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Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Wood you believe it! Dog walkers raise £900k to save forest from the axe
IT offered much-needed respite during the Covid lockdowns. But when the area of woodland was put on the market in 2023, locals feared it would be chopped down by commercial loggers sparking a huge fundraising effort to save it for the community. Now a group of dog walkers have successfully bought Broughtonknowe Woods, Peeblesshire, after raising almost £900,000. And they plan to share the precious area with others and turn it into an educational hub and natural pharmacy. Ian Brooke, chairman of Broughtonknowe Community Woodland charity, said: 'Local people are delighted that the woods are now safely in the hands of a locally-run charity that will preserve the environment for future generations. Everyone you meet in the woods is smiling.' The forest, between Biggar and Peebles, extends to 135 acres and was planted in the late Eighties with a mixture of native hardwoods including oak and ash as well as more commercial softwoods such as Sitka spruce. The introduction of Covid restrictions in 2020 encouraged local dog walkers to spend more time exploring the woodland – and to eventually reclaim larger areas of the hillside forest for the public to enjoy. Over the following two years, they joined forces with the woods' owner, Christopher Lambton, to create accessible footpaths, wildlife ponds, and a bird hide, along with picnic benches and viewpoints. But when ill health forced Mr Lambton to consider selling the land, the community action group rallied together to raise the £875,000 asking price. Charity secretary Alastair Leaver told the BBC: '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.' Led by a five-strong board of directors, activists formed the charity with the backing of 140 members. The campaigners launched a crowdfunding page for the project, as well as securing funding from the Scottish Land Fund, South of Scotland Enterprise and SSE Renewables. Local councillor Viv Thomson, who helped lead the initiative, told the Mail: 'The amount of support that we have had from the community is amazing. Everyone came together to make sure the wood was looking its best and it just snowballed from there.' She explained that as well as offering financial support, local residents designed merchandise to raise funds and donated trees to ensure the site was spruced up for visiting grant assessors. While the Broughtonknowe Community Woodland group has successfully finalised the purchase, the charity is by no means resting on its laurels. Spurred on by its recent victory, the community has already installed new bee hives and planted fruit trees within the woodland, and is planning to construct a shelter from which it can run woodworking workshops in the future. The group is also developing plans to ensure that the woodland can enrich the lives of even more people throughout Peeblesshire and Lanarkshire. Ms Thomson explained: 'We have got plans to work with the NHS and the local authority to do social prescribing from the woods. 'We want it to act as an education facility too, so we'll have foraging workshops and dyeing workshops there.' Speaking of the future potential of the woodland, Mr Brook said: '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.'
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
BBC News
04-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Broughton dog walkers raise £900,000 to buy their local forest
A group of dog walkers in the Borders have bought their local woodland after raising almost £900, were growing that Broughtonknowe would be taken over by a commercial timber company after it was put on the market in locals managed to raise the asking price to secure the 56-hectare (140-acre) forest, between Peebles and Biggar, ahead of last month's 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 footpaths and an access road had been maintained to encourage wildlife lovers and dog walkers to enjoy the lockdown several of the regular dog walkers teamed up with the owner, Christopher Lambton, to create Friends of a couple of years they introduced more pathways, created wildlife ponds, built a bird hide and developed picnic 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 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 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 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 are also throwing out an invitation for other groups to enjoy the of the group, Ian Brook, believes Broughtonknowe was worth fighting 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 the recent completion of the purchase, bee hives have been introduced and fruit trees have been the coming weeks a new shelter will be built and an area has been earmarked for up to 50 hazel 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."
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Stunning' 11-acre croft put up for lease by Scottish island community firm
AN 11-acre croft in a 'stunning location' is being advertised for lease by a Scottish island's community company. Colonsay Community Development Company (CCDC), with Scottish Land Fund support, has brought an 11 acre croft on the beautiful and remote island into community ownership. Colonsay can be reached in 2.5 hours by ferry from Oban, and has a small resident population. READ MORE: In what the community firm is describing as a 'rare opportunity', the property is earmarked for a family and is intended to support Colonsay's primary school – boosting the number of children as well as the working age population. Darragh Keenaghan, CCDC Director, said: 'We're grateful to the Scottish Land Fund for recognising our determination to create new opportunities for families and young people to live on Colonsay. 'This is a fantastic opportunity for a resilient and enthusiastic family looking to become crofters and make a future in Colonsay.' READ MORE: Meanwhile, Kilchattan Primary headteacher Kim Bentley added: 'At the heart of our school is the belief that relationships are fundamental to learning. Our approach is child-led and play-based, with plenty of time spent outdoors. 'Being a small school we're able to follow children's interests while delivering key skills across the curriculum. We take pride in our welcoming and friendly ethos, and are looking forward to growing our school community!' CCDC would also like to see the croft actively worked, ideally with a small business. Dannie Onn, also a director of CCDC, said: 'Our existing community-owned crofts have been opportunities that have brought people of working age, and Colonsay's primary school supports a number of jobs within the island community. Being able to offer an affordable way for a family to become crofters here fits with our vision of sustainable community development, growing our working age population and creating opportunity for enterprise.' For more information and the application form, contact Colonsay Community Development Company at before the application deadline of March 23 2025.
