger partnerships withorganisations that can provide relevant skills

and experience. Through thisapproach the Trust has beenvery successful in accessingfunding for projects.

The Trust is also committed toimproving the infrastructureof the island. It has set up twomicro-hydro projects and hasinitiated an island-wideenergy feasibility study, whichincludes surveys of needs andaspirations and identification

of possible sites. The Trust hopes to createseveral new crofts, and is making low-costbuilding plots available.

Looking to the futureMaggie Fyffe, Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust

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L aura: The members of thegroup became involved in

Assynt Crofters’ Trust activitiesthrough the previous year’sconsultation process. Throughtheir voluntary work they alllearnt a lot about organising andrunning events, project fundingand grants, marketing and arange of other topics veryrelevant for their working livesand for voluntary work on behalfof the community.

Sarah: Last winter there was aworkshop for 16 – 30 year olds to discusswhat was good and what was bad aboutliving in Assynt and what they would like tosee done. The group agreed that Assynt wasa great place, but had concerns whichfocused on:• The lack of affordable housing for rent

and affordable house sites for self-build.• The main work opportunities being

focused on the sea (work as a deckie or infish farming) or tourism.

• The lack of public transport whichtended to cut young people off from eachother.

• The very few young people in North Assynt.• The lack of social events for the younger

age group.

The Trust encourages private enterprise,wherever possible, as a way of creating awide and sustainable economic base. It hasprovided a wide range of trainingopportunities, offered low rentals to severaltourism businesses, and developed inclusivemarketing with the production of a visitorleaflet and the creation of an island website:www.isleofeigg.org. With the help of theResidents’ Association - which continues to

Involvement of the young people of Assynt

Laura Maclean, Sarah Macleod, David MacPhail and Calum Millar,ACT under 30s

hold workshops designed to help people toexpress their aspirations and suggestimprovements - the Trust intends to evaluatethe last five years and develop a Whole IslandPlan for the next five years. This willencompass all aspects of development. Allthese projects have made a very realdifference to people’s lives – not justmaterially. Confidence has grown and youngpeople are beginning to return.

The young people’s ideas for action included:• A music festival (now taking place).• Active management and promotion of

fishing while “keeping it wild and untouched”.• Development of more tourism activities

to make the most of the very fine coast,beaches and hill ground – for example,water sports, orienteering, triathlon andbird watching.

• Building bunkhouses with good facilitieslinked to such activities.

• Maintaining good access to the beaches.• Improving and extending the community

taxi service for younger people and elderlypeople so that they can get out more easilyat weekends and in the evening.

• Organising a study trip to Ireland to seehow they run tourism there.

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Wider community consultation showed thatwhat the majority of people liked most aboutNorth Assynt was:• The scenery, landscape and open

spaces.• Being part of a community.• The freedom – the peace and quiet.

The things the majority of people mostdisliked were:• The long distance to leisure facilities.• The land being taken over by bracken

and rushes.• Problems in accessing housing and

employment.

The three most popular aspirations for thefuture were:• Achieving co-operation, vision and

direction.• Implementing development ideas.• Creating a community where young

people want to stay or return.

Laura: Other development ideas put forwardas a result of the consultation last winterincluded:• Continued action on housing issues.• Trying to improve transport for young

people and elderly people.• A focus on developments which create

even short-term local work.• Development of children’s play parks

at Clachtoll and Drumbeg.• Continued efforts with woodlands and

forestry to maintain the local economyand environment.

• Imaginative support for tourism.

• Creation of a decent Assynt Crofters’Trust Office at the heart of thecommunity - then using this buildingto improve access to other facilities,including a shop and better community halls.

The most popular topic proved to be‘Agriculture and Horticulture’. Ideas included:• Marketing of local produce.• Access to machinery and equipment

through machinery groups and rings.• Access to cheaper feed and other

supplies through a local feed co-op.• Trying to stop the rapid advance of

bracken and rushes across the croft lands.• Trying to repair dykes and peat roads.• Organising information about grant

options and other kinds of support.

These ideas were now under discussion bythe Assynt Crofters’ Trust Board of Directorswho aimed to produce a Whole Estate Planin the coming months.

David: In the past ten years ACT has donemuch to create work and other benefits. Withthe support of the Trust, the townships ofNorth Assynt have planted 800 hectares ofnative woodlands through crofter forestryschemes. That planting has created some£193,000 of contract work in the parish ofAssynt, which is the equivalent of three orfour full-time jobs during the past sevenyears. Much of this work was taken up byyounger people who also worked on similarforestry schemes across the county andbeyond). In an effort to make the most oflocal resources, the Trust has developed ahydro-electric project with commercialpartners (for further details, see RenewableEnergy, page 33). The Trust has also put in alot of work to try to tackle the housingproblem and this year four Housing Associationproperties are being built in Stoer township.

During the past ten years there have been13 new entrants (under 45 years old) tocrofting in seven North Assynt townships.Since over 35 per cent of our North Assyntcommunities are over retirement age this hasan important impact.

13

An area of Trust work which depends on verysignificant voluntary effort is theadministration. This is unglamorous,demanding and time-consuming, whether itinvolves croft administration or secretarialchores. The Trust relies on an average of48,000 voluntary hours per year to maintainits activities.

Calum: A key area of Trust activity has beenthe development of the brown trout fishing.This is a main source of income which helpsto maintain a long-term part-time job – thatof the Cuidiche. Assynt’s brown trout fishingis a very precious asset with a great deal ofpotential. The Trust wants to manage it wellbut at the same time keep it ‘wild anduntouched’.

The Trust’s activities in developing the fishinghave been varied – stocking the Mansesystem, building traps, tagging smolts, buyingeight new boats, creating a brochure andselling permits. All of these activities dependon a huge amount of voluntary effort. Duringthe season Calum works on a self-employedbasis, teaching fly-fishing and taking peoplefishing and stalking.

The fishing and stalking are very importantfor local tourism. Tourism provides directemployment or income for over 20 per centof local households and an even greaternumber when the positive impact for localshops and other services is taken into account.Through ACT activities over one thousand new‘bednights’ have been created in the parishbefore the conference.

ACT and IEHT have been in existencefor relatively short periods,

compared to the Stornoway Trust (ST),which is now almost 80 years old. KennyMaciver, a trustee for the last 17 years,reviewed what he called the Long Haul -the continual effort required to ensure thelong-term survival of the Trust.

The reality of survival is the need tomaintain the Trust’s lands by generating asurplus from the sale of some product orthe charging of rents. It is a privilege tobe entrusted with the administration of theland, but it is no easy ride. I wish I couldsay that it got easier but that would notbe true. The Trust has to depend on itsown efforts for there is no one else to bailit out.

The Trust has existed since 1924. In thatyear Stornoway Town Council respondedpositively when Lord Leverhulme offeredthe island of Lewis to its people - althoughthe greatest part of the island wantednothing to do with landownership. TheTrust’s land, the old parish of Stornoway,

extends to over 28,000 hectares. Itcomprises 40 crofting townships andincludes 1339 crofts with associatedcommon pasture held in crofting tenure;279 small allotments held by individuals onannual tenancies; some agricultural landleased to various tenants; other tracts heldon seasonal tenancies; residential andcommercial sites; the 600 acre woodlandpark known as the Lews Castle Policies; andalso some fishings and shootings leased tolocal groups. Around 14,000 people (two-thirds of the population of Lewis andHarris) lives in the Trust area. In the 100years to 1985, the rents have remainedunchanged, averaging £1.50. Currently theaverage rent is in the region of £10.

The trust is a democratic organisation.However this has not always been the case.Until local government reorganisation in1974 only five of the ten trustees weredirectly elected (but only by those whosenames appeared on the valuation roll). Theother f ive were nominated by theStornoway Town Council. Since 1994however everyone whose name appears onthe electoral roll has been entitled to vote

The Long HaulKenny Maciver, The Stornoway Trust

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at elections held every three years. At eachelection half the trustees stand down butare eligible for re-election.

Unfortunately there is nogreat public interest in thework of the Trust unlesspeople feel that theirinterests are threatened.Then they realise the valueof having a landlord theyknow, whom they canapproach and whom theycould replace ifnecessary.

The Trust makes land available at nominalcharges for public housing, public utilities andcommunity ventures, and in encouraging new

younger crofters hasallowed tenants to keeptheir houses and gardens,before this right wasenshrined in law. Acontinuous incomestream from rock

quarrying, which started in the 1940s, has beenvital for the Trust’s survival.

The Trust has tried to attract industry andencourage employment, providing up to 50per cent subsidies for community projectsfor the long-term unemployed in the 1970sand 1980s. It has always looked for

opportunities to attract long-terminvestment and seek finance for projectslikely to result in enhanced facilities and job

opportunities. Examples include a £1million grant from the MillenniumCommission for the Lews Castle Policies,which helped to provide new planting, anew sawmill, an interpretation centreand new jobs. The most spectacular hasbeen the Arnish Fabrication Yard, whichprovided a steady rental income for a longperiod until its closure, which broughtfinancial difficulties. The Trust went tocourt to safeguard the fixed assets of theyard, and worked in partnership with localand national agencies to bring about itsre-opening and the creation of new jobsfor local people.

