Islands pave the way for green recovery

Across the Highlands and Islands, businesses and communities are leading the way to a low carbon future. In the Outer Hebrides, and across many of our island communities, green projects and eco-friendly businesses are making the changes needed to protect our natural resources and improve efficiency and sustainability.

A LOW CARBON FOCUS IN FOOD AND DRINK

The Temple Café in Northton, South Harris, is one island business that has gone from strength to strength through various COVID-19 lockdowns as a result of the owner’s unique approach to using local produce. It is now delivering an ecofriendly expansion with support from HIE. The Café is a bakery and deli business built near the remains of an old stone temple in Northton.. The business is owned by Amanda Saurin who relocated to Harris, from Sussex with her husband Julian after buying the café and the croft across the road in 2019. Amanda very quickly started running out of space in the café since reopening last year following restrictions. She says: “I started looking around for another building and found one in Leverburgh that had been empty for a few years. This additional building, which is not too far from our current Northton café, will allow us to grow the business and offer more food and drink ranges from locally sourced produce. We are delighted with the support received from HIE for our expansion project.”

The company secured up to £124,834 from HIE to develop and bring back into use the building in Leverburgh, 10 minutes away from Northton. The new building will offer the extra space needed to launch the coffee roastery, smokery and for food preparation, as well as to expand the drinks range.

In 2021, Temple Café has enjoyed a successful season under the new management and five people are currently employed there. It is expected that once the Leverburgh building is converted, six new jobs will be created. The business has a large focus on low carbon and Amanda is committed to using eco-friendly products. All the packaging used is compostable. She plans to charge a small deposit for cups made from discarded husks of coffee beans and on return of the cups.

While expanding the business, Amanda is keen to help reduce the number of vehicles that drive through Northton. She plans to offer bikes that people can cycle from the main road to the café, offering a discount as an incentive. She will also encourage the use of electric charging vehicles and plans to erect rapid charging points.

MEET SOME MORE OF THE #NETZERO HEROES

HELPING IMAGINE NET ZERO IN THE HEBRIDES

Everyone can play a part in reducing emissions and protecting the future of the unique natural environment we enjoy in the Highlands and Islands. Here, in the Outer Hebrides, and right across all the region’s islands, every change, large or small helps, so let us introduce you to some more of the local #netzeroheroes working to secure a better future for all.

Photo of Amanda Saurin. Photo Credit: Emma Lee and Peter Kwasniewski

LEWIS: BRINGING TREES BACK TO THE ISLANDS

The Point and Sandwick Trust is a charitable organisation based on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.

It funds community projects on the Isle of Lewis and beyond with income raised from the ownership and operation of the largest community wind farm in the UK, Beinn Ghrideag. While the majority of the community support is concentrated within the local area of Point and Sandwick, an ambitious tree planting project extends right across the Outer Hebrides. Launched in 2016, The Woodland Croft Project is a partnership between the Trust, the Woodland Trust and the Forestry Commission. Already, more than 100,000 trees have been planted across the islands, providing a significant boost to biodiversity, and ensuring that profits from the wind farm help to deliver further environmental improvements for the Outer Hebrides. The Trust plans to continue supporting the tree planting project for the entire 25-year life cycle of the wind farm, by which time mature trees will be able to seed new growth without active planting programmes.

Commenting on the many benefits of adding trees to the island landscape, Donald John Macsween, general manager of The Point and Sandwick Trust, says: “Being near the sea, among the trees, is wonderful for your mental health. It’s a very optimistic thing to plant a tree.”

SKYE: TRADITIONAL SKILLS AND INNOVATIVE THINKING

Established in 1983, in the coastal village of Waternish on the Isle of Skye, Skyeskyns is now the sole remaining commercial woolskin tannery in Scotland.

The business was created by Clive and Lydia Hartwell, and now the second generation of the Hartwell family is helping to steer it through the 21st century, producing and stocking the highest quality, handcrafted sheepskins and other sustainably-made woollen clothing and home accessories.

In 2019 after successful trials, Skyeskyns moved away from using an extractive and finite mineral resource for tanning. By using mimosa tannin to tan sheepskins, the business is now adopting an ancient, hand crafted and natural process to create very soft, high-quality leather in the most environmentally sustainable way possible.

In addition, the company recycles at every opportunity and uses green electricity suppliers at its tannery, visitor centre and shop. The tannery uses a lot of hot water, and a new energy-efficient gas boiler installed recently will be augmented by solar panels. Skyeskyns also installed an electric car charging point just outside the tannery, which is now used by locals and visitors.

“We are always looking at ways to squeeze carbon out of the process and out of our business,” explains Dave Till, general manager at Skyeskyns. “By ensuring our operations are as efficient as possible, and by making green choices in terms of energy and our suppliers, we have continued to improve the sustainability of our business in recent years.”

BARRA: SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION WITH NATURAL RESOURCES

Coimhearsnachd Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh (CBaB) Ltd is a community company located on Barra.

It supports sustainable community development and rural regeneration on Barra and Vatersay, the two most southerly inhabited islands of the Outer Hebrides.

CBaB’s activities have been varied over the years and have included the development of a marina, a wind turbine, various coastal erosion prevention works, and a range of renewable energy initiatives. CBaB is currently progressing a pilot seaweed farm, a hydrogen production proposal and an active travel promenade for the Herring Walk in Castlebay.

