Cairnbaan community to make former FLS offices a community hub
Representatives of the Cairnbaan Community Trust (CCT) were today (10 Oct) handed the keys to Forestry and Land Scotland’s former Knapdale Office and Workshop, following the successful conclusion of a Community Asset Transfer.
The buildings are no longer used by FLS, and will now be re-purposed by The Trust to create a vibrant community-owned hub that will be a focal point for boosting local residents individual well-being and building and consolidating community resilience.
The buy-out, which was supported with SLF funding, is another success for Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS) Community Asset Transfer Scheme, and concludes a process which began in August 2023.
CCT Chair, Jim Maitland, said;
“We’re delighted that with ownership confirmed, we can now get on with bringing our plans to fruition. With connection, creativity and cohesion being at the heart of it, a community hub is going to make a big difference.
“As a focal point, it will provide a meeting, work and activity space for local groups where people of all ages will be able to interact and enjoy what will be on offer, including health and wellbeing activities and a regular pop-up café.
“We’re also looking to provide information on local history and environment, and offer hot desking facilities and space for independent hire. We’re also confident that more ideas will emerge as we find our feet.
“This has been a fairly long process but it has really galvanised our close-knit community and brought everyone together. We would recommend other communities around the country to explore what the Community Asset Transfer Scheme might be able to offer them on their own doorsteps.”
The Cairnbaan Community Trust is the thirty first successful conclusion of an Asset Transfer request that has seen FLS hand ownership of buildings, woodland and land for greater community benefit.
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.
Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, said;
“Access to land is important to a wide range of community initiatives and FLS plays a key role in facilitating recreational, environmental and economic activities on the land that it manages.
“The Cairnbaan Trust is the latest in a long and growing line of community groups that have taken advantage of FLS’ Community Asset Transfer Scheme (CATS) to take more control of shaping their future and seize the transformational opportunities that this offers them.
“It’s fantastic to see the range of projects local communities are delivering. I would encourage others to look at what opportunities might be open to them and to engage with Forestry and Land Scotland for the benefit their own community.”
CATS – a key part of FLS’ Communities Strategy - is an open invitation to communities to come up with some ideas to make better use of Scotland’s national forests and land.
FLS’ also works with communities to facilitate other activities that make use of the national forests and land, such as high profile community events like the Enchanted Forest in Pitlochry, volunteering opportunities with Community Woodland groups or working with mountain bike Trail Associations.
Other community engagement 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.
Notes to Editors
- 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.
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