The Trust is currently innegotiations withseveral agencies, bothpublic and private,about a huge wind farmproject, which couldtransform the Trust’sfinancial outlook. It iswell aware of how littleit can do on its own andof the need, whenworking in partnershipwith other agencies, to

play the most appropriate role, which issometimes that of facilitator. The trustees arealways conscious that they have been elected,that the whole community are theirshareholders and that their first duty is toadvise on many mundane but importantissues such as boundary disputes andtransfers of tenancies that can be so time-consuming. They are conscious of theprivilege of owning their land and have beenvery aware of the responsibility, especially atperiods during the long haul when thereseemed no light at the end of the tunnel.However they believe in the importance ofcommunity landownership and in managingtheir own affairs to the best of their abilities.

The Trust makes land availableat nominal charges for publichousing, public utilities andcommunity ventures.

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Support for community landownershipoperates in a context in which

government policy favours an emphasis oncommunity involvement and partnership(working together) in the delivery of thesocial inclusion and sustainable developmentagendas. It does so at a time of significantrestructuring in British society with a moveaway from the old-fashioned welfare stateand top-down, state-driven developmentthrough the direct intervention of public sectoragencies to community involvement and a rolefor civil society and the social economy.

Partnership is very much in vogue. There arepublic-private partnerships and community-led partnerships. There is also ‘CommunityPlanning’, which has been given a highprominence and is still evolving. However, itis neither led by communities, nor has to do

M any countries are engaged inland reform - righting the injustices

of the past through the redistribution of land.In these countries land reform is aboutputting lights back on in the emptied glens– as it should be in Scotland. It is what thepeople of the Highlands and Islands wanted200 years ago, what the Clashmore crofterswanted 115 years ago, and what people todayshould be demanding from land reform.However it is not clear whether thegovernment agrees.

When the Land Reform Bill was introducedin Parliament the government stated clearlythat the bill was not about redistributingland, a view endorsed recently by the First

Community landownership: the wider context

The political context

John Watt, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE)

with what we normally mean by planning. Itis about the strategic alignment of agenciesto deliver public services more effectively,with community involvement in the process.

Community land ownership isreal community planning atthe local level: it is communityled with agency support.Increasingly communitylandowners have aspirations tomove into new areas:c o m m u n i t y - o w n e dcommercial renewable energy;community ownership of themarine resource, both of theportion of the sea-bed ownedby the Crown Estate and of fishquotas; and most recently,community broadband.

Strategic action on landownership

Bill Ritchie, Assynt Crofters’ Trust

Minister when he spoke in Stoer about“enabling existing communities to beambitious and to take responsibility for theirown lives”.

These objectives are very laudable, and manycommunity land-owning groups, includingACT, have demonstrated what can be doneonce local people own the land. But will theylead to lights being switched back on in theemptied glens?

In 10 short years 31 new community trustshave been created in the Highlands andIslands, with about 11,000 membersmanaging around 250,000 acres - about 2.5per cent of the land. The Scottish Land Fund

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has helped over 100 community groups withan amazing range of initiatives, large andsmall. But these all focus on existingcommunities and on their economic andamenity welfare. There is only one exception– Fearnaig Community Trust, which plans tocreate nine new small holdings on 110 acres.

The Land Reform Act wasdesigned to facilitate such actionby existing communities. Whatit did not do was address thesituation where the glen hasbeen emptied and remainsempty. It is highly unlikely thatthere will be a major overhaul ofthe Act in the foreseeable future,so people need to be verycreative and strategic about theuse of the power they have.

Consider the following “wee idea”, based ontwo facts: the government owns 1.7 millionacres of land, most forested and many ofthem in emptied glens; and it is proposing tomake it possible to create new crofts and sonew crofting communities. If people couldpersuade the government to turn 10 per centof its forest land into woodland crofts andthen use the Land Reform Act creatively toturn these into community trusts, they couldput a thousand new lights on in the glens.That would be a big step forward on the longroad of land reform. The government hasthe resources and the power to make ithappen, but does it have the political will? Itwould be exciting if people could agree toact jointly to persuade the government totake that step. Then they could tackle theprivately-owned empty glens.

A llan Wilson congratulated the AssyntCrofters’ Trust on the 10th anniversary

of its acquisition of the North Assynt Estate.It had made the first big step in communityownership, which required skill, planning,commitment and determination; and manyother communities had already learned fromits experience.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act is veryimportant for future generations ofcommunities throughout rural Scotland. Itgives them an opportunity to ensure theircommunities remain sustainable and toenjoy the benefits of community ownershipif that is what they are determined toachieve.

The Scottish Executive is currently consultingon the draft order supporting the communityright to buy.* The consultation highlights thenew proposal that communities withpopulations of up to 10,000 will have thecommunity right to buy. If the proposal isaccepted, another 117 settlements would be

able to exercise the right to buy in additionto those already qualifying under the originalthreshold of 3,000. Over 600,000 people inScotland will potentially be able to benefit.

Some communities may prefer to negotiatewith landowners rather than register theirinterest and then wait for land to come onthe market.

The Crofting Community Right to BuyThe crofting community right to buyintroduces a strategic change in therelationship between crofting communitiesand the land, and gives them rights ofpurchase which they may exercise as theychoose. These rights recognise theircontribution and commitment to their land.

The aim of the proposed legislation is not toseek vengeance for past wrongs, as somehave alleged, but to make it possible forcrofting communities increasingly to be incharge of their own development and future,for which the control and use of land is

Current Legislation

Allan Wilson, Deputy Ministerfor Environment and Rural Development

*The section of the Act dealing with the community right to buy came into force on 14 June 2004. Under it allcommunities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants qualify for the community right to buy.

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fundamental. Assynt has been successfulwithout such legislation, but other croftingcommunities now have legal rights to buy land.

The legislation is complex, asit must preserve the freedomand rights of individuals aswell as communities.Exercising the right to buyis a serious undertaking forcrofting communities.However, it is clear that thevery existence of thelegislation is important inbringing about change, forcrofting communities are ina much stronger position innegotiating with theirlandlords, as discussions in the Uists havealready illustrated.

Revised Crofting LegislationThe Executive has taken on board many ofthe comments on the White Paper. The mainproposals are:• To make it possible for crofts and

common grazings to be put to widerincome-generating uses than theCrofters Act currently allows.

• To remove the veto which a landlordcurrently has over crofter forestry.

• To enable the creation of new croftsto meet local needs.

• To counter the dereliction of croft land.• To allow resumed or decrofted land to

return to crofting.• To simplify procedures and cut

through red tape.• To provide a right of appeal against

decisions of the Crofters Commission.• To ease the development of wind farms

and other energy generation on croft land.

DiscussionIn an earlier presentation, John MacKenzie,ACT, had taken issue on two points, firstlythe motivation for land reform: “For theAssynt crofters the aspiration to be free forevermore from the dictates of an autocraticabsentee landlord was at least as importanta motivation as accessing the potential foreconomic development”.

He went on to state that the croftingcommunity right to buy section of the LandReform Act failed to consider communities

in which nearly all the landwas in crofting tenure. Heopposed the requirement thata majority of all adultresidents in croftingcommunities, and not just amajority of crofters, mustvote in favour of a buy-out.He stated that many incrofting communitieswelcomed in principle thelong overdue legislation butwere outraged by theabandonment by thelegislators of the original

pattern created in Assynt. North AssyntEstate was bought for the crofters by thecrofters of Assynt and their supporters.However, other groups of crofters would notbe able to make similar purchases under theprovisions of the new legislation and the rulesgoverning support by the Scottish Land Fund.

Andy Wightman welcomed the extension ofthe community right to buy to largercommunities. However, despite the fact thatonly six of the additional 117 communitieswere in the Highlands, the announcementhelped to perpetuate the myth that landreform was exclusively for the Highlands andIslands. In reply Allan Wilson said that heshared the aspirations of those who wishedto see land reform extended to urban andsuburban communities. However the LandReform Act was not a mechanism forextending reform to urban areas and therewas a need for other mechanisms.

Bill Ritchie asked whether the ScottishExecutive was considering releasing some ofthe 1.7 million acres of land it owned forcommunity ownership. Allan Wilson repliedin the affirmative: the Executive wasconsidering how to take forward policy ondispersals of Forestry Commission land.

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Participants in a workshop on the croftingcommunity right to buy reiterated John

MacKenzie’s reservations about therequirement that a majority within a croftingcommunity must vote in favour of a buy-outin a ballot (which must also demonstrate amajority of crofters in favour). Assynt Crofters’

Trust would not fall withinthe definition of a “croftingcommunity body” in termsof the Act.

