Published on:
13
May 2008
Woods near to towns and cities are set to get a new lease of life, thanks to a further £24m cash injection from the Scottish Government.
The three year funding boost is the second phase of Forestry Commission Scotland's Woodlands In and Around Towns (WIAT) Programme which aims to open up access and recreation opportunities for people living in towns and cities. This phase will help to create new urban woodland, introduce management to improve the quality of existing woods and work with communities to enjoy the benefits local woodland can provide.
Since 2005, WIAT has brought 8,000ha of woodland into active management, created 1,000ha of new woodland and involved 8,900 schools pupils across Central Scotland.
Environment Minister, Michael Russell, made the announcement during a visit to Gartmorn Dam Visitor Centre, Clackmannanshire, to view work which has been carried out using WIAT funding.
Mr Russell said:"Woods in and around towns are an extremely valuable resource for local people. It is well known that woods are good for people's mental health, provide a great location to exercise in, provide a haven for wildlife and offer children a fun atmosphere to learn in.
"Woodland can also play a role in meeting the social and economic challenges in parts of Scotland's towns and cities and the WIAT Programme aims to help communities get the most from their local woodland.
"I have seen first hand here today at Gartmorn Dam Visitor Centre and Cowpark Wood, the benefits that communities can get from their local woodland and the results that both WIAT and partnership working can deliver. The next phase of WIAT aims to strengthen results such as this through further partnership working and helping young people to make a difference in their local environment."
Provost Derek Stewart for Clackmannanshire Council said:"Healthy communities need healthy places to visit. Quality green space in our towns is not only a haven for wildlife but has a strong impact on the quality of life, making communities healthier and happier places to live and work.
"Improving Clackmannanshire's green spaces is important to the Council and the Stirling and Clackmannanshire Woodland and Greenspace Partnership can do much to ensure that the quality of our green spaces continues to improve. I want everyone living in Clackmannanshire to be able to enjoy the benefits of access to clean, safe green spaces.
"I am delighted to hear that Deerpark pupils have already worked to breathe new life into the pond in Cowpark Wood, enjoying the woods on their doorstep and look forward to hearing more about these important projects in the future."
In 2006 Stirling and Clackmannanshire councils secured WIAT funding for 11 council owned or managed woods to help provide improved access to woods and greenspaces.
Stirling Council was awarded £346,353. Work recently carried out in Back Walk Wood includes the felling of trees to open up viewpoints and removing litter and fly tipping. Over four large skip loads of rubbish was collected by Stirling Council's Countryside Team with assistance from the Streetscape Team and also West Contract Services the tree felling contractors. Work has also been carried out at Abbey Craig Woods and the young plantations on Fallin Bing. Tree thinning and safety works are planned for the woods in Bridge of Allan, Balquhidderock Wood and Fallin, along with path improvements in all the woods.
Clackmannanshire Council was awarded £66,589. In Clackmannanshire there are plans to thin out the woods at Woodland Park, Alva, Woodlea Park and Headwall Wood, at Gartmorn Dam (subject to access being agreed). Path improvements are planned for all the woods including Cowpark Wood.
The Minister also presented Primary 7 pupils from Deerpark Primary School with the John Muir Award. The pupils have been discovering, enjoying and caring for local woodlands and greenspaces. They have been working with partner organisations in the WIAT funded Cowpark Wood to: record wildlife in the wood; survey the area; clear invasive species; and have taken part in fun outdoor games.
The funding to physically revitalise woodlands across Scotland is primarily from the WIAT (Woods In and Around Towns) Challenge fund, to which applicants submit bids to Forestry Commission Scotland. The fund is now open with the first judging of applications in October 2008. Further information on the WIAT scheme is available from www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland
A second Challenge Fund: Forest For People, has been developed to support the activities necessary to help people enjoy their local woods. This fund will support community-based, education and health activities that encourage greater use of woodland. This fund is available to applicants across Scotland.
All the bids to the WIAT Challenge Fund (2005-2008) had to include community consultation, improved access, landscape enhancement and work to boost wildlife habitats. Settlements with a population greater than 2,000 were invited to apply for the support.
Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the Scottish Government's forestry department. For more information log on to www.forestry.gov.uk/aboutfcs
The project with Deerpark Primary School was organised by Council for Volunteer Services Clackmannanshire, Action for Change and the staff of Deerpark primary school, assisted by BCTV and funded through a BBC Breathing Places grant.