what
is Crofting?
THE
CROFTERS COMMISSION IS THE GOVERNING
BODY OF SCOTTISH CROFTING. THEIR DESCRIPTION
OF CROFTING IS AS FOLLOWS:
Crofting
is a prominent feature of rural parts
of the Highlands & Islands, its
rich history balanced by its promising
future. It is about land use, people
and the retention of a unique social,
cultural and agricultural heritage.
The
present day Crofters Commission was
set up in 1955, and the current Crofters
(Scotland) Act 1993 tasks the Commission
with overseeing crofting legislation
and developing crofting. It is also
the Commission’s role to ensure
that, through the Scottish Ministers,
the Government is aware of all crofting
related issues.
In
recent years, the role of the crofters
Commission has been re-focused on facilitating
croft development. Developing crofting
communities is fundamentally about responding
to needs and opportunities at grass
root level. It is about responding to
the ideas and ambitions of those who
live in crofting communities, work croft
land or want to work croft land.
Crofting communities are increasingly
looking to reorganise croft land, create
new crofts and, in many cases, utilise
the land available to the good of the
wider community also. The Commission
encourages the development of croft
land and facilitates this by effective
regulation in line with the Crofters
(Scotland) Act 1993.
Communities
throughout the crofting counties are
being encouraged and assisted to plan
for the future by creating development
plans and introducing initiatives on
the land, utilising the crofting support
schemes available.
Work
is also underway to modernise arrangements
for crofting support. Any future scheme
will continue to meet the needs and
concerns of modern crofting and play
a vital role in ensuring crofting continues
to play an active role in the fabric
of rural Highland life.
Crofting
has always been important in keeping
communities alive as it helps people
to live and work in some of the most
remote areas of the Highlands and Islands.
It also helps keep rural schools and
other vital public services operating
in these areas.
Crofting
has also helped sustain the culture
of the Highlands and Islands. The Gaelic
language is strongest in many of the
crofting areas, and communities throughout
Shetland and Orkney retain their Norse
links.
Croft land also provides environmental
benefits and a varied habitat for wildlife.
Traditionally, crofters use low amounts
of chemical fertilizers, weed killers
and insect sprays. As a result the range
of plants is much wider than on more
intensively managed areas. Many tourists
come to the Highlands & Islands
attracted by its natural beauty and
the richness of its wildlife.
The crofting system is a key part of
this environment. Organisations like
Scottish Natural Heritage and the Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds
work with crofters to protect these
habitats.
The
current Crofters Act is under review
with a view to a revised Act being introduced
during 2007. Proposals include new powers
to create new crofts and opportunities
to apply different regulatory policies
to different crofting areas. Crofting
legislation will be developed as a means
of active and positive development to
ensure that crofting, crofters and crofting
communities continue and prosper.
Crofting
plays a vital role in sustaining fragile
rural communities, a unique culture
and a richly varied natural environment.
It is a way of life that demonstrates
a unique cultural richness and an overall
appreciation of the environment
This information
was found on the crofters commission
website.
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