1. Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands
Webinar 4 July 2017
Jon Hollingdale, CEO

2. Overview of presentation
Introduction to community woodlands
The development process
The acquisition process
Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA

3. Community Woodlands Association
Established in 2003, some groups much older.
Mission: “to support members to achieve their aspirations & potential, and to represent and promote community woodlands to the wider world”.
Direct support to groups
Training, networking, information provision
Engage with policy and legislative processes.
Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA

4. Community Woodlands in Scotland
200 groups with woodland interest – great diversity:
Woodlands (size, type, structure, location)
Communities (scale, capacity, experience)
Tenure (own, lease, use)
Management objectives (economic, social, environmental…and dynamic)
Common theme: local management for local objectives
Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA

5. Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA
The starting point…
There are a number of possible triggers for interest in community woodlands:
Recognition that forestry can generate economic activity
Concern about neglect of a valued local wood
Ideas for specific activities in the woodland
The announcement of the sale of a woodland e.g. by Forest Enterprise Scotland
Sometimes there’s an existing community development body or community council, sometimes starting from scratch.
Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA

6. Development process: key questions
Objectives – what is you want to achieve?
Proposals and plans – how will you do it & pay for it?
Eligible body – who will do it?
Have you got evidence of community support?
Help is available: CWA, HIE, TSI
Funding for feasibility studies, business planning
Funding for learning visits
Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA

7. Community Woodland Activities
“Forestry” – timber & woodfuel – output from woodland management, should generate surplus, FGS grants for some operations.
Recreation & Biodiversity – grant dependent, opportunities for volunteer input, important for community sense of ownership.
Education, Health projects – managed through contracts, requires investment in staff & facilities.
Built development – needs capital investment, external contractors, potential long term returns.
Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA

8. Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA
Own, lease or occupy?
Ownership has advantages and disadvantages – not necessary or best option in all circumstances.
May depend on what you want to achieve
Lease or management agreement may be better if:
Your objectives are short-term, or
The site has significant unquantified liabilities, or
Your project has a very specific non-woodland focus
Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA

9. Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA
Routes to acquisition
(Scottish) Public Sector – Asset Transfer rules apply:
Forest Enterprise Scotland has a bespoke scheme
Other Scottish public bodies must follow same rules but processes will vary
Private sector (incl. UK/GB bodies, NGOs):
Various CR2B mechanisms – challenging!
Negotiated sales: no rules (CLS protocol may be helpful)
Funders have objectives & requirements!
Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA

10. Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA
Business Plan
Key document, pulling together all the threads
Describes the woodland, the background and the objectives of community involvement
Demonstrates well-developed, feasible and sustainable proposals with community support
Balances the potential and constraints of the woodland and needs of the community: can’t do everything in every wood
“Pointed” at the relevant acquisition route and funder(s)
Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA

11. Funding for acquisition
Scottish Land Fund
Other public funding, incl. LEADER?
Charitable Trusts
Local fundraising and donations
Timber (various models)
Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA

12. Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA
Funding
Forestry Commission Scotland Community Fund
Scottish Land Fund
SCA Community Learning Exchange
Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA

13. Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA
CWA Contacts
Jon Hollingdale Chris Marsh
Community Ownership of Forests & Woodlands Jon Hollingdale CWA