Who holds the power to shape the future of Mackay Country?

In this final episode, the students of Farr High School are determined to find out.

They take their questions about land ownership and how it impacts all of the issues we’ve discussed so far directly to the Scottish Land Commission.

They learn from an Irish island community’s inspiring story how high-speed broadband could create new tech jobs in Mackay Country.

From debating wind farms to designing new ways for their voices to be heard, the students explore how their generation can take control and build a future from the ground up.

Highlands Reimagined is an Anya Media production, commissioned by Strathnaver Museum and published in partnership with the Wild for Scotland podcast. Find out more at highlandsreimagined.com

1

Link: It's the first week

of the new autumn term and

2

I'm on a video call with the

students of Farr High School, in

3

Scotland’s northern Highlands.

4

I've been working with them

throughout this podcast,

5

and I'm wondering what they

think of the show so far.

6

Here's Gracie.

7

Gracie: It was cheeky.

8

Will: Did You say it was tricky?

9

Gracie: No, that it was cheeky

10

Will: Cheeky.

11

The episodes are cheeky?

12

Gracie: Yeah, yeah.

13

Will: What?

14

What is that?

15

What is that?

16

What do you mean?

17

Gracie: That it's good.

18

Yeah.

19

Link: You are listening to

the final episode of Highlands

20

Reimagined, commissioned

by Strathnaver Museum and

21

published in partnership with

the Wild for Scotland podcast.

22

As many areas of the Scottish

Highlands face the challenge

23

of ongoing population decline,

this mini series asks what

24

will persuade Mackay country's

young people to stay or return

25

to build their futures here?

26

This third and final

episode is all about power.

27

Who has the power to

build a sustainable

28

future for Mackay Country?

29

We are going to explore the

power that we can find in the

30

everyday; the power we have

when communities come together;

31

the power that tourists have

-although not the type you

32

might be thinking of- and

the power that needs to be

33

shared by others in order

for real change to happen.

34

But before we get into all

of that, in the Scottish

35

Highlands, you can't

really talk about power,

36

without talking about land.

37

Here's Gracie again.

38

Gracie: It's really quite

difficult, isn't it?

39

Because you've got the matter

of like, families who've owned

40

land for so long and you've got

the matter of like private land

41

being bought up by companies.

42

And a lot of companies

coming around snatching

43

up any available land

before the community can

44

buy it back from them.

45

And it doesn't go to the

people who actually live there.

46

So I think if priority was

given to people who live

47

in the surrounding areas,

work in surrounding areas,

48

that would be better.

49

Link: You are listening to

episode 3, From the Ground Up.

50

[Stirring pipe music]

51

In the Highlands, 'land'

is a word whispered rather

52

than spoken, for it is not

mere soil nor stone, but

53

the very soul of the nation

made manifest in soaring,

54

heather-clad peaks and dark,

silent lochs... [record scratch]

55

Elizabeth will say: "Will,

snap out of it please"

56

Dr Elizabeth Ritchie, senior

lecturer of history at the

57

University of Highlands and

Islands is keen to remind me

58

that romanticised stereotypes

of Scottish land aren't merely

59

a bit irritating, but also hold

a lot of ... well ... power.

60

Elizabeth: Often folks who

are very interested in perhaps

61

hill walking, I speak as

a hill walker myself, and

62

conservationists come in

thinking that this place

63

is an untouched wilderness.

64

That's just not the case!

65

That is a notion that

very much came in through

66

the romantic movement.

67

So let's not start our

debate there 'cause

68

it's just not the case.

69

It's a place which has been

managed and utilized over

70

generations for hundreds,

thousands of years.

71

So let's acknowledge

that it's not actually

72

an untouched wilderness.

73

It it beautiful and valuable.

74

Yes.

75

Let's start there.

76

Rather than saying that it's

an untouched wilderness.

77

Link: Does the evocative power

of an unspoiled view risk

78

blocking developments that could

provide more stable, long-term

79

benefits for the community?

