COUNTRYSIDE

Throughout Scotland, Trust properties play an important role in the local community, both through providing employment, bringing in tourist income or though supporting our tenants. For this reason, the Trust sets great store by involving the local community in deciding management plans for our properties to ensure that their needs and aspirations are understood as far as possible. This is particularly important in rural communities where the Trust is a major landowner.

Good examples are to be found at Fair Isle, Canna, Iona and Balmacara, where the Trust, through the sensitive provision of housing, employment opportunities, services and infrastructure, is helping local communities to continue to thrive. All of these communities include crofting land and at Balmacara we created six new crofts which were eagerly snapped up – the first time such a move has been seen in Scotland in recent years. The re-development of redundant farm buildings at Balmacara Square was also carried out, at the request of the local community, to provide business accommodation, much needed in the locality.

Through volunteering members of communities close to our properties play a valuable part in managing & promoting our properties. A good example of this is a group of volunteers manning the Osprey viewing facility on Threave Estate.