Appendix 8

Project Endorsements The Woodland Trust

~ South Inch Business Centre Shore Road WOODLAND Perth TRUST SCOTLAND PH2 8BW Telephone 01738 635829 Facsimile By email to: Jamie Mcintyre 01738 629391 cc. Gary Servant Website woodlandtrust.org.uk Dear Jamie

Thank you for contacting us about the proposed community acquisition of South Arkaig and Glenmallie Forest through the National Forest LandScheme. I am writing to expressWoodland Trust Scotland's support for this initiative, which we feel is an important step towards safeguarding a Caledonian pinewood habitat of national importance.

We understand that more than half of the area of this forest is recorded on the Ancient Woodland Inventory. This is significant when considered against the tiny area of native woodlands of semi natural origin surviving in Scotland (approx. 1%ofthe land area). Ancient woodland is our most precious habitat; it is scarceand irreplaceable and supports some of our rarest and most vulnerable species.While the ecological integrity of South Arkaig and Glenmallie hasclearly been compromised by past events and management, it undoubtedly remains an important repository of ancient woodland biodiversity.

Importantly, the forest is located in an 'ancient woodland hotspot' which represents an opportunity not only to secure and restore biodiversity within the site, but also to contribute to the development of buffering and habitat linkages between ancient woodland fragments across the wider landscape. Within the blocks proposed for acquisition, there are tracts of open ground, at least some of which will be suitable for new woodland creation, thus expanding the total area of native woodland.

Given the importance of these woodlands, it is vital that a long term plan for sensitive and appropriate management is in place. It seems strongly preferable that this asset should remain within the public realm, and ideally within community ownership with the potential for real, local benefit.

The issue of ancient woodland restoration is pressing, and much of what survives in Scotland hasyet to be brought into appropriate management; the longer action is delayed, the lesslikely it is to succeed.The Woodland Trust is a leader in this area, and is currently engaged in a major UK-wide initiative working collaboratively with owners to help establish positive management and restoration techniques that will in turn deliver not only healthy, thriving restored ancient woodlands, but a range of benefits for people.

We welcome the proposal from the , Bunarkaig and ClunesGroup to take on ownership and management of this forest, and look forward to exploring ways in which our involvement may help secure and expand this valuable woodland resource.

Yours sincerely,

Director for Scotland Woodland Trust

100\ reoycled paper. The Woodland Truat is iii chariey registered in Scotland (No. SC03888S) and in England and Walos (No. 29-1344). Il. non-profit R1aking cO\l'pany limited by guarantee. Registered in El\gl.!.nd No. 198~87J. 2. Bob Chambers, Royal Marine Association, Branch.

Subject: Fw: Loch Arkaig Native Pinewoods

Dear Jamie,

I write in response to your e-mail to Alan Mitchell our past branch secretary.

My name is Bob Chalmers a veteran Royal Marine and current Chairman of The Royal Marine Association Highland Branch.

I am only too willing to offer my personal support and that of the Highland Branch of The Royal Marine Association in your efforts to purchase the woodlands at Loch Arkaig Nr Achnacarry.

It is only right in view of the importance of these woods, in particular the part they played in the training of The Commandos during the Second World War and Royal Marines since that these woodlands be brought under community control. This area is of significant importance in the history of our country and indeed in increasing relevance in the future, both as a place of interest and of reverence. It is in addition to being a social resource for the community, has the potential of having a financial significance to the area.

From a military perspective in addition to its importance as a training area for service personnel it is also a place of pilgrimage for former commandos thus binging considerable finance into the area at the moment, and of increasing financial benefits if managed and marketed to it's full potential in the future. We as Branch and along with other Branches and serving personnel are down in the area on at least four occasions per year. There is the potential for these visits to be built on and increased either in scale or frequency, thus bringing in further revenue to the area.

I wish you success with purchase of The Woodland.

Yours

Bob Chalmers 5. David Cameron, Chairman, Community land Scotland. COMMUI\IITY * LAND SCOTL4ND

Mr. Gary Servant, ABCForestry/Renewables Steering Group.

141hFebruary 2014

Dear Mr. Servant,

Loch Arkaig Native Pinewoods . Community Buyout

As Chair of Community Land Scotland. if the local ballot is successful in supporting the plan to purchase and develop the area of forest, I am very happy to support the aspirations of your community to take control of a vital local asset. Community Land Scotland stands ready to assist in any practical way that we can in the successful delivery of your project and the resulting empowerment of the local community to help build a better and more sustainable future.

Yours faithfully. 3. lesley Riddoch, Author and Broadcaster.

Subject: FW: Loch Arkalg Native Pinewoods

Gary Just a quick note to wish you all the best with this important, pioneering project. All the work I've done with the Nordic countries - Norway in particular - suggests local land ownership very often means local forest ownership and the small but steady flow of tasks, income and fuel form the backbone of genuine local democracy in rural areas. Unusually, Scotland's nationally managed forest estate has hitherto been out of bounds to local communities. Well done to the folks in for realising ownership of this important physical asset will help develop their own human community.

Is that OK? lesley

lesley Riddoch My book - Blossom - what Scotland needs to Flourish OUT NOW My site - www.lesleyriddoch.com Another Side blog -- www.lesleyriddoch.co.uk

The Nordics n www.nordichorizons.org 4. Professor James Hunter, Historian and Author

13 February 2014

Gary Servant ABCForestry/Renewables Steering Group

Dear Mr Servant

South Arkaig and Glenmallie Forestry Acquisition

I have read with great interest your community group's proposals for South Arkaig and Glenmallie. I'm wholly supportive of what you and your colleagues are looking to achieve there and I trust the venture will get, from all the relevant authorities, the backing it deserves.

Yourssincerely,

ProfessorJamesHunter CBEFRSE

James Hunter CBEFRSEis Emeritus Professor of History at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) where, between 2005 and 2010, he was director of the UHI Centre for History. The author of twelve books on the Highlands and on the region's worldwide diaspora, James Hunter has also been active in the public life of the area. In the mid-1980s, he became the first director of the Scottish Crofters Union, now the Scottish Crofting Federation. Later he served for six years as chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the north of Scotland's development agency. In the course of a varied career, James Hunter has also been an award-winning journalist. His latest book, From the Low Tide of the Seato the Highest Mountain Tops, dealing with community ownership of land in the Highlands and Islands, was published in March 2012. He is working on a further book about the Sutherland Clearances. 7. RSPBScotland

Dear Gary,

Many thanks for getting in touch with RSPB about this potential community buy-out.

You probably are aware but in case not, Butterfly Conservation have a reserve, managed for chequered skipper, on the north shore of the loch, so there will likely be potential for management sympathetic for this species as well.

RSPB Scotland would be keen to work with whoever owns the woodland, given the importance of it for various protected species.

The contact for this area is Stewart Blair. He is off on sickness absence at the moment, so please in the menatime contact Alison Maclennan, should you have any further queries at this stage.

Regards

Kenna

Kenna Chisholm Conservation Manager

North Scotland Regional Office Etive House, Beechwood Park, Inverness, IV2 3BW Tel 01463 228811 Mobile 07787 722684

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654