Aberdeenshire Council Woods In & Around Towns
Fiona Chirnside Environment Planner, Aberdeenshire Council Woods In & Around Towns (WIAT)
•Create new woodland
•Bring neglected woodland into active management
•Work with people to help them use their local woodland.
“Bring urban woodland into sustainable management and improve recreational facilities by carrying out an agreed programme of work”
Previous Work: New Woodlands
Balmacassie Community Woodland, Ellon
Collieburn Park, Peterhead Previous work: Existing woodlands
Aberdeen WIAT Partnership:
FCS, A’shire Council, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen Greenspace.
Woodlands in Aberdeen and satellite towns - Portlethen and Westhill.
Achievements: Improved access in 14 woodlands, Community woodland ranger employed in Aberdeen 4 new woodland management groups formed. Portlethen Moss Arnhall Moss Improved recreational facilities
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New path at Arnhall Moss
New path at Portlethen Moss Working with local communities
Planning Event - Ellon
Community volunteers – Westhill
Winner of Design a Badge competition - Portlethen New path at Portlethen Moss Building on success
How do we widen the WIAT project across Aberdeenshire?
Which of our woodlands are in need of significant management?
Where could funding from the WIAT Challenge Fund make a difference? Identifying Opportunities
…bring urban woodland into sustainable management and improve recreation facilities by carrying out an agreed programme of work… Identifying Opportunities
Stonehaven: Mineralwell Woodlands Banchory: Captain’s Wood, Bellswood & Lower Bellswood Kintore: Gauchill Woods Turriff: Woodland at The Haughs Mintlaw: Aden Country Park Banff: Duff House Woodlands & Lusylaw Woods Developing Opportunities
Production of management plans for six woodlands.
Community consultation undertaken for each site.
Project grant aided to 50% by FCS WIAT Challenge Fund
Management plans and year one (10/11) action plans going before local area committees for approval.
Delivery of management plans – extent subject to grant funding Challenges
Sourcing match funding in a climate of reduced budgets.
Raising expectations through community consultation which cannot easily be delivered.
Difficult to generate community interest in some areas.
Diverse views within communities on how woodlands should be managed. Encouragements Improved knowledge of woodland resource
Improved recreational facilities
Woodland brought into sustainable management
Successful internal cross service working
Successful community involvement in some areas