2025 Conference. Workshops. Friday afternoon (26th September)

Conference delegates can attend 2 workshops out of a choice of 5.

1. Managing tree risk

John Ireland.

Don’t let storm damage catch you off guard—tackle tree risk together, managing tree risk has never been more important for community woodlands. This interactive workshop will explore why proactive risk management matters, what it looks like in practice, and how to implement it effectively. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences, discuss challenges, and learn practical strategies from the workshop leader to help keep people, property and woodlands safe. This session is collaborative, and designed to provide actionable insights that you can apply in your own woodland community.

2. Volunteers - potentials and pitfalls

Sandy Maxwell. Kingussie Community Development Compancy (KCDC)

Everyone uses volunteers in their organisation to some extent, some entirely. How to get the best out of them and make sure that they are getting the best out of your organisation. A workshop to look at all issues around volunteering and share your experiences and problems. I have 20 years experience employed as a volunteer manager for a conservation NGO and since retirement have been a voluntary director of a local development company where I run path building work days on a weekly basis throughout the year.

3. Options for deer management in community woodlands: opportunities and challenges

Jennifer Greaves

Options for managing deer in community woodlands and how to decide on the best approach. A discussion on pros and cons of each approach including indicative costs and potential.

4. Building a Strong Board for your Community Woodland

James Hilder. Director, Sunart Community Company

James has worked with volunteer Board of Trustees across Scotland over the last 20 years, as well as serving on several himself. In 2024 the Sunart Community Company acquired 88ha of former FLS commercial woodland on the shores of Loch Sunart, in Lochaber and is now embarking on the first year of development. Through his time as a facilitator for Social Enterprise Academy he has observed the strengths and weaknesses of volunteer Boards and will share a number of tips at the conference to help build more resilient Boards who can meet the long term challenges of owning and managing a woodland.

5. The Ethics of Research - Best Practice for Researchers and Communities

Catriona Mallows. Research Associate, University Highlands and Islands (UHI)

Community woodlands are often the focal point of a variety of research projects. Whilst there are many positive experiences for communities and researchers alike, there can be challenges including questionable ethical practices, over-research and research fatigue, and a lack of communicating findings. For a number of years, CWA members have asked for a 'best practice guide' to set expectations and requirements for how research can be better conducted - this workshop is a final step in producing this guide. All are welcome.