WIREDGOV

Plans to bring the first piece of land on the Isle of Arran into community ownership have received a welcome boost of £181,500 from the Scottish Land Fund. 

Arran Community Land Initiative will use the award to buy an area of undeveloped farmland near the village of Whiting Bay.  Part of the land will be developed to produce a variety of crops and soft fruits using organic, wild life friendly farming methods.  A number of allotments will be created and a community orchard will be built.  New footpaths and cycling routes will be developed for locals and visitors alike and the group will run a series of volunteering and training opportunities for people on the island.

Treasurer, Juliette Walsh, said: “We will be bringing 80 acres of neglected farmland back into productive use for a number of adventurous community projects ranging from local food production through to creating footpaths and biking trails.  We are really excited that the project will give locals and visitors a new area to explore and add to either through volunteering or training in a variety of land based skills.”

Announcing the funding, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair, John Watt, said: “Since opening to applications in June 2012, the Scottish Land Fund has renewed momentum to community ownership in many parts of rural Scotland. Today’s award is especially significant as it puts the people of Arran on a path to community ownership for the first time. I look forward to hearing about their progress in the months and years ahead.”

Ailsa Raeburn, Senior Development Manager at HIE, said: “HIE has been working with Arran Community Land Initiative since it was established in 2013. Alongside today’s Scottish Land Fund award of £181,500 HIE has also supporting the group to develop their ideas and engage with the local community with a grant of £4,000. We wish them all the very best in their new venture.”

Environment and Climate Change Minister Paul Wheelhouse, said: “I am delighted to see the range of projects that are being funded in this latest round of awards from the Scottish Land Fund. These awards will help to make a real difference to communities in Argyll, Perthshire, North Uist and Wester Ross and will assist them in realising their goals and aspirations through community land ownership.
  
“Support to communities from the Scottish Land Fund is an important way to develop communities and help them realise their goals and aspirations. The Scottish Government remains committed to community land ownership and to supporting it through the Scottish Land Fund until 2020. 
 
“I look forward to watching these communities grow and develop their projects and to see them realise their goals and aspirations.”

The Scottish Land Fund is funded by £9 million from the Scottish Government and administered by the Big Lottery Fund in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

For more information on this release please contact

Big Lottery Fund Scotland
lorna.mcniven@biglotteryfund.org.uk
0141 242 1451

Scottish Government Press Office 
chris.nabney@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
0131 244 2018

Highland and Islands Enterprise Press Office 
kim.thain@hient.co.uk 
01463 244 238

Notes to Editors

• The Scottish Land Fund has £9 million over four years to assist communities in rural Scotland to acquire, develop and manage local land and land assets. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the Big Lottery Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.
• The SLF Committee was appointed following the normal procedures for public appointments. Committee members are non remunerated.
• The BIG Lottery Fund distributes lottery funding to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. It also uses its expertise in grant-giving to distribute non-Lottery funding. Full details of the BIG Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk. BIG Lottery Fund Public Enquiries Line call: 0300 123 7110
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) delivers the Scottish Government Economic Strategy across more than half of Scotland - from Shetland to Argyll and from the Hebrides to Moray. It aims to support businesses and social enterprises; strengthen communities and fragile areas; develop key sectors, and create the conditions for a competitive and low carbon region. HIE has an annual budget of more than £75m and employs around 250 people in locations around the Highlands and Islands. See more at www.hie.co.uk