North Highland Forest Trust - News       25/09/2008

OPPORTUNITIES TO JOIN THE NHFT TEAM - FAR NORTH WOODLAND BIODIVERSITY PROJECT

Biodiversity Forester (Part-time) - North Highland Forest Trust requires an enthusiastic and dynamic individual to work with local woodland managers in delivering biodiversity focussed woodland projects and to support them in accessing SRDP grant aid. For full job description and person specification please contact the Forest Trust Manager, Steve Robertson at 01408 633986 or email: steve@nhft.org.uk  

Woodland Crofts - National Forest Land Scheme Provision for the creation of new crofts including woodland crofts is outlined in the Crofting Reform Act 2007 and this is an important development for crofting counties of Sutherland and Caithness. Forestry Commission Scotland have now issued new guidance providing an opportunity for communities  to buy national forest land.  A woodland croft can range from being mainly woodland to mainly agricultural with a woodland element.  For more information about woodland crofts and the National Forest Land Scheme visit www.forestry.gov.uk/nfls

North Highland Forest Trust - AGM 2007 The 2007 AGM was held in Ardgay Village Hall at 1pm on Saturday 17 November 2007.  Before the AGM there was a walk through the amazing Gearrchoille Wood (meet at 10am - Ardgay Village Hall), where we held part of the recent Wood Pasture training event in October.  This was an opportunity to discuss wood pasture, veteran trees and the recent work of the Trust, as well as the work of the community woodland group working in The Gearrchoille.

Aspen and Wood Pasture Success - NHFT have recently been awarded funding both for a continuation of its existing Aspen project and for a new Wood Pasture project.  These have been funded through Highland Council’s Communities Project for Highland Biodiversity funding programme.  The Aspen project includes further support for aspen growing in Sutherland and Caithness and for some limited survey work of habitat quality and locations of aspen in the two counties.  The Wood Pasture project is Sutherland focused and will aim to identify existing sites and promote the enhancement of this habitat and management practice.  Both projects include a substantial element of training to encourage local people to develop relevant skills.  Watch this space for more information on these projects.

Woodland Archaeology Events-Highland Archaeology Fortnight 2007 NHFT  in partnership with the Highland Council Ranger Service, Highland Council, Strathnaver Museum, local communities and local artists and crafts folk organised two woodland archaeology events for schools and communities. Exploration of the landscape, archaeology, storytelling and hands-on activities provided an opportunity to step back in time and reconsider the traditions and lives of our ancestors compared to the challenges of today.

ELAV in East Sutherland  - Project Officer Viv Halcrow  finalised her report for the ELAV project (Enhancing Local Activity and Values from forest land through community-led strategic planning) in East Sutherland.  The aim of the project was to find out what local people want from the woods and to draw up a strategic plan which will influence the way that woods are managed for people's benefit in the future.  The Scottish community consultation was undertaken in four communities in the project area: Golspie, Lairg, Ardgay & Rosehall. A number of visits to the partner countries of Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden for community representatives were also organised in 2007.  The final project report and reports of visits to the NPP countries will ve available shortly on the ELAV  website: www.elavproject. com

Free Sutherland Photos - Sutherland Partnership gets involved in promoting biodiversity in Sutherland (SNH is one of SP’s major funders). With SNH funding, SP has purchased, from local photographers Ken Crossan and Iain Sarjeant, a fantastic collection of photos of the landscapes and wildlife of Sutherland – some 340 images in all. SP can now use these images – and allow others to use them – for non-profit-making purposes. For details, contact SP Manager William Sutherland 01549 402646

NHFT Membership Forms are available for download - for group and individual membership, only £1 a year or £5 for life!

Check out our newsletters "Word from the Wood" and Forum 2006 - Woodland Regeneration in the Far North.  The current issue of "The Woodstack" also has information about local timber sales, wants, contractors and services. For contributions to our website and newsletter, or local advertising for The Woodstack contact:  marlyn@nhft.org.uk

Scottish biomass support scheme registration and project survey The Scottish Executive is launching a £7.5 million support scheme for bioenergy projects in mid-December. Potential candidates can register their interest from mid-November onwards. Maximum grant will be 400K. Visit www.scottishrenewables.com or contact Jenny Hogan on 0141 222 7920 and jenny@scottishrenewables.com to find out more.

New SNH website launched  A new website service reporting on the condition of important Scottish conservation sites: see www.snh.org.uk or call Fergus MacNeill, SNH Inverness on 01463 725021 for details.

Woodchip Fuel Cost Calculator: This CD-ROM has been created by the Campbell Palmer Partnership and NHFT and provides potential end users with a means of comparing the cost of woodchip with other heating fuels.

North Highland Forest Trust, Alba, Main Street, Golspie, Sutherland KW10 6TG   T: 01408633986  E:  info@nhft.org.uk   W:  www.nhft.org.uk 

North Highland Forest Trust is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee (Registered in Scotland No. SC029559 - Registered Office: Alba, Main Street, Golspie, KW10 6TG)

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