80

Elizabeth: So the current

major concern is both offshore

81

and onshore wind farms.

82

And there are lots of debates

to be had on both sides

83

of, of the debate where

those things are concerned.

84

But I think the important

thing is to start from a basis

85

of what is actually there and

have discussions thereafter.

86

It's really important to

acknowledge that there are

87

people in these places that they

need to have the fundamental

88

say in what is going on.

89

And that's where you need to

be speaking to the local people

90

and saying, well, I'm sure

you value the view as well,

91

but what else do you value?

92

And might this mast or small

scale wind farm or whatever it

93

is, might the potential damage

that is done, for example,

94

to this particular view, be

outweighed by potentially

95

community benefits ... or not?

96

Link: When an economy depends on

visitors, at what point does its

97

landscape stop being a place

and start being a product?

98

Elizabeth: I think when you

frame a place as being sort of

99

wild and beautiful, and that's

essentially all that it is, then

100

you're framing it fundamentally

as, a tourist destination.

101

That means, and you see

it happening regularly and

102

visitors themselves even

saying that basically, you

103

should be grateful that we're

coming because you rely on us.

104

Well, yeah, tourism is a

part, an important part ,of

105

a, of a local economy, of

these sorts of, of places.

106

And most tourists, by the

way, are far more respectful

107

and interested than that.

108

But it's very important that

a place doesn't become a

109

reliant on one element of

the economy, like a sort of

110

monoculture because then you

get covid or something and

111

every, everything collapses.

112

And also there needs to be

an understanding that the

113

tourist economy is very often

not one which brings, secure

114

jobs, high paying jobs,

or even year round jobs.

115

Link: They are of course

a minority, but I've

116

heard so many stories of

tourists behaving badly.

117

The tourist's power isn't

just in what we buy, but in

118

how we behave, and it's worth

remembering that our holiday

119

spot is someone else's home.

120

It’s not a playground; it's

a community and a landscape

121

that deserves our respect.

122

[Music shift]

123

We've talked about the

power that perceptions of

124

the Highlands can have in

influencing its future.

125

But who has the final say so

on how land is actually used?

126

Well, it turns out that this

is such a big issue in Scotland

127

that an entire commission

was set up to advise on it.

128

Gracie: I'm currently sitting

here doing an interview.

129

Will: And Dylan, could

130

you just say a few words for me?

131

Dylan: It's quite cold today on

Wednesday, the 26th of March.

132

Link: Sound check completed,

Gracie and fellow student:

133

Dylan are ready to speak

with Dr. Lucy Beattie of the

134

Scottish Land Commission.

135

Dylan: What is the

Land Commission?

136

Lucy: the Scottish

Line established

137

The reasons behind establishing

commission were make that

138

there would be a sort of

independent body that would

139

have a goal of reviewing,

making recommendations on land

140

related laws and policies,

and also about promoting good

141

practice in land ownership

management and land use.

142

Research commissioned by

the Scottish Land Commission

143

has shown that Scotland has

one of the most iniquitous

144

land systems and that has

led to tensions in the past.

145

. The Land Commission has looked

at, how monopolies work in other

146

countries in Europe to discuss

and decide, how is a monopoly

147

in the land context, gonna work

or not work for our country?

148

And undoubtedly the evidence

points to the fact that a

149

diverse and open transparent

system of land ownership is

150

much better to bring about

different opportunities

151

for different people.

152

Link: Half of Scotland's

private land is owned by

153

fewer than 500 people.

154

That's a huge concentration

of power when it comes to

155

decisions about how land is

used—for example for housing,

156

industry, or conservation.

157

In the face of that, it's

easy to feel powerless.

158

But what about the power of

the everyday; of starting small

159

with individual actions that

strengthen your own prospects

160

or those of your community?

161

Here's Kynan, another student

I'm working with, speaking

162

about volunteering at his

local community centre.

163

Kynan: I sometimes work

in the kitchen, but I

164

also do clean up as well.

