Transforming Broadford’s new community forest from inaccessible monoculture plantation to thriving native woodland - a focus for well-being, enterprise and learning for all.
Estimated Cost
£206,000
What we want to do
In March 2026 BSCC purchased Broadford North Wood on behalf the community, with funding from the Scottish Land Fund and HIE. The acquisition expands the current Broadford Community Woodland to an area of c.30 ha in a prominent site overlooking Broadford Bay. Our vision is to transform the monoculture plantation forest to thriving native woodland which we will use as a venue for community learning, skills development and enterprise.
Over the next 5 years we want to:
Establish an inclusive volunteer programme
Harvest timber to generate income to support development
Restock the woodland with native species
Undertake nature restoration work
Create new paths to improve access and promote wellbeing
Pursue woodland enterprises to generate income streams
Employ a part time Community Woodland Manager to oversee the programme
Why is the project important for our community?
Our proposals align with the ‘Climate Action’, ‘Strengthening Communities’ and ‘Diverse and Green Economy’ outcomes of the current Skye and Raasay Future (SARF) Area Place Plan.
The project addresses many of the community priorities articulated in the 2024 Broadford & Strath Local Place Plan (LPP), where it is highlighted as a community priority (map proposal 5). It has been shaped by targeted consultation (e.g. community surveys and events). Key needs identified are:
Local empowerment and community cohesion
Encouraging small businesses and start ups
Outdoor recreation and wellbeing
Biodiversity and nature.
What positive impact will the project have?
Local residents from diverse backgrounds will have the opportunity and capacity to shape the future of community-owned land.
Local residents, workers and visitors enjoy improved access to local amenity and associated health & wellbeing benefits
A viable business model will be achieved that will support the long term management of woodland and associated community activity.
The biodiversity and natural environment of the Community Woodland will be significantly improved
Milestones and next steps
The purchase of the woodland completed at end March 2026.
A detailed and independent feasibility report was produced in 2025, funded through a Stage 1 grant by the Scottish Land Fund. The plans have been informed by extensive community engagement, which helped us secure the Scottish Land Fund grant. Engagement included Community Woodland survey and consultation in 2024-25, Local Place Plan consultations, input from Community Treen Nursery volunteers, and engagement events including Community Woodland Day.
A celebration and consultation event was held in April 2026, following which a management plan was created.
Ongoing community involvement will be fundamental to the project, through:
New Community Liaison Group to help steer the project, working with the BSCC board
Volunteering programme, building on the success of our Community Tree Nursery and Nature Restoration volunteer programmes; to include environmental surveys, invasive species removal, tree planting and care, path building
Learning activities with local schools, college and youth groups
Collaborations with other community woodland groups and partners
We are currently seeking funding to support the above. In June 2026 we were awarded £37,500 from the SSE Highland Sustainability Fund, towards the first 2 years of the project. We have also submitted a bid to the National Lottery Community Action Fund and are developing other applications.
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