It was pointed out, however,that the requirement was inline with the ScottishExecutive’s policy on socialinclusion. It was suggestedthat Assynt Crofters’ Trustwould have been able to

work within the constraints of the definitionto achieve the same result. The “body” wouldbe a company limited by guarantee consistingof 20 or more individuals, of whom more thanhalf must be crofters, of voting age and livingwithin 16 kilometres of the croft (notabsentees).

Other points raisedParticipants in the workshop also discussedother aspects of the crofting community rightto buy legislation, which applied to eligible croftland including common grazings, mineral andsalmon rights, and included limited rights toacquire additional land.

Details of the procedure for making anapplication for a crofting community buy-outwere set out in the Act.* Certain criteria had tobe met. The community could force a sale, butthis involved finding out all the details of theestate without the co-operation of the owner,so negotiation was advised. It was suggestedthat the Scottish Executive included thisprovision to encourage negotiation.

The crofting community right to buy

Workshop and discussion led by Bob Perrett.Scottish Executive, and members of the Community Land Unit

In order to complete the purchase, the croftingcommunity body had to prepare all the legalwork and retrieve the necessary details fromthe owner. If this could not be done bynegotiation then it was possible to force theowner to hand over the required details undersection 86 of the Act. The crofting body wouldhave six months from the date of the valuationto prepare all the legal documents for the sale.

The valuation was assessed in terms of themarket value of the land, which could beincreased by the potential for windfarms. Thiswas a point of contention and it was suggestedthat an owner could take advantage of thisfactor. The value might also be affected by theinterest that such use of the land would create.

A crofter’s right to buy his or her croft wouldbe suspended from the time when the Ministerconsented to the application until the sale wasconcluded. The right to apportionment wouldnot be affected, but this issue was legallycomplex. However, the Act would not affectthe continuing right to purchase by negotiation.

There was discussion about owners attemptingto circumvent the crofting community right tobuy, for example by leasing, attempting toresume land, or withholding a “ransom strip”.However, an owner must have “reasonablepurpose” to resume land from crofting tenure.It was accepted that the Crofting Reform Billwould remedy any problems that arose in thisarea. There was also mention of the Transfer ofCrofting Estates Act, which facilitates the saleof estates owned by the Scottish Ministers tocrofting communities. In many cases, such saleswould previously have been prevented by termsand conditions attached to these propertieswhen they were first acquired.

* For guidance on buy-out applications go to www.scotland.gov.uk

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In a workshop on the community right tobuy, discussion touched on a number of

issues. It was initially thought that therewould be five registrations a year. Now withthe upsurge in community land purchase andthe increase in population threshold from3,000 to 10,000, the number of applicationscould be considerably higher. It wasimpossible to predict.

The group asked whether an urbancommunity could register an interest in“rural” land, if they were able to demonstratea “connection” to that land. It was confirmedthat members of an urban community couldbe members of a rural community’scommunity body, as long as rural membersformed the majority. However, the Actrequired the community body to represent arural community and members of urbancommunities could not therefore be includedas part of the rural community or registeran interest as an urban community body.

There was also discussion on the potential oftactical registration of land from an anti-development viewpoint rather than pro-development (e.g. protecting green belt). Onequestion raised was tactical registration ofall land around a township. Scottish Ministerswould need to be satisfied that the legislationwas not being used to blight development,particularly on land identified fordevelopment in local plans. A separateplanning process already existed, which is usedto determine whether such development isin the public interest.

One key challenge for communities was togenerate their own electricity and encouragethe cheap economic location of business.

The workshop ended with confirmation thatregistration itself was free, but all other costssuch as setting up a company would have tobe raised by the community.

T he objective of land reform was toremove the land-based obstacles to

sustainable development, according to theLand Reform Policy Group. Participants in aworkshop on sustainable developmentidentified key elements of a sustainablecommunity as: people, communityconfidence, good communication, goodquality of life, community inclusion,voluntary contributions, partnership working,better local housing provision, better publicfacilities, a secure and stable economy,effectively managed resources and adequateemployment.

The workshop explored what implementingsustainable development meant at acommunity level and how to assess theimpact of individual projects in achieving

Sustainable development

Workshop led by Amanda Bryan, Aigas Associates

sustainability. Network 21’s SustainabilityChecklist was used as a tool to look at somecase studies and most participants found ituseful as it provides a framework askingsensible and practical questions. There wassome concern that some agencies mightchoose to use the checklist in an inflexibleway, thus reducing its usefulness as a guideto communities. The Community Land Unitwas cited as an example of an agency thatmanaged to meet the needs of thecommunity at a local level.

It was also suggested that people should thinkof crofting communities in a more inclusiveway, encompassing all those involved incrofting activities and acknowledging thecontributions of all family members, not justsingle representatives from each croft.

Discussion on the community right to buy

Led by Richard Frew, Scottish Executive,and members of the Community Land Unit

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D avid Green reviewed some of thehuge changes which had taken place in

crofting in recent times.

Just over ten years ago, Achiltibuie was stillsuffering from many of the obstacles to fullagricultural production identified in the Reportof the Commission of Enquiry into CroftingConditions (the Taylor Report) published in1954: absentee tenants, aged tenants, tenantsabsorbed in other occupations, lack of capital,limitations on individuals’ initiatives, marketing,transport facilities and costs. The reasons Taylorgave for people leaving crofting still appliedtoo: hardship and lack of amenity; no work foryoung men; young women no longer satisfiedwith their traditional role in crofting; arestricted life with few exciting prospects andnot much hope of marriage.

Now there is a new school in Ullapool, a newcommunity hall in Achiltibuie, a new fire depot,a new £1.4 million water treatment plant, anew path up Stac Pollaidh, a majority of croftersinvolved in tourism, a pilot Broadbandconnection for crofters and a much bettersocial infrastructure - all bringing betteramenity and job opportunities and offeringmuch more to entice young folk to considercoming back.

There have been changes at the CroftersCommission too. Just over ten years ago itwas a mainly regulatory body, totally under thewing of the Department of Agriculture. Todaythe Commission is modernising, becomingmore open and accountable, and streamliningsome of the regulations. It now meets in publicin different venues in the Highlands and Islands.It has restructured its staff into Area Teams,and the Board has taken on a strategic role. Itscrutinises the spending of the public poundand is keen to re-energise efforts to developcrofting.

Challenges and opportunities

Crofting in the 21st century

David Green, Crofters Commission

It has become involved in a number of grassroots projects working with croftingcommunities and other partners. In ShetlandJane Thomas, in partnership with the Croftingand Farming Wildlife Advisory Group, hasdeveloped a programme of croft walksdesigned to show people the range ofcrofting activity, past and present. OnWestray she has begun looking at thedemand for new crofts. The next step will beto consider how to meet the demand,working with partners such as the CroftingEntrants Scheme and the Community LandUnit. In the Western Isles Yvonne Richardsonhas agreed to give financial support inpartnership with the Western Isles Counciland Western Isles Enterprise to co-ordinationby Lewis and Harris Cattle and SheepProducers.

In Badenoch and Strathspey, Archie MacNabhas been working with the CairngormCrofting Group to ensure that appropriateconsideration is given to crofting needs andopportunities in the new National Park inwhich there are over 100 crofts. Inpartnership with the park authority, he iscarrying out a baseline study of croftingactivity and how it could be developed in linewith the aims of the Park. In Sutherland JohnToal has been working with the North WestCattle Producers Association to reverse thedecline in cattle production, the Commissioncontributing over £2,000 to a study of theoptions for supporting cattle production. OnIslay, Colonsay and Jura work is being doneon creating new crofts or making better useof existing ones.

The future for both the Commission andcrofting communities is bright andchallenging. What ACT has done has beenan inspiration to all. The new Crofting Actwill mean a new Commission with its own

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budget and staff and a clearer focus oncrofting. It will have more freedom to moveforward with a broader sustainabledevelopment remit. The Land Reform Actcreates new opportunities for sustainableeconomic development, e.g. through use ofmineral rights and salmon fishing. There areother opportunities through the CommunityLand Unit, The Crofting CommunitiesDevelopment Programme and the review ofthe Crofting Buildings Loans and GrantsScheme - and it may be possible to do more withcroft land to provide affordable housing.

Agriculture will continue to be the anchor, with anemphasis on quality produce and local marketing.There are opportunities in developing public access,and securing environmental benefits, perhapsthrough land management contracts as part ofwider, more crofter-friendly agri-environmentalschemes, which currently less than 5 per cent ofcrofters can access.

There are four major challenges ahead:• To develop more grass-roots initiatives.• To encourage creative and innovative

approaches to land management.• To help ensure sustainable populations in

crofting areas.• To work in partnership to help secure

economic opportunities andincomes for crofting peopleand their communities.

Increasingly, people see croftingas a model for sustainable ruraldevelopment and a valuablemechanism for retainingpopulation in fragile rural areas,a view supported by recentresearch. I am confident thatcrofting will continue to changein ways that will benefit thosetwo great resources – our landand its people.