165

Like cleaning and just helping

out and decorating during

166

a Christmas party and then

for Burns night as well.

167

Link: And here are Jamie

and Dylan, telling me

168

about the jobs they got

over their summer break.

169

Jamie: I've been working

at a cafe through the

170

holidays and you see a

lot of interesting people

171

coming and it's quite nice.

172

Dylan: In the summer I was

working at a hotel that is

173

being built up, which is a

very different type of work

174

experience it's been a very

good opportunity 'cause I've

175

been able to see different

routes that I can take and

176

like what can happen if I

do decide to stay up here

177

[MUSIC BREAK]

178

Liam: I went through school

till I was 16-year-old.

179

Then I applied for a

couple of apprenticeships

180

Link: This is Liam.

181

After finishing school, out

of a class of 13 pupils,

182

he was one of only two who

stayed in Mackay Country.

183

Everyone else left to pursue

opportunities elsewhere.

184

Liam: A friend of mine

approached me 'cause my old

185

man had a machine that he had

on his croft, and he asked me,

186

he says, "oh, would you come

and do a shed site for me?"

187

Will: What's a,

what's a shed site?

188

Just,

189

Liam: A site for

building a shed on

190

.

And ever since then, it's

gone from one job to another.

191

Link: Now, Liam runs an

excavator business with his dad.

192

Liam: I always wanted

to work for myself.

193

What I was gonna be

doing, I had no idea.

194

I never liked the idea of

being employed and being given

195

instructions on what to do.

196

I always wanted to have that

freedom and say, "look, this

197

is what I'm gonna do and it's

on my terms", type of thing.

198

If there's no work, you

kind of, it's strange to

199

say, but you kinda have

to make your own work.

200

It's one foot in front of the

other, you just do it slowly.

201

I worked myself to begin with

just little jobies in people's

202

gardens doing landscaping jobs.

203

Some of the jobs you would

get maybe two in a week

204

to do, and then there was

nothing else to do then until

205

another job would come in.

206

But obviously word of mouth

then would just spread and

207

it went from there, really.

208

Link: Liam's company has been

working on the new bridge that

209

is being built on the only

road west out of Bettyhill.

210

Liam: You have to

have commitment for

211

it, whatever you do.

212

It's easy enough to do a

job from nine to five, but

213

when you're trying to keep

everything running you

214

have to be a step ahead of

everything and that's, it's a

215

lot of work in itself, a lot.

216

But as long as I've got work

to keep me going throughout

217

my lifetime and I can support

locals in the area, giving them

218

more work and which keeps them

local to the area - I say that's

219

- it's all my hopes can be anyway.

220

Link: Liam's story is an

example of the power that can

221

be found in a determination

to forge your own future.

222

Will: Whose responsibility

do think is to make change

223

for the good in rural areas?

224

Adrian: The community.

225

People need to take control.

226

Link: I am sitting in

the art classroom with

227

students from Farr High.

228

We're joined online by

Adrian Begley, from Aranmore

229

an island off the coast

of Donegal in Ireland.

230

His story is another about

taking control of your own

231

future, except in his case

it's about how an entire

232

community took on the challenge.

233

Adrian: If you wait, if

local authority and national

234

authority to do it with the

best will in the world, I'm

235

sure they've got too many

irons in the fire and they've

236

got too much stuff going on.

237

There's a saying that the, the

squeaky hinge gets the oil,

238

if you don't keep knock on

the door, if you don't trying,

239

things aren't gonna get done.

240

And it's important that people

take ownership of the problems

241

that are in their community,

but also take ownership

242

and fighting the solutions.

243

We have an island council

in Arranmore, that was

244

set up, to be an advocate

for the community.

245

We don't have any say in,

in, in making rules or,

246

you know, enforcing laws.

247

That's not what we do.

248

All we are is, is,

is an interlocutor

249

between the community

and the powers that be.

250

The future's yours.

251

It's, you know, it's

up to you to shape.

252

If you don't shape it,

someone will shape it for you.

