Launched in 2024, Loch Abar Mòr is a nature restoration partnership working at a regional scale, to enable communities across Lochaber to thrive in an ecologically diverse and climate resilient landscape. Dee will talk to conference about the history and work of Loch Abar Mòr focussing on partnership engagement and how to weave the wishes and aspirations of individual groups into a meaningful actions for a wider area. Dee will talk about current projects and future plans, including forthcoming opportunities for communities to get involved.

About Dee Baum

Dee Baum is a fish biologist by training who has previously worked for NatureScot, Lochaber Fisheries Trust, Woodland Trust and the governments of two remote British overseas territories. She began working for the Loch Abar Mòr Partnership as their Nature Restoration Officer in 2025 and became Partnership Manager in August this year.

The workshop will look at how iNaturalist can support your project or land management goals, alongside how community participation and citizen science can help deepen the connection that communities have to their land.

About Ian Dow

Ian is the Rainforest Manager at ACT (Argyll Countryside Trust). With nearly 30 years experience in Forestry & Arb, he now oversees rainforest regeneration across Argyll, where they are using iNaturalist to help inform their nature regeneration projects.

Our woodlands are becoming increasingly affected by the consequences of climate change. Developing existing woodlands towards resilient mixed woods is becoming the main focus for woodland managers and owners. How can you transform existing woodlands into species-rich, structurally diverse and resilient mixed woods? Where do you start? What are the challenges? How can you involve the local community? During the workshop, we will explore the significance, urgency, challenges and unique, exciting opportunities to develop ecologically and economically sustainable mixed woods for the benefit of future generations.

About Dirk Sporleder

Dirk graduated as a Forest Engineer (FH) from the University of Applied Forest Sciences in Rottenburg am Neckar (Germany) in 2005. Since moving to Scotland, Dirk has led the Perthshire Coppice Project (Scottish Crannog Centre) and works as a woodland manager and silvicultural advisor for Dronley Community Woodland and other private woodlands. Developing existing woodlands into site-adapted, diverse and resilient mixed woods by applying ecological woodland transformation methods will become the dominating silvicultural challenge for decades. Dirk is particularly interested in traditional, often almost forgotten, ecological woodland transformation methods and the management of permanent irregular woodlands.

The Forestry Co-operation Grant can provide valuable support for community woodland groups looking to work collaboratively to improve, expand or enhance the management of their woodlands. This workshop will explore whether your group may be eligible, the kinds of projects and activities that can be supported, and how the grant can help community-led woodland initiatives. Willie will share practical insights from Highland Perthshire Communities Land Trust's experience of securing a Forestry Co-operation Grant, covering the application process, what costs and activities are eligible, and the steps involved in delivering the work and submitting claims. There will also be an opportunity to discuss project ideas and consider how the grant might support your woodland's future plans.

About Willie McGhee

Willie McGhee is a Trustee of the Community Woodlands Association and a long-standing advocate of community forestry. He works as a forestry consultant specialising in community woodland and community land ownership projects. Willie is currently involved with Highland Perthshire Communities Land Trust (HPCLT), which has secured a Forestry Co-operation Grant, and is helping to coordinate the project's development and delivery. Drawing on this experience, he will share practical insights into applying for, managing and claiming Forestry Co-operation Grant funding.

The Our Rainforest Futures (ORF) project is a National Lottery Heritage Fund project that completed its development stage early in 2026. CWA is one of 6 partner organisations that both contributed to the development phase and collaborated on an application for a delivery phase. If that application is successful CWA will be administering a grant scheme for community groups across the Rainforest on the West Coast of Scotland and have a 3 day a week post to support communities with their rainforest projects. Come to this workshop to find out the latest news of the project, contribute to the development of the grant scheme and understand what is in it for your group.