NEW ON THIS WEBSITE
Sample articles from recent Reforesting Scotland journals are now available to download.
NEW ON THIS WEBSITE
Radical Rowan newsletter issue 33 now out. Rural Alternatives update, 2006 Gathering reports, the Energy Debate and more.
NEW ON THIS WEBSITE
A space for articles which add to the debate on forestry and forestry-related issues in Scotland, starting with The Role of the Public Forest Estate in Scotland - full text of a paper by Bob McIntosh of Forestry Commission Scotland. (An abridged version will appear in the forthcoming Radical Rowan).
Sam Staddon has recently completed an MSc dissertation on Scotland’s moss harvest, concluding that moss gathered from non-native conifer plantations is a potentially sustainable non-timber forest product. More details on the ForestHarvest website.
The Reforesting Scotland Annual Gathering 2006 was held in Falkland, Fife on 6-8 Oct. The theme was Low-energy living, tying in with Reforesting Scotland journal no. 35 - ‘Rethinking Energy’. Talks and workshops topics included stewardship of the Falkland Estate, climate change and the carbon debate, a new paper mill for Scotland, community self-build and more. Visits ranged from Newburgh Orchards to the Scottish Lime Centre to the Falkland Estate itself. A report of the Gathering will be presented in the next Radical Rowan newsletter.
Reforesting Scotland Journal Issue 35 now out! - "Rethinking energy".
Wild Harvests species data on ForestHarvest website - following on from the Wild Harvests seminar and report earlier this year, the species and products section of the Reforesting Scotland-managed non-timber forest products (NTFP) website has been radically augmented. More details on the ForestHarvest website.
Nature Exchange Study Tour, Germany. Jake Paul, national Project Manager for Reforesting Scotland's Rural Alternatives project, represented Reforesting Scotland on this tour earlier this summer. Click here to download the study tour report (
787KB).
Aberdeenshire Disability Active Pathway Trails Reforesting Scotland is a partner in this initiative, launched today. It will provide guided walks in the woods for disabled young people, and advice for land managers on potential access improvements. See the Woods for All project page for details. Volunteers welcome, e.g. for woodland management work.
"Non Timber Forest Products - lessons learned from Northern Vancouver Island and their application to Scotland". Keith Williams of North Island College, British Columbia, Canada gave this talk, which was hosted by Reforesting Scotland at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. There was a good turnout and lively discussion, in spite of the competing delights of the Edinburgh festivals. Scotland and British Columbia have many cultural links, and NTFP species, in common, as well as many differences. One striking example was the British Columbian export trade in one Korean delicacy - young bracken shoots - which was greeted by the audience with a mixture of incredulity and cooking hints.
Reforesting Scotland and the Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA) at The Big Tent 2006: Scotland's Festival of Stewardship, Falkland, Fife, 30 June - 2 July. The first event of its kind: food and farming, sustainable building and housing, technology, energy and climate change, tackling poverty and much more. Reforesting Scotland and SEDA joined to give demonstrations on sustainable building and wider use of natural materials, including straw building and clay plastering workshops; oak, hazel and ash hurdles; Scottish hardwood floors; traditional games using native wood; felt-making; green wood-workingg; and a Building and Forests Slide Show.
NEW ON THIS WEBSITE
Two new Reforesting Scotland policy consultation documents are now available - responses to the 2nd consultation on the Scottish Forestry Strategy Review and to the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme consultation.
Edinburgh Treefest & Woodmarket 2006 - 10/11 June. Inverleith Park, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, 11am - 5pm. Brilliant family event incorporating interactive crafts, renewable energy demonstrations, stalls, outdoor entertainment, music, axe throwing (!) etc. Helped this year by outrageously sunny weather and more woodland-related stalls than you could shake a stick at. Reforesting Scotland had a stall within the Woodmarket, promoting non-timber forest harvests and decked out with May blossom, woodland salads, and some very strokable felt, as well as the full range of Reforesting Scotland publications and information. TreeFest is an annual event run by the Four Winds Inspiration Centre.
