64% of young Uibhisteachs want crofts kept for islanders
Fiona MacVicar
The Crofting Commission 2022 annual report sets out a stark reality for crofting: there are now more crofters over the age of 80 than there are under the age of 40.
Of the 16,527 crofters registered in Scotland, only 16 are under the age of 21 and only 1,292 are under the age of 40, a figure that appears to be reducing year by year.
These changing demographics have led many to question how crofting can continue without a new generation of young croft entrants.
This theme has been picked up by Sgoil Lionacleit pupil and North Uist Community Council member Zara Wilkie, who recently carried out a survey of her fellow pupils’ attitudes to croft availability.
Zara spoke to 30 pupils about a range of croft-related issues including the controversial question of crofts being sold outwith the islands.
A quarter of respondents were personally involved in crofting and 44% had family involvement. While some had no particular preference to favouring islanders in croft assignations, others held strong viewpoints.
The clear majority view (64%) was that that those living on the islands should be given priority when it comes to crofts sales, with only 9% of respondents supporting the counter case.
When it came to land being sold off-island, one respondent concluded: “I do not particularly like the idea as it is taking land from the people on the islands, who could actually use them. Crofts can be purchased by others who barely use them or for holiday homes. Crofting is a massive part of the community of Uist.”
Kate MacCorquodale from Sollas is 16 years old and has recently left school:“My family have been working our crofts for the past hundred and twenty years. I have lived on a croft all my life and since a very young age have been actively involved in all crofting activities. Now that I have left school and have a part time job, I can be more involved in the day to day running of our crofts. I acknowledge how fortunate I am and I fully appreciate the challenges faced by people who wish to pursue the same lifestyle but have no inroads to accessing crofts or the years of knowledge and experience I have acquired since a young child. My aim for the future will be to have my own croft and stock and live my life as a crofter.”
Many respondents identified un-used crofts as a big issue in their area, adding ‘people do not need to look further than their own townships’ to see the impact. Contributing factors for under-use included crofters living away from their croft and crofters retaining the land as a valuable financial asset.
Concerns were also raised about the lack of availability of crofts for new entrants.
North Uist Estate Factor Christine MacLeod told Am Pàipear that their hands were tied when it came to croft assignation decisions:
“The estate is extremely supportive of any measures that can be implemented to try and keep island crofts available for local, young people to work and reside on. At present, there is no available legislation, leaving our hands tied while croft tenancies are sold at inflated prices. It is almost impossible for young local residents to access a croft and furthermore, crofts are left to lie fallow and unworked.
“We would welcome working with local councillors, crofting bodies and those with an interest to find a progressive path forward.”
Stòras Uibhist has said it is now taking an assertive approach to vacant crofts and is actively asking for those who are not using their crofts to consider offering them back to the community so that a local person on the waiting list can take the land on.
Stòras says it has ‘dozens’ of names on the waiting list and are continually being contacted by people looking to take on a croft.
Eilidh MacDonald, Crofting Administrator at Stòras Uibhist, stated:
“We know there are a lot of people in our community, especially younger people, looking to get a croft tenancy and become actively involved in the crofting community. Stòras Uibhist is keen to work with the Crofting Commission to identify available crofts that are not in use and ensure that these are made available to local people to encourage crofting activity.
“We’re also interested in talking to crofters who might be ready to assign their croft to the next generation but who, perhaps, are unsure of the process. We are not looking for crofts to turn into housing plots and this isn’t about making money; it’s about crofts being worked and an active crofting community across the estate.
“We would also be keen to talk to township clerks who might be able to help us in this project.”
Two young crofters who were fortunate in obtaining a lease to continue their passion for crofting were brother and sister Archie and Bethan MacLellan of Balranald, North Uist. Over a year ago, while Archie was just 16 years old and leaving school, he and his sister Bethan procured the lease of the then under utilised Scolpaig Farm.
Their mother, Anne MacLellan, said: “The lease of Scolpaig Farm has provided Archie a great opportunity to work a large area of ground, approximately 600 acres, and to acquire his own flock of Swaledale sheep. The arable land is very productive, having not been cultivated for over 40 years. Crofting and farming is his passion and he can’t imagine himself doing anything else.”
Archie is a prime example of a young, new entrant, who wants to continue in his family’s footsteps and maintain the crofting culture of the islands.