253

Link: Arranmore may be 300

miles away from Farr High,

254

but I wanted the students

to meet Adrian after I

255

came across him whilst

researching the final episode.

256

Arranmore has some striking

similarities to Mackay Country,

257

a rural community facing

population decline, school roles

258

dwindling, not enough houses

and young people leaving to

259

build their futures elsewhere.

260

Except that this

story has a twist.

261

Adrian: So what we did was we

reached out to our diaspora,

262

and our diaspora's huge.

263

They're all over the world.

264

So we reached out to them

and asked them what they

265

wanted, and a lot of young

people, who, left home:

266

Some of them have been very

successful app development,

267

and IT, finance, various

different industries like that.

268

But their jobs weren't

jobs they felt that

269

they could do from here.

270

And the reason was primarily

because they didn't have the

271

connectivity that they needed.

272

It certainly it lit the

touch paper as they say,

273

for us, to go and get

something done about this.

274

Link: They launched an ambitious

project to install wireless

275

broadband across the island,

complete with a new digital hub

276

where Adrian is joining us from.

277

Kynan has a question.

278

Kynan: How have the types jobs

changed since it was installed,

279

and how well paid are the jobs?

280

Adrian: It's everything from,

app development, finance

281

insurance, design, graphics.

282

We have got everybody here from,

recruiters for major ndustry.

283

There was a big recruiter

for Twitter at one point.

284

There was somebody involved

in likes of PayPal.

285

There's lots of different

industries, and these people,

286

have moved back to Arranmore.

287

And they're now working, some

remotely out in here, some

288

remotely from their home.

289

They were well paid jobs.

290

but their disposable income

in a like Dublin or London

291

is a whole lot different

than disposable income on

292

a place like Arranmore.

293

Everything's cheaper here,

the property's cheaper.

294

We have gone from having

one person working remotely

295

on Arranmore, at the start

296

having 18% of our working

population now working remotely.

297

And indeed there's some

people moving to Arranmore

298

who are not from here all.

299

They can see the benefits

of living a place like this.

300

And they're able to come here

with jobs which ordinarily

301

would be based in the city,

but they can now take them

302

with them and, and work

out of a place like this.

303

Link: Alex also has a question.

304

Alex: What about like

hospitals, like healthcare,

305

like what about those?

306

Adrian: We have got a

health center on Arranmore.

307

The fact that I can get an

appointment with my doctor

308

in 15 minutes, is, you know,

something that you just will not

309

get in a large populated area.

310

Link: The high speed broadband

installed at Arranmore's

311

Medical Centre has enabled real

time video consultations with

312

mainland specialists, saving

islanders overnight trips to

313

hospitals on the mainland.

314

[MUSIC

315

SHIFT]

316

Arranmore's story is really

inspiring and there are many

317

similarities between it and

Mackay Country, but there are

318

also many differences as well.

319

Arranmore is a small island

measuring four miles by

320

three, whereas the Scottish

Highlands Council area is only

321

a little smaller than Belgium.

322

Because it's an island,

Arranmore's 500 or so residents

323

are reasonably densely

populated whereas Mackay

324

Country has a population density

less than that of Lapland.

325

Mackay Country has community

councils - which I was

326

impressed to learn include

youth representatives - and

327

there are 4 of these that cover

the Mackay Country region.

328

But there's another similarity

that made me want the

329

students to speak to Adrian.

330

One of the students

Callan explains.

331

Callan: Recently the

roads have been dug up

332

and they've entered cables

for fiber optic broadband.

333

So hopefully that helps improve

the connection between people

334

Link: At the time of recording,

in north eastern parts of Mackay

335

Country, Highland Broadband

buoyed by private investment

336

and government support is

installing superfast broadband.

337

Could digital hubs like the one

on Arranmore be brought to this

338

part of the northern Highlands?

339

It’s not a magic fix, and

there are large parts of Mackay

340

Country which could be waiting

a long time to get connected

341

But I’m interested to find

out whether these developments

342

could present new opportunities

for well paid jobs in Macakay

343

Country in the near future?

