Laggan community buys forestry land

Laggan Forest Trust is celebrating the news that it has successfully bought nearly 20 hectares of national forest land for the benefit of the community. The purchase has been made possible under Forestry Commission Scotland's National Forest Land Scheme, where communities can bid to buy or lease the land on the basis that it provides increased public benefits. The community of Laggan lies between Newtonmore and Loch Laggan in Badenoch and Strathspey. The Trust has a number of proposals to develop three areas of land at Strathmashie to provide much needed jobs and to give a boost for the local economy. Plans include: 1. Developing a wood chip business and tree nursery; 2. Creating a forest visitor centre and new base for cycling, pony trekking and heritage exhibitions; and 3. Creating a woodland burial site at Gorstean. Scottish Forestry Minister Sarah Boyack said: "This sale demonstrates the maturing partnership between Forestry Commission Scotland and Laggan Forest Trust, which is bringing increasing benefits to the local community. "The prospect of the Trust developing a new forest centre at Laggan is exciting as it will help develop the visitor experience for those coming to walk, pony trek or to use the mountain bike trails at Laggan Wolftrax. I wish the Trust every success with all their innovative proposals." Laggan is a scattered community with approximately 220 people living within an area of 400 sq miles. The community voted in favour of buying the land for community development in November 2003. Rory Richardson, joint chair of Laggan Forest Trust, said: "It's a great achievement for Laggan after many years of hard work. The forest initiative was started by my father, Dr Ian Richardson, back in 1997 and I know he would be proud of what we have achieved. "I look forward to an exciting few years when we begin the task of developing the land for the benefit of the community, bringing in much needed jobs as well as supporting the local economy. "My thanks to all who have contributed to this project and to the Scottish Land Fund and Community Land Unit for providing the funding, and to our partners Forestry Commission Scotland for guiding us through the National Forest Land Scheme" www.forestry.gov.uk