B ecky Shaw and Sarah Allen reviewedcurrent CAP support and outlined

proposed reforms.

Scotland currently receives £450 million inCAP subsidies per annum. 80 per cent ofthe total (Pillar 1) goes on productionsubsidies e.g. Suckler Cow Premium (SCP)and Slaughter Premium (SP). 20 per cent ofthe total - £88 million – subsidises ruraldevelopment (Pillar 2), e.g. Rural StewardshipScheme (RSS), the Less Favoured AreasSupport Scheme (LFASS). It has been claimedthat the 20 per cent for rural developmentbrings significant money into the Highlandsand Islands.

The Proposed ReformsThe Council of Ministers are due to decideon the reforms soon after the conference inSeptember 2003.

Surviving Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform

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

The main elements are likely to be:• Financial discipline: European

enlargement will spread existingpayments more thinly.

• Cross-compliance: Payment of subsidywill depend on meeting certain criteria- relating to the environment, public andanimal health, animal welfare.

• EU modulation: the transfer of apercentage of the funds in Pillar 1 toPillar 2. The first £3,300 of subsidy underPillar 1 schemes will not be modulated, sosmaller-scale producers, including mostcrofters, will not lose money.

• Decoupling of support: current subsidiesare linked to over-production. Thereforms will allow producers to step offthe treadmill of overstocking to keep upheadage payments. There will be a shiftto single income payments, based on2000-2 payments. These will be linked

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to the producer not to the land, theintention being that farmers and crofters

will respond to market drivers.Payments will be conditional onfarming to an agreed standard – the GoodAgricultural and EnvironmentalCondition. Producers entitled to adecoupled single income payment willbe able to trade their entitlements. It isexpected there will be big negative impactson marginal areas. There will be a nationalreserve fund for new entrants.

• National envelope: Scotland will havethe power to take 10 per cent of the Pillar 1subsidy of sheep or cattle and put it intorelated schemes (e.g. marketing,supporting production in fragile areas).This measure is intended to mitigatethe negative effects of decoupled support(£17 million will be available for abeef national envelope). The challengeis going to be to make sure a beefnational envelope is targetedeffectively.

There will be some flexibility. The ScottishExecutive Environment and Rural Affairs

Department (SEERAD) will be able to definethe criteria for cross-compliance in Scotland,the Good Agricultural and EnvironmentalCondition can be defined “locally”, and thedegree of decoupling is negotiable.

DiscussionParticipants felt that decoupling was likelyto have a negative impact in the Highlandsand Islands, but the national envelope shouldhave a positive impact on crofting (but wasnot likely to be available for infrastructure).It would be important to develop local brands,as Orkney had done. The shift fromsubsidising production to support for widerrural development including social andenvironmental values meant there shouldbe scope to argue for Pillar 2 money to bespent on communal action and townshipschemes. There was a need for the ScottishCrofting Foundation (SCF), the NationalFarmers Union of Scotland (NFUS), theHighland Council and others to formulatea Highlands and Islands position. TheHighlands and Islands were well placed toreceive continuing support, but would haveto work hard to make a case for it.

T here was ready agreement in theHousing workshop and on field visits

(to see the new houses being built in Stoer inAssynt) that housing was a major issue forcommunity landowners.

The availability of affordable housing is a keyfactor in encouraging young people to stayin their communities and in helping topersuade those who have left to return. Yetin many areas there is a shortage ofaffordable housing, particularly for youngpeople and key workers. In the short termat least there is very little land both suitablefor housing and available at prices which localpeople or housing associations can afford.

Community landowners may have a mix ofhousing on their land – private houses, crofthouses, rented Housing Association houses,or community-owned properties let to sittingtenants. Some community landowners (e.g.Eigg and Gigha) have acquired a highproportion of properties in poor conditionand in need of repairs or renovation.

Addressing the situationCommunity landowners have addressed thesituation in several ways:

• Renovating existing houses: The Isle ofEigg Heritage Trust (IEHT) created its ownconstruction company to carry out

Housing

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

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renovations, and accessed public fundingthat covered 75 per cent of the cost ofthe work.

• Acquiring land and building new houses:Eigg crofters gave land on which LochaberHousing Association (LHA) built fivehouses (with priority for the elderly). IEHTand LHA are trying to make plots availablefor £3,000 rather than at the marketvaluation of £15,000. In Assynt all butone of the 13 crofting townships haveagreed in principle to identify land forhousing. One site has been madeavailable to Albyn Housing Association for£1,000. In Harris, where the only availableland is croft land, the North Harris Trustapproaches crofters about house sites onbehalf of enquirers. On Islay help fromagencies including the Scottish Land Fund(SLF) and the Community Land Unit (CLU)was crucial in acquiring 18 hectares, forhousing, leisure facilities and crofting.CLU also helped the local housingassociation to buy two croft house sites.Six houses are to be built under acollective Rural Home Ownership Grant(RHOG) scheme in which the new ownerswill share planning and design costs.Melness Crofters Ltd have provided landfor 13 new houses, including four for localpeople, and five for people with localconnections. Six more houses are plannedfor young people wishing to return.

• Housing surveys: A housing survey onEigg, carried out before IEHT wasestablished, identified that most of thehouses on the island were Below TolerableStandard (BTS) and that many people livedin caravans. With the help of theHighlands Small Communities HousingTrust (HSCHT), Assynt also carried out asurvey to establish housing needs in theircommunity.

• Community planning: IEHT also carried outa community consultation on where newhouses should be built. As a result two areaswere identified. The exercise gave communitybacking to planning applications andproposals to zone the land for housing.

• New approaches in crofting communities:There is a need to explore the possibilitiesof using croft land to provide land forhousing for family members whileretaining it in crofting tenure; and oftaking land out of common grazings forhousing for members of croftingcommunities.

Difficulties encountered• There is a need for low-cost sites for

private housing, which will also generateincome for the community landowner.Local people, especially young people,cannot pay the prices asked for plots onthe open market which only secondhomers and retired incomers can afford.

• Making croft land available for housinginvolves negotiations with townships andrequires their co-operation.

• Even when land is made available, therecan be long delays (up to two years inAssynt) before agreements are reachedwith the Scottish EnvironmentalProtection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Water.

• There is a need to ensure that anaffordable plot or house is not lost to thecommunity if the owner tries to sell it onfor profit. Eigg and LHA have a paybackscheme. The policy of HSCHT is to haverights of pre-emption on plots and houses.In Assynt the new houses are housingassociation houses, to whichthe right to buy does notapply. (Only housingassociations that arerecognised Scottishcharitieshaveexemption from theright to buy.) A newAct, the Titles Conditions Scotland Act,(which comes into force in November 2004)will help with the imposition of conditionson the disposal of affordable housing.

• When the number of applicants exceedsthe number of new houses for rent, issuesarise about highest priority need andthere can be conflicts over the competingclaims of local people and incomers. Albynhas a Local Lettings Initiative that allowsthe community to decide on the categoriesof greatest housing need (e.g. young

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married people, the elderly, key workers,etc) before it selects tenants fromapplicants in these categories.

SolutionsIn conclusion, workshop members drew upa list of initiatives that would improve thehousing situation:• Using rights of pre-emption to protect

affordable housing.• Making more croft land available for

housing with the co-operation ofcrofters.

A llan Wilson stated that as communityland purchase was for the longer term,

it was vital to include the views of theyounger people within the community, asACT had done. The people of Assynt haddemonstrated, by holding workshopstargeted at young people, that they werelistening to the young people and had takentheir views into account.

It is also vital that young people appreciatethe important role they can play in ensuringthe success of community purchases, andthat they are given both support andopportunities to fulfil that role. They mustbe well informed about the issues on whichthey have to make personal choices, andmust understand how to influence thosewho take the decisions that affected them.

One form of support is Young Scot. YoungScot one of the most comprehensive andadvanced information services in Europe,which provides information in hard copy andelectronic form for all young people as wellas other benefits, such as:• The Young Scot card, which entitles

holders to discounts in thousands ofshops in Scotland and across Europe.

• A free, confidential 24 hour Legal Advice line.• An Action Fund to provide grants to

help young people turn ideas into action.

Supporting young people’s involvement

Allan Wilson, Deputy Ministerfor Environment and Rural Development

• Extending the Crofting Buildings Loansand Grants Scheme to new houses onnew crofts.

• Reducing or waiving VAT on therenovation of existing buildings.

• Sharing information amongst communitylandowners.

• Developing appropriate allocations andlettings policies.

• Lobbying for joined-up thinking onplanning and housing issues at strategic levels.

• Extending exemption from the right tobuy to all housing associations.

In the last two years, YoungScot.org, anational youth information portal, hasprovided:• Over 2,000 pages of high quality, accurate

information that is updated every day.• 17 information channels covering topics

ranging from benefits and volunteeringto health, relationships and education.