344

Here's Dylan.

345

Dylan: I think it would

open up like more like.

346

Working at home type of things

and having like the speeds that

347

you need to do tech jobs in

like the comfort of your home.

348

Link: And Alex

349

Alex: So if there's like, like

a better broadband, like you can

350

reach out for, uh, more people,

better wifi, better connection.

351

That means you can play games

lot or more that need more wifi

352

and you can like call friends.

353

Link: And Kynan tells

Adrian what opportunities

354

it might present for

him and his classmates.

355

Kynan: I know a few people

in the same class as me.

356

Maybe one or two others are

interested in doing something

357

in the tech industry.

358

Maybe game development

or designing.

359

' I'm also kind of

interested in, in as well,

360

Adrian: Yous are young and

believe you me, you probably

361

don't even see the opportunities

that are there yet.

362

But they're there.

363

And if you see the benefit

in the beautiful place that

364

you live in, the beautiful

communities that you just

365

come from, believe you me, the

opportunities are there to stay.

366

[BREAK]

367

Link: Finding

368

out precisely what a community

wants isn’t necessarily

369

as easy as it might sound.

370

After all, a community

isn't one thing.

371

All communities, anywhere,

are made up of individuals

372

with their own opinions,

agendas and interests,

373

which won't always align.

374

Arranmore took an unusual

approach to choosing how

375

they should be represented.

376

Adrian: We had an election day

and we give everybody in the

377

island who was on the electoral

roll, a sheet of paper with

378

five lines on it, and they

could put five names on that

379

from anybody in the community

who was on the electoral role.

380

And we just went and

picked out that, who

381

were the top 15 people.

382

Their names showed up, we

phoned them and we said, "do

383

you wanna be on the council?"

And every single one of 'em

384

said yes, not because they

were, they were canvasing,

385

but because they felt a sense

of duty to the community,

386

because the community had

asked them to represent them.

387

Link: Balancing the different

views within communities is

388

a challenge anywhere -you

only have to make the mistake

389

of joining a neighbourhood

Whatsapp group in the city

390

I live in to learn that.

391

Gracie: If there's two wildly

different viewpoints on

392

a subject, you know, it's

gonna be really difficult

393

to find the middle ground.

394

Link: In the Highlands, when it

comes to a major project like a

395

new wind farm, it’s completely

natural for a community to

396

have a wide range of opinions.

397

Here's Gracie again,

followed by Dylan.

398

Gracie: Like was same thing

with Brexit where you had

399

like leave and stay and it

tore like a lot of cities

400

apart 'cause people couldn't

decide what they wanted With

401

big decisions like that, even

though it might not seem big to

402

people from big cities, it's an

important thing through up here.

403

It's gonna, it's gonna have

ramifications like that.

404

Dylan: It's gonna make it sound

easier than it is, but I think

405

they should do like a survey,

I don't know, something simple.

406

Link: Dylan's onto

something here.

407

There need to be ways to

gather people's views, to

408

find common ground and agree

on a plan for the future.

409

It isn't easy for sure, in

fact it can be really hard.

410

But there are people who

are trying to do exactly

411

that in Mackay Country.

412

Rachel: I think it's really

important that we understanding

413

the knowledge and the

expertise, embodied within

414

the communities, it's there.

415

Link: This is Rachel Skeen

from the Regional Land Use

416

Partnership for North West

417

Rachel: It's the systems

and structures that don't

418

give agency within the

current way of working

419

to see the change happen,

because the capacity doesn't

420

exist within communities.

421

So we were able through

this project to help

422

to create capacity.

423

Link: The first priority was

to create capacity for people

424

to talk and listen; find

a safe way for everyone to

425

express views for the future.

426

Sara Harkins is also

427

Sara: I'm the landowner of

the Kinlochbervie estate.

428

I think the work that I've

been doing with Lizzie

429

and Rachel, which has been

around landowners, crofters,

430

and communities working

together has been really

431

taking me out of my comfort

zone sometimes, but, I think

432

it's really important work.

