The Ormsaigbeg common grazing covers 523 ha of some of the roughest most exposed grazing in Scotland. It extends from sea level up to 259m on Druim na Gearr Leacainn . Twenty three of us have a share in the grazing, my own share allows me to keep 11 ewes, 2 cows and half a horse up there.
The northern and western boundaries are not fenced so sheep could, in theory graze as far away as the lighthouse 10 km to the Northwest. At one time all of the Crofters used their share and there was a paid Shepherd to herd them within the boundary. Today there are two graziers and if I include my occasional goat herding in good weather, three. So as far as the community is concerned there is not much benefit or amenity to be had.
The new Scottish Rural Development Programme, "Crofter Forestry Scheme" offers an opportunity to turn this area into as asset rather than a liability. Individual shareholders or a group of shareholders can get together to create new native broad leaved woodland grant aided by the Scottish Government.
A "Community Woodland" comprising native broad-leaves and perhaps some Scots pine along the line of the croft boundaries from Cuinlegum at the end of the tarred road down to the boundary with Ormsaigmor could restore a long lost landscape feature and wildlife habitat while creating shelter and winter grazing for hoggs ( ewe lambs) . A way-marked route up to the Glen Lochs would improve access for visitors and perhaps most important the trees would provide sequestration of atmospheric CO2.
There is a downside; shelter for foxes, loss of some of the better hill grazing and some people prefer open hillsides without trees. There's also the ....., " its a waste of taxpayers money" argument.
NB. The " half a horse" provision was probably because а whole horse was too big an investment for one Crofter.
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| Looking west mosaic of different vegetation including woodland |
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| Looking east no woodland but some of the better grazing |
The new Scottish Rural Development Programme, "Crofter Forestry Scheme" offers an opportunity to turn this area into as asset rather than a liability. Individual shareholders or a group of shareholders can get together to create new native broad leaved woodland grant aided by the Scottish Government.
A "Community Woodland" comprising native broad-leaves and perhaps some Scots pine along the line of the croft boundaries from Cuinlegum at the end of the tarred road down to the boundary with Ormsaigmor could restore a long lost landscape feature and wildlife habitat while creating shelter and winter grazing for hoggs ( ewe lambs) . A way-marked route up to the Glen Lochs would improve access for visitors and perhaps most important the trees would provide sequestration of atmospheric CO2.
There is a downside; shelter for foxes, loss of some of the better hill grazing and some people prefer open hillsides without trees. There's also the ....., " its a waste of taxpayers money" argument.
NB. The " half a horse" provision was probably because а whole horse was too big an investment for one Crofter.
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