Blairbeg Community Woods
Glen Urquhart Rural Community Association is delighted to announce that the Scottish Land Fund has awarded charity funding of £135, 936 to purchase 3 plots of land in the centre of Drumnadrochit and carry out some essential remedial work. During 2021 an extensive consultation was carried out to test the aspirations for bringing the woodland into community ownership. Following negotiations with the current landowner, agreement was reached to sell 3 plots of land to the community.
1) Bradley Martin Garden (area in front of Glenurquhart Public Hall) 2) Blairbeg woods North (to the rear of the Hall) 3) Blairbeg woods North East (backing onto the graveyard)
There are a range of ideas about how the woodlands could be used by the community and a consultation event will be held in the new year to decide ultimately what these will be.
1) Use of the Bradley Martin Garden with the hall; it could then be used for erecting a marquee for functions, as well as providing somewhere for people to sit during walks around the village.
2) To improve the woods’ bio-diversity to enrich the wildlife using the woodland (ecological surveys have already been carried out)
3) Potential for formal paths and links to a heritage trail project that’s already underway
4) Disc gold facilities
5) Dementia-friendly woods to capitalise on the proximity of the Glenurquhart Care Project.
If you are interested in getting involved with developing and delivering any of these ideas, please contact Dan Light, our Community Development Officer at dan@gurca.co.uk
The Scottish Land Fund supports rural and urban communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of land and land assets.
Funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by The National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, The Scottish Land Fund offers grants of up to £1 million to help communities take ownership of the land and buildings that matter to them, as well as practical support to develop their aspirations into viable projects
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