Grantee: Broadford and Strath Community Company

Duration:  14 months (May 2025 – July 2026) 

 

Background

Rare and globally significant Temperate Atlantic Rainforest is increasingly fragmented and isolated. For example, on the Isle of Skye, these ecosystems cover just 2% of the island. Comparatively, monoculture forestry plantations extend over a greater area, but support relatively little life.

The Project

Broadford and Strath Community Company (BSCC), based in the south of Skye, are a volunteer-led charity working to improve their natural and built environment through a range of projects, including community allotments, outdoor learning, and a tree nursery.

In 2011, BSCC purchased Broadford Community Woodland, a 23ha woodland consisting of cleared areas and monoculture forestry plantation. There is a long-term plan to clear the remaining plantation tree and restructure the woodland to create a more biodiverse habitat. In the 2-3 years before timber extraction can take place, there is an opportunity to trial a range of restoration activities and build capacity locally to improve chances of success in the long term.

This project will kickstart this transformation by employing a part-time Project Officer to deliver a year of environmental activities. A volunteer programme will be established, undertaking activities such as non-native invasive species removal, small-scale habitat creation, native tree planting, and implementing low-cost ways to protect the woodland from deer browsing. Activities will be guided by recommendations made in the Biodiversity Action Plan and Feasibility Study (both completed in 2024). Through affiliation with the Community Woodlands Association, lessons learnt will be shared with other groups doing similar work.