Aberdeenshire Council Woods In & Around Towns

Fiona Chirnside Environment Planner, 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, Previous work: Existing woodlands

Aberdeen WIAT Partnership:

FCS, A’shire Council, City Council, Aberdeen Greenspace.

Woodlands in Aberdeen and satellite towns - 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 : Aden Country Park Banff: 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