• The site visits tend to involve an hour or more of gentle walking, which is likely to be on variable terrain.

• A refreshment stop will be on offer.

• Availability of toilets will depend on the site.

Please contact us prior to booking if you have any concerns: admin@communitywoods.org .

Arkaig Community Forest is a community-led charity based at Loch Arkaig in Lochaber, working to restore and expand native woodland habitats, including an important remnant of Scotland's Caledonian pine forest. Through a unique partnership with Woodland Trust Scotland, the organisation combines woodland restoration, community engagement, sustainable deer management, and local enterprise development to benefit both people and nature.

What you will learn about:

• How we collect local seed, propagate young trees, and run our community tree nursery, with a focus on provenance and biosecurity

• The development of woodland-based enterprises, including establishing a venison larder, marketing local venison, and adding value through community butchery

• How community stalking can contribute to sustainable deer management, local food production, and woodland regeneration

• Working in partnership to deliver landscape-scale restoration projects and achieve wider environmental benefits across neighbouring landholdings

Kilmallie Community Company manages two community woodland sites on behalf of the local community: the native oak woodland at Cnoc nam Faobh and a nearby Tom Giubhais pine woodland. During this visit, participants will explore both sites and hear how the organisation developed from a Community Council-led initiative into an independent community body capable of acquiring and managing land assets. The woodlands are maintained largely through volunteer effort and provide an excellent example of how local communities can balance conservation, recreation, public access and long-term stewardship within a practical and affordable management framework.

The visit will provide opportunities to discuss woodland governance, funding and ownership, whilst also exploring the day-to-day realities of managing community woodland sites. Participants will see examples of woodland safety management, biodiversity enhancement, public-use infrastructure and the challenges associated with balancing ecological value with community access. The session will encourage discussion and peer learning between groups facing similar opportunities and challenges.

Proposed learning outcomes

Participants will learn about:

• Community woodland ownership and governance, including legal structures, land acquisition processes, funding routes and board responsibilities.

• Practical community woodland management, with a focus on volunteer-led maintenance, biodiversity monitoring and long-term stewardship.

• Managing risk and public access in community woodlands, including tree safety, windblow, liability considerations and recreational infrastructure.

• Balancing environmental, community and regulatory interests, including woodland ecology, native oak management, wayleaves, Tree Preservation Orders and wider development pressures.

Treslaig and Achaphubuil Crofters Woodland Trust cares for a beautiful area of ancient Atlantic oak woodland that has appeared on maps since the time of the Roy Military Survey (1747-1755). Purchased by the Trust over 30 years ago, the woodland is managed to protect its rich natural heritage while improving access for local people and visitors. Through careful stewardship, regular invasive species control, and investment in woodland infrastructure, the Trust has created a thriving community woodland that has been recognised nationally, including as a previous runner-up in the Community Woodlands category of the Scotland's Finest Woods Awards.

What you will learn about:

• How the community purchased and has managed this ancient woodland over the past three decades, including ongoing control of rhododendron and regenerating Sitka spruce.

• The woodland's history and special features, including its presence on the Roy Military Survey maps and a unique pollarded oak tree, one of 70 ancient trees across the UK chosen for the late Queen’s Jubilee, and believed to be the only example outside a castle or estate setting.

• How the Trust secured funding to develop its woodland track network and improve access while protecting the site's environmental value.

• The Trust's experience of success in the Scotland's Finest Woods Awards, and the opportunity to share knowledge, experiences and practical ideas with fellow attendees to support learning and capacity building across community woodland groups.

Important visitor information:

• Access to the woodland requires a 15-minute ferry crossing followed by walking on woodland paths and tracks.

• Participants should be prepared to be on foot throughout the site visit and wear suitable outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear.

• Toilet facilities are available at the village hall before the visit.

This presentation will explore the basics of what woodland crofts are, how and where they have developed over the past 20 years, and consider some of the opportunities ahead but also the challenges facing them. We'll also consider how they deliver multiple Scottish Government agendas, and can offer an answer to future uncertainties. There will be plenty of time also for discussion and Q&A after the (brief) presentation.

About James - James is a freelance forester and community development worker based in Ardnamurchan, though most of my time is spent supporting the Woodland Crofts Partnership (of which the CWA is one of 4 partners). James has had a long interest in smaller-scale, rural development forestry and in particular ‘family forestry’ models such as woodland crofts & woodlots. He was for a time woodland crofts officer for HIE/FCS when the model gained ‘official’ support following the 2007 Crofting Reform Act, but has been self-employed for the last 15 years. In his spare time James is involved in various community projects including a hydro scheme, a community-owned school building and……a community woodland.

Join us for a Community Woodlands Association focus group to explore your experiences and aspirations of engaging and working with young people. Through roundtable discussions, we will explore the perceived barriers, the potential incentives and the ways in which CWA could support your community woodland towards growing youth inclusion.

About

Amy Davidson is a board member of CWA and managed a Community Woodland in West Lothian for 6 years. Now an ecologist, Amy is still driven to facilitate people connecting with, and valuing their local green space.

Alice Brawley is one of the Woodland Advisor’s for CWA. She provides community development, forestry and land management advice and assistance to community woodland groups and other CWA member organisations across Central and South Scotland.

Amy Clarkson is a board member of CWA, and has worked previously for Applecross Community Woodland as well as for educational initiatives. Amy currently works as Engagement Manager for Rewilding Affric Highlands and is passionate about improving diversity and inclusion within the environmental sector.