Community Woodlands

January 2023

Woodland Crofts for the Black Isle?

An article referenced in the latest newsletter from the Scottish Community Alliance puts forward the idea of Woodland Crofts, with examples from Glengarry near Fort William

Local people in Glengarry are creating woodland crofts in nearby forests – affordable family homes designed for craftspeople, carpenters and small-scale farmers, using a shared ownership model designed to combat the soaring costs of scarce rural homes.
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There has been a recent surge of interest in woodland crofts, caused by the Covid crisis, Brexit, and a growing desire for low-carbon living, said Jamie McIntyre, who co-founded the Woodland Crofts Partnership, an advocacy and advice campaign.

Read the article

Perhaps this is an idea which could be fed into Forestry and Land Scotland's updating of its Black Isle management plan?

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In 2019 Evanton Community Woodland volunteers completed a year-long project to build a visitors' shelter in the Mag's Wood area away from the existing visitor/education cabin and children's play area, to encourage groups to make increased use of this end of the wood.

The shelter is built largely from wind-blown timber from the wood, and uses a method of 'reciprocal' roof construction in which the round logs forming the main beams are held in place by their own weight as they interlock at the apex of the roof.

View the story of the construction in pictures

Roof designer Henry Fosbrooke's website

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June 2019   Abriachan Forest Trust wins Finest Woods award

Dietrich Pannwitz of Sylvestrus Ltd has told us of the success of Abriachan Forest Trust, whose woodland he helps to manage, in being 'Highly Commended' in a competition run by the Scotland's Finest Woods Awards organisation.  Their success was achieved in the organisation's new "1919 Forestry Act Centenary Award", and the award was presented to representatives of the trust by Fergus Ewing, MSP and Minister for Forestry, at the Royal Highland Show on 21 June. 

Below is a summary of the Judges' verdict on the Trust's entry

A hidden oasis in the middle of Inverness, Aultnaskiach Dell has recently been established as a productive and recreational community woodland, thanks to a generous initiative by the owner and the hard work of a dedicated group of local residents.  Learn more from the Chair of the managing group.

January 2022

'Forest School' for primary pupils at Aultnaskiach Dell features in the winter 2021-22 newsletter of the Community Woodlands Association.

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Community Woodlands Association

http://www.communitywoods.org/index.php

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Culbokie Community Trust - Culbokie Woods Project

From the CCT website:

The woods to the south of the village are a fantastic resource, enjoyed by walkers (with and without dogs!), cyclists, bird watchers, wild food foragers and lots more. Culbokie Community Trust has a small group which liaises with the Forestry Commission to improve facilities, and promotes some of the lesser-known features of the woods, historical, geological and biological. In particular, we are hoping to secure funding for a new path to give access to views of the loch.

Other plans include guided walks, bat spotting, and work parties to keep the paths clear. If anyone is interesting in helping with either group, please contact info@culbokiect.org.

Maps and Leaflets

The group has produced a downloadable information leaflet which includes details about the management, geology, wildlife, history and folklore of the woodland. A map is also available as a separate document.

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Strathnairn Community Woodlands

The community of Strathnairn took over the ownership of School and Milton woods in Farr in 2003.  School Wood (approx. 12.14 hectares) sits immediately behind Farr Primary School.  Milton Wood (28 hectares) may be found opposite to the 'Rennie Macintosh' style houses at the west end of Farr.  Both woodlands contain areas of environmental / scenic interest, and exhibit a mix of trees which offer a habitat for woodpeckers, red squirrels, foxes, bats, badgers as well as a good variety of plants, mosses, lichens and fungi.

Access is easy using well defined footpaths and good car parking.  Find more information on the Strathnairn Community website at http://www.strathnairn.org.uk.  (community woodland information is not up to date)