PICTURES: Appeal of Laide and Aultbea Community Woodland in Wester Ross comes into its own during coronavirus crisis and is recognised with 'finest' award
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THE remarkable local impact of a community woodland in Wester Ross has been recognised with a prestigious award.
Laide and Aultbea Community Woodland (LACW) has scooped Scotland’s Finest Wood Award for Small Community Woodlands.
It recognises the contribution the wood makes to the lives of local people and the steps they are taking to ensure its long-term sustainability.
The wood, run entirely by volunteers, is already a well-loved community asset benefiting people mentally and physically. Visiting provides respite for many who enjoy the peace and quiet or the company of others. This has really come into its own during the constraints of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Volunteer Gill Burn said users are of all ages with some regularly jogging around the trails and others taking a more sedate pace using the time to think, chat to friends, take photographs or watch out for birds or wildlife, all whilst benefitting from regular exercise.
She said: “Sustainable development is central to our approach to forestry management. Replacing the 1960s plantation with a mixed species woodland has increased biodiversity providing a woodland for future generations to enjoy.”
Since 2003, more than 62,000 mostly broadleaf trees have been planted at LACW. All the trees have local provenance so in future, seeds can be harvested for local planting.
Species include alder, willow, aspen, birch, Scot’s Pine, rowan, oak and hazel.
Despite the pandemic, much has been achieved since 2020.
This includes planting 16,600 trees in an area previously clear-felled; completion of a new 1.4 km trail with a gentler gradient than the main trails and development of ‘A View for All’ fully accessible picnic area.
There has been a significant increase in income from firewood sales and successful grant applications to the National Lottery Awards for All, the Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation, Scotland Loves Local and the People’s Postcode Trust.
Thousands of non-native lodge pole pine trees have been removed allowing the native trees to thrive.
Volunteers are meanwhile currently managing a bridge replacement programme for five bridges at the wood as volunteers seek to build on its success.
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