Crofting Matters

Hello and welcome to Crofting Matters, hosted by Osla Jamwal Fraser where we discuss topics that matter in crofting.
This is the final episode in this series and we’re going to round off our Shetland focussed episodes in style – discussing the islands’ most famed and celebrated agricultural and cultural product – Wool! We’re going to delve into all things woolly with Louise Grains of Jamieson’s of Shetland, the only fleece to garment mill in the isles and Donna Smith of Donna Smith Designs a crofter, yarn producer, tutor, and knitwear designer.
Shetland is famous the world over for wool and knitwear and now also for its iconic week-long festival Shetland Wool Week, which has just celebrated its 17th year. We’re joined today by two of the powerhouses behind the modern wool and knitwear industry in Shetland!
If you would like to find out more about anything we discussed today, you’ll find links in the show notes.
If you enjoyed this episode of Crofting Matters, please do subscribe to make sure you catch the first episode of the new series next May when we’ll be hearing more inspiring stories from all over the Crofting Counties. While we’re away, why not have a look through our back catalogue or tune into some of the other Farm Advisory Service podcasts.
For now, many thanks to our producer Kerry Hammond, our editor Keiron Sim, and thanks above all to you for tuning in.
This podcast was produced in association with the Scottish Government.

Resources:
Shetland Wool, Yarn and Knitting Accessories – Jamieson's Of Shetland
Donna Smith Designs – Knitting Patterns & Yarn in the Shetland Isles
Shetland Wool Week

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot
Twitter: @FASScot
Facebook: @FASScot
National Advice Hub
Phone: 0300 323 0161
Email: [email protected]

Hello and welcome to Crofting Matters, hosted by Osla Jamwal Fraser where we discuss topics that matter in crofting.
Today we’re speaking with Chartered Surveyor and Senior Agricultural Consultant with SAC Consulting, Fergus Russell.
Wherever you may be in the Crofting Counties there are lots of new and different types of land-based development going on from renewables to data centres and everything in between. If you or your community are affected, it can be difficult to know where to turn for advice and support. Fergus specialises in exactly this area so today we are going to be taking a look at what you need to know if your area is involved in large-scale development projects.
If you would like to find out more about anything we discussed today, you’ll find links in the show notes.
If you enjoyed this episode of Crofting Matters, please do subscribe to make sure you hear the next episode when we’ll be discussing all things wool! We’ll be hearing about the last fleece to garment mill in Shetland and learning more about the quiet revolution happening in how Shetland perceives and promotes the importance of its own knitwear heritage.
Many thanks to our producer Kerry Hammond, our Editor Keiron Sim, and thanks to you for tuning in.
This podcast was produced in association with the Scottish Government

Resources:
Scottish Land Commission: Making more of Scotland's land - Scottish Land Commission
Your local NFUS branch may be able to answer questions on access to support
RICS - Rights over land for electricity infrastructure - Code of practice
The Electricity Act 1989 which provides the legislation around new and existing developments: Electricity Act 1989

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot
Twitter: @FASScot
Facebook: @FASScot
National Advice Hub
Phone: 0300 323 0161
Email: [email protected]

Hello and welcome to Crofting Matters, hosted by Osla Jamwal Fraser where we discuss topics that matter in crofting.
For this series, we are bringing you Crofting Matters from Shetland. Today we are looking at traditional crofting practices, Shetland Kale, and how a local development group is working to protect and develop rural life in Northmavine in the North Mainland of Shetland. We’re delighted to welcome Kathleen Anderson, who has been in crofting since her childhood in the 1950s. She now works to preserve traditional crofting practices producing Shetland Kale, Shetland Sheep and Shetland Cattle, usually referred to as kye here. We’re also joined by her daughter in law, Charlotte Anderson, who works as the local project manager for NCDC, which is the Northmavine Community Development Company.
If you enjoyed this episode of Crofting Matters please do subscribe to hear the next episode when we’ll be joined by Andrew Thin from the Crofting Commission to take a look at the changes that will be coming soon with the new Crofting Act passing into law.
Many thanks to our producer Kerry Hammond, our Editor Keiron Sim, and thanks to you for tuning in.
This podcast was produced in association with the Scottish Government.

Resources:
Kathleen Anderson - Growing up on the Croft - Northmavine Community Development Company
Northmavine Community Development Company
Polycrub – Storm-Strength Polytunnels Built in Shetland
Shetland Kale Seeds l Seeds of Scotland

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot
Twitter: @FASScot
Facebook: @FASScot
National Advice Hub
Phone: 0300 323 0161
Email: [email protected]

Hello and welcome to Crofting Matters, hosted by Osla Jamwal Fraser where we discuss topics that matter in crofting.
Over the next few episodes, we will be bringing you Crofting Matters from Shetland. Today we are joined by David Brown, Crofter, Shetlander, and Area Manager for Cooke Aquaculture Scotland. In this episode we look at the intersection between our crofting communities and the blue economy. Across the Crofting Counties - agriculture, and the seafood sector have always been closely intertwined – It is still true today that the lion’s share of the £5.6 billion generated annually by Scotland’s Marine Economy comes to us through the crofting counties in one way or another. There are few places in the country where that interdependence between crofting and fisheries is as clear perhaps as Shetland.
If you enjoyed this episode of Crofting Matters please do subscribe to hear the next episode when we’ll be joined by a crofter who is working to preserve traditional crofting producing Shetland Kale, Shetland Sheep and Shetland Kye as well as a local development company who are now the licensed seed merchants for Shetland Kale, Scotland’s oldest local vegetable variety.
If you would like to find out more about anything we discussed today, you’ll find links in the show notes. This episode was produced by Kerry Hammond, and Edited by Keiron Sim, in association with the Scottish Government.

Resources:
Cooke Aquaculture Scotland | Cooke Aquaculture Scotland is one of the leading producers of Scottish salmon, and the largest producer of organic Scottish salmon.
Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan - gov.scot

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot
Twitter: @FASScot
Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub
Phone: 0300 323 0161
Email: [email protected]

Hello and welcome to Crofting Matters, hosted by Osla Jamwal Fraser where we discuss topics that matter in crofting.
Over the next few episodes, we will be bringing you Crofting Matters from Shetland. Today we are joined by two fascinating guests! Eve Eunson who was born and raised on her family’s Croft in Fair Isle and who is now a designer and maker of Fair Isle Straw-backed chairs. We’re also joined by Ewen Balfour who is a crofter, quantity surveyor and also a master craftsman in Shetland basket making. We’re going to hear from them about work that they are part of to preserve Shetland’s endangered straw crafts and one of our ancient landraces – Shetland black oats – referred to locally as ‘aets’.
If you enjoyed this episode of Crofting Matters please do subscribe to hear the next episode when we’ll be joined by crofters who work in aquaculture in Shetland to discuss the connections between crofting, fisheries and aquaculture in our Island communities. If you would like to find out more about anything we discussed today, you’ll find links in the show notes. This episode was produced by Kerry Hammond, and Edited by Keiron Sim, in association with the Scottish Government.
Resources:
Eve Eunson Heritage Crafts
Ewen Balfour - The Kishie Maker’s Year | Woven Communities
SASA (Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture) | Small Oat/Shetland Oat & Common Oat
The Red List - Heritage Crafts |
Shop — Lois Walpole - Kishie's and Cuddies Book
Contact the Shetland Straw Society : [email protected]

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot
Twitter: @FASScot
Facebook: @FASScot
National Advice Hub
Phone: 0300 323 0161
Email: [email protected]