Sir – As a small crofter/farmer we are being encouraged by NFU Scotland to prepare to benefit from carbon capture credits and payments.

However, it is hard to find information anywhere on how this all works or what likely payments will be. I doubt they will be of any real value to the average small unit. However, it indicates something significant is happening that the general public is unaware of?

We live in the Cairngorms National Park and in our area wind farms are prohibited. So there is no chance of community benefit payments from these schemes, therefore we are disadvantaged.

For instance, Badenoch and Strathspey for many years has no longer had a public swimming pool. Something I feel is a necessity to prevent accidental drowning incidents in lochs and rivers.

Because of lack of community benefit money, there are so many things this area cannot afford, that other areas can. Help with affordable housing is just one I can think of.

So instead, as my first paragraph indicates, there is going to be a 'bonanza in carbon credit payments' for land ownership/management, whether it is from peatland, or forest, or whatever. Could, then, local communities not benefit from a share of this by community benefit payments like those that windfarms get – especially as it is government (and our taxpayer) money that is used to improve the peatland by 'restoration' to enhance carbon capture payments.

I would really like to see more transparency on this issue and communication of what seems to be secret underhand financial payments and deals. I have heard rumours of a £10m deal done very close to me to offset carbon produced at Gatwick Airport – is this true? Can someone confirm or deny this please.

We all know about others muscling in on the 'bonanza' by buying land locally at inflated prices, like Standard Life and Brewdog, for example.

I worry this is the start of a new 'Highland Clearances', with a final death nail for hill farming, but also sporting interests. As big corporations bid for land to cash in, it will put it out of reach for ever more for genuine rural Highlanders wanting to make a living from the land.

Why should communities not benefit from this 'gold rush' that is about to happen. Is it moral to sell the heart and soul of the highlands to mitigate dirty industries to keep on polluting?

My old pal, Ronnie Campbell (sadly now no longer with us), a crofter from Roy Bridge, described this all to me 10 years ago. Did he have the 'second sight' or was he just very clever as he watched huge chunks of the Highlands being bought up by entrepreneurs speculating on these new markets?

Like Bitcoin and other similar initiatives, I am very sceptical about it all especially as it is changing our way of life.

Ruaridh Ormiston, Kingussie.