Tag: Stronafian Forest

Archaeology Weekend 23 & 24 November, 10.30am – 3.00pm

Post author By CGDT
Post date November 17, 2013

Work with Archaeology Scotland on this brand new project to discover the chambered cairn, working in Colintraive Village Hall and on site at the Cairn. If you are unable to attend both days or for all of the sessions, that’s fine.

Everybody is welcome, with any level of archaeological knowledge. This will be a 2 year community project. Your knowledge and input are very welcome and you will be in a position to help interpret and access the Cairn from the very start.

“Adopt-a-Monument is a nation-wide Community Archaeology scheme that provides volunteer groups with the practical advice and training they need to care and conserve their local heritage. The project encourages groups to get involved in hands-on activities to improve the condition, accessibility and interpretation of their chosen site. Between 2011 and 2016, we will work with 40 community groups to equip volunteers with new skills in archaeological fieldwork and conservation, which can be used again and again to promote the heritage of their local area. More information on Adopt-a-Monument can be found on our website www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk .

While the aims for this project are still being decided, we felt we can help with the following aspects.

• Provide training to survey, record and monitor cultural heritage assets within the woodland [Field Survey, detailed site survey/ desk based research]

• Help advise with path creation, interpretation (both with panels and leaflets, but also through digital interpretation)

• Help create a management plan for the cultural heritage assets within the woodland

• Help advise on future fundraising, project planning, insurance

• Can help the group network with other community archaeology groups within Scotland

We are keen though for the project to develop how you, the participants want it to! If you are particular interested in a particular archaeological feature or are keen to develop a specific archaeological skill, we will try (when possible!) to build that into the project.”

Lunch and refreshments are provided on both days. Participants must dress for the weather conditions and sound footwear is strongly advised. The access route to the Cairn can be quite challenging and demands a certain level of mobility and fitness. If you decide not to walk the route there will be other archaeological activities on site. If you would like to participate in the weekend event please email Mark at mark@cgdt.org or phone the office in Colintraive on 01700 841358. Thanks and we look forward to seeing you there.

Tags adopt a monument, archaeology, Stronafian Forest

Environment Forestry Glendaruel News Stronafian Woodland Crofts

Stronafian Forest Woodland Crofting Event!

Post author By CGDT
Post date October 21, 2013

On Saturday 9^th November between 10.30am-2pm at the Colintraive Village Hall, the Colintraive and Glendaruel Development Trust will be holding an event that will enable potential woodland crofters the opportunity to register an interest for a woodland croft in the Stronafian Community Forest.

This event will consist of discussions and expert advice, followed by site visits to potential woodland croft areas. There will be a light lunch provided and attendees will need to dress accordingly to suit the weather conditions.

The information you provide on the woodland croft form below will be shared with the Woodland Crofts Partnership. Analysis of information you submit on the form will provide the starting point for discussions.

We would welcome any other information that is not covered in the form and please include your suggestions for topics or issues you would like to discuss on the day.

Please complete and return the form no later than 31^st October by email to: mark@cgdt.org

Or by post to:

Mark Chambers, Community Forest Development Officer, Colintraive and Glendaruel Development Trust, The Village Hall, Colintraive, Argyll, PA22 3AS

Stronafian Community Forest Registration Form

Tags community woodland, event, expression of interest, meeting, Stronafian Forest, Woodland Crofts

Environment Forestry Glendaruel Housing News Opportunities Press & Publicity Projects Recruitment Renewables Stronafian

Afforestations of Delight

Post author By CGDT
Post date February 22, 2013

Colintraive and Glendaruel Development Trust (CGDT) have purchased Stronafian Forest and are now recruiting for a dynamic Community Forest Development Officer.

CGDT are delighted to confirm that they have now purchased Stronafian Forest on the Cowal Peninsula, Argyll. The forest, purchased for £1.55M from the Forestry Commission under the National Forest Land Scheme, will provide the community of Colintraive and Glendaruel with opportunities to create sustainable housing, woodland crofts, renewable energy sources and wonderful amenity spaces.

The Trust has been working since early 2010 on the acquisition of the 600ha+ woodland, developing a thorough-going business plan, as well as working on the funding package which includes £1.3M from a commercial tenant for the rights to the commercial forestry over 99 years. Alongside this tranche of money, raised from the private sector, the trust has also raised over £300,000, both for the balance of the purchase price, but also the legal fees and a two year Community Forest Project Officer post. The trust believe this is the first purchase of its kind to combine private and public sectors in a community woodland acquisition.

