Crofting Matters – A View From Shetland

Hello and welcome to Crofting Matters, hosted by Siobhan Macdonald, and this is the Farm Advisory Service series where we discuss topics that matter in crofting.

For this episode, we’re heading north to the wild and windswept Shetland isles to explore the unique world of island crofting and the remarkable resilience of Shetland’s crofters. Join Siobhan Macdonald and Osla Jamwal Fraser as they dive into the opportunities and challenges of farming on the archipelago — from the advantages of geographic isolation for maintaining high-health livestock schemes, to the realities of costly transport links and long ferry crossings.

With Osla at the helm of the series for 2026, we will uncover some of Shetland’s most fascinating agricultural stories and industries, including its iconic Shetland sheep, world-famous wool, native ponies, and even the surprising rise of spaceports among the islands’ rugged landscapes. This is a journey into innovation, tradition, and life at the edge of the North Sea.

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Crofting Matters. If you’d like to find out more about you can find the link in the show notes. This episode was presented by Siobhan Macdonald produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Kieron Sim, in association with the Scottish Government.

FAS Resources:

Crofting Matters – Crofting Through the Seasons : Autumn & Winter

Other Resources:

Scottish Land Matching Service

Shetland Livestock Marketing Group

Crofting Commission

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National Advice Hub

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