CBaB’s primary focus for low carbon is renewable energy and energy efficiency. It manages the operation of the community wind turbine, along with a community benefit fund which distributes surplus funding generated by the wind turbine. It is actively involved in a range of projects linked to the local energy plan – which was developed to enable the Barra and Vatersay community to look at its existing and future energy power, heat and transport needs and determine priorities for action.

As Euan Scott, Project Officer at CBaB, explains: “Local energy production offers potential to stimulate the local economy. But we need more statutory involvement devolved to local authorities, who can oversee the production and consumption of energy within their areas and ensure it is aligned with planning in respect of carbon transitioning and net zero targets.”

TIREE: MOVING FROM THE FAST LANE TO SLOW FASHION

Lots of people may dream of packing in the rat race and moving to an island off the Scottish coast – but Jason and Yvonne Lancaster actually did it.

In late 2018 they moved from London, where they ran a successful consulting company, to the small island of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides. They were drawn by the stunning landscapes and the hope of a better - paced and more sustainable life.

There, in 2019, they set up WELAN – a slow fashion, eco-conscious business making handmade hats from the fleece of their flock of orphaned sheep. Sustainability, traditional values and locality sit at the heart of the WELAN ethos, and every decision is based on these. Furthermore, 10% of their profits go to Tiree Made, a fund they set up to support other people who want to move and create their own inspiring life on Tiree. WELAN has lofty growth ambitions – and these are firmly in line with its low carbon, local ethos. The business grew out of ethical and sustainable ideals. Jason and Yvonne realised that every year thousands of fleeces are shipped off the island, and they wanted to find a way to keep them on Tiree, reduce the carbon footprint, and make the most of what they have. As Yvonne says: “We constantly analyse every part of the chain, and every aspect of what we do, to have less impact on the world.”

THA TAIC DEATAMACH AIRSON EADAR-GHLUASAD CARBON ÌOSAL EILEANAN

Màiri Bhochanan, àrd-mhanaidsear leasachaidh aig sgioba HIE ann an Innse Gall, mar aon den 29 cosnaiche aig HIE a cheumnaich mar ghaisgeach gnàth-shìde.

Tha i a’ faicinn an ath-shlànachaidh uaine agus an t-eadar-ghluasad gu roinn càrbonneodrach, deatamach do Innse Gall, gu h-àraid a thaobh ’s gu bheil mòran de na buaidhean as motha ann an atharrachadh gnàth-shìde air am faicinn agus air am faireachdainn sna h-eileanan againn.

Tha sinn ag obair le gnothachasan agus buidhnean coimhearsnachd sna h-eileanan gus maoineachadh is taic dìreach a thoirt do pròiseactan uaine air an stiùireadh, agus còmhla ri ar com-pàirtichean gus càch a chuideachadh airson diofar a dhèanamh.

Tha sinn air mòran phròiseactan ath-shlànachaidh uaine air an stiùireadh tron choimhearsnachd fhaicinn a’ lìbhrigeadh tasgadh ann am pròiseactan còmhdhail càrbon ìosal, biadh is seamhachd agus saorsa bho sgudal.

Ann an Innse Gall fhèin, tha buidheann coimhearsnachd Comunn Eachdraidh Nis a’ stàlachadh uidheam-teasachaidh càrbon ìosal san ionad dualchais, sa chafaidh agus san àite cruinneachaidh aca. Tha Urras Coimhearsnachd Eige a’ leasachadh pròiseact gus teasachadh càrbon ìosal a sholarachadh do fhrasan-nighe agus goireasan nigheadaireachd sa choimhearsnachd. Tha e mìorbhaileach a bhith a’ faicinn a leithid de dh’iomairtean ùra a tha a’ toirt chothroman air rothairean dealain fhaotainn air màl agus puingean neartachaidh a chleachdadh air feadh nan eilean, a’ toirt taic don dà chuid coimhearsnachdan ionadail agus so-ruigsinneachd do luchd-turais.

Airson lùghdachadh ann an gasaichean millteach a thachairt, ma tha Alba airson neoini- lom a ruighinn ann an 2045, tha againn uile ri ar n-oidhirp fhìn a chur an gnìomh ann an ìsleachadh. Tha sinn glè thoilichte a bhith comasach air taic a thoirt do mhòran de ar gnothachasan agus buidhnean coimhearsnachd sna h-eileanan, agus tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ris na buannachdan fhaicinn a’ tighinn am bàrr mar a bhios na pròiseactan a’ tighinn gu bith. Theirigibh an sàs ann a bhith ag obair a dh’ionnsaigh Alba neoini-lom. Lorgaibh comhairle, taic agus sgeulachdan brosnachail air an làraich-lìn againn.

SUPPORT IS KEY FOR ISLANDS’ LOW CARBON TRANSITION

Mairi Buchanan from HIE’s Innse Gall area team is one of the organisation’s 29 climate champions. She sees the green recovery and the transition to a carbon-neutral region as pivotal for the Hebrides, especially as many of the impacts of climate change are seen on our islands. We all need to play our part if Scotland is to reach net zero by 2045. Find advice, support and inspiring stories on our website here.