Product category:
Building Regulations and Accreditation
News Release from: Forestry Commission | Subject: Woodland boost for the Borders
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 15 November 2005
Woodland boost for the Borders
The Scottish Borders is set to receive a GBP1 million grant to boost its native woodlands and help take forward a new woodland strategy for the area.
The Scottish Borders is set to receive a GBP1 million grant to boost its native woodlands and help take forward a new woodland strategy for the area The region currently has one of the lowest levels of native woodland cover in Scotland
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 23 Jun 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Forestry Commission Statistical Publications
A range of Forestry Commission statistical publications are issued as "National Statistics", on pre-announced dates.
Talk To The Trees - The Regional Woodland Strategy
The Regional Woodland Strategy for the East of England is published in draft form and is available now for consultation.
Efforts to turn this around will concentrate around surviving fragments of native woodland, the River Tweed, and smaller rivers and burns across the entire Borders.
The push for more native woodland cover is part of an new strategy developed by Scottish Borders Council, in partnership with Forestry Commission Scotland and other key groups.
The strategy has identified many areas where trees and woodlands can be used to enhance the lives of people.
Further reading
Squirrel Damage: Help Is On Hand
Woodland owners and managers have a new source of advice to help them combat the threat to trees posed by growing numbers of grey squirrels in Britain.
Furure For Scotland's Woods, People And Wildlife
The Scottish Executive wants more joined-up woodlands in Scotland.
Britain's Forest Area Grows
Over twelve thousand hectares (30,000 acres) of new woodlands were planted in Britain last year, helping to bring our forest cover to the highest level it has been in over 300 years.
Launching the strategy and new grant at Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, St Boswells, Scottish Forestry Minister Rhona Brankin said: "The new woodland strategy will undoubtedly become a core document in determining the direction of forestry in the Borders".
"It covers a wide range of themes which will all ultimately connect people and communities to trees and woodlands".
"An important issue identified in the strategy is the very low level of existing native woodland cover within the Borders.
The level of cover is only about a quarter of one per cent of the total land area.
This low level is of concern, especially as this type of woodland is of the highest environmental value and often associated with that icon of the Borders, the river Tweed".
"There has been a lot of good work done to enhance the Tweed and the surrounding environment, but much more remains to be achieved, particularly around the smaller rivers and burns throughout the Borders".
"The new GBP1 million grant will target this opportunity so we should see a dramatic improvement across the whole of the Borders in the future".
The GBP1 million grant is spread over two years and Forestry Commission Scotland is urging landowners to get their applications in as soon as possible as successful projects are paid on a first come first served basis.
Councillor John Elliot, Scottish Borders Council's Executive Spokesman for Planning and Economic Development, said: "This Strategy, which becomes part of the Scottish Borders Structure Plan, is founded on the principles of sustainability".
"It helps the Council meet its duty to further the conservation of biodiversity".
"It will enhance the landscape of the Borders and we expect it to bring substantial economic benefits providing many new opportunities for local people".
Early priorities for the council's new woodland strategy include: developing wood based renewable energy initiatives in the Borders; using the new grant to protect, enhance and link ancient woodlands; the creation of greater opportunities for more communities like Galashiels, Hawick and Kelso to get involved in woodland management, as has already happened in places like Wooplaw, Gordon and Peebles.
The launch of the Scottish Borders Woodland Strategy has very much been a partnership between Scottish Borders Council, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Borders Forest Trust and many other groups and individuals.
In order to implement the strategy, the Council and Forestry Commission Scotland are teaming up and inviting other groups to form a Scottish Borders Woodland Partnership.
• Forestry Commission: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Buildingtalk email newsletter
• Buildingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
