A total of ten groups will benefit
A community group in the Scottish Borders has been given £595,500 by the Scottish Land Fund to buy an area of land in their village.
Broughtonknowe Community Woodland Ltd will purchase 55.85 hectares of woodland in Broughton in order to continue using it as an amenity green space and to increase biodiversity on the site.
The grant is among ten totaling £1,975,563 that have been announced in the most recent awards from the Scottish Land Fund.
Other groups receiving funding to pursue their community ownership ambitions include Annexe Communities, which has been given £248,000 to acquire the building in Partick, Glasgow which they have tenanted for the last 37 years and which they will continue to operate as a community-led health and wellbeing hub, benefiting the local community by securing, maintaining and improving the hub.
Balmacara Community Trust has also received £162,130 to acquire the former Balmacara Campsite in Lochalsh from Forestry and Land Scotland.
The site will remain natural woodland with paths and gathering spaces for recreation and community events. The group will also upgrade the derelict office building and will potentially reinstate the campsite.
The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in April 2021.
The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.
Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said: “I think what is so incredible about those receiving Scottish Land Fund awards is that each is an example of people coming together to take really positive, practical action to create a place for others to come together and benefit the community - often securing the future of a beloved local landmark.
“I want to congratulate all of those who will be able to drive their projects forward with this support and wish them the very best.”
Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “By providing funding that is targeted directly at local needs, the Scottish Land Fund is helping both urban and rural communities to flourish.
“The groups involved have developed strategic goals and clear ambitions about how these assets will help their localities to thrive.”