• A national and local on-line news service• Local information, produced by teams

of young people who write up informationon what is happening in their local area.

• UrSay Discussion Forums through whichyoung people can take part in on-linenational and local discussions, on aninformed basis, about topics relevant to them.

• A postcode search facility to allow youngpeople to search for local services in their area.

• Other features such as the Vote of the Day,entertainment and gossip.

The portal is part of the Dialogue YouthProject, a partnership between the ScottishExecutive, Young Scot, COSLA, localauthorities and their community planningpartners, and young people themselves. It isa major national initiative funded by theScottish Executive. Units are beingestablished in all local authorities acrossScotland. The project aims to:• Promote cross-departmental and joint

agency working.

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• Provide a focal point for engaging withyoung people at a local and nationallevel.

• Stimulate lifelong learning, youthmobility, community safety, healthylifestyles and enterprise education.

• Promote citizenship and socialinclusion by involving young peopleas full partners in the design anddelivery of services and facilities.

No other country has such an advanced andcomprehensive means of informing,educating, consulting and engaging with itsyoung people.

Active democracySociety needs its young people to engage inthe democratic processes on which so muchof its citizens’ lives depend. The buildingblocks of a structure for youth democracyare in place in Scotland e.g. local youthforums and youth councils in schools andwider communities and the Scottish YouthParliament, which is the only youth-led youthparliament in the world.

The Scottish Executive has been discussingwith the Scottish Youth Parliament thesupport it requires to strengthen and buildon its record of success. It is important thatit is able to engage fully in both rural andurban areas of the country and in all sectorsof our communities.

The Scottish Executive is committed tosupporting and enhancing all aspects of rurallife in Scotland, and recognises that theinvolvement, energy and enthusiasm ofyoung people are a crucial part of rural life,and integral to its success. Youth projects inAviemore, Orkney and Lochinver havebenefited from awards from the ScottishRural Partnership Fund, an annual,competitive fund that offers grant aid to ruralcommunities with innovative projects fortackling local problems or creating a widerrange of opportunities. In 2003-4 awardstotalled £2.8 million. One qualifying activityfor the Rural Challenge Fund in 2004-05 isproviding opportunities for young people.

Working together

John Watt, Highlands and Islands Enterprise

John Watt explained that support existedto help communities wishing to take land

into community ownership to overcomeobstacles and exploit opportunities.

In the three years of its existence (prior tothe conference in August 2003) the ScottishLand Fund (SLF) has approved nearly 120applications for assistance and over £9million in grant assistance. It has providedtechnical assistance at a pre-acquisitionstage in a third of all cases, but this accountsfor only about 1 per cent of the fund. 10 percent of the fund has been allocated to thepurchase of buildings; 10 per cent to post-acquisition development; 10 per cent todevelopment plots and amenity areas; and70 per cent to large multi-sectoral landmanagement projects, e.g. Knoydart, Gigha,Harris, Anagach, Bhaltos.

The Community Land Unit (CLU) works withcommunity landowners on a range of variedprojects with the aim of generating incomefrom assets: for example, land management(including game management) in Knoydartand Harris; renewable energy in Knoydart,Eigg, Stornoway and possibly Pairc and theUists; forestry in Abriachan, Anagach andLaggan; and housing – everywhere.

Tips for working together within communitiesinclude:• Agree a shared vision and action plan

(refresh this regularly).• Be open and democratic in decision-making.• Ensure boards are as representative as possible.• Maintain discipline in governance (it is

easy to slip into bad habits).• Maintain good communication with the

wider community and engage them

26

through newsletters, public meetings,AGMs, involving young people (as inAssynt), and encouraging attendance atboard meetings.

• Engage and value members, both localand others.

• Manage conflict - by listening, persuadingand using external assistance forconflict resolution.

• Record achievementsand tell people aboutthem – members, thecommunity, the press.

• Engage and exploit agencies.

When working with agencies, communitiesneed to:• Understand where agencies are

coming from - consider their agendaand the wider policy context; seek toinform their policy thinking.

• Take advantage of the creative tensionbetween top down and bottom up.Agencies need communities to delivertheir policies. The political tide is incommunities’ favour.

• Use CLU to the maximum: it has a widerange of powers to assist.

• Be clear about what the communitywants and seek agency help.

• Try not to be suspicious of agencies.

There are good examples of communitylandowners working with partnerorganisations which are represented on theirboards: for example, with agencies (TheHighland Council in Knoydart and on Eigg,Highlands and Islands Enterprise on Gigha);with environmental NGOs, (the John MuirTrust in Knoydart and Harris, Scottish WildlifeTrust on Eigg); and with the private sector(in North Harris).

With Community Planning prominent,agencies are keen to support community-based local development, for example:• Communities Scotland - housing &

regeneration, e.g. Gigha, Knoydart, Eigg.• Crofters Commission - Islay & Colonsay.• Forestry Commission - Anagach &

Abriachan.• Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) –

environment led development- Abriachan, Knoydart, Harris.

• Local Enterprise Companies.• Local authorities.

Engage with the Community Planningprocess.

Working together between communitiesThere is now a growing movement ofcommunity landowners and considerableaccumulated experience. HIE has assistedgroups to exchange experience. For example,Gigha talked to Eigg; Harris to Assynt, Bhaltosand Knoydart; Anagach to Abriachan. HIE hadalso funded get-togethers, e.g. as at thisconference in Assynt, and on Eigg, and trainingsessions in Inverness and Abriachan. It alsohelped with the three volumes of case studiespublished by the Not-for-Profit LandownersProject Group. There needs to be more of this.

Some kind of formal working together isimportant. This will grow organically when:• There is a critical mass of members.• It is needed and people want it.• Members have the capacity to contribute.• There is a clear agreed purpose (e.g.

lobbying, exchange of information andgood practice, training, other services).

• It is not being provided elsewhere.• It can be sustained without external

subsidy.Is electronic communication a solution?

In conclusion:• There has been huge progress in the

last ten years.• Working together is fundamental to

the process.• Communities need to continue the

move forward: e.g. Bill Ritchie’s ideasfor newer and bigger communities onstate-owned land.

• Communities must be clear aboutwhat they want and be ambitious.

• They must use all the resources madeavailable by agencies. Communitiesshould aim to drive the agencies, andnot be driven by them.

• Communities should learn from eachother – they are rich in experience.

There is now a growingmovement of communitylandowners with considerableaccumulated experience.

27

I n her presentation Camille Dresslerargued that community landowners

needed to form a network to help themmeet the challenges of communitylandownership, sustain the momentum,and take advantage of the opportunitiesavailable at a time when there was growingsupport for the social e c o n o m y. Anet work would a l low communities toexchange information, skills andexperience as well as support each other inencouraging active communityinvolvement and understanding ofcommunity development and the socialeconomy.

Background to the CLAN proposalThe idea of a networking organisation forcommunity landownership initiativesemerged at the Eigg Community Forum onLand Reform in June 2000. The aim of theconference was to reach a consensus onwhat community groups really wanted outof land reform and to inform the policymakers. The following aims for the networkwere identified:• To promote solidarity, and build mutual

support between community land groups.• To empower and build the capacity of

communities which have responsibilityfortheir land and their future.

• To help remove the land-based barriersto the sustainable development of ruralcommunities.

The Community Land Action Group (CLAG),was formed on a voluntary basis, and setup in September 2000 a prototype websitewith an e-discussion group. Throughfeedback from its e-group, CLAG was ableto take part in the last stages of theconsultation process for the Land ReformBil l . A year later an accord for aCommunity Land Action Network (CLAN)was circulated and adopted by 12community groups.

The CLAN accord lists the following aims,objectives and benefits:

Aims• Tohelp communities achieve their goals

of sustainability, regeneration, socialinclusion and healthier economies.

• To build self-confidence, understanding of thedemocratic process, andparticipation in local democracy.

• To ensure that communities’ needs andaspirations influence mainstreampolicies and services.

Objectives• To set up a self-help ICT network

of community ownership initiatives (CLANinfo website).

• To set up a database of communityownership initiatives to be used asreference, template and idea bank(community pages).

• To facilitate exchange of ideas andairing of views (discussion group).

Organising for change - a proposal for a Community LandAction Network (CLAN)

Camille Dressler, CLAN

28

DiscussionIn workshop discussion it was agreed thatthere was a need to strengthen communitylandowners’ capacity building and that anetwork had huge potential to contribute.It could help with training and provideaccess to new ideas. However CLU wascurrently providing new communitylandowners with substantial help in theseareas.

It was suggested that the principles forsetting up a network were essentially thesame as those for developing a communityinitiative: build from the grass roots, andstart from the needs of members. It wasalso suggested that, initially, a series ofannual meetings of community landownersat different venues was more useful thana website alone as a networking tool:people needed to come together and getto know each other for a website to besustained and used to best advantage.Community woodland groups had takentwo to three years to get to know eachother before they began to network. Suchmeetings helped to formulate theobjectives. In setting up a network it wouldbe important to start small, on a scale thatpeople knew they could manage, to letthose involved sell the benefits by word ofmouth, and to be very clear about thespecific aims.

