Latest news with #FriendsofBroughtonknowe
Scotsman
04-05-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Group of residents buy Scottish woodland for £750,000 to keep it in community
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A community group has managed to buy their local woodland after raising £750,000. The successful buyout was launched in response to fears that Broughtonknowe, a 56-hectare forest in the Scottish Borders, would fall into hands of commercial timber after it went on the market two years ago. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But Friends of Broughtonknowe have managed to secure the woodland, located between Peebles and Biggar, before last month's closing date. The woodland was owned by Christopher Lambton for the last two decades, during which he 'aesthetically thinned' the conifers to bring in more light and put in paths and benches to make the remaining woodland 'a nicer wood' for the public. Broughtonknowe woodland has been purchased by a local group following a successful community buyout | Goldcrest This was managed alongside maintaining some commercial forestry in larger plots on the property, which he said is currently about 40 per cent conifer, 40 per cent broadleaves and 20 per cent open ground. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad During lockdown, members of the surrounding community teamed up with Mr Lambton to create Friends of Broughtonknowe to apply for grants continue work for improving public access and benefit. They introduced more pathways, created wildlife ponds, built a bird hide and developed picnic areas. Read more: Anger over Scottish forest plan as community fears 'disappearing under a carpet of Sitka' In 2023, however, Mr Lambton developed Parkinson's and made the tough decision to announce his intention to sell. This was when the community rallied together to form Broughtonknowe Community Woodland Ltd (BCW Ltd) to purchase the property they had come to love and make their own. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With an asking price of almost £900,000, John Hart, BCW Ltd's secretary, said the group came up with a deal that they would buy £750,000-worth with Mr Lambton holding onto a section of the woodland to make the purchase more manageable. John Hart (far left) and other members of the community buyout following news of their successful purchase | Friends of Broughtonknowe With support from the Scottish Land Fund, South of Scotland Enterprise and SSE Renewables - as well as crowdfunding and private donations - the newly formed charity reached its target. 'It's just an amazing feeling,' Mr Hart said. 'When the woodland went on the market in April 2023, my heart sunk. I felt the figure was insurmountable. 'To a find a note saying the purchase is done was a huge relief. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There's also a sense of trepidation as we're in charge of it now. 'It's not the end of the story. It's very much the beginning of a new one.' Celebrations were had following the successful community buyout | Friends of Broughtonknowe Mr Hart said the woodland is already used by Scouts, cubs, mindfulness groups, dog walkers and more, but that as new owners, they hope to build on what the woodland has to offer. He said BCW Lts is putting out invitations to other groups to come and use the space. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Lambton said: 'For me, to sell to the community was the best outcome for a woodland whose sensitive management over the last 25 years would be erased by conventional forestry practice. Christopher Lambton, who has been involved in improving access in Broughtonknowe over the years and assisted in the community buyout | Christopher Lambton 'I thought it would be a great shame after seeing it grow all these years to then sell it to the highest bidder given the way to make the most money from it would be to chop it all down.'
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
We bought woodland where we walk our dogs for £900k
A group of dog walkers in the Borders have bought their local woodland after raising almost £900,000. Fears were growing that Broughtonknowe would be taken over by a commercial timber company after it was put on the market in 2023. But locals managed to raise the asking price to secure the 56-hectare (140-acre) forest, between Peebles and Biggar, ahead of last month's deadline. Fundraiser John Hart said: "It's almost unbelievable that we have raised the money and are now the owners." The woodland at Broughtonknowe had been operating for about 40 years as a commercial forest. Several footpaths and an access road had been maintained to encourage wildlife lovers and dog walkers to enjoy the scenery. During lockdown several of the regular dog walkers teamed up with the owner, Christopher Lambton, to create Friends of Broughtonknowe. For a couple of years they introduced more pathways, created wildlife ponds, built a bird hide and developed picnic areas. But ill-health led the owner to announce his intention to sell in 2023. Mr Hart added: "When Christopher became unwell and decided the woodland had to go on the market, my heart dropped. "Throughout lockdown Broughtonknowe was where we could go for a walk, and we all became really attached to the place." As well as large areas of commercial softwoods, such as Sitka spruce and larch, the vast hillside forest also has areas of native broadleaf trees, such as ash, aspen, oak and sycamore. Willow, rowan and holly have also more recently been planted around the growing number of ponds and viewpoints. The small friends group managed to rally wider support from across Peeblesshire as it set about raising the £875,000 asking price. With support from the Scottish Land Fund, South of Scotland Enterprise and SSE Renewables - as well as crowdfunding and private donations - the newly formed charity, Broughtonknowe Community Woodland (BCW), reached its target. Charity secretary Alastair Leaver said: "We feared that if we were unable to purchase Broughtonknowe a commercial forester would come in and the whole woodland would be turned over to Sitka spruce. "If that had happened, all the wildlife would be ruined and our enjoyment of the place would have been over. "It's been a challenging time trying to raise the money, but there has been a lot of enthusiasm from across the community." Although the sale has just been completed, the new owners already have plans to further improve biodiversity across the woodland. They are also throwing out an invitation for other groups to enjoy the forest. Chair of the group, Ian Brook, believes Broughtonknowe was worth fighting for. He said: "This place is loved by the community - there can be a dozen cars in the car park yet you walk for over an hour without seeing another soul. "At the same time, it is used for people coming together - whether it's wellbeing groups, yoga or education - and we hope even more groups can come and enjoy what is here. "We will make sure, though, that nature is in control, not any timber companies." Although BCW only has a five-strong board, the charity is supported by 140 members. Since the recent completion of the purchase, bee hives have been introduced and fruit trees have been planted. Over the coming weeks a new shelter will be built and an area has been earmarked for up to 50 hazel trees. Local councillor Viv Thomson said: "This really is a fairytale that's come true. "It would have been devastating if Broughtonknowe had become a commercial forest." Dog walkers poised to purchase £900,000 woodland
