WIREDGOV

A Dumfriesshire community is poised to take control of its local woodland, thanks to a £171,622 Scottish Land Fund award announced today (TUES 24 MAY).

The award to Moffat Community Woodlands is one of the first to be made from the newly re-launched Scottish Land Fund.

Moffat Community Woodlands will use the funding to purchase 33.4 hectares of land on Gallow Hill, which overlooks the town of Moffat. The group intend to work with the Forestry Commission to replant the land with a broadleaf woodland and begin the process of returning the hill to the way it looked when Moffat was a renowned Victorian spa town.

As well as making more of the stunning views south over Annandale and north to the Devil's Beef Tub, the replanting will, in time, increase biodiversity and allow a broader range of wildlife to flourish, making the hill a more attractive place for locals and visitors to the town to enjoy.

Welcoming the award, Tom Mulholland, Chair of Moffat Community Woodlands, said: “This grant will enable us to improve recreational opportunities for the people of Moffat, and visitors to the town. Ownership of Gallow Hill gives the community the opportunity to enhance the natural environment of the hill for future generations, including the town’s recently awarded Dark Sky status.”

John Watt, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair, said: “This Scottish Land Fund award will help to develop the environmental, heritage and recreational potential of a popular community woodland. The project is an excellent example of a community using the resources available through the Scottish Land to meet their needs. I wish Mofffat Community Woodlands every success as they go on to own and develop Gallow Hill for the benefit of the community and generations to come.”

Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham, said: “It is great to see the first awards from the new Scottish Land Fund being allocated to communities across the country. The Scottish Land Fund is making a real difference to many local communities across Scotland helping community groups to purchase their own land. Moffat Community Woodland is to receive a grant to support their ambition to own and manage the land at Gallow Hill. The community are ambitious and engaged with their plans to improve their local environment and encourage economic development. The skills, resourcefulness and vision they have shown is reinforcing my belief that communities are best-placed to decide their futures.”

Ailsa Raeburn, Head of Community Assets at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: “I’m delighted that ownership of this important local resource will enable Moffat Community Woodlands to start to deliver some tangible benefits to their local community. Highlands and Islands Enterprise has over 50 years of experience in working with communities and we would encourage any groups looking to acquire land and buildings in their area to get in touch.”

The Scottish Land Fund was newly relaunched in March 2016 with the Scottish Government. As part of this relaunch, the programme was expanded to apply to both urban and rural projects.

A second Scottish Land Fund award is also announced today to Barmulloch Community Development Company, which receives £85,000 to purchase the Broomfield Road Centre in Barmulloch, Glasgow.

For more information on this release please contact

Big Lottery Fund Scotland press office
landa.sullivan@biglotteryfund.org.uk
0141 242 1458

Highland and Islands Enterprise Press Office 
calum.macfarlane@hient.co.uk 
01463 244244

Notes to Editors

• The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in April 2016. 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.
• 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