Part of Langhom Moor in the Scottish Borders is set to pass into community hands following an award from the Scottish Land Fund.
£1,000,000 has been awarded to The Langholm Initiative in Dumfries and Galloway, which has ambitious plans to take over a much larger area of the Langholm Moor and turn it into a community-owned nature reserve, with peatland restoration, ancient woodland regeneration and protection for breeding Hen Harriers.
Steve Hartley, Chair, NDCT, said: “Community ownership of this land, much of it still used today as it was over 225 years ago, now gives us all a bigger, brighter and more sustainable future. This will continue to include farming, but the community also wants to develop new leisure and renewable sectors, spreading the benefits of community ownership to everyone who lives here.”
And Kevin Cumming, Langholm Initiative Project Leader, said “The Langholm Initiative appreciates the offer of an award made by the Scottish Land Fund. It leaves us with a long way to go to succeed, but we are excited to work on securing the rest of the funding.”
The Scottish Land Fund is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Minister, Cabinet Secretary for Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented global crisis which has fundamentally changed every aspect of our lives and will do so for some time to come. Communities across the country, whilst impacted in so many ways by the lockdown, are playing a vital role in responding to the crisis and maintaining our resilience, our sense of spirit and local support network.
“As we plan our recovery from COVID-19, we have a chance to re-imagine the Scotland around us and to begin building a greener, fairer and more equal society and economy. Communities must be right at the heart of this process and the funding announced today will support a wide range of projects to achieve just this, driving long-lasting benefits and empowerment to local communities.”
John Watt, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “The Scottish Land Fund supports inner-city projects as well as those in rural areas, but this particular round of funding has given a boost to communities in some of Scotland’s most remote areas, allowing communities to take control of the resources that surround them and make local decisions about how these are used.”
Sandra Holmes, Head of Community Assets at HIE, said: Sandra Holmes, Head of Community Assets at HIE, said: “The successful projects announced today are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities. Kyleakin Connections will purchase their rented premises, providing security and enabling an expansion to accommodate wider community use and Colonsay Community Development Company will be able to purchase property to develop into much needed temporary accommodation for key workers and families. Ownership will give these communities greater control over important assets and will help ensure its long-term future. We wish all the successful groups the very best in their new ventures.”
another local project receiving Scottish Land Fund is- All Roads lead to Whithorn Trust
Award- £110,635
This group will purchase the former Grapes Hotel in Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway to convert it into affordable rented housing.
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