The Crofting Commission regulates
and promotes the interests of crofting in Scotland
to secure the future of crofting.

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Common Grazings

Common grazings are areas of land used by a number of crofters and others who hold a right to graze stock on that land. There are over 1000 common grazings covering over 500,000ha across Scotland.

Grazings committees are set up with certain management responsibilities regarding the common grazings. They are appointed into office by the crofters who share in the common grazings and have responsibility to make and submit grazings regulations to the Commission for approval. Each common grazings has its own grazings regulations which are administered by the grazings committee.

Appointment of Grazings Committees Grazings Committees are appointed to manage, maintain and improve common grazings. Having a grazings committee ensures that a common grazing can be regulated and protected by crofting law. Regulated Common Grazings Committees Crofting legislation provides for Grazings Committees to either amend their existing regulations or make new regulations to assist in the proper management and administration of their Common Grazings. Creating a new Common Grazing Find out how new Common Grazing can be created. Common Grazing Census The Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 imposed new requirements on grazings committees to report every 5 years on the condition of their common grazings Use of Common Grazing for other purposes A crofter who holds a right in a common grazing may propose to the grazings committee or grazings constable that part of the common grazing be used for another purpose than grazings or woodlands. Crofter Forestry Crofters who hold a share in the common grazing have the right to apply to the Commission to plant and develop woodland on their common grazings. Peatland Restoration Peatland Restoration is an emerging sector in land management and is widely recognised as an effective way to capture carbon.

Farm Advisory Service

Our friends at the Farm Advisory Service also have some very helpful infomation on common grazings including, grants & finance, sheep stock clubs, environmental management and common graziung dilemas. To find out more visit their website via this link: Farm Advisory Service - Common Grazings

Deemed Crofts

You may also want to check our factsheet on Deemed Crofts which explains the changes to grazings shares when a croft is purchased but the grazings shares remain held in tenancy.

Common Grazings

Regulated Common Grazings Appointment of Grazings Committees Creating a new common grazings Common Grazings Registration Common Grazings Census Use of Common Grazings for other purposes Crofter Forestry Peatland Restoration

News

Crofting Commission Launches Initiative to Strengthen Crofting Sector by Engaging Landlords of Vacant Crofts Crofting Commission Calls for Stronger Crofting Involvement in Deer Management Protecting the Future of Crofting: Upholding the Spirit of the Legislation New Crofters Hit Five Year High 2023 Crofting Census: Your Voice, Our Future