Woodland crofts

 

The Crofting Reform Act 2007 makes provision for the creation of new crofts including woodland crofts.

What are woodland crofts?

Woodland crofts range from being mainly woodland to mainly agricultural with a woodland element. They link housing, local rural livelihoods and woodland management. Key features include:

• affordable and sustainable housing;
• the use of biomass for heat;
• retention of land and housing by the community; and
• broad-based community involvement and support. 

The report from the Woodland Crofts Steering Group

A steering group made up of Forestry Commission Scotland, the Crofters Commission, the Environment and Rural Affairs Department, the Scottish Crofting Foundation, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Bill Ritchie from the Assynt Foundation was set up to consider whether, and how, national forest estate land might be used to create new crofts under the crofting legislation. 

• Read the group's report on the potential and practicalities of woodland crofts (PDF 51k).

Creating woodland crofts

Communities wishing to create woodland crofts would bid to buy national forest land under the National Forest Land Scheme.  They would have to demonstrate that their proposals contribute to sustainable communities, deliver additional public benefits (including economic benefits), and be in the public interest.  Perhaps most likely is that crofting communities would apply to buy forested land near to them for woodland management, including woodfuel uses.

The National Forest Land Scheme guidance - updated May 2008 (PDF 1.5Mb) includes specific information on the community acquisition of land for the purpose of creating woodland crofts.

Communities looking at woodland crofts are likely to work closely with a range of bodies including Forestry Commission Scotland, the Crofters Commission and the planning authorities.

Issues for community organisations to consider when seeking to create woodland crofts

Community organisations who wish to create woodland crofts should consider the information contained in the documents below and how to address any issues raised by them. 

• The Crofters Commission advice on the impact of crofting statutory conditions (PDF 31k) explains how statutory conditions of crofting tenure will affect woodland crofts.
  
  
• The Crofters Commission advice on general eligibility criteria for tenants of new crofts (PDF 14k) offers advice on an approach to selection of tenants for new crofts which will be fair and transparent.
  
  
• There are key issues for forest management (PDF 43k) associated with woodland crofts.
  
  
• Highland Council has produced details of key planning issues arising from proposals for woodland crofts, particularly in respect of any housing (PDF 23k).
  
  
• Potential funding options for housing associated with new woodland crofts (PDF 44k) are provided by the Scottish Government Housing Investment Division.

These expert papers were commissioned by the Woodland Crofts Implementation Group, which comprises:

• Crofters Commission
• Community Woodland Association
• Forestry Commission Scotland
• Highland Council
• Highland Birchwoods
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise - Community Land Unit
• Scottish Crofting Foundation
• Scottish Government Housing Investing Division (formerly known as Communities Scotland).
• Bill Ritchie, crofter and member of Highland Regional Forestry Forum.