Another good year for CATS communities

The Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) team behind the Community Asset Transfer Scheme (CATS)  has enjoyed another busy year.

The Community Asset Transfer Scheme (CATS) enables communities to take greater control of the land through ownership or lease.

In the last nine months alone they have received three Community Asset Transfer requests for woodland crofts and affordable housing at Ratagan & Saraig, a community woodland at Craigielands Wood, Beattock and a new community hub at Cairnbaan. The latter request has been approved, along with Balmacara Community Trust’s request for the Balmacara Campsite, and FLS has completed the transfers of Longrigg Wood to the Sunart Community Company and the Glenmore Visitor Centre to the Aviemore & Glenmore Community Trust. 

Gavin Falconer, FLS’ Head of Estates and Renewables, said;

“As Scotland’s largest land manager, communities are at the heart of what we do.

“CATS – a key part of our Communities Strategy - is essentially an open invitation to communities to come up with some ideas to make better use of Scotland’s national forests and land and to come and speak to us about how to realise those aims and ambitions.”

Community Asset Transfers have been integral to the creation of businesses, tourism and recreation opportunities and to establishing affordable housing, woodland crofts and community hydro renewable energy schemes.   

However, FLS’ work with communities also include activities which make use of the national forests and land such as high profile community events such as the Enchanted Forest in Pitlochry, volunteering opportunities with Community Woodland groups or working with mountain bike Trail Associations.  

It also includes volunteering, developing community-led initiatives for local place plans, and working at the landscape scale through collaborations such as Cairngorms Connect or the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforests, and public consultations on Land Management Plans.

Gavin added:

“Asset transfers are a great opportunity for communities but they are not the only option available.

“As well as sales and leases, we facilitate in the region of 90 community projects across the country on the land we manage.

“And with over 700 community and third sector organisations having an interest in the national forests, there is considerable scope for more.”     

Since CATS was introduced in 2017/18 FLS has received a total of 38 requests and has completed 27 Community Asset Transfers to local communities and communities of interest.

This comprise of 25 sales - totalling 680 hectares - and 2 hydro leases. Communities have also acquired a number of assets - small in size but important to their community - through direct sales. Most recently the Lochgair Association acquired a hectare of land in the heart of the village to improve access to their recently refurbished village hall.

Previous Asset Transfer Requests | Forestry and Land Scotland

Notes to editors

1. CATS is the successor to the National Forest Land Scheme (2005-2016), which was established by FLS predecessor Forestry Commission Scotland.
2. Prior to 2005, the “sponsored sale of surplus assets” would occasionally see land ownership transferred to community groups, the earliest being Abriachan Forest Trust who acquired the 540 ha Abriachan Forest in 1998. Since 1998 communities have acquired around 5,600 hectares of national forest land.
3. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.
4. Home - Forestry and Land Scotland | twitter.com/ForestryLS
5. Media enquiries to Paul Munro, Media Manager, Forestry and Land Scotland Media Office 07785 527590 or paul.munro@forestryandland.gov.scot