Dave Thompson MSP

Highlands and Islands MSP Dave Thompson visited a traditional crofting community in Lochalsh to hear about efforts to help sustain this vital sector of Scotland's agricultural way of life.

Prompted by concerns about a fall in crofting activity, The National Trust for Scotland set up the Balmacara Traditional Croft Management Scheme on its estate in Lochalsh about five years ago as an example of best practice for landowners and tenant crofters throughout Scotland.

Mr Thompson was invited to visit the Trust's Balmacara Estate following its nomination for this year's UK Landscape Awards, a competition in which the project it received a commendation from the judges.

On Friday he visited Balmacara and was met by Trust estate manager Iain Turnbull, who took him to meet some of the 25 crofters on the estate who told the politician, who has been selected as the SNP candidate for the new Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency at next year's Scottish Parliament election, of their experience of the scheme.

"Mr Turnbull took me to meet crofters at Drumbuie, Duirinish and Plockton who all expressed satisfaction with the scheme," Mr Thompson said. "They were particularly happy with its simplicity, the lack of bureaucracy and flexibility.

"It is funded by the National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage and in return for only cropping silage and hay at certain times they are able to receive a small additional payment and that is very useful in times like these when finances can be tight."

In response to further financial incentives, most of the 25 crofters on the estate have decided to rear cattle rather than sheep and to rotate their crops.

Mr Thompson added: "The beasts they are rearing were very impressive and this certainly seems to be a very valuable and workable scheme for social, financial and environmental reasons."

Note:

The NTS's Traditional Croft Management Scheme at the Balmacara Estate was one of Scotland's nominations for the UK Landscape Awards and was awarded a commendation by judges.