Inchlumpie Community Woodland project

This page is intended to provide background information and provide a record of the project proposals to get you thinking about the detail of what you want.

The directors of the company are in the process of producing reports for the Business Plan, including an inventory of standing wood, a wildlife habitat map and report and a proposed path layout and building locations and these can be viewed Here

Inchlumpie wood is the second smallest FCS-owned wood in Ardross and was described as being in 'walk-in condition' in the report appraising the community woodland potential in Ardross.

As such, we see it as offering the most straightforward solution to the community-identified requirements (wildlife conservation, education, fuel), as it requires the least effort and commitment to achieve them.

We want to purchase this area of FCS woodland and, from the basis of improving the access infrastructure and constructing a multipurpose building as focus for the proposed events and activities, we want to create:

• a community-owned sustainable fuel resource - managing the woodland to diversify its species richness and provide continuity of supply, developing to generate a surplus from which to derive an income to support the other initiatives;

• an accessible outdoor education resource - by working in partnership with the local school and nursery, providing wildlife refuges, promoting habitat diversity and native regeneration, and arranging specialist interpretation, our children can acquire a better comprehension of the function and complexity of the natural environment, and of their own impacts and responsibilities; further, there will be the opportunity for specific courses and workshops aimed at more mature members of the community including, importantly, 'forest school' skills development;

• a recreational space for the less able - integrated easy-access parking, paths, picnic spots, viewpoints, and hides, will enable them to share in the enjoyment of an environment which surrounds them but to which they currently have limited or no access;

• an exciting but secure setting for scheduled activities for the youth of the community - by making this available locally, they can reduce their dependence on cars, nurturing their independence; and,

• a dynamic venue for arts and social events - making use of both the indoor and outdoor spaces furnished by the building and its environs.

So, the yellow line outlines the area we're dealing with, as seen from the hill above Lealty Lodge, i.e. looking roughly Northwards.

and here's a map of the area

We're focussing the business plan on the following 5 outcomes specified in our 'Outline Planning' application to the Big Lottery Fund; these stem from the goals outlined above:

1. From 2009, over 150 households will gain access to a source of sustainable heating fuel.

2. From 2010, an estimated 30 less-able members of our community will have improved access to woodland within their locality.

3. By 2011 we expect to have created opportunities for at least 2 forestry and forest-product related workers within the community.

4. By spring 2012, Ardross Primary School pupils (currently 40) and nursery kids (15) will have access to a nearby, safe, and specifically improved setting in which to explore, study, enjoy, and understand their rural environment.

5. From 2012, teenagers (currently 25) will be able to engage in outdoor activities, classes, and clubs, without reliance on others for transport.

Other benefits are implicit in these outcomes, for instance, nurturing wildlife habitats and enhancing biodiversity as part of the 'education' and 'access' strands of the project; what we have to do, as we develop the business plan, is to identify these opportunities for additional benefits, consider their implications, quantify their materials and labour requirements, and integrate them with the rest of the project. Easy!

If you think you can help with any of this, or have ideas that could be incorporated - get in touch!