Crofting body raised concerns over plans for third national park in Scotland
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A campaign which has highlighted growing concerns from farmers and crofters of their treatment in the Cairngorms National Park is spreading beyond the local boundaries.
Scottish Crofting Federation members have raised concerns in the past week around proposals to create a third Scottish national park.
The SCF has also highlighted various issues with the Cairngorms National Park which are impacting crofting activities in the strath and wider region.
SCF chair Jonathan Hedges said: “Whilst national park designations can have many benefits for an area, they can also have large and potentially negative impacts on crofters and crofting depending on what restrictions are put in place.
"It is vital that every proposal put forward needs to be subject to meaningful consultation.
"As land managers, crofters must have a say on whether a national park should be created in their communities or not.”
Mr Hedges continued: “Any new national park proposal in the crofting counties must have at its heart protection, enhancement, and development of crofting as a sustainable, high nature value land use.
"This must include creation of new crofts to provide land, homes and jobs for people of working age.
"In the meantime SCF will be supporting crofters in the Cairngorms National Park to achieve just and reasonable treatment from the park's management.”
