Action on the ground
Making links between woodlands means more than the creation of habitat. It can be a way of re-connecting people and woodlands, to the benefit of both.
Expanding the forest network can increase opportunities for communities to get new social and economic opportunities from the woodlands associated with settlements. Rural development, based on a sustainable native timber resource, is a key part of the work of Highland Birchwoods.
Cree connections
Other organisations are also doing exciting things on the ground. One of these is the Cree Valley Community Woodlands Trust. The CVCWT project is focussed on the woodlands associated with the River Cree and its tributaries, near Newton Stewart in south-west Scotland. The Trust is developing a Forest Habitat Network here that will run from the river’s source to the sea.
To achieve this, the CVCWT is working with many different partners, guided through community input, a feasibility study, a Project Manager and an administrative assistant. Selective felling, planting, wet woodland creation, fencing, path creation and interpretation have all formed part of the expanding work.
Broad front in the Borders
Also in southern Scotland, The Borders Forest Trust is developing a range of projects under two broad themes: ‘Living with Trees’ aims to benefit the environment and communities and ‘Working with Trees’ focuses primarily on the rural economy.
The BFT works in partnership with many different groups to establish new native and community woodland and to research, manage, restore and protect existing semi-natural woodlands.
Ambitious restoration
In the most ambitious ecological restoration project of its kind in Scotland, the Wildwood Group of the BFT is working at Carrifran. The Trust bought this ice-carved valley in the Moffat Hills in 2000 and immediately began work to restore native tree cover there. By 2005, almost 1/3 million trees and shrubs were once again growing at Carrifran.
Through the work of Highland Birchwoods, of active, well-organised non-government groups such as those in the Cree Valley and the Borders and of agency partners, a bold start has been made to re-connecting Scotland’s forests. There’s a long way to go, but already the new links are thriving and should inspire work in any different areas and communities.
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