The Future of Wild Harvests in Scotland - non-timber forest products (NTFP) seminar in Beauly - organised by partners including Reforesting Scotland, was a great success, bringing together many interested parties and starting to generate ideas on how the sector can go forward. At the same a new report, "Wild Harvests from Scottish Woodlands", was launched. See the ForestHarvest website for more details.
NEW ON THIS WEBSITE
Updates from Woods for All, including the Blarbuie Woodland Project, the Tree Identification for Everyone resource pack and a special web-only price for the Blarbuie greeting cards.
Radical Rowan newsletter issue 32 now out. Blarbuie Project update, 2005 Gathering reports, biodiversity in community woodlands and more.
Reforesting Scotland Journal Issue 34 now out! - "The Land Issue - where are we now?"
Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Trust has agreed to become the fourth and final community group to join the Rural Alternatives project. The local coordinator will be Les Bates of Croft7.
Blarbuie Woodland Ceilidh and Grand Auction, Ardishaig was held to raise money and awareness for the Blarbuie Project, which aims to take over the running of a piece of under-utilised woodland, from the Argyll & Bute Hospital, creating a multifunctional resource and constructing a small workshop for teaching purposes, for community benefit.
NEW ON THIS WEBSITE:
Influencing policy - drawing together some of Reforesting Scotland's input into national debates and directions.
Rural Alternatives project - Reforesting Scotland's new community woodland NTFP project - more to follow soon!
Rural Alternatives appointments This community NTFP project is now well and truly underway, as Jake Paul and Isabel Isherwood are in post. For more details see the new Rural Alternatives page.
Reforesting Scotland's Imbolc Ceilidh was held at the Edinburgh Rudolf Steiner School, 60 Spylaw Road, Edinburgh EH10 5BR, with Hud Yer Wheesht and friends.
Rural Alternatives launched. The initial meeting of this community woodland non-timber forest product (NTFP) project was held at Acharacle. This brought together members of three community woodland groups, and of Reforesting Scotland, to discuss objectives and practicalities, and the next steps to take. All present agreed that control at a local level was vital from the start, and much discussion focused on the diverse aims and circumstances of the different groups. Next steps include recruitment of a national project manager and of the first local project co-ordinators.
Rural Alternatives launched. The initial meeting of this community woodland non-timber forest product (NTFP) project was held at Acharacle. This brought together members of three community woodland groups, and of Reforesting Scotland, to discuss objectives and practicalities, and the next steps to take. All present agreed that control at a local level was vital from the start, and much discussion focused on the diverse aims and circumstances of the different groups. Next steps include recruitment of a national project manager and of the first local project co-ordinators.
2005 Reforesting Scotland Annual Gathering, 7-9 October, Laurieston Hall, near Castle Douglas. The Gathering was fully booked, and crammed with workshops and field visits, new ideas and inspiring people. It saw the launch of the new Forest Sharing group (see also Radical Rowan no.31). Gathering reports in Radical Rowan no.32.
Consultation on the Scottish Forestry Strategy Review, a once-in-5-years opportunity to influence where forestry is going in Scotland is now finished. View Reforesting Scotland's response to the Scottish Forestry Strategy Review.
Non-Timber Forest Products - new RS project. Reforesting Scotland has secured funding for a major new non-timber forest products (NTFP) initiative in Scotland. The Rural Alternatives project is to provide support to partner communities to develop NTFP use and benefits locally, and to develop ideas and learn lessons that will enable and stimulate wider use and appreciation for NTFPs in Scotland. More details in the Radical Rowan newsletter issue 31.
Reforesting Scotland and Woods for All at Aberdeen Treefest.
Reforesting Scotland Journal Issue 33 now out! - "A place to live."
