I also seem to be Chairman of North West Mull Community Woodland Company (NWMCWC).
A few years ago the Forestry Commission put some woodland in the North West of Mull up for sale. We reckoned it would be for the best if this woodland was purchased for access and use by the local community and through the mechanism of the National Forest Land Scheme, with main funding from The Lottery and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, we secured this excellent resource for the local community.
Future plans include the provision/ enabling of affordable housing, creation of forest crofts and improved access and amenity amongst other equally ambitious schemes. We already have a woodmiser portable sawmilling operation up and running, a fledgeling firewood business, christmas tree sales and forest schools use the woodland and have a shelter and safe fire area. Access has already been improved via the partially completed timber haul route.
2011 looks like being an incredibly exciting year for NWMCWC.
Our timber haul route should be completed by May which will allow us to harvest and market previously inaccessible timber thus allowing the woodlands to be managed effectively. This is the starting point for much of the rest of our plans.
We have a hydro scheme in the pipeline (booboom!) which, if early indications are correct, should provide us with "green" income.
Woodland Burials will similarly bring in some cash - folk are dying to get buried on our ground (booboom the second).
For more info about our exciting project please visit NWMCWC website
That is all for now.
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