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Woodland crofts


What are woodland crofts?

A woodland croft is a registered croft created from an existing woodland.

Lifestyles and livelihoods based on woodlands are traditional in many parts of the world, but are currently rare in Scotland. Woodland crofts are an opportunity for individuals and communities to build lives and livelihoods based on the woodland resource, and the approach to management taken by woodland crofters is expected to deliver increased social, economic and environmental benefits.

Woodland management

Woodland crofts are always likely to involve an element of woodland management, however, the exact nature and extent of this is not prescribed, and there is considerable flexibility for individual woodland croft tenants to manage their crofts to meet their own needs and aspirations.

Woodland crofts are governed by a combination of crofting legislation and forest regulation, linking housing, local rural livelihoods and woodland management.

Creating woodland crofts

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

Communities wishing to create woodland crofts can 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.

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

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

For further information please contact Jamie McIntyre, Woodland Crofts Officer. Telephone: 01967 402332 or email jamie.mcintyre@forestry.gsi.gov.uk.

Further reading

The following documents provide some further background information and guidance.  Please note that they are working documents and are subject to change.