Turning a vision into reality – Delight as Knocknagael field plans mark ‘significant milestone’
A community’s green vision for a 20-acre Inverness site previously earmarked for housing now looks set to become a reality.
A group of activists has been working hard on its plans to take over the Smiddy Field at the Scottish Government-owned Knocknagael Farm on the south side of the city and create allotments, an orchard, recreational areas and a community food growing area.
Knocknagael Ltd had a community asset transfer request approved last year by Scottish ministers following a review by an independent panel of an earlier decision to refuse the move.
Now its application to the Scottish Land Fund to support the purchase of the field has been successful. The award will cover the capital cost of the field in full, but not the ongoing costs of the project.
The value of the award has not been revealed.
Knocknagael Ltd chairman Maria de la Torre said: “This is a significant milestone. It is more than a year since the ministerial decision to allow the transfer was made, and we have spent months in negotiation with the department of agriculture.
“Hopefully this agreement on funding will allow us to rapidly conclude the transfer. It has been a long process – we have been working on this project since 2016, involving hundreds of hours of volunteer time.
“Purchasing the site will allow the community access to green space and food-growing in Inverness, which are recognised as so important for our health and well-being. On behalf of all our members, we are grateful to the SLF for their support; without it we would not have been able to continue to the next stage.”
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• Review panel will visit Smiddy Field at Knocknagael to decide appeal over community asset transfer
However, while the funding is in place, she explained that this is not the final step in the process. The group will now need to negotiate with the Rural Payments Inspectorate Division (RPID), a governmental division that currently owns and manages the Smiddy Field, in order to conclude the purchase.
Highland councillor for Inverness Ness-side, Alasdair Christie, said: “The Knocknagael project has over the years persistently put forward a fabulous vision for the use of this field.
“The hard work of all the volunteers associated with the project is an example of what a community can do. The grant from the Scottish Land Fund will now turn that vision into a reality and I, like many others, wait in excitement for the next stage.”
The not-for-profit group plans to develop the Smiddy Field, beside Essich Road, as a community asset, and to create, maintain and manage food growing activities, including the provision of allotments.
Highlands and Islands Green MSP Arianne Burgess has been a long-time supporter of the plans to take the field into community ownership.
She said: “I’m delighted to hear that Knocknagael has secured grant funding from the Scottish Land Fund to purchase the Smiddy Field. I’ve been hugely impressed by the hard work, diligence and sheer perseverance of Knocknagael Ltd as they’ve fought to keep this vital green space at the heart of their community.
“Owning the land will open up a huge range of opportunities for community growing and other nature-based activities.”
The archaeology group AOC undertook a survey of the Smiddy Field earlier this month. The Knocknagael Farm is the original site of the Knocknagael Boar Stone, a pictish carving dating from 400-600 AD that was moved from a field in the farm to its current home at Highland Council headquarters.
Pupils from local schools got involved in the week-long dig and a community event on Saturday (November 9) was well attended.