433

We had, I think over a hundred

one-to-one conversations

434

with local people.

435

Often in their homes.

436

And we listened to

what they had to say.

437

And, and I think that

was fascinating and

438

sometimes quite scary.

439

But actually I, I think

it reaped benefits because

440

we actually heard what

people wanted to talk about

441

I met a lady, who said,

"but I can't, I can't have

442

an opinion about the land

because I don't own any

443

land and I'm not a crofter".

444

And I was like, "no, but you

of course you have an opinion."

445

And I think that's, that,

that's an example of, trying

446

to empower everybody who lives

in a community, to have a

447

voice to say what they want.

448

Link: Lizzie Wilder Williams is

the third member of Northwest

449

2045, I'm chatting with.

450

Lizzie: In listening, in

having those conversations,

451

um, the links that have formed,

not just between, those of us

452

here and those we have been

listening to, but between

453

others within the communities,

and I think it's building

454

those trusting relationships.

455

Will: I want to know more about

how they handle disagreements.

456

Part of the approach

comes down to finding

457

shared connecting values.

458

Lizzie: Maybe it's

easier to find common

459

values between people.

460

If you start exploring things

like the future generations and

461

it, I think what I've observed

is that when you start talking

462

about the kids, and what happens

in the future and perhaps also

463

our, our old age, then there is

more common ground to be found.

464

Rachel: `I think when there's

the lack of communication,

465

that's when things can become

really dangerously dislocated.

466

Will: Yeah, completely.

467

Yeah.

468

Rachel: What we are always

trying to test with our

469

work is how are we actually

usefully interconnecting with

470

what already exists, rather

being yet another layer of

471

confusion or complexity for

communities to have to navigate.

472

Link: Meaningful community

consultation takes time.

473

But it's a difficult balance

when you're facing what

474

I’ve seen described as a

"population emergency".

475

Here's Sara again talking

about the conversations

476

she's been having with

young people in her area.

477

Sara: From the children and

young people's perspective that

478

there is an urgent necessity

for change to happen not within

479

years, but within months.

480

And that's a really complicated

juggle so I think some

481

things are too rushed and

they need to be slowed down,

482

but other things need to be

speeded up a hundred percent.

483

So it's a complicated

juggle, isn't it?

484

Link: Despite the complexity,

485

tangible progress.

486

According to their latest

report, they've been part

487

of successful efforts to

reopen a childcare service,

488

develop a community manifesto

with local schools and are

489

developing affordable housing

plans with Boyd, who you

490

heard in the last episode.

491

T145_Tr4: it'd be interesting

to know like when you leave

492

fifth year or sixth year Are

you gonna leave for a wee

493

while and come back, or are you

gonna stay or leave forever?

494

Link: Dr Lucy Beattie from

the Scottish Land Commission

495

is interested to know

what Gracie and Dylan's

496

plans are for the future.

497

Here's Dylan,

followed by Gracie.

498

Dylan: I think when it

comes to like thinking about

499

what comes after school.

500

A lot of it involves leaving,

but not really looking back.

501

it doesn't always feel

like there's something to

502

Gracie: come back to often.

503

Yeah, I get that.

504

If I could, I'd want to come

back after going to university,

505

but my worry is there won't

be a for me to live in.

506

T145_Tr4: I think we have to

think about more, creative ways

507

of meeting that housing need.

508

And definitely land reform

can fit that as well.

509

[MUSIC SHIFT]

510

Link: There are tools, one could

say powerful tools that rural

511

communities with a clear vision

can use to take some control.

512

Lucy: THe land ownership

landscape in the Highlands has

513

changed a lot in the last 22

years, which is since we first

514

had the first Land Reform Act,

515

, an opportunity in statute for

community bodies to make a

516

buyout of their local land.

517

So since that statute's come

about, we have what's known

518

as a community right buy.

