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The
Crofter!
The Kinlochroag
Highland Fold and their owner and breeder, Finlay Macdonald, are under
threat. This famous Fold of Highland Cattle that feature in
www.highland-coos.com are fit and healthy and an asset to the rough
moorland they inhabit. But due to the ancient nightmare that has plagued
Scotland there is a chance that some of the fold may have to be dispersed.
In some cases this may not be possible, the alternative for those gentle
highlanders is too horrendous to contemplate.
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This isn't
dramatisation of a cause this is fact. A battle is on to save The
Kinlochroag Fold, a battle that Finlay will fight to its conclusion.
What are his options? |
Eighty years on - you have two
weeks to get out!
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Financially for Finlay this is
a no win situation, expensive to fight and if he loses it means culling
his cattle, capitulate, get kicked off and the result for these
magnificent animals is the same.
THE ABSENTEE LANDLORD!
Finlay Macdonald's
family have openly and peaceably been grazing livestock on an area of the
16,000 acre Morsgail Estate for Eighty Years. Now due to the aggressive
demands of the current owner, a Suffolk businessman who bought the estate
twenty years ago, the open-ness and peace has ended and legal action
looms.
There are a number of estates on the island, most bolster isolated
communities by offering employment and encouraging tourism thereby
boosting the island economy. Morsgail used to be one of these, an asset to
the community but the current owner changed that. Now Morsgail is 16000
acres of neglected land, neglected wildlife and neglected opportunity.
The Laird (who
lives in Suffolk) has never employed a local person since taking over the
estate twenty years ago.
Morsgail Estate with its modern house
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He regards himself as a conservationist, but
conservation at Morsgail comes in the form of neglect. He has done
nothing to conserve anything, although the original listed building
managed to burn down under his care. |
This was
replaced with a large modern house. However it is the recent move to
elicit a grazing contract from Finlay that has led to the threat to
Finlay's fold of highland cattle and his sheep.
The Suffolk
Laird despite his claims of being a 'decent chap' has already employed a
firm of very expensive solicitors and raised an action in the Court of
Session in Edinburgh. The cost of this could be born by Finlay
should the case go against him, which is a huge threat in itself.
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Taking out
an advert in the local paper this Suffolk Laird claims to want Finlay
to have free grazing but the 'licences' he offered included a "right
of pre-emption" over Finlay's own land. In other words, had Finlay
signed the licence, the Laird could (after a year) put Finlay off the
land. If that forced Finlay into selling his own land, he would then
have to give the Laird first refusal. |
Amazing what comes out in the
wash!
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There is a rumour that approximately 9 acres of land have been registered
by the Laird as an "agricultural holding" entitled Kinlochroag,
coincidentally the same name as an old house on Finlay's land, which also
happens to be an agricultural holding and is 9 acres?
One of the Folds
two bulls Cathach 6th of Killochries at two years old his future
threatened.
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Finlay's solicitors advised against signing away his rights.
Eventually after a slightly amended agreement which was equally
unjust Finlay was given two weeks notice to remove his animals from
the land. When he didn't comply he was issued with a summons to
attend the Court of Session in Edinburgh. There has not yet been a
hearing.
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In the same
year as the North Harris Estate was bought by the people of Harris, and
similar Estates are being bought by the local communities here is a blast
from the past. Here is one man and his 16,000 acre playground a reminder
of the greed and selfishness we thought was part of Scotland's
history............
Visit
http://www.morsgail.co.uk/ to learn more |
