A Highland community is now able to buy all, not just part of its local woodland, thanks to additional money announced by the Scottish Land Fund.
It will allow it to promote its own plans for local development.
The award of £519,000 to Aigas Community Forest takes the total land fund investment in the project up to £740,000, to purchase all 700 acres of Aigas Forest from Forestry Commission Scotland.
It follows an original award of £221,000 made back in January 2014 to purchase a smaller area of land of 120 acres of the woodland which lies between Cannich and Beauly in Inverness-shire.
The First Minister recently announced the Scottish Land Fund will treble from £3 million this year to £10 million a year from 2016. This is designed to make it easier for communities around Scotland who are interested in owning their land collectively to do so.
Aigas Forest is adjacent to the hamlet of Crask of Aigas. The purchase, which will be made under the National Forest Land Scheme, will see the whole forest developed and managed to provide a wide range of economic, social and environmental benefits to the local community. These will include new foot and cycle tracks, associated visitor infrastructure, recreational and educational activities and new business opportunities.
Andrew Leaver, Secretary of Aigas Community Forest, said: ??This increase to our grant from the Scottish Land Fund will enable the community in Lower Stathglass to realise our ambition to buy the entire 700 acre Aigas woodland from Forestry Commission Scotland. Owning the whole forest will allow us to develop a thriving and vibrant asset supporting local businesses and providing recreation and conservation opportunities for local residents and visitors alike. Our thanks go to the Scottish Land Fund committee and all the other supporters who have contributed to this purchase.??
Environment and Land Reform Minister Aileen McLeod, said: ??I am delighted to see this further Scottish Land Fund award to Aigas Community Forest, which will allow ownership of the whole of the Aigas Forest, a long-held ambition of the community. Having clearly demonstrated how the acquisition of the whole forest will provide additional benefits to the community, I look forward to seeing the positive impact in terms of realising economic, environmental and social value as well as long-term sustainability.??
Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair, John Watt, said the award would help Aigas Community Forest to realise its dreams of purchasing and owning all the community woodland.
??This will develop a stronger, resilient and more sustainable community with the ability to develop a wider range of income generating opportunities for the future,?? he said.
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