GREEN ISLE IDYLL

Renewable energy, vegetable growing, tree planting and vehicle restrictions. Is the community-owned Isle of Eigg Britain’s most eco-friendly island? Donald Greig reports

ISLE OF EIGG

B

uilding a reputation as Britain’s most eco-friendly island doesn’t happen overnight.

In fact, it has taken the Isle of Eigg over 20 years. One of the four Small Isles, Eigg lies 10 miles off Scotland’s west coast (south of Skye), is around five miles long and three miles wide, and is home to 110 people.

It is a place of superlatives: the central moorland plateau rises to a dramatic 393m stump, An Sgùrr, Britain’s largest pitchstone ridge.

Eigg residents were Scotland’s first to complete an island buy-out in 1997 and pioneered a green-energy scheme combining water, solar and wind to supply around 95% of the island’s electricity needs. Eigg Electric is part of the community-owned Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, which has responsibility for stewardship of the island and for supporting future development.

GOOD EIGG

At the heart of this success is community and a shared love of Eigg. Low-impact lifestyles are part of the local psyche. Many islanders grow their own fruit and veg, and a programme of woodland planting ensures a sustainable source of wood for heating. Eigg Primary is part of the ‘Eco-school’ scheme, and only residents and registered disabled users can bring a vehicle on to the island. Every adult is automatically a member of the residents’ association, which recently turned down an application for a fish farm off the north end of the island because of its potential negative impact on the marine environment.

BARE NECESSITIES

There are challenges, of course. Electricity usage is limited to 5kW per house at any one time – that’s enough for a kettle and washing machine – and the limits of the grid restrict development and, therefore, population growth.

Since building the pier centre 20 years ago, visitor numbers have doubled, so a new building is now required.

And transport in general can be tricky, especially with ferry cancellations in winter.

However, the increase in visitor numbers has resulted in a greater range of accommodation, most of it detailed on the trust’s website. If you fancy visiting, ferries run from Mallaig all year and from Arisaig, late-April to September. isleofeigg.org

Eigg is not connected to the mainland electricity supply, so settlements across the island, such as Cleadale in the north-west, rely on wind, sun and water for their energy

Donald Greig is a freelance travel and outdoor writer based in the Southern Uplands.