519

, and that enables a community

body to come together to

520

make a proposal, to vote

on something or to perhaps

521

register a interest in land.

522

Say for example, you are living

in a community where there's

523

not enough housing to, provide

affordable housing for people

524

and perhaps your school role

is decreasing, a community

525

might decide that they wish

to register an interest on

526

a piece of land, and should

that land ever come up for

527

sale, they could make a bid

to buy it as community group.

528

Link: Coihagh is a peninsular

just to the south of Mackay

529

Country on the West Coast.

530

The Land Reform Act is one

of several tools that they

531

have used to buy land and

assets for community benefit.

532

Lizzie, who we heard

earlier, tells me about it

533

Lizzie: About 12 years ago,

there was an opportunity

534

to establish a, a community

development company.

535

And one of the reasons to do

that was to, set up a renewable

536

energy company, which would be

able to put up a community owned

537

wind turbine, which we now have,

which generates income for the

538

community, which supports staff

for the development company, but

539

also has various small grants

programs, and, and has enabled

540

through all that, the purchase

of a site on which there's

541

going to be affordable housing.

542

And we just got, planning

permission last week.

543

And all this has been hugely

hard work, of course, but

544

the feeling of possibility

within this community is

545

palpable, and it's not just

about the money, it's about

546

the possibility and about

what that represents as well.

547

And because we have already

had all of that going on,

548

um, we had the opportunity

to take on another piece

549

of community owned land.

550

And that obviously comes

with responsibilities

551

and a, a burden itself.

552

But it's, um.

553

It's another huge opportunity.

554

And so I, I find it really

helpful to look back over

555

those 12 years and think

of all the hard work and

556

what was the nugget that

created that opportunity?

557

And was it, sort of the alchemy

of bringing together the, just

558

the right combination of people?

559

Maybe it was, and we were very

lucky, having said that, the

560

school role is at its lowest

that it's ever been, I think.

561

I think we are at a sort of

nadir and about to, lift off.

562

And so my vision for the

future is full primary school.

563

On the off chance that my

son doesn't make it as a

564

professional footballer

[LAUGH] , that he will be

565

able to come back and, um,

and have a future here.

566

Link: My main takeaway from this

series is that the question of

567

how to get more young people

to build their lives in Mackay

568

Country is incredibly complex.

569

It’s a huge topic, tangled up

in centuries of history, ongoing

570

debates like land reform, and

the strange way perceptions

571

of this place can sometimes

feel like they override the

572

lived reality of the community.

573

When the students talk about

what they value, something

574

they keep returning to is

being genuinely listened to.

575

Here's Kai, who you have heard

from throughout the series.

576

Kye: I'd like for young people

to actually have more of a

577

voice, it may be that stuff

is happening behind the scenes

578

and we just aren't being made

aware of it Like stuff's being

579

put through the system and it's

just taking forever and we are

580

getting no feedback out of it

just more communication from

581

the people up at the top who

are in charge of things that

582

we are asking to be changed.

583

Link: I'm back on the video

call this episode began with.

584

I want to know, if they could

design - from scratch - a

585

process for gathering and acting

on young people's opinions,

586

what would it look like?

587

Here's Gracie.

588

Gracie: LIke, you

know, ventriloquists,

589

If a kid could like

ventriloquise an adult and

590

you speak into their ear and

then they rehash your points

591

out loud, we would go SO far.

592

Will: That is a great idea.

593

Gracie: I know,

I’m full of them.

594

Gracie Jones from

Farr high school.

595

Will: Nice one.

596

Have you got any

thoughts, Dylan?

597

Dylan: I mean, thinking in terms

of likee something possible,

598

Will: Alright.

599

Spoil sport.

600

Mr. Sensible over here?

601

Dylan: I feel like something

really simple because I feel

602

like if it was like a hassle,

we wouldn't really care.

603

We'd just probably just ignore

it and that's what I would do.

604

But like if it's something

simple and it's like

605

something you can do like

in a matter of seconds, it's

606

like an app or something.

