New Lease of Life For Highland Woods
Issued by Forestry Commission Scotland
Woodlands in and around Inverness and Dingwall are getting a £142,000 funding boost from Forestry Commission Scotland as part of a drive to breathe new life into neglected woods close to populated areas and enhance the quality of life for those living nearby.
The cash boost is set to help three urban forestry projects across in the area. The projects at Dingwall Woods, Inshes Wood and Millburn Wood, will ensure that the woods are revitalised through a variety of methods including: planting new trees, building new footpaths, thinning trees to create more accessible space, removing litter and waste, clearing of invasive vegetation, creating recreation areas, improving signage, and enhancing community woodland programmes.
The funding comes from the 'Woods In and Around Towns' (WIAT) initiative which is designed to improve woodland environments, and increase access and recreational opportunities for people living in built up areas. WIAT funding is administered by Forestry Commission Scotland.
Announcing the woodland cash boost, Scottish Forestry Minister, Sarah Boyack said;
"There is growing awareness that woods in highly populated areas provide more than just recreation opportunities - they contribute to people's well-being, stimulate new economic activity and investment, generate education opportunities, help benefit the environment, and unite communities.
"This funding will provide the catalyst for many organisations to breathe new life into neglected woods throughout the country and encourage people to get out and about to enjoy the woods on their doorstep. A walk, run, ride or cycle in a local wood is often the perfect way to relax and escape the hectic rush of everyday life and can also make a significant contribution to people's health.
"By revitalising urban woodlands, improving access and increasing recreational opportunities within them, previously 'unwelcoming' woodlands can become a central part of daily community life."
The following woodland projects are receiving grants.
Dingwall Woods - £77,406 has been awarded for work in Maggie's Wood, Eastend Wood and Riverside Copse, owned by The Highland Council. Plans for the woods include footpath upgrading and extension, and removal of Rhododendron. This will complement other activity aimed at increasing access and recreational opportunity for the local community. There is clear and strong commitment from the local community to improve and protect the woodland. This project aims to harness this community enthusiasm and deliver long term improvements to the environment.
Inshes Wood - This area of woodland lies within the Westhill area of Inverness and is owned by The Highland Council. A grant of £17,185 has been awarded to support sustainable woodland management activity including footpath upgrading and litter picking. At the heart of this WIAT application is the urban woodland management plan which will be prepared with assistance from and in consultation with local community groups and the two local schools.
Millburn Wood - This woodland is owned by The Highland Council and is situated in the Raigmore area of Inverness. Work identified for this area and receiving a grant of £48,108, will tie together and balance social, biodiversity, and silvicultural elements and provide a long term management strategy for the woodland. The preparation of this plan in itself will also provide a valuable forum for woodland education and awareness, and address objectives identified in the local biodiversity action plan.
Work undertaken by the successful WIAT funded woodland projects will complement part of Forestry Commission Scotland's Highland Year of Culture celebrations planned for 2007.
There have been five WIAT funding rounds to date with a total in excess of £9.2 million being committed to over a hundred projects, involving over 8,000 hectares of urban woodland across Scotland - an area the size of Edinburgh.
Councillor Sandy Park, Chairman of The Highland Council's Planning Development, Europe and Tourism Committee, said;
"We are delighted at this significant award by Forestry Commission Scotland which acknowledges the importance of tree cover to the character and setting of urban Inverness and Dingwall.
"The sites at Inshes and Millburn Woods were identified in collaboration with Inverness City Partnership under their 'City Tree Management Initiative' and at Dingwall the local community were the main drivers in identifying the three woodland areas.
"These investments in our local woodlands will help to ensure that communities will continue to enjoy the many benefits of our urban/rural fringes while safeguarding them for future generations."