• To offer guidance and advice toincrease understanding and knowledgeof organisational, communication andmedia skills (tool kit, useful links, eventbulletin).

• To provide regular info-digests(newsletter).

• To provide networking opportunities(yearly forum).

Benefits to members• Rapid access to useful and targeted

information.• Regular update on what’s going on in

community development and thesocial economy.

• Access to first stop legal advice,participative methodology, facilitators.

• Training for community activists.• Having an opportunity to make their

voice heard.• Effective networking, exchange visits.

At the Abriachan community conferencein December 2002 a broad consensusemerged that CLAN should be set up asan independent self-help network. In May2003 Camille Dressler obtained a Level 1award from Scotland Unlimited to takeCLAN forward.

Those attending the Fling in the Fankconference were invited to help makeCLAN what they wanted it to be.

29

Angling is very important for tourismin Assynt and has an important role

to play in the survival of the Post Office,shops and B&Bs. The wild brown trout andsea trout fishing impressed visitors as farback as the middle of the 19th century. Thelochs still provide very good fishing, so lochfishing seems to be sustainable.

However, the sea trout fishing collapsedcountrywide during the1960s. Back thenmembers of AssyntAngling Club - allvolunteers - took on thedifficult task of trying to improve thesea trout fishing in the Manse System, andduring the 1970s a weir and fish pass wereconstructed to create a new loch at theoutflow from the system into the sea. Thisweir was built with the best of intentions butunfortunately contributed further to thecollapse of the sea trout fishings. Fewer fishthan ever entered the system, partly becauseof the inadequate design of the fish pass,and partly because of the continuing declineof sea trout countrywide. After winning theland ACT made alterations to the fishpass, to allow better access formigratory fish. These have beensuccessful, with several hundredadult sea trout now returning eachyear through a trap, where they aretagged before being released intothe system.

Over a four-year period ACT carriedout a re-stocking programme of theManse System, with advice andassistance from the West ofSutherland Fisheries Trust, and withthe blessing of the North and WestDistrict Salmon Fisheries Board.200,000 unfed sea trout fry,

obtained from hatcheries at the SeafieldCentre, Loch Kishorn in Wester Ross, werereleased into the headwaters during thisperiod. During the year 2002, over 1,000 sea-going smolts were caught in the trap, andtagged before being released into the sea.That year, the return rate of tagged fish tothe system was 33 per cent. (The nationalaverage return rate is estimated at 10-12 per

cent.) At the Manse System, ACTvolunteers are also engaged, in

association with theUniversity of St Andrews,in a very important

international experiment tocontrol sea lice infestations on sea trout.

Angling provides ACT with a very welcomesource of core income, in the region of £4,000each year, and has the potential to generateconsiderably more income in the future.Visitors can fish any of 200 lochs for £5 aday. Permits and boat hire are sold by the localPost Offices, Assynt Visitor Centre, CruachanGuest House and other volunteers.

Developing fishing and wildlife tourism

AnglingField trip led by Cathel MacLeod, Iain MacLeod,

Calum Millar and Mark Mackenzie

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W ildlife (or eco/nature) tourism is thefastest growing sector of the fastest

growing industry in the world. People livingin urban environments need to reconnectwith nature. Scotland can offer puffins, seals,golden eagles, peregrine falcons, dolphins,otter, red deer, wildcats, buzzards and osprey- all of interest to a great number of people.There is a lot of diversity and internationallyimportant breeding populations of goldeneagles, seals and seabirds.

Peter Cairns described four case studies ofrelevance to community landowners:• Loch Garten Osprey Centre has had over

two million visitors, since it opened in1954. RSPB has invested £250,000 in anew visitor centre, recognising that thepeople who visit the osprey centre are notbirdwatchers, but tourists. No ospreysnested there in 2003, but visitor numberswent up to 37,000 in six months.

• Speyside Wildlife Pine Marten hide: afterfeeding pine martens for a year or so, theowners of the hide realised there was amarket and built (with grant aid) acomfortable, purpose-built hide for 20people at £15 each per night.

• Gigrin Farm Red Kites Centre, a 200 acreupland sheep farm in Rhayader in Wales,attracts 70,000 visitors a year to its threehides, shop, camp site, self cateringaccommodation, guided activities, dayexcursions, etc. Rhayader and thesurrounding area is now known asKite Country with localbusinesses benefitingfrom the farm’s activities.

• Norway: a small farmerin the west of Norwaydecided to takeadvantage of a (free)local resource, which alsohappened to be a passionof his - sea eagles. Henow has four hides,for which he charges £90

per day. His community has establisheda wildlife tourism visitor centre. He andother local business people havere-invented their village to providecommunity benefit.

Not all projects require major financialinvestment - often time and imagination aremore important. Many local communities donot realise what they have to offer – becauseit is so familiar to them. Scotland hasenormous potential, but the packaging andpresentation of the product must be verygood. If a community is to benefit, it has towork together to offer a good quality service.Marketing also has to be of a high standard,using high quality photography - goodpictures sell.

Projects can be as simple as setting up a birdfeeding station outside the dining roomwindow of the local hotel or B&B. They couldprogress to the provision of nest boxes,artificial floating platforms for divers orfeeding stations for birds or otters. It is alldown to imagination and innovation.

For further information, go towww.greentourism.org.uk (for generalinformation, case studies, research, latestdevelopments, events, etc.)See also www.speysidewildlife.co.uk,www.gigrin.co.uk, www.AAospreys.org.uk.

Wildlife Tourism

Workshop led by Peter Cairns, Northshots

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The native woodlands of Achmelvich andTorbreck have been part of the crofting

landscape for generations - used forfirewood, shelter for livestock and as a sourceof hazel for creels. These semi-naturalancient woodlands, together with the 800hectares of new crofter forestry schemes,mean that 10 per cent of the North Assyntestate (perhaps a fifth of the area, if thelochans are excluded) is under trees. Thatmay be the maximum amount of woodland,given the need to retain land for grazing.

The woods bring great aesthetic benefits,attracting tourists and enhancing the fishing.

Forestry

Crofter forestry in AssyntField trip led by Bill Ritchie and David MacPhail

The big fences also help to manage the deeron the estate.

Participants discussed at length how croftingintegrated all the different forms of land use.They agreed there was a need to campaignstrongly for CAP reforms that would supportsuch integrated land use, particularly thebeneficial interactions between cattle andwoodlands. Crofter forestry had also broughtsignificant socio-economic benefits to Assyntincluding a sustainable local tree-plantingbusiness. Bill Ritchie described the woods as“a gift to the next generation”, who could usethem as they saw fit.

Culag Community Woodland Trust Field trip led by Claire Belshaw, Secretary

and Robin Noble, Project Officer

C ulag Community Woodland Trust(CCWT) was originally created because

of concern in the early 1990s over windthrowdamage to the Culag Wood following thedevelopment of the harbour. A companylimited by guarantee with charitable statuswas created with support from AssyntCommunity Council, and the Culag Woodarea was secured on a long lease from thelocal estate. A great deal of hard workfollowed to reinstate old path networks,provide access points and train volunteersin chain saw use and other relevant skills. In2000 the Little Assynt Estate, two thirds ofwhich had recently been planted with nativedeciduous species, came on the market.CCWT made a successful bid for this ground,which extends to 1100 hectares, and sobecame “community landowners”. Followingwide local consultation varied plans for thisground were agreed and funding wassecured for a project officer post (jobshare)for three years. Current activities includebuilding an all-abilities path at Little Assynt,

an allotment scheme, a community orchardand work to improve access from the road.

The field trip was limited to a whirlwind tourafter dropping off the other groups on theway. It included a visit to CCWT’s brand-newoffice in Lochinver, the purchase of which wasfunded by the Scottish Land Fund and theCommunity Land Unit. It is partly an officefor CCWT’s two project officers and partly acommunity room with four computers forinternet access. There was also a brief lookat the 36-hectare Culag Wood on theedge of Lochinver.

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Over the last 10 years the Trust has not onlyimproved the network of paths through thismature mixed wood but has also set up anumber of trails, “Orientreeing” and “All theTime in the World”. It is a gorgeous place tohide from the weather and has a differentsort of feel around each corner. There is the

Chris Perkins outlined the Forestry andRural Development Scheme (FRDS), a

partnership project administered byHighland Birchwoods, with the ForestryCommission, Scottish Natural Heritage,Highlands and Islands Enterprise, TheHighland Council and the CroftersCommission as partners.

FRDS has a budget of £2.9 million over thenext three years, with a dedicated £520,000package for community groups. FRDS isavailable only for the management ofexisting woodland and forestry, and isdesigned to improve the local forest resourceand help to develop social, economic andenvironmental capital in order to contributeto the local economy.

