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News Funding for Northern Aspen Project and new Wood Pasture Project - NHFT have been awarded funding for a continuation of its existing Aspen project and for a new Wood Pasture project. |
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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.IACS Registration and the New Forestry Grants Scheme An important step in the LMC approvals process will be registering with the IACS. It has been developed to administer EU grants and to combat fraud under the Common Agricultural Policy arable and livestock schemes. All landowners that receive support under the Common Agricultural Policy need to be IACS registered. The guidance for initial IACS registration of forestry land (PDF 297k) provides more information on this important process. There is also guidance on completing the Land and Business Change Form (PDF 19k) New forestry grants will be introduced as part of Rural Development Contracts in 2007. The proposed grants scheme aims to support the following activities:
A summary of the proposals and more details can be found on http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6wxjmk 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. comForestry Commission Scotland (FCS) has just issued a paper Support for social aspects of the Scottish Forestry Strategy 2006 in the Scottish Rural Development Plan and invites feedback from social forestry stakeholders. These measures have not yet been approved by the EU and are guidelines to optimise benefits for all rural sectors including social forestry. Most support in the Scottish Rural Development Plan (SRDP) is to be supplied via a series of measures in integrated Rural Development Contracts. This takes two forms:
For further info or comment contact Dominic Driver, Social Policy Advisor at FCS. 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 402646NHFT 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.
Site last updated: 28/05/2008 |
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Site Design by Marlyn Price |
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