What are crofters in Scotland?
What are crofters in Scotland?
A croft is a small agricultural unit. The person who lives on the croft is called a crofter. This is called Common Grazings if the land is shared with other crofts. Crofts are located in one of the crofting counties or other areas designated by the Scottish Government.
Are there still crofters in Scotland?
Traditionally, crofts are situated on large estates, and are rented from the landowner. Landlords can have many crofts on their estate, and there are over 17,000 crofts in Scotland.
What exactly is a croft?
A croft is a fenced or enclosed area of land, usually small and arable, and usually, but not always, with a crofter’s dwelling thereon. A crofter is one who has tenure and use of the land, typically as a tenant farmer, especially in rural areas.
What did crofters grow?
A typical croft traditionally: had a small area of cultivated ground, usually close to the house – for growing potatoes and either small/black oat, rye or bere. supported a limited number of livestock – including both sheep and cattle, which were kept on the common grazings in summer months.
What is a crofters cottage called?
A traditional crofters cottage known as a blackhouse with thatched roof on the Isle of North Uist, Western Isles, Scotland. A traditional crofters cottage known as a blackhouse with thatched roof on the Isle of North Uist, Western Isles, Scotland.
Are there any Highlanders left in Scotland?
Nowadays there are more descendants from the Highlanders living outside Scotland than there are inside. The results of the clearances are still visible today if you drive through the empty Glens in the Highlands and most people still live in villages and towns near the coast.
What does Decrofted mean?
Decrofting is the term used when land is removed from crofting tenure. The Landlord of a tenanted croft who wishes to remove land from crofting tenure must make an application to the Scottish Land Court. This is called resumption and has the same effect as decrofting.
When did crofting begin?
Crofting law was codified as the Crofters (Scotland) Act of 1993, but there have been substantial reforms, notably in 2007 and 2010. A definitive map-based Crofting Register was also established, determining who exactly had rights and responsibility for land.
Can you build a house on croft land?
Enabling more people to live on or near their croft and work their land is key. Crofting legislation entitles a crofter to build a croft house on the croft, subject to planning consent. In almost every case the croft house must be provided by the crofter themselves.
Can you split a croft?
Division is the term used when a croft is separated to create two or more units. If an owner-occupier crofter wishes to sell or otherwise transfer ownership of part of their croft, they must first obtain the Commission’s consent to divide the croft in to the respective parts they wish to transfer and to keep.
What is a Scottish Black House?
Hundreds of years ago the highlands of Scotland and Ireland were dotted with a type of dwelling called blackhouses. These were long narrow buildings, often laid in parallel to other blackhouses, with dry-stone walls and thatched roofs rendered black with soot. The smoke killed bugs living in the roof.
What does it mean to be a croft in Scotland?
Crofts are small farms, enshrined and protected in Scottish law. Many are passed down through generations of the same family. However, at the mercy of the seasons and elements, crofting is not an easy life.
How much does it cost to be a crofter in Scotland?
Originally set up in 1985 as the Scottish Crofters Union (SCU), the organisation continues to protect and promote the interests of crofters and the crofting community. Membership for an individual costs £66.50 a year.
Where did most crofters live in the past?
In the past most crofters lived in houses, or crofts, that were legally part of the croft. Today most croft properties are now on parcels of land that have been de-crofted so that people can buy these properties with a mortgage just like any other home.
What is the mission of the Scottish Crofting Federation?
Our mission is to safeguard and promote the rights, livelihoods and culture of crofters and their communities. Led by our members, SCF engages with agencies and government at local, national and international levels to affect policy on rural development.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-MzYI7SF2E