and promotes the interests of crofting in Scotland
to secure the future of crofting.
The Crofting Census - Making your contribution count
05/08/2014
The Crofting Commission is carrying out an unprecedented data gathering exercise across the crofting community.
Following the implementation of the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, the Crofting Commission has a duty to issue the Crofting Census and Common Grazings Census, which are known legislatively as the Annual Notice and the Duty to Report. The Crofting Census is a legal requirement and all crofters must complete and return it.
In October 2014 over 18,000 Crofting Census forms will be sent out and we hope to be able to issue over 600 Grazing Census forms at the same time. This is a new and complex task and preparations for it are well underway within the Commission.
Crofters and grazing committees are legally obliged to complete the census forms and return them to the Commission. There is a three month completion deadline for the Crofting Census and they must be returned to the Commission by mid- January 2015.
The Crofting Commission is asking for information on what you do with your croft and any common grazing share. This will help to establish a clear picture of the current state of crofting and enable the Commission to use the information to advise Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Parliament and other agencies of the value of crofting and its contribution to life in Scotland. With the information provided, the Commission will be able to better understand and raise issues facing the future of crofting.
The annual Crofting Census will allow the Commission to gather an evidence base which will grow year on year, helping to develop the case for crofting and creating persuasive arguments for issues such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform over the coming years. The Census allows you to contribute to shaping the future of your crofting community.
Crofters are urged by the Commission to make their contribution count by ensuring that they complete and return the census forms. The Commission is promoting self-regulation so that crofters are aware of their responsibilities in fulfilling their duties. Self-regulation provides more control and management over your croft and your community.
Susan Walker, Convener for the Crofting Commission commented “Crofting is a form of land tenure unique to Scotland and one we should be proud of, with the potential to be a major driver for economic, social and cultural growth. Regulation is there to protect this precious asset for present and future generations. The Census will highlight various options available to crofters in complying with their duties and the Commission will be on hand to advise on the opportunities you may wish to consider.”
