McLeod visits first Scottish Woodlot
MSP for the South of Scotland Dr Aileen McLeod recently visited the first Woodlot in Scotland at the Corsewall Estate near Stranraer. Woodlot Licences are a new form of forest land tenure for Scotland and allow someone with an interest in the industry to lease an area of woodland, which they can then manage with a view to selling the timber produced.
Woodlots have been actively promoted in British Columbia, where there is now a 30-year track record supporting this method of land tenure.
Aileen, who led a members’ business debate promoting the idea of Woodlots at Holyrood earlier this year said:
“Giving people opportunities in the forest industry to actually manage and harvest timber for themselves is something new for Scotland but has developed a solid track record in British Columbia, where it has been accepted practice, and indeed promoted by the government, for the past 30 years.
“The Scottish Woodlot Association has done a fantastic job of making the case in favour of Woodlots and Angus Carrick Buchanan, who owns the Corsewall Estate, has taken the bold step of signing the first Woodlot Licence.
“I was delighted to have the opportunity to visit the Estate, see the work that has already been done and also plant my own Douglas fir! Woodlots are an excellent idea and I hope we will see more of them spread across Galloway and the rest of Scotland in the future.”
Corsewall Estate owner Angus Carrick Buchanan commented:
“The Corsewall Woodlot is making steady progress. This pilot now has timber being cut and sold. However, as with trees in general, Woodlot Businesses take time to grow and I am happy to allow the licence holder, Mark Rowe, the time he needs to allow his venture succeed in order to set an example and encourage others across Scotland.”
Will Allen, Convenor of the Scottish Woodlot Association, said:
“We were delighted to welcome Aileen McLeod to see work on a Scottish woodlot first hand. Dr McLeod has been a staunch supporter of the Association from the outset, and her help in establishing the woodlot licence model in this country has been invaluable.”
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