MICHAEL GOVE’S commitment to rewilding the countryside was a hot topic at the NFUS Argyll and Islands regional board 'Question Time' event.

The Defra minister's Oxford Conference speech concentrated on his plans to use farm policy to encourage the conservation and improvement of natural habitats – as Mr Gove said: “Building on previous countryside stewardship and agri-environment schemes, we will design a scheme accessible to almost any land owner or manager who wishes to enhance the natural environment by planting woodland, providing new habitats for wildlife, increasing biodiversity, contributing to improved water quality and returning cultivated land to wildflower meadows or other more natural states."

At the Argyll meeting, John McNaughton, who looks after 1000 ewes on Strone Estate, Cairndow, raised his concerns with the Minister’s comments, highlighting his failure to show support for the farmers on the hills who are fast becoming a scarce sight to behold.

“We’re becoming a rare breed on the hill and this needs to be acknowledged," said Mr McNaughton. "Stop pouring money into rewilding and get back to supporting a much rarer breed – the people of the glens and mountains who are disappearing off the hill. He needs to get back to supporting people with the know-how which has been bred in to them for generations – save our souls before it’s too late."

Mr McNaughton has been farming at Strone Estate for over 25 years and has witnessed first-hand the depletion in numbers: “I have a great bunch of young guys who gather with me who would take over in a heartbeat but the policies ScotGov and Westminster keep pushing are forcing people off the mountains and not allowing a climate for someone to take over.

"Around 26,000 ewes have disappeared from the North end of Loch Lomond in the past 20 years and aside from current planned dispersals, John Duncan looks to be the last man left on the mountains on the north end of Loch Lomond on both sides of the loch from Tarbert to Crianlarich with his Inveruglas Farm.

“All these adverts where you see the West coast hills with hefted flocks dotting the countryside will become a myth. You will be lucky to get a picture of a mountain with any sheep on it,” concluded Mr McNaughton.

During Mr Gove’s Green Brexit delivery, he referred to the desire to leave the environment in better condition than it was found – a comment which was adversely received by NFUS president Andrew McCornick.

“Farmers are environmentalists, we are living and breathing this day in day out, so of course we are not going to wish damage to the environment," said Mr McCornick. "We always go on to farms with the intention of leaving it in better quality than how we found it, whether through improved soil health or water quality etc.

“We do so much for the tourism industry in Scotland which we aren’t rewarded or acknowledged for. We help maintain the scenery which attracts so many people to Scotland, yet farmers are criticised for failing to protect the environment – it doesn’t add up,” finished Mr McCornick.