Abriachan Forest Trust

In 1996 the people of Abriachan, a community of about 120 set high above the shores of Loch Ness bought their own forest. A Forest Trust was created to bring into community ownership 534 hectares of planted forest and open hill, which had been put up for sale by Forest Enterprise (FE).  Today Abriachan Forest is the largest community-owned forest in Scotland. The group manages the land to create jobs, plays a major role in the re-afforestation of the Great Glen with native species, and encourage access by the public through a network of paths and bike trails and innovative educational projects, like the Forest School. The group has planted over 20,000 native trees.

The project has allowed long-term planning by the community and created new income streams. It’s a shining example of what can happen when ownership is shared.

 

Comments (7)

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  1. Rob Gilbert says:

    Great piece about Abriachan Forest.Totally agree with the comment about the benefit and desirability of communal ownership.Heart warming.How things ought to be across the board.

  2. Alison Macleod says:

    I agree Abriachan Forest Trust is amazing, but it’s not the largest community owned forest. It was the largest at the time it was bought.

    1. Hi Alison, thanks for the correction – but where is then?

      1. Phil says:

        One of the larger ones is in north Sutherland at Skerray or Borgie.

        The question usually is after buying the resource how to keep it running – finding income.

  3. Fran says:

    Brilliant to hear. What an inspiration.

  4. John young says:

    great idea and they at least have it in their own hands,maybe outdoor events could be a part of future revenue streams along with ecology and environmental schemes,good luck to them.

  5. leavergirl says:

    Made my day. 🙂

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