Scotland: National Rural NetworkThe Auchencairn Initiative, who we met at the Rural Network Dumfries and Galloway regional event, have submitted the following for the discussion forum. If anyone has any knowledge, experience or tips for funders that could help the group, then please add them to this forum.
An enthusiastic community group representing a small rural village in South-West Scotland ( Auchencairn ) are being frustrated in their efforts to raise finance to purchase their local woodlands of approx 167 hectares.
The land is being offered under the Forestry Commission's National Forest Land Scheme as surplus to requirements.The project is an exciting one of changing a strict conifer regime to a more traditional broad-leaf scheme over a number of years and creating local employment in forestry schools, education project and local firewood ( bio-mass ) for local space heating. A small visitor / educational centre is envisaged also in the forest,driven bvy renewable energy.
Part of the forest drainage system may be dammed off and reverted to its original physical bog state thus providing carbon sink qualities in line with current thinking.
Existing conifers will be felled to provide revenue for the overall project which is expected to be totally self-sustaining financially in keeping with the village shop and business enterprise premises already in use and developed by the Auchencairn Initiative since 2001.
Attempts to interest funders inevitably lead to SRDP - Rural Priorities. This fund will not assist in the purchase of land to greater than 10% of project costs ( EU legislation )- but note, will fund new woodland created on existing land!
It is believed that the group is not alone in its efforts to raise finance and has briefed Richard Lochhead on the subject without success in the interpretation of the SRDP funding programme.
If any other like-minded groups in Scotland are experiencing similar difficulty then an overall group response to Scottish Government may prove mutually beneficial. There would appear to be little point in government agencies such as FCS continuing to offer land when no central funding streams are available.
Any interest with contact details can be e-mailed to:- g.f.j.brockbank@btinternet.com ( Auchencairn Initiative )
Join the Network Now!
Biomass
How many communities are using biomass to heat their community halls, schools, etc?
Doesn't nearby Catstrand need to get supplies of wood pellets from England.
And there are probably others.
Would it not be beneficial to coppice willow etc nearby, say, Auchencairn?
Raising funds for community purchase
1. How many people are there in the Auchencairn "community"?
2. How much would they have to contribute/head to raise the purchase price?
3. If it can realistically be self-sustaining despite all the planned (expensive) and income reducing enhancements, why is the Forestry Commission selling it off?
4. Why should other taxpayers be expected to pay for Auchencairn to buy a forest?
Community Purchase
167 hectares is a sizeable chunk of woodland. If your community is intent on ownership you could try the ethical Triodos Bank? This bank lends funds to such community initiatives, but like any bank will require a good business plan. SNH has just launched its latest funding round which is aimed at supporting communities.
Whilst there is funding for new planting, my understanding is that a condition of felling was that the applicant must replant at their own cost.
However, like Sandra, I would urge you to explore the leasing model. There is a small value in the felled product and the subsequent opportunities of land use also have socially intrinsic value. Ownership can be a less sustainable model than a lease with partnership agreements because it can leave the social enterprise or business short of working capital which is essential for growth and sustainability.
National Forest Land Scheme
The Scottish National Forest Land Scheme now also includes the option to lease the land. See http://www.forestry.gov.uk/nfls
Have you tried to lower the
Have you tried to lower the price. I think you have rights for this. Not long ago I read the book The Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach. It is a true to life story and people were in the similar situation. You may try to follow their way, as it was described how people fought with the authorities to own the forests.
Isle of Bute buy out
You might be interested in this story about a community buy out on Bute:
https://www.ruralgateway.org.uk/en/node/1954
The Bute Community Land Company have a really good website where you may be able to get information of interest.
Purchase of woodlands
George,
I agree that finding funding for land purchase is a real problem at the moment. As you rightly point out Rural Priorities will only pay 10% of land purchase costs. A major funder was the Big Lottery Growing Community Assets Programme. A new GCA programme will open this summer and it may fund land purchase although it is seems likely that it will concentrate on asset development.
Have you thought about entering into a managment agreement with the Forestry Commission rather than going down the route of community purchase? This would allow your efforts to go into carrying out the project work rather than looking for funding to buy. The sting in the tail to that though is that Rural Priorities won't fund projects on FCS land!
Another alternative is to lease the land from FCS and there is legislation going through at the moment that will allow that.
I think you should continue to prod the Scottish Government. And it isn't just a foresty issue, there is very little funding for any asset aquistion whether it is the local community shop or large estate.