QUALITY NOT QUANTITY

As custodians of 16,000 acres of peat bog at the north end of the Isle of Jura we thought we’d put our head above the parapet with regards to the Land Reform proposals.

Yes, we’re one of those dreadful people. A landowner. It’s become a dirty word and a stereotype that conjures images of tweed wearing, pheasant shooting, Labrador owning toffs who only spend two weeks a year at their country retreat.

Our issue is that it’s not about how much land you have – it’s about what you do with it. Do you provide employment? Do you engage with the community? Are you maintaining traditions? Do you actively farm and use your land to the best of your ability? These are the kind of questions landowners should be asked rather than the simplistic, ‘so, how many acres have you got?’

We’re not exactly sure what outcome the Scottish government wants? If it’s just getting more land owned by more people – what does that achieve? We accept there are landowners out there who need to be educated. However, there are also landowners who work really hard, who are barely balancing the books, who are just trying to preserve a way of life for them, their family and the community around them and we shouldn’t have to be apologetic.

Neither can there be a ‘one size fits all’ approach. There’s a broad spectrum of land ownership. As an estate owner we’re unusual in that we live and work here full-time – sending our four children to the local primary school, employing local people and directly engaging with our community. The Scottish government needs to appreciate that after living here for four generations, we might have a better idea than they do about how best to manage the land. If they think they can do better, they’re more than welcome to take the five-hour drive and the two ferries and come and join us for an afternoon’s work. Claire & Andrew Fletcher, Ardlussa Estate, Isle of Jura