I was live tweeting from @croftinglaw yesterday at The Future of Crofting Conference in Inverness. Here is what I tweeted:-
The Future of Crofting Conference gets underway #croftingfuture
Importance of crofting to the economy and need for practical measures to assist being espoused by @JamieMcGrigor #croftingfuture
We can now see but not hear @AileenMcLeodMSP. Technical issues with video sound hopefully be resolved shortly! #croftingfuture
We now have @AileenMcLeodMSP on screen both vision and sound. #croftingfuture
Hearing about @AileenMcLeodMSP’s visits around Crofting Counties (including Orkney and Shetland) and visits to @CroftingScot #croftingfuture
Meant to tweet a pic of @AileenMcLeodMSP at #croftingfuture conference. Here it is:
Now hearing from @AileenMcLeodMSP about the Vision for Crofting being formulated by various stakeholder groups #croftingfuture
Discussion by @AileenMcLeodMSP about @CroftingLawSump and taking crofting legislation forward in next parliamentary session #croftingfuture
Importance of young crofters being highlighted by @AileenMcLeodMSP #croftingfuture
Reference by @JamieMcGrigor to @AileenMcLeodMSP being an early SPICE girl! #croftingfuture
Next up @MarkShucksmith #croftingfuture
Crofting “a smallholding entirely surrounded by regulations… OR a model for the 21st century?” @MarkShucksmith #croftingfuture
Four main issues emerged from @MarkShucksmith’s report #croftingfuture
Working the land was the message @MarkShucksmith got over and over again #croftingfuture
Key diagram for better governance @MarkShucksmith #croftingfuture
Regulation half the story need development @MarkShucksmith #croftingfuture
Early cross party support but that turned by some into bin @MarkShucksmith #croftingfuture
Bin @MarkShucksmith’s Report image #croftingfuture:
Unfinished business @MarkShucksmith #croftingfuture
Evidence from @MarkShucksmith’s Report still there but does anyone refer to it today? Should still do so when considering #croftingfuture
Report by @MarkShucksmith been translated into Japanese. Norway, Ireland and West Virginia all looking at it. #croftingfuture
Introduction given by @iangeorgemacdo1 in Gaelic. Now speaking (in English) about the ‘new’ Crofting Commission #croftingfuture
Latest @CroftingScot Plan more fully aligned with legislation @iangeorgemacdo1 #croftingfuture perhaps depending on your interpretation 😉
Large amount of cooperation with @coftingscot at roadshows from all stakeholders #croftingfuture
5 main areas to focus on in #croftingfuture….
1. Simplify crofting legislation #croftingfuture
2. Make crofts available to new entrants #croftingfuture
3. Increase affordable housing with meaningful grants and loans #croftingfuture
4. Provide specific ring fenced funding to a lead body to develop crofting #croftingfuture
5. Provide financial incentives through Pillars 1 and 2 #croftingfuture
RT @culcairn Mr Inksters addressing conference #croftingfuture
View from the fank: Young crofters need help with housing and crofters need less forms to fill out. #croftingfuture
Strong sense at #croftingfuture conference that croft mortgages should have been introduced in 2010 Act as originally intended. @scotgov
Get @BillGates to come to crofting counties + use renewable energy on crofts to power @Microsoft servers located in Scotland #croftingfuture
Prof @FrankRennie‘s #croftingfuture presentation ‘The Wider Cultural Context’ is available here:
Now Neil Ross of HIE on Crofting development #croftingfuture
Importance of working together – collaboration #croftingfuture
Now discussing wooly willows in species re-introductions to Scotland #croftingfuture
Panel discussion on crofting development #croftingfuture
More crofts needed #croftingfuture – perhaps reallocating absent and neglected crofts first rather than creating more that may go that way?
How do you actually bring crofting to Moray and Nairnshire? #croftingfuture – no easy answer to that one!
RT @kate4SLB Great quote at #futureofcrofting ‘should do away with the word ‘remote’ – anywhere outside the Highlands is remote for us!’
Only crofters themselves and those that aspire to be crofters can drive the future of crofting @JimHunter22 #croftingfuture
Can buy 200,000 acres of land in Sutherland and no regulation affecting it but not the case with a 5 acre croft @JimHunter22 #croftingfuture
Land Reform the elephant in the room. Crofting not a poor man’s farm. Need to know what we want, clarify that + move forward #croftingfuture
#croftingfuture afternoon session opened and to be facilitated by @JeanUrquhartMSP
Gordon Jackson of @scotgov now looking at the Vision #croftingfuture
Average age of a farmer = 58. Crofter probably a bit higher. #croftingfuture
Hearing about croftingconnections.com -exemplary and of national importance #croftingfuture
Now hearing about @SCFYC #croftingfuture
View from the fank on #croftingfuture is an optimistic one.
Final panel Q&A of the day at #croftingfuture
Landlords who created crofts made them too small to force crofters into other work as well @JimHunter22 #croftingfuture
Very positive to hear young folk positive about the future of crofting @JimHunter22 #croftingfuture
Need to expand @WoodlandCrofts being discussed #croftingfuture
Commitment from @SCFHq to help create new crofts #croftingfuture
Can create new crofts from large ones. One big croft could be divided into several smaller ones. #croftingfuture
Best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago. Second best time is today. @JeanUrquhartMSP recommends we take action asap #croftingfuture
RT @SCFYC “Let’s not stand back & watch while crofting disappears, we are a vital part of agriculture in Scotland” – Jean Urquhart MSP
#croftingfuture conference comes to an end. Interesting day and look forward to @scotgov action on @CroftingLawSump in 2016.