The Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT) has launched the CSGN Community Woodlands Survey and is calling on the support of the public and local groups across Central Scotland who are managing or creating their own woodland.
The organisation is working to create a better connected community woodlands network to allow local groups to support and learn from each other in order to safeguard and develop these valuable community resources.
Amy Davidson, community development officer at CSGNT, said: “It is important to protect our community woodlands which make an important contribution through providing a local greenspace which supports improved physical and mental health and wellbeing, benefits biodiversity and creates education and training opportunities.
“We know there are many committed groups who are managing and creating their own woodlands to improve their local environment and we want to support their valuable work.”
The survey can be accessed here and will allow CSGNT to better understand community woodland engagement from the structure of groups through to the issues they face and any barriers in progressing towards community ownership or management.
CSGNT has also developed a resource guide for community groups who already manage a community woodland or would like to do so.
Davidson added: “Our aim is to support community woodland groups by providing details on what help is available to them through access to information as well as potential guidance from organisations such as the Community Woodlands Association, Forestry Commission Scotland and CSGNT.”
As Europe’s largest greenspace initiative, the Central Scotland Green Network will transform the central belt into a place where the environment adds value to the economy and where people’s lives are enriched by its quality. Stretching from Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Dunbartonshire in the west, to Fife and Lothians in the east, it encompasses 19 local authorities across 10,000km² and has the potential to benefit 3.5m people, equating to 70 per cent of Scotland’s population.
To participate in the survey visit www.centralscotlandgreennetwork.org/communitywoodlands
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