Evanton Wood Community Company

EVANTON COMMUNITY WOOD

Our declared Aim/Vision is

"The purchase and active management [of the wood] for the benefit of the community, in a way that maintains and enhances the rich and diverse environment, and develops its educational, recreational and timber resource".

Our specific objectives are to:

• manage the wood on a system of low impact silvicultural systems including continuous cover
• increase the involvement of people in the wood, especially the local community
• encourage the biodiversity and enhance the beauty of the wood.

Purchase and Initial Programme

Evanton Wood Community Company was established in 2007 following an approach to the community by Novar Estate to sell the 65-hectare mature wood immediately behind the village, bordered by the Allt Graad/R.Glass and Blackrock Gorge. This has long been an important amenity for the community.

It was a 6-year process to engage with the community and gather the funds to purchase the wood (the principal funder was The Heritage Lottery; we also benefitted from the local windfarm grants). We became the owners in August 2012 and undertook a 5-year activity and development programme, involving schools, the local community, volunteers from various communities and a wide range of organisations.

We have developed a log cabin, an octagonal log shelter, a play area, a picnic area, a pond with dipping platform and dry-stone seat, and have improved various trails.

We have won the 2 Scotland's Finest Woodlands Award: The Schools Award (in conjunction with Dingwall Academy) and the Healthy Lifestyles Award. We also received a Highly Commended accolade from RSPB Nature of Scotland (2016) and were a Finalist in the National Lottery Awards Environment Category (2017). In 2018 we were the first wood in Scotland to receive the Dementia Friendly accolade through Paths for All.

Events

We hold volunteer days every Friday morning and every last Sat of the month (10am-1pm) to cut back the western hemlock, improve paths, plant native trees, clear brash and undertake larger green woodwork projects etc. All are welcome.
In recent years we have run a regular programme for People Living with Dementia on a Friday morning. (During COVID restrictions this has moved mainly online).
We also run a programme of occasional family and other events and walks and talks. See our website and Facebook page for details (links below).

Facilities

Facilities are available for booking. Normal access is entirely free. There is disabled parking only; there is a fully accessible composting loo near the cabin.

Membership

Membership is open to all aged 18 and over who subscribe to our aims.

We also run a Friends of Evanton Wood scheme

Contact: Adrian Clark
7 Camden Street,  Evanton  IV16 9XU
01349 830517
adrian.clark444@btinternet.com

www.evantonwood.com

https://www.facebook.com/Evanton-Wood-Community-Company-105048782860982/