Gigha - thrift, trust, and power

Looking over Gigha to Jura

Otters seen here

Deserted beaches

Thrift

Double Bay

We have just returned from 3 days on Gigha, an island which has reversed population decline and has grown by 50% in the last decade. It is largely owned by the community and has an impressive array of working projects. It basks in the soft gulf stream air and escapes much of the precipitation of the Argyll mainland. Eight years ago the Gigha Heritage Trust became operational when the community raised grants and loans of £4m that allowed them to acquire the island from the former landowner. Since the death of Colonel Horlick, a revered paternalistic owner in 1972, there have been several owners who have overseen a familiar decline of this rural island idyll. At last, the islanders had a chance under the community ownership legislation to take responsibility for their lives and their future.

They have seized it with true ethical intentions and, by being thrifty with their resources, they sold the house to an American to raise their contribution to the Trust, and by sharing power they are all advocates and champions of the Trust. They have tackled a range of activities from reinstating the Achamore House gardens to establishing a craft cooperative, running the Hotel and installing three wind turbines. It is a testimony to the energy and mutual self-help that are transforming the island.

The community pride spills into all sorts of activity, all accommodation was full when we tried to book but another B&B was activated for our visit. We were stationed with a super granny who has had more real jobs on the island than the entire UK cabinet has had between them. We learnt from her the history of the island, the quirks of fate of former landowners and the true value of hospitality. She insisted on giving us frozen fillets of halibut from the Gigha halibut farm that will provide us with several suppers. My rucksack will be able to regurgitate the smell for months.

We circumnavigated the island on foot and bike, saw an otter, some porpoises, discussed the chances of cheese making again on the island and gorged ourselves on fresh seafood. This small community is so much more real and believable than the big society that the PM is twittering on about.