607

You can go on it and write

something anonymous and it

608

just gets sent off and I

don't really think about it.

609

I just, it's just, I don't,

my thoughts, as long as it's

610

not like too like hard to do.

611

Link: In our first episode, the

strength of community was the

612

main reason why young people

said they’d want to stay here.

613

Now, at the end of our final

episode and from all the

614

conversations throughout

this series, I want to know

615

what Dylan and Gracie think

are the other most powerful

616

arguments to persuade a

young person from Mackay

617

Country to stay, or return

and build their futures here.

618

Gracie: I think it's quite

good for mental health getting

619

away from like the hassle and

the, um, bustle of the city.

620

, it's you in the ocean as

well, that always quite

621

soothing, quite calming

622

Dylan: It's like very peaceful

and calm up here, I feel

623

like the crime rates are low.

624

Gracie: There's less noise.

625

Less noise.

626

Pollution.

627

Light pollution.

628

You can see the stars

at night as well.

629

That's quite nice that like,

I was like gobsmacked when

630

I looked up at the sky I

can see the constilations,

631

that was really cool.

632

Dylan: It's just easygoing.

633

Less stress and hassle.

634

You know what you're doing.

635

It's pretty straightforward.

636

I was going to say

it's healthier.

637

Gracie: Cleaner air.

638

Dylan: That's what

I was gonna say.

639

How often do you like breathe

and be like, yes, oxygen?

640

Gracie: I can feel

it in my lungs.

641

You can tell.

642

Dylan: Can you?

643

Gracie: It's like a good

place for you to live.

644

Not to mention all

the nature around.

645

You're surrounded by the

plants and the foliage and

646

the other one was at one shop.

647

It's really great.

648

Link: I began this series

with the idyllic memory of a

649

childhood holiday, a picture of

a beautiful, peaceful landscape.

650

A place my family

chose to visit.

651

But for young people growing

up here, the choice of whether

652

to stay or to leave is far

more complex, one that weighs

653

up concerns over careers,

affordability of housing,

654

access to health care,

schools and so much more.

655

Throughout the series we

have heard how change is

656

happening, how people’s

stories speak of a growing

657

powerful movement to make

"staying" a more viable choice.

658

We’ve heard how remote

working, community

659

buyouts, entrepreneurship

and house building are

660

creating new opportunities

to make this a reality.

661

So much of what I’ve learnt

whilst making this series

662

is so applicable in other

parts of the country, in

663

other parts of the world.

664

I think we could all learn a lot

from the challenges that Mackay

665

Country is grappling with as

well as the solutions that are

666

being explored to overcome them.

667

And those challenges

remain significant.

668

But so is the resilience of

the people living here - people

669

of all generations who are

determined to shape their

670

own futures, and ensure

their region is not defined

671

by one-dimensional picture

postcard views of the Highlands

672

but by the more complex

reality that makes it home.

673

Highlands Reimagined is an

Anya Media production for

674

Strathnaver Museum, published

in partnership with the

675

Wild for Scotland Podcast.

676

The executive producers are

Fiona Mackenzie for Strathnaver

677

Museum, and Kathi Kamleitner

for Wild for Scotland.

678

The script editor is Andy Jones.

679

The theme music is

by Cameron Mackay.

680

Thank you to all those who

contributed to this series.

681

A special thank you to the

students and staff of Farr

682

High School, and in particular

to Aaron, Alex, Callan,

683

Dylan S, Dylan M, Gracie,

Jamie, Kye, Kynan and also

684

to Tracy Richardson - their

teacher - without whom this

685

whole project would simply

not have been possible.

686

Highlands Reimagined is

recorded, edited, mixed and

687

presented by me: Will Sadler.

688

Find out more at

highlandsreimagined.com

689

The Artist Residency Programme

through which this podcast

690

was made was part funded by

Museums Galleries Scotland, The

691

William Syson Foundation, the

Children’s and Young People’s

692

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Fund, and received support

693

from the UK Government through

the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.