Sustainable Forest Villages - Reforesting Scotland will be working with Scottish Native Woods and Argyll Green Woodworkers to explore options for breathing life, people and enterprise into a local community through co-operative management of forests. The project intends to address rural depopulation and the need for sustainable affordable housing. For more information see Reforesting Scotland journal or contact Kristin - .
RS hosted 4 foresters from the Bhutanese Department of Forestry at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. They gave a talk about Bhutanese culture and politics, and the development of community forestry in Bhutan, followed by a discussion of how local people are taking on the challenge of managing their forests for biodiversity, social and economic benefits in Bhutan and in Scotland. Much food for thought, not least Bhutan's forward thinking on assessing progress through Gross National Happiness!
Reforesting Scotland has a new, full-time Development Officer! - Kristin Olsen starts at the RS office this week.
Scottish Natural Heritage has awarded Reforesting Scotland a development grant, enabling us to create a new post of Development Officer. This is very exciting for all at RS because it means that we will be able to move the organisation forward, developing a marketing strategy which will lead to more members, better distribution of the Journal, and the RS message reaching a wider audience. The grant will also allow us to complete Reforesting Scotland's plans for the next 3 years and develop new projects, including international networking and community facilitation.
A big thank-you to all our members who donated so generously to our November appeal, raising an impressive £4,700. In addition to this, our annual ceilidh organised by Robin Naumann and the Ceilih Collective, raised £1,350 - the best yet.
Reforesting Scotland Annual Gathering 2004 - held on Ormsary Estate, with the theme "People, trees and jobs". Reports of workshops etc. in Radical Rowan no.30.
The Community Woodland Association held in Sweden was a major success. It was attended by Alison Dyke of Reforesting Scotland and Les Bates of Community Woodland Association. They gave a presentation about the development of community woodlands in Scotland and learnt about rural/social development in a country that has had a socialist government for over 60 years. They attended the Rural Parliament to participate in its workings along with other international participants form Poland, Holland, Belarus, Iceland and Finland. It is felt that this event helped strengthen the ties between communities across Europe attempting to preserve their forest heritage for future generations.
The Fuelwood Conference at Ken Bridge Hotel, New Galloway, was a very successful event attended by 70 people. It was full of technical information and reflected demonstrable enthusiasm for woodfuel in S.W. Scotland. Karen Baron from Kielder Community Enterprises Ltd in Northumberland gave a particularly memorable talk on a community-based woodlfuel district heating system. The conference was co-ordinated by the Energy Agency and Reforesting Scotland, and received financial support from the Forestry Commission Scotland and the Energy Saving Trust. Site visits to follow later in the year, to Kielder Village (Northumberland), the Kinlochleven Community and Sports Centre at Lochaber, the National Trust for Scotland's Gencoe Visitor Centre, and sites in the Edinburgh area.
We are pleased to announce the launch of ForestHarvest (www.forestharvest.org.uk), a new website on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) available from Scotland's woodlands. Managed by Reforesting Scotland, hosted by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and in partnership with Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Forest Industries Cluster, the site provides easy-to-use access to information about the gathering, management and trading of NTFPs, including a database of buyers and case studies of operating businesses. If you are seeking new opportunities as a woodland owner, manager, restauranteur or trader, or someone looking to enhance your knowledge of our woodland flora, log on now and realise the potential in NTFPs!
About 35 people participated in a very successful Non-Timber Forest Product Seminar held jointly by Borders Forest Trust and Reforesting Scotland in Peebles at the weekend. The event included presentations and site visits to a honey producer and farm planting woodland for pigs. Success was achieved by bringing together the right people for a rich exchange of information.
Reforesting Scotland Directors and staff had a very constructive and creative meeting over 2 days at Glenfeshie, Kingussie.
Reforesting Scotland's response to consultation on Forestry Commission Scotland Land Review is now online.
4th Annual Community Woodland Conference Report is now available. Contact Reforesting Scotland for a copy.
Welcome to the new look Reforesting Scotland website!
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