Crofting is a system of land tenure unique to the Highlands and Islands. It has been widely recognised as delivering a number of benefits, including retaining population, supporting traditional cultures, and enhancing biodiversity, at the same time as generating a contribution to a crofter’s income and subsistence needs.
Traditionally crofting has been based on agriculture, but in the late 1990s people began to ask whether a similar system could not be applied to woodland management, to provide similar benefits.
The idea quickly gathered support amongst communities, and following a review of land managed by Forestry Commission Scotland in 2004, Ministers accepted its recommendations, including the proposal to examine how National Forest Land might be used to create new crofts under crofting legislation.
Accordingly, the Woodland Crofts Steering Group was set up to consider this issue, and reported in January 2006.
Woodland Crofts Steering Group
- Read the group's report on the potential and practicalities of woodland crofts (PDF 51k).
The Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister accepted the report’s recommendations and asked the Crofters Commission and Forestry Commission Scotland to take woodland crofts forward.
Woodland Crofts Implementation Group
Subsequently, the Woodland Crofts Implementation Group was established to work through issues relating to the delivery of woodland crofts. A number of expert papers were developed by the Group and are available for download below.
- 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.
The Woodland Crofts Implementation Group continues to meet periodically to support the delivery of woodland crofts and currently comprises:
- Crofters Commission
- Community Woodlands Association
- Forestry Commission Scotland
- Highland Council
- Argyll and Bute Council
- Highland Birchwoods
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise - Community Land Unit
- Scottish Crofting Foundation
- Scottish Government Housing Investment Division (formerly known as Communities Scotland)
- Highland Small Communities Housing Trust
- Bill Ritchie, crofter and member of Highland Regional Forestry Forum.
