Grant will allow trust to buy and develop Dunnet Forest

A GRANT of almost £46,000 has been awarded to a Caithness trust to enable it to buy and develop Dunnet Forest.

The money – part of a £3.6 million allocation to 16 groups in Scotland by the Scottish Land Fund – will mean Dunnet Forestry Trust can purchase the facility from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). The trust managed the forest on behalf of SNH for 18 years and recently the two bodies agreed on a community asset transfer.

The £45,950 grant will be used to buy 260 acres of forest and develop the area on behalf of the community.

The trust plans to appoint a development officer to help with plans to create more opportunities for volunteers; make improvements to play areas for children; upgrade paths to allow access for wheelchair users, horses and riders; and establish new areas for wildlife study.

Andrew Wands, chairman of Dunnet Forestry Trust, said: "It has taken a long time and been quite a complex process to get to this position and we are very grateful for the support we have received from the Scottish Land Fund. Now we can get on and bring about the improvements we have been planning for the benefit not just of the local community but for visitors from further afield and of course visitors on the North Coast 500 route, which passes the entrance to the forest.

"We very much hope to encourage many more to take advantage of the existing facilities, and eventually the new ones we will be providing, and to join those who already derive great benefits for their health and wellbeing from walking and taking part in the many events we already hold throughout the year in the forest."

John Watt, Scottish Land Fund committee chairman, said: "This particular round of funding has given a boost to communities in some of Scotland’s remote and island locations, allowing communities to take control of the resources that surround them and make local decisions about how these are used."

Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: "The successful projects are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities.

"Ownership will give these communities greater control over important assets and will help ensure their long-term future. We wish all the successful groups the very best in their new ventures."

The trust is now making plans for the five-year period 2020-25. The forest is part of the Dunnet Links Site of Special Scientific Interest and is a popular recreational area.

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