A remote west Highland community has been awarded more than £50,000 to buy almost 20 acres of local woodland from Forestry Commission Scotland.
The Morvern Community Woodlands Company was set up by local volunteers in 2002 to manage local woodlands on the Morvern peninsula in Lochaber for community benefit.
The aim of the company was to run public events and training courses, to provide woodland education and recreation opportunities and to promote woodland and timber-related skills.
It has been managing Achnaha Wood since 2004, but it will now be able to buy the land, thanks to £50,250 awarded by the Scottish Land Fund under the National Forest Land Scheme.
Sam Firth, of Morvern Community Woodlands, today said the grant would also provided the opportunity to develop its use within the community.
She said: “Achnaha Wood is a wonderful place, which is very important to our small community.
“Bringing this woodland into community ownership will ensure it remains accessible to all for generations to come and will enable us to build on the success we have had managing the woods.
“We are very grateful to the Scottish Land Fund for giving us this opportunity.”
The funding was also welcomed by Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Aileen McLeod.
She said: “Community ownership bring benefits to local people, including the further development of skills in forestry management, the extension of recreational facilities and the further development of the wood.
“Morvern Community Woodlands is a great example of how the Scottish Land Fund is making a real difference to communities throughout rural Scotland.”
Scottish Land Fund Committee chairman John Watt pointed out that Morvern Community Woodlands already had a proven track record of successfully managing Achnaha Wood for the benefit of local people.
He said: “Ownership of the asset is a logical step for this enterprising community and one which will contribute not only to the sustainability of the woodland for generations to come, but also to the resilience of the community itself.”