Come Work With Us
The Trust are still recruiting for the post which offers an exciting blend of community engagement, project management and business development in a forest context. The Community Forest Project Officer will be tasked with taking forward a community wind turbine, developing 4-6ha woodland crofts and preparing building plots for self-build and affordable homes, as well as making the forest accessible to the local community and its visitors. This is an opportunity to work with one of the West Coast’s most innovative trusts, in an environment of outstanding natural beauty, with a community whose Hogmanays are reputed to be the best in Argyll. To apply download our application form here.

CGDT’s chair, Charles Dixon-Spain said, “We are thrilled with this acquisition which is confirmation of the momentum our community has been building over the last five years. Colintraive and Glendaruel is a community that has been in decline for many years, and the Trust feels this purchase signals the renewing of our community, of bringing people in and services back and of ensuring the future of those services that we have held onto. Thanks to everyone who has helped us get to this stage!”

CGDT wish to thank Forestry Commission Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Argyll and the Islands LEADER, the Scottish Land Fund, the Big Fund, Aitchesse Ltd. and our tenant for all their help, financial support and encouragement over the last three years.

Tags affordable housing, community woodland, crofting, job, project officer, Purchase, Recruitment, Stronafian Forest, wind turbine, woodland croft

Environment Forestry News Projects Renewables Stronafian

Updated Stronafian Business Plan Available

Post author By CGDT
Post date December 5, 2012

For those of you keeping an eye on our developing plans for Stronafian, we have just published the updated Business Plan on our publications page.

Tags business plan, Publications, Stronafian, Stronafian Forest

Forestry News Projects Stronafian

Proposed Land Use Areas

The board met on Monday 22nd August to populate a map of Stronafian with initial proposals for where certain activities could be located in the forest. This will be passed onto our forest consultant for his comments.

initial planning — Proposed land use areas

You can view a Google Map of the above areas here

The board felt the amenity area should be close to the Clachan since this would form a base for people to go into the forest from. The Forest School would also be located in this area. It was decided some investigation would be required to provide access directly from the hotel to the forest. Paths to an area higher up where there is little forest cover would provide an area for views, picnic sites and possibly an area for stargazing.

The areas for silviculture were chosen based on selecting areas close to existing access routes and with relatively level topography. Activities here might involve commercial wood fuel production as well as the possibility of forest smallholdings for low impact silviculture.

It was felt the only suitable location for affordable housing on forest land was in Stronafian since this was relatively level ground, on a road and near existing housing.

We welcome your feedback on proposals below!

Tags Community Right to Buy, community woodland, Consultation, forest, Forestry, NFLS, Stronafian Forest

Clachan Glendaruel News Stronafian

St. Modan

Post author By CGDT
Post date November 14, 2010

One of the privileges of working on some of the projects that the Development Trust have in view, is that sometimes you come across really unexpected slices of information or history. Once such happened today as we examined deed maps pertaining to Stronafian Forest.

We knew there were archaeological remains in the woodland, but what I certainly hadn’t realised was that those remains have a direct correlation to the establishment of our church, and the name given to it and the school.

Here’s a grab of the area:

Tags archaeology, community woodland, FCS, Forestry, Forestry Commission Scotland, glendaruel, history, Kilmodan, Stronafian, Stronafian Forest

Forestry News Stronafian

Wider Consultation on Stronafian Forest has begun!

Post author By CGDT
Post date November 5, 2010

Our application to acquire the right to buy on Stronafian Forest is presently receiving a wider public consultation via the Forestry Commission website here as a ‘Sponsored Sale of Surplus Land’. To view all the pertinent documents, click on the link above.

The deadline for this consultation is 1st December (or around 28 days from now).

Tags community woodland, Consultation, FCS, Forestry, Forestry Commission Scotland, Stronafian, Stronafian Forest

Forestry News Projects

Our Application to the NFLS is Eligible

Post author By CGDT
Post date October 22, 2010

Another small step towards achieving the right to buy, and eventually the forest itself, was made today. We had confirmation that our application is eligible for the scheme.

Our application and our supporting documents (also published here) will be placed on the Forestry Commission website and a press release will be issued. We’ll also shortly have a formal visit from a member of the NFLS panel along with the Forest District Manager.