Theme Three of the scheme is aimed atcommunity-managed woodlands andcrofting townships. It pays up to 100 percent of actual costs for community-basedforestry-related developments.

The aim of the community-based elementof the scheme is to help communitiesachieve greater social, economic andenvironmental benefits by participating inforestry. It covers wider operations thanthose covered by the Scottish Forestry GrantScheme (SFGS) administered by the ForestryCommission Scotland. The scheme takes aflexible approach to funding and suppliedpublic match funding for operations as partof the £520,000 package.

Eligible applicants for the communityelement of FRDS are communities with an

most wonderful bog in the middlesurrounded by mature trees. If this wasCanada brown bears would be living in thewood. The latest project is a play area forthe under 5s with a woven willow igloo anda tepee about to go up.

interest in woodland management, includingnon-profit-distributing woodland groups,crofting townships/grazings committees, andother constituted local communityorganisations.

Applications should be made for assistancewith the total cost of projects. A mixture ofEuropean Agricultural Guarantee andGuidelines Fund (EAGGF), ForestryCommission SFGS, LEC and SNH funds willmake up the total project value. Applicantsshould discuss applications with Chris Perkinsbefore submission, and the application mustbe for an element of work entirely funded byFRDS. The maximum sum for each applicationwould be £25,000 EAGGF funds with matchfunding from the other budgets in theScheme.

Applications will be processed first by theFRDS Scheme Co-ordinator to ensure thatthey are eligible, and then scrutinised by aTheme Advisory Group (TAG) made up oforganisations with an interest in communitywoodlands.

Discussion focused on the applicationprocedure in more detail, questions onparticular projects and the eligibility ofparticular woodland operations.

For further details, contact Chris Perkins,FRDS Scheme Co-ordinator at HighlandBirchwoods (01463) 811611 or emailchris.perkins@highlandbirchwoods.co.uk

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

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W ithin a year of the crofters takingpossession of the Assynt Estate, an

application for assistance with the cost of afeasibility study into the prospects for hydro-electric generation had been approved byCaithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE).While this study was in its infancy, Ian Lang,then Secretary of State for Scotland,announced the first Scottish RenewablesObligation (SRO1). The proposed feasibilitystudy was transformed into an applicationwithin the SRO process, which attractedalmost 200 expressions of interest. ACT wasawarded one of the 40 contracts thatresulted from this process and is contractedto deliver up to 220kW into the grid for aperiod of 15 years. A substantial granttowards the capital cost of the project wassecured from the Highlands & IslandsPartnership under the provisions of theEuropean Regional Development FundingProgramme.

Discussions began with Scottish NaturalHeritage when it soon became evident thatthe original design proposals to utilise thestorage capacity of Loch Poll alone would notbe acceptable to them. This was principallydue to their concern for the well-being of apair of black-throated divers (a protectedspecies). The significant variation in lochlevel, envisaged under the original designproposals, was considered to be detrimentalto the breeding prospect of these birds. Thiscreated years of struggle for the Trust untilthe intervention of the Minister for theEnvironment at the Scottish Office broughtabout a successful outcome.

ACT has formed a partnership with HighlandLight and Power Ltd (HLP) that will endurefor the period of the SRO contract. The twoparties have jointly subscribed share capitalto Assynt Hydro Ltd, a wholly ownedsubsidiary of ACT, which was charged withthe responsibility of designing, building and

operating the plant. Project funding alsoinvolved substantial borrowings fromTriodos Bank.

The cost of environmental protection workdramatically exceeded original estimates. Toensure the continued viability of the project,the mechanical and electrical equipment wasprocured from the Czech Republic andCroatia, resulting in substantial savings in thecapital cost of the project. However, projectedoutput and revenue havediminished, as the importedmachinery is less efficientthan the UK manufacturedequipment originallyproposed.

The plant was commissionedin September 2000 but sincethen there has been aprogressive annual reductionin rainfall. Output in 2002 was 56.9 per centof target and it is anticipated on currentperformance thatoutput in 2003will be similar.N e v e r t h e l e s s ,repayment of thebank loan remainson target at approximately £1,600 per monthand it is hoped that the loan will be entirelyextinguished within the originally agreedperiod of 10 years. At maximum output,current revenue amounts to approx. £1,500per week. On expiry of the contract betweenACT and HLP it has been agreed that therewill be an equal distribution of any capitalbalance remaining after necessary plantrefurbishment has been paid for. It is hopedthat there will be a capital sum in excess of£100,000 remaining for distribution and thatthe entire facility, free of debt, will be whollyowned by ACT. The life of the plant is expectedto be in excess of 50 years.

Renewable Energy

Assynt Hydro SchemeField trip led by John MacKenzie

ACT is contracted to deliver upto 220kW into the grid over aperiod of 15 years.

34

Jon Priddy explained that in the Highlandsand Islands, HIE’s Community Energy

Unit (CEU) implemented the ScottishCommunities and Household RenewableEnergy Initiative (SCHRI), which wasfunded by the Scottish Executive. It has ateam of five officers who cover theHighlands and Islands.

CEU aims to assistcommunity groups tomake as much use aspossible of renewableenergy in runningfacilities, so reducingtheir energy costs. CEUdoes not get involved inlarge wind-farmprojects. Instead ittargets its support oncommunity-owned orcommunity-managedprojects such as leisurefacilities (for example,

swimming pools), community halls, officesused by community organisations, schools(Scoraig Primary School recently receivedfunding for a replacement wind turbine) andalso smaller scale projects such as mini-hydro in the grounds of Lews Castle.

CEU will assist projects using any renewabletechnology, or a mix of differenttechnologies, which will result in a reductionof greenhouse emissions compared with theuse of fossil fuels.

There are two streams in the fundingprovision for communities:• Technical assistance, which can fund

feasibility studies up to a maximum of£10,000.

• Capital assistance for projects up to amaximum of £100,000. CEU normallyprovides 40-60 per cent of total

Options for communitiesWorkshop led by Iain Maciver, Stornoway Trust

and Jon Priddy, Community Energy Unit

funding, but it can provide 100per cent funding in very exceptional cases.CEU is able to point applicants to possiblesources of match funding.

To be eligible for assistance under the SCHRI,an applicant must be a constitutedcommunity group with open membershipand demonstrable support, which exists todeliver benefits to the community.

There is a variety of possible arrangementsand partnerships for community groups toconsider. Under the 1976 Act a croftinggroup and the landowner are each entitledto a 50 per cent share of revenues, whichmight be in the region of £4,000 permegawatt generated.

CEU is working with other organisations onguidance to communities on the benefitsthey might receive from local commercialrenewable energy projects. This issue islargely unresolved in this country, in contrastwith European countries where communitiesmay have an equity share or outrightownership of one or two turbines.

For further information contact Eric Dodd,CEU Manager on 01463 667271.

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T he Taigh Chearsabhagh Trust wasestablished as a charitable trust in 1994

and Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and ArtsCentre opened in 1995. The Trust incorporatestwo bodies - the Comann Eachdraidh Uibhist aTuath (North Uist Historical Society) and theUist Arts Association.

Needing space for collections and exhibitions,the directors of the trust identified a derelict17th century Grade Two listed building closeto the ferry terminal in Lochmaddyand sought funding to transformit. Extended in 2001, the buildingnow consists of a museum, twogalleries, a studio, a 45-seatcafé, a print workshopdarkroom, a research area,office and storage space.

In Taigh Chearsabhagh there is ashop which is the trading arm ofthe Taigh Chearsabhagh Trust. Theshop includes the Post Office, which moved tothe building in 2002. The profit made by thetrading company is covenanted back to theTaigh Chearsabhagh Trust.

The focus of the workshop discussion was howTaigh Chearsabhagh was run. The ArtsAssociation is responsible for the arts side witha planning and funding group making decisionson the arts programme for the year with thehelp of the arts officer. The Historical Societydecides on its programme for the year with helpfrom the dedicated museums officer. TaighChearsabhagh has been a revenue client of theScottish Arts Council for the last year. Prior tothis it relied on project funding. It also receivesrevenue funding from the Western Isles Council,and applies to charitable trusts for part of itsproject funding.

Norman MacLeod writes: When TaighChearsabhagh was asked to be involved in theFling in the Fank it was considered quite anhonour, for we had heard so much over the

Building on cultural resources

Workshop led by Norman MacLeod and Iain MacDonaldof Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre

years regarding the Assynt buy-out. It was alsoan opportunity to have a look at how acommunity has changed over these last 10 yearsand to learn from them.

On arriving in Stoer I took the camping option(something that I have not done in years) andthoroughly enjoyed the experience. It wasbreathtaking sitting on the beach watching thesun slowly sinking into the Atlantic.

Although the participants in theworkshop were few in number,there was plenty of quality, withdiscussion of the importance of artand heritage, the possibility of asimilar centre in Assynt, and thechallenges of such a venture. Thetalk was kept very informal withparticipants encouraged to askquestions.

