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Sprucing up the urban forests
24/02/2009
Scotland's urban woodlands are to be spruced up with over £870,000 funding from the Scottish Government.
Over 20 projects across Scotland are receiving the cash, ensuring that local woodlands make a bigger difference to the health and well-being of communities living nearby.
The work will include: opening new and improved walking trails, clearer signage, planting more trees and holding walking, voluntary and special events that will encourage the community to work together to become more involved in the future of their woodland.
Visiting Craigmillar Castle woodlands, where funding has helped the transformation and regeneration of the area, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead met with children learning about the environment under their Forest School initiative.
Mr Lochhead said:
"More people than ever before have access to woodlands on their doorstep. I want Scotland to make the most of this fantastic natural resource. Well managed woodlands are a natural retreat away from the business of modern urban life and are a great setting for us to get more active. Even at this time of year woods are also full of wildlife interest.
"I am pleased that the funding I'm announcing today will help kick start 22 projects that will provide woodland benefits for individual enjoyment, as a focus for communities, and as a part of successful sustainable urban regeneration."
The full list of projects receiving grants is detailed below:
Aberdeenshire
- Battlehill Wood, The Meadows & The Bin: £15,000 for various arts and walking activities.
- Aberdeen City Council have been awarded £14,681 for comprehensive management plans to redevelop areas of woodland within the city.
Ayrshire
- Irvine Woodlands: Scottish Wildlife Trust awarded £71, 333 to maintain, improve public access and biodiversity and generate more recreation in these woodlands.
Edinburgh/Midlothian
- Harmeny Wood: Led by Edinburgh Lothian Greenspace Trust and Balerno Community Council, £17, 270 will help in the upgrading of recreation facilities and woodland management.
- Cornbank: £1,725 awarded to Midlothian Council for the production of a management plan for this woodland in Penicuik.
Fife
- Active Schools projects: Fife Council awarded £66,022 towards introducing a large number of primary school children to their local woodlands for learning.
Glasgow
- Castlemilk Environment Trust: A grant of £134, 483 has been awarded to carry on and build on the success of their local "Live it, Breathe it, Walk it" project.
- Dawsholm Woodlands: the Council's Woodland Unit aim to improve and upgrade the recreational infrastructure of the woodland and boost volunteering and activities for school kids. £41, 943 has been awarded for this.
- Darnley & Ward 3: £121,200 will go towards very detailed management plans for 12 city woodland areas in southwest Glasgow for the benefit of communities. The plans will also include the potential for woodfuel projects and tackling anti-social behaviour.
- Heathcote Avenue: £22,513 towards a special community event undertaken by the Council's Woodland Unit and Drumchapel Woodlands Group during National Tree Week.
- Drumchapel Woodland Group: £3,700 to the group so that they can take on a part-time volunteer-coordinator to help get more people involved in the woodland.
Highlands
- Raasay House Woodlands: £3,468 to provide chainsaw training for eight residents in Raasay so that they can better manage the community woodlands for firewood.
Moray
- Sanquhar, Muiry and New Forres woodlands: £120,405 for public consultation, access and recreation improvements. £23,822 also awarded to the Council for similar work to improve these woodlands under their management.
- Wilkies Wood: £7,500 for a management plan for the woodland to be worked up between the landholder and community.
North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire Council has been awarded funding for various woodland projects which will improve recreation, the state of the woodlands, better access and improve healthy lifestyles:
- Drumpellier Avenue Woodlands: £30, 528
- Motherwell to Ravenscraig Greenlink project £59,039
- Cairnhill Woodlands £113, 170.
West Lothian
- Dedbridge Burn: £23,258 to help transform an important area of greenspace in the heart of Livingston.
- Uphall Community Woodland Project: £55,815 for recreation upgrades and improved woodland management.
- Briech Valley Woodland: £9,983 for new woodland management plans and reports to explore how to improve access opportunities.