The Dornoch Trust is a registered charity with one specific aim - to operate facilities for the benefit of its local community. |
DORNOCH BEACH PLAYPARK
We are delighted to report that the lease on the Dornoch Beach Playpark was assigned to the Dornoch Trust by the Dornoch Area Community Council in an agreement signed on 12th March 2024.
We would like to thank the Dornoch Beach Wheelchairs group for continuing to manage this asset on behalf of the whole community.
Dornoch Woodland
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE WOODLAND MANAGEMENT PLAN
CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF THE LATEST LETTER TO OUR NEIGHBOURS
The Dornoch Trust completed the purchase of Earls Cross Woodland from Sutherland Estates in May 2022. The woodland extends over 13 acres (5.38 hectares) and lies between Station Road and Earls Cross in Dornoch. The purchase was financed by an anonymous donation and works have been undertaken with small grants from the Dornoch Common Good Fund and North Highland Initiative.
The Trust went ahead with this purchase to ensure that the woodland will always remain in the hands of the Dornoch Community and will never be developed for road or housing purposes. The Trust has begun work in the woodland, with experienced contractors and the support of The Highland Council, to remove dangerous trees and poor quality self-sown saplings; this will ensure a real maintenance programme is in place and will encourage the growth of good quality new trees.
Looking ahead, the Trust hopes to improve signage and paths, including creating better access to users with limited mobility. The Trust also hopes to encourage schools, charities like Historylinks, and other bodies to use the woodland for the benefit of the whole community.
Patrick Murray, Chair of The Dornoch Trust commented "We are delighted to have secured the future of this woodland and we encourage the community to enjoy the woods and the walks and to come and take part".
Lynne Mahoney, Curator of History Links commented “It is fantastic that the woodland in Dornoch has come into the care of The Dornoch Trust. This historic woodland holds the potential for all sorts of educational and leisure activities. Historylinks Museum looks forward to running and taking part in events that will bring the community together to enjoy this beautiful space”.
We very much hope that volunteers will come forward to share their ideas and to help with ongoing maintenance. Please contact dornochtrust@gmail.com with any ideas/comments you may have or if you would like to help in any way.
NOVEMBER 2023
The Beach Toilets are now closed for winter.
Thanks to everyone who supported us with donations during the season, which covered almost 45% of our running costs in 2023.
APRIL 2023
Thanks to a grant from the Dornoch Common Good Fund the floors of the two toilets were tiled before they reopened on 1st April.
The tiles were fitted by volunteer labour and have helped our cleaners keep the facility clean for our users. Thanks to everyone who appreciates our work and makes voluntrary donations to help with the running costs.
APRIL 2022
On 1st April 2022 the Dornoch Trust officially took repsonsibility for operating the Beach Toilets by way of a lease from the Dornoch Common Good Fund. Operational costs will be met by a combination of donations and ongoing support from the Dornoch Common Good Fund.
We are awaiting reassignment of the lease for the Beach Playpark (which is currently held by individuals who have personal responsibility for the asset).
In future we hope to work with other local groups and organisations to help improve these and other facilities for the benefit of the local community and visitors to Dornoch and the surrounding area.