Assynt would be a good locationfor a centre such as Taigh Chearsabhagh to giveit a focal point and a sense of history, as you arecreating your own history. It does not have tobe anything big or fancy - only a living, breathingbuilding. When speaking to local people thegeneral feeling I got was that possibly new bloodwas needed in Assynt because there seemed tobe a feeling of “burn out” with the communityhaving to work so hard to survive. There is afeeling of the importance of art and heritagebut this would be a new project and who wouldprogress the project? Hopefully the Fling willencourage young people to return or new peopleto relocate.

Assynt is a fantastic place. It has been about 20years since my last visit, but it most certainlywill not be another 20 years before my return.In fact it will be Easter time.

For further information about the TaighChearsabhagh Trust and its activities, contactNorman MacLeod on 01876 500293 or by email:Norman@taigh-chearsabhagh.org

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Thursday 28th August

9.30 am Introduction and Welcome Kenny MacKenzie 9.40 am The Last Ten Years John MacKenzie, ACT 9.55 am Strategic Action on Landownership Bill Ritchie, ACT10.10 am The Last Ten Years

and the Next Ten Years ACT under 30s10.25 am Embarking on a Buy-out David Cameron, North Harris10.40 am Looking to the Future Maggie Fyffe, Eigg10.55 am Organising for Change Camille Dressler, CLAN11.10 am Question and Answer Session11.40 am Workshops2.30 pm Field trips7.00 pm Thursday Ceilidh House Kenny John Matheson & Friends

Friday 29th August

9.30 am Introduction and Welcome Simon Fraser 9.40 am Current Legislation Allan Wilson,

Deputy Minister for Environmentand Rural Development

10.00 am Working Together John Watt, HIE10.20 am Crofting in the 21st Century David Green, Crofters Commission10.40 am The Long Haul Kenny Maciver, Stornoway Trust11.00 am Question and Answer Session11.30 am Workshops2.30 pm Field Trips8.00 pm Ceilidh Blue Ridge and Peat Bog Faeries

Saturday 30th August

10.00 am Introduction and Welcome Graeme Scott10.10 am Moving Forward Simon Fraser and Andy Wightman10.25 am Group work: create display summarising

key ideas from workshops and field trips11.30 am Ideas Market Place12.30 pm Key Issues for the Future Andy Wightman2.00 pm North Assynt Feis7.30 pm ACT 10th Anniversary Ceilidh Graeme Mitchell Scottish Dance

Band, Ishbel MacAskill, Ian MacKayand others

Appendix One: Conference programme

37

Field trips LeadersCrofter Forestry David MacPhail and Bill RitchieFishing, Game and Tourism Cathel MacLeod, Iain MacLeod, Calum Millar & Mark

MacKenzieHousing and Community Facilities Sarah Macleod, Laura Maclean, Kenny Mackenzie &

Durrant MacLeodRenewable Energy John MackenzieCulag Wood Claire Belshaw and Robin Noble

Workshops LeadersOrganising for Change Camille Dressler, Community Land Action NetworkSurviving CAP Reform Becky Shaw, Scottish Crofting Foundation and Sarah

Allan, The Highland CouncilRural Housing Maggie Fyffe, Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, Wilma

Robertson, Melness Crofters Ltd & John Toal, CroftersCommission

Building on Cultural Resources Norman Macleod and Iain MacDonald, TaighChearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre

Crofting Community Right to Buy Andrew Anderson, Community Land Unit and BobPerrett, Scottish Executive

Forestry and Rural DevelopmentScheme Chris Perkins, Highland BirchwoodsTaking Control of Your Land David Cameron, North Harris Trust and Sandra Holmes

Community Land UnitThe Crofting Reform Bill Alastair Maciver, Scottish Crofting Foundation and John

Toal, Crofters CommissionRenewable Energy: Options forCommunities Iain Maciver, Stornoway Trust & Jon Priddy, Community

Energy UnitSustainable Development Amanda Bryan, Aigas AssociatesThe Community Right to Buy Catherine Francis, Community Land Unit and Richard

Frew, Scottish Executive

Wildlife Tourism Development Peter Cairns, NorthshotsDi Alexander The Highlands Small Communities Housing TrustSarah Allen The Highland CouncilAndy Anderson Community Land UnitJohn Bannister Scottish Crofting Foundation - Skye & LochalshClaire Belshaw Culag Community Woodland TrustMaurice Black Erisort TrustMark Brennan Crofting Community Development SchemeAmanda Bryan Aigas AssociatesSimon Byron Scottish Crofting FoundationPeter Cairns North Shots

Appendix Two: List of workshops and field trips

Appendix Three: Participants

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David Cameron North Harris TrustAlasdair Campbell West Highland Free PressDiane Campbell Culag Community Woodland TrustGeorge Campbell RSPB ScotlandLucas Chapman Community Land UnitBob Cook Assynt Crofters’ TrustRobin Currie Crofters CommissionSandy Dear Visit ScotlandCamille Dressler Community Land Action NetworkRon Duncan Scottish Agricultural CollegeAnne Edwards Assynt Crofters’ TrustHenry Fosbrooke Woodland OrchestraCatherine Francis Community Land UnitSimon Fraser Assynt Crofters’ TrustRichard Frew Scottish ExecutiveMaggie Fyffe Isle of Eigg Heritage TrustRomany Garnett Culag Community Woodland TrustMunro Gauld Community Land UnitRob Gibson MSPKenny Graham RSPB ScotlandNeil Graham Stornoway TrustColin Gray Scottish ExecutiveDavid Green Crofters CommissionBrian Greene Community Land Action NetworkMandy Haggith Achmelvich, North AssyntSam Harcus Westray & Papay Development TrustsSandra Hogg Scottish Council for Voluntary OrganisationsSandra Holmes Community Land UnitRoddie Kerr Clashnessie GrazingJohn MacAskill The Arkleton Centre for Rural Development,

Aberdeen UniversityAnne MacCrimmon Assynt Crofters’ TrustIain Macdonald Taigh ChearsabhaghAlastair Maciver Scottish Crofting FoundationIain Maciver Stornoway TrustKenneth Maciver Stornoway TrustDonnie Munro Community Land UnitKenny MacKay Erisort TrustKirsteen MacKay Melness Crofters EstateAlastair MacKenzie Laide & Aultbea Community WoodlandsAndrew Mackenzie Assynt Crofters’ Trust under 30sJohn Mackenzie Assynt Crofters’ TrustKenny Mackenzie Assynt Crofters’ TrustMark Mackenzie Assynt Crofters’ TrustFiona Mackenzie The Arkleton Centre for Rural Development,

Aberdeen UniversityMorag Mackenzie Balchladich TownshipLaura Maclean Assynt Crofters’ Trust under 30sRuairidh MacLennan Strutt & ParkerAlister MacLeod North Harris TrustCathel MacLeod Assynt Crofters’ TrustDonald MacLeod Assynt Crofters’ Trust

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Donald MacLeod Kylesku Crofters TrustDurrant Macleod Assynt Crofters’ TrustIain Macleod Assynt Crofters’ TrustJanice MacLeod Assynt Crofters’ Trust Croft AdministratorNorman Macleod Taigh ChearsabhaghRodney MacLeod Kylesku Crofters TrustSarah Macleod Assynt Crofters’ Trust under 30sIssie MacPhail Assynt Crofters’ TrustMadeline MacPhail Clashmore TownshipPat MacPhail Clashmore TownshipDavid MacPhail Assynt Crofters’ TrustAllan MacRae Assynt Crofters’ TrustSteve McCombe North Harris TrustAnna McConnell Caithness and Sutherland EnterpriseNuala McKay Community Land UnitDiane McPherson North Uist Community CouncilCaroline Middleton Laide and Aultbea Community Woodland GroupCalum Millar Assynt Crofters’ TrustJeremy Money Anagach Woods TrustSandy Murray Caithness and Sutherland EnterpriseGraham Newport North Highland Forest TrustsRobin Noble Culag Community Woodland TrustCharles O’Neill AchnacarninAdam Pellant Culag Community Woodland TrustChris Perkins Highland BirchwoodsBob Perret Scottish ExecutiveJon Priddy Community Energy UnitShane Rankin Crofters CommissionDavid Reid Conference ReporterBill Ritchie Assynt Crofters’ TrustWilma Robertson Melness Crofters EstateUisdean Robertson North Uist Community CouncilNeil Ross Community Land UnitAlex Scott Scottish Natural HeritageEleanor Scott MSPGraeme Scott Assynt Crofters’ TrustBecky Shaw Scottish Crofting FoundationDavid Shaw Gualin, DurnessIan Smith Economics Dept, University of Newcastle upon TyneJohn Toal Crofters CommissionIlona Traut Community Land UnitHelen Turnbull Network 21Piers Voysey Anagach Woods TrustBruce Wares Scottish Council for Voluntary OrganisationsJohn Watt Community Land UnitAndy Wightman Caledonia Centre for Social Development

Land ProgrammeAllan Wilson Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural

Development

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