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Member Group Project Showcase

A few years ago, when Reforesting Scotland started working on non-timber forest products (NTFPs), virtually no one knew what this term meant. Now interest in NTFPs has grown, both as things that people gather for domestic use and as a commercial harvest. Over the last few years, Reforesting Scotland has tried to develop and distribute information for people who are interested in starting small-scale NTFP enterprises. The Rural Alternative Shared Futures project (RAP) arose because without practical examples of how NTFPs can be developed, it is difficult to demonstrate what NTFP enterprises could do for rural communities. Four community woodland groups were involved in helping to develop NTFP businesses and write up case studies…

The Rural Alternatives Shared Futures project was designed to show what community woodland groups could do with their local NTFPs - to get to the stage where small enterprises could be set up and to use those examples to demonstrate to other community groups how they could develop NTFPs themselves. Non-timber forest products in Scotland are under-used and have enormous potential to provide more cultural, environmental and economic benefits - provided they are harvested sustainably. The project has provided 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.The Rural Alternatives Shared Futures project focused on four community woodland groups. However, it is hoped that other groups in these areas will also become involved and be able to benefit. The first three groups to get involved were Culag Community Woodland group (Lochinver), groups based in the Sunart Oakwoods area (Acharacle) and Tinne Beag Workers’ Coop (Newton Stewart).  Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Trust (Kirkhill/Bunchrew) joined in February 2006.

Reports from the Rural Alternatives Shared Futures project, including formal reports to funders, six case studies from project partner communities, and articles by project manager Jake Paul, can be found on the Rural Alternatives Shared Futures project reports page.

The team behind the project

Hilary MacDonald-  local co-ordinator for Culag Community Woodland group (Lochinver).

Isabel Isherwood  - local co-ordinator for Sunart Oakwoods area (Acharacle).

Helen MacGillevary of Sgilean Na Coille has also been involved in coordinating the training events for Sunart.

Jeff Colhoun - local co-ordinator for Tinne Beag Workers’ Coop (Newton Stewart).

Les Bates - local co-ordinator for Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Trust (Kirkhill/Bunchrew).

Jake Paul - is the national Project Manager for Rural Alternatives Shared Futures, based in the Reforesting Scotland office in Edinburgh.