Community ownership: case studies

Aigas Community Forest

Asset: Aigas Forest, 703 acres, in Lower Strathglass, Beauly, Inverness-shire, purchased in March 2015 through the National Forest Land Scheme

Website: http://www.aigasforest.org.uk

Contact: Helge Hansen, Forest Manager: helge@aigasforest.org.uk

Scottish Land Fund grant – £740,000

Projects and activities:

• Opening up paths through the forest
• Designing and constructing challenging all-ability tracks and activities
• Establishing an outdoor venue and programme of artistic and cultural events

Main successes so far:

• Established a small fire wood business with volunteers
• Started converting some of our Scots Pine stands to continuous cover forestry 
• Provided chain saw training for local people 

…and challenges?

• Managing deer population to move towards continuous cover forestry

Any advice for groups thinking of taking on land assets?

• Be ambitious but also have realistic targets of what can be achieved