SCOTLAND'S Crofting Commission has welcomed five new entrants onto croft tenancies, saying that their arrival will ensure that the land is not neglected.

The properties were advertised locally, with interested parties invited to submit applications to be considered for the tenancy. One of the successful applicants was Dennis McGonnell, who said: "I was delighted to be selected as the new tenant for the croft, 24 Gravir. I have lived on Lewis for 12 years and was always very eager to get into crofting, especially working with animals.

"My plans for the croft include getting some pigs to deal with all the ferns and over growth, before reseeding and then letting some rare sheep graze happily, once I’ve fenced the boundary. I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Head of regulation at the Crofting Commission, Joseph Kerr, said: “We wish the new tenants every success in their ventures.

"The process of letting a croft tenancy can be lengthy but we are delighted that five crofts are now in the hands of new entrants, who will use the land and ensure it does not get misused or neglected.

"We have a further five crofts to let in the near future and are having ongoing discussions with landlords to take this forward," added Mr Kerr. "We are also currently in negotiations with a number of landlords where crofts are vacant or subject to a long term unresolved succession in order to seek solutions which would result in the crofts being occupied and worked.”

The Scottish Crofting Federation welcomed the re-lets and the promise of more to come, but urged the CC to do more to find tenancies for people seeking to become active crofters.

SCF chair Russell Smith commented: “We have been advocating for years that more needs to be done to free up unused croft land for the many people who are desperate to take on a croft and work it. We know from our own membership and from others who contact us that there are many people who would love to become crofters; and it is a source of frustration that so few are successful in obtaining a croft.

“Crofting and crofting communities need new, young people with enthusiasm and commitment to regenerate neglected land and to re-invigorate our townships," said Mr Smith. "We congratulate the Commission on getting to this stage, and urge them to continue and widen this work, which is vital to the health of crofting.

“We look forward to seeing many more tenancies being freed up so that crofting can better fulfil its role of strengthening communities and stewardship of the environment.”