Some views 2

Last week there were extensive reports of a couple of whins fires in the local paper. One nearly burnt a house down (though not as nearly yours Lulu). The fires were probably started deliberately - if you burn off the gorse you get new growth which makes for fatter lambs.

In the paper a local ornithologist ranted against the fires (it is against the law to burn off the gorse after April 15 to protect nesting birds). He did so anonymously - doubtless an insurance against some mishap befalling him or his family - but everyone here seems to think it was one of our near neighbours. The choicest remark he made was '...and all for the sake of a few blades of grass...'

This week the letters page is quite indignant. Apparently Highland crofters are far more endangered than merlin, red grouse or golden plover, what with all the 'unelected quagos imposing their rules on everyone, [and] assorted jobsworths and busybodies putting their oars in'.

Meanwhile the Shucksmith report is recommending transfer of more power to local crofting committees. It seems to me that the letters pages are filled with vested interest - crofters who have lots of friends are in favour of the extended power they doubtless see coming to them, whilst the outcasts and incomers are vehemently opposed. Having seen the effect of family disputes in several guises here (not least our attempt to buy this croft) I rather suspect that giving power to the local crofting committees would be a poor idea.

Meanwhile others are decrying the missed opportunity to do away with all the regulation that surrounds crofting. There are two main points embedded in their arguments - firstly that the Highlands are not a museum and attempts to preserve the 'crofting way' are patronising, absurd and misplaced, and secondly that the vast layers of regulation surrounding crofting simply stifles it and any opportunities for local economies to regenerate. One eloquent correspondent likens crofting to Soviet collective farming. Really?

Me? I think Shucksmith has missed an opportunity to link crofting to the Sustainable Development Agenda and Scotland's review of it's food policy. But as ever, joined-up Government is too much to ask for.

16.3C Go Wort Go!