Hazelbank Woodland Community Consultation
Come along to the Hazelbank Woodland Community Consultation Session
Strathdearn Community Developments invites you to a community consultation session to discuss the application to the Scottish Land Fund to assist in the proposed purchase of Hazelbank Woods.
Meeting at The Strathdearn Hub, join us at 6.30pm on Tuesday, July 25 as we take a short walk into Hazelbank Woods to consider the opportunities available to us. We’ll then regroup back at The Strathdearn for some refreshments, a short presentation to outline the proposal and a discussion where we’ll welcome feedback from the community. All of this will inform stage 2 of the Scottish Land Fund application.
We look forwarding to seeing you there and hearing your views on the subject.
About the Woodland
Why Hazelbank Woods?
Hazelbank Woods is very popular with residents and visitors of all ages, including Strathdearn Primary School.
On behalf of the community, we’ve been given the opportunity to enter into commercial discussions to purchase the woodland from the current owners. If successful, community ownership means that Hazelbank Woods would become an amenity and recreational asset for present and future generations in the community to enjoy.
We were pleased to successfully complete stage 1 of the Scottish Land Fund in 2022 and are now in a position to submit stage 2. This includes applying for grant funding to cover much of the purchase price with this type of woodland currently valued at around £15,000 per hectare.
Funding criteria from the Scottish Land Fund require us to present a robust business and wood management plan, including evidence of community support for the purchase and an outline of our plans for the woodland. This is where we’d like to hear from you.
Where is Hazelbank Woods?
Hazelbank Woods lies southwest of the centre of Tomatin and is accessible via a short walk from the main facilities of the village shop/café hub.
It’s arranged in an L-shape and comprises 19 hectares of woodland planted in the early 1960s, featuring mainly Scots Pine, a small amount of Norway Spruce and a scattering of Larch, Juniper and Birch.
This is your opportunity to share your views and contribute to the application of Hazelbank Woods. We hope to see as many of you on Tuesday, July 25 as possible.
