Social crofters land in Speyside

SMALLHOLDERS gathered in Speyside recently to learn more about the concept of "social crofting".

The Scottish Crofting Federation's Gaining Ground project is funded by Highland and Moray LEADER and promotes social, mental and physical wellbeing through working with the land and animals.

The idea behind social crofting is to bring together land-holders who wish to offer social care placements to create a network, engaging with service commissioners, intermediary organisations, care providers and service users.

Following on from an inaugural event on the Black Isle, the social crofting initiative moved last weekend to Elchies of Speyside, an award-winning producer of goat meat, mutton and wool.

Around 30 farmers, crofters and potential crofters gathered at Aberlour to hear more about Elchies' community targeted activities, including work with local schoolchildren, and how people connect with the land.

Stephen Wiseman and Ruaraidh Milne, from N4H (Nature for Health, for Happiness, in the Highlands), detailed some of the research into benefits of outdoor activities. Focus groups explored what the project could set out to achieve to help crofters enter this field of activity before a final word from Karrie Marshall, author, international speaker and founder of Creativity in Care, a community arts company working with a wide range of people.

Julie Comins, of Elchies, said: "It is wonderful to be able to host initiatives like this.

"Our ethos is to make farming accessible and understandable to everyone and today we have seen that there are real benefits to be had both for crofters and those who can experience, in whatever small way, the provenance of our food through the land we live in."

For further information visit www.social.crofting.org/.

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