Spring Forward

As the clocks moved forwards an hour for whatever made-up reason, and the days begin to become longer than the nights, March seems to have taken a step backwards.

March was the opposite of February as the island was hit by a string of windy and wet weather fronts. Warmer than the mainland, but still interspersed with some harsh hail storms, and much cooler than the term ‘Spring’ would suggest. Plans for this month had included pulling back the covers on the veg patch, but I have put this job on hold for a few more weeks. The bees have also put their brief flurry of activity on hold and gone back into clustering inside the hive (a sensible choice!).

There was also a visit from family this month, meaning I took time off from doing off-croft (electrical) work and spent a few weeks around Uig and around the croft. As the weather wasn’t favourable for outdoor activities (not as far as the tourists were concerned anyway!) we took to decorating the inside of the croft house. Painting the outside would have to wait until the summer as February was definitely a false spring! However the hall and lounge are now both complete and my small collection of artwork from local artists finally have somewhere to be displayed, and it has been good to have a few weeks concentrating on jobs around the house whilst still finding time to enjoy gaps in the weather to complete a few outdoor tidying-up jobs.

We also visited the local Uig Sands Restaurant and enjoyed a delicious meal of local produce and super fresh seafood. This was my first visit and the three courses that I had were outstanding (seafood chowder, duck breast and raspberry parfait). Add to that the amazing view over the bay of Ardroil Sands (and a decent whisky selection) it lived up to my exceptions. Their “Uig Burger” also received high praise from my Dad, and so with that endorsement it becomes highly recommended if you are visiting Uig or the Isle of Lewis.

If you go Down to the Woods Today

As anyone who has visited the Isle of Lewis will attest, the wild landscape is not known for forests or woodlands. This wasn’t always the case. Species of birch, willow and hazel were present on the island before factors including environmental and farming saw these lands cleared of ancient woodlands.

There are projects and schemes, much like those on the mainland, to encourage the planting of new trees and woodland with native species – something that many crofters are keen to include on their land – but there are added complications to being on an island. The peatland is not able to sustain trees, the strong Atlantic winds prevent them getting established, and if that wasn’t enough then grazing by sheep, rabbits and overpopulated deer all present problems when trying to establish a new woodland.

Aline Community Woodland is a project that I became involved in last year, as part of a steering committee to drive forward a 10 year plan for this wonderful island resource. Purchased from the Forestry Commission in 2005, the woodland and facilities are maintained by an enthusiastic group and committee of volunteers.

If you headed down to the woods on Saturday (28/3) you would have been in for a big surprise, and may have spotted the lesser booted tree planter. Identified by it’s wooly hat and rubber clad feet, this enthusiastic species can be found scuffing the ground and plunging in their shovel-like appendages in search of good soil. Once found, the planter is then seen to drop a sapling into the carefully prepared hole before heeling it firmly into place. Known to enjoy a cheese sandwich and a cup of tea, when not spreading their saplings this tree planting species can be found babbling as they gather in their preferred feeding station known locally as “The carpark”.

Special thanks should go to the Woodland Trust who donated some 400 saplings to this community woodland, without which the volunteers of the day wouldn’t have had any planting to do and would have had to entertain themselves in a game of pooh sticks.

A blend of willow, birch, alder and dog rose were planted that will help to create a mixed woodland in preference to the pine and spruce once planted as a commercial crop. So it was on a rather blustery day that I dodged the hail and headed over to get involved with putting them in the ground. It was a productive day and despite the forecast, surprisingly sheltered and dry within the wood. The spaniel and I look forward to watching our efforts change the shape of this community resource over the coming years.

If you are a resident, business or community group located in either Lewis or Harris then the Aline Community Woodland is seeking interest from you! With opportunities to volunteer, utilise the space, or contribute in another way to making this place a truly great resource for islanders and visitors alike. Get in-touch via my contact page, or head over and see how you can get involved or what the woodland can offer you at the Aline Community Woodland facebook page.

The Woodland Trust also visited Croft 5 this month. I had enquired about utilising two areas of Croft 5 for the planting of a native, mixed species woodland. I am keen to provide a habitat for wildlife and increase the biodiversity of the croft as a whole, as well as providing early sources of tree pollen for the bees here at Hebribees Honey. It was great to have the opportunity to walk the croft with Laura and learn about the suitability of this land for tree planting. I was surprised to learn how well-suited to trees the soil on the lower half of the croft was for planting. It is not the dark peat that I expected, but a far richer and more clay-like resource. Ideal for establishing a woodland. This was already evident by the two species of native willow that had somehow survived on this part of the croft. It is quite rare to find a 100 year old tree, and one of such a size apparently. The more we walked the croft the more I learned how to interpret this area, and it became evident that this sheltered loch-side would once have been rich with trees. I am excited to take cuttings and seeds from what is already established here, and also to see that the eared willow had already taken to re-seeding itself with new growth visible along the fence line. The upper field wasn’t going to be suitable due to the exposure to the high winds (some of the highest recorded for the island), but this highlighted the diversity of the croft. We also discussed the planting of hedging around the apiary to provide both shelter and forage for the bees.

It’s going to be a long-term project but one I am excited to have started and look forward to progressing. If you would like to contribute to the biodiversity and tree planting here at Croft 5 (or would just like to make a small donation if you’re enjoying the blog) you can do so by buying me a tree.

How to be Fat and Happy

Whilst taking up the old carpets in the hallway and living room it was interesting to see the use of the Stornoway Gazette as underlay, with issues dating from between 1985-1987. I presume the time when these carpets were laid. To be fair, the “How to be fat and happy” article seems to have held true, and although I don’t know what the local authorities current stance is with regards to AIDS I do know that they now have a SAR Helicopter. Happy days.

Happy Spaniel, Happy Life!

As the first quarter of 2026 comes to a close it also marks one year since I moved to Lewis. It seems like such a long time since I left Durham at 5am, boarded the ferry at 5pm, and set sail on this adventure.

The house sale hadn’t completed, all of my belongings had been bundled into storage, and the only commitment I had was to buying Croft 5 at Enaclete. Even that was in doubt throughout the process and I couldn’t have known quite how long it would have been. If I had then I may not have made the move. But that’s in the past, and no journey is without it’s challenges.

They say that it’s about the journey and not the destination, and as we all end up in the same place at the end I guess how we get there is the important part. But for now, sat here on my sofa with the coal fire flickering away it all seems like I have reached my destination.

I also never believed that you could tire a spaniel out, but it seems like you can. You just need endless beaches and 10 acres of prime sniffing ground! A muddy spaniel is a happy spaniel is a tired spaniel. Here’s looking forward to spring-proper, getting stuck into the beekeeping and fencing, and watching the croft come to life.

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