Crofters under threat from Brussels ruling on heather

A SPRIG of white heather is supposed to bring good luck. And the Scots are as proud of their bonnie purple mountains as they are of haggis and tartan.

But the fast-spreading shrub which has been immortalised in song and verse may become a symbol of the demise of a centuries-old way of Highland life due to an imminent new ruling from Brussels bureaucrats.

Large amounts of the country’s 600,000 hectares of common livestock grazing could be removed from subsidy claims, resulting in hundreds of hill farmers and crofters seeing their single farm payment cut.

Under European Commission (EC) proposals on the definition of eligible grazing land, heather hills could be excluded if the plant covers more than 50 per cent of the area.

Article 4 of Europe’s redrawn rules suggest that “permanent pasture” should be classed as land which is used to grow grasses or other herbaceous forage, but heather is non-herbaceous.

Scots are hoping to persuade the EC to remove the “herbaceous” definition to make room for heather in the rulebook.

Otherwise, it could mean the Highlands and Islands losing millions of pounds worth of support for the vulnerable rural economies of the area.

The Highland Council’s Rural Affairs Group is gearing up to do battle with Brussels and has already lodged a protest, urging that the controversial proposal be dropped.

And the Scottish Government is negotiating with Brussels to try to find a compromise to prevent crofters losing all of their subsidies.

But independent rural consultant Davie Macleod, who is also a farmer on Skye and a board member of the Crofters Commission, has warned that Scotland faces a tough task in getting dispensation.

“The Highlands and Islands is at risk of losing millions of pounds of support if this goes against us. This is a real threat to a Highland way of life if there is not a common-sense solution by excluding areas where there are meaningful levels of livestock.

“If all the common grazing is excluded from the subsidy system, this could mean the end of crofting, unless other sources of support are found. “

But Mr Macleod said that the community may have to face up to the fact that part of their subsidy will be lost.

He added: “We are hoping there will be a successful outcome by the end of the year.”

Caithness farmer and Highland councillor Robert Coghill said cutting heather from the subsidy equation made absolutely no sense, because sheep graze on the heather-clad hills in winter without any supplementary food.

“Has that actually been pushed to the boffins?” he asked. “Brussels doesn’t seem to have any understanding of what it is to farm in remote and rural areas.”