BY KIRSTY WATT
Broadford and Strath Community Company announced their successful purchase of Broadford’s north wood last week – and a date for the diary.
The 12.4 hectare woodland, situated overlooking Broadford Bay, was purchased on behalf of the community to extend the current community woodland and open up opportunities, including for supporting native species and small-scale enterprises.
Neil Hope, chair of Broadford and Strath Community Company, said: “We are delighted to have completed this purchase on behalf of the community. The new acquisition expands our current Broadford Community Woodland and brings with it a range of exciting new opportunities. I would like to thank everyone involved, especially our funders the Scottish Land Fund and Highlands & Islands Enterprise.
“Acquiring the woodland aligns with priorities identified in community consultations and is one of the ambitions set out in the Broadford and Strath Local Place Plan. It will also complement BSCC’s current activities including outdoor learning, growing, tree nursery and nature restoration, and will support our shared ambition to create a strong, self-sufficient, inclusive and eco-friendly community here in south Skye. We look forward to working with the Broadford and Strath community to make the most of this valuable resource now and for future generations.”
To celebrate the purchase, the BSCC are inviting everyone to a celebratory consultation event at Broadford’s village hall on Thursday 30th April (drop in from 5pm, presentation and discussion 6-7.30pm). The evening will allow people to get involved in shaping plans for the woodland’s future and give them the opportunity to hear about the work of other community woodlands.
Neil said: “We will be sharing our proposals for the woodland and look forward to getting everyone’s input. Based on consultation to date, the vision is to transform the site from inaccessible plantation to nature-friendly mixed woodland that will support wellbeing, enterprise and learning. This would include restructuring the forest in favour of native species, developing volunteering programmes, and creating a new path network. We will be setting up a Community Liaison Group to ensure the community is involved in shaping future plans.”
Guests from the Applecross Community Woodland and Tormore Forest will also be at the event to share their experiences of developing and managing community woodlands, along with forestry consultant Bruce Taylor from Brambletree Management.
