Glenlyon Woodfuel Initiative

Some of you will recall Jamie Grant who previously was the John Muir Trust Communications Officer.

Jamie took great interest in what was happening in communities around sustainability. Inspired by meeting and speaking to various people he encouraged action in his own community of Glen Lyon.

As a result, in March this year, Tom Beels was appointed through climate challenge funding to look at future sustainability. Thanks to Tom for information about the project and forthcoming woodfuel event on 17th July.

Glen Lyon, in Highland Perthshire, is a remote community of around 90 residents, strung along 22 miles of single-track road.

We have received Climate Challenge Funding to see whether it is feasible for the community in Glen Lyon to reduce its dependence on oil as a main heating source, by burning some of the low value timber that surrounds them.

The initiative is also aimed at reducing the community’s carbon footprint and encouraging native woodlands in the area.

Glen Lyon has recently been found to have some of the most intact woodland habitats in Scotland. By re-introducing traditional management techniques, such as coppicing, we hope to enhance and complement the wildlife around us. We are also involving local children in tree planting and hope they will see the fruits of their labour.

We are holding a woodfuel event on Saturday July 17th from 12 noon until 5pm at Glenlyon Kirk.

A number of heat surveys have been completed in Glenlyon to look at the potential for a change from oil to wood heating systems with more surveys planned. Initial results suggest the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) could make the payback time for installing a wood boiler as little as 3 to 4 years.

Steve Luker a consultant to the forestry industry on RHI will be joining us to answer questions and provide information on RHI. A valuable opportunity for you to hear from an expert about a scheme that will pay you for burning wood efficiently.
Heating systems expert Bernd Pinamonti of Thermotec Ecosystems LTD will give advice on the components and costs involved in installing and maintaining modern wood fired systems.

Plans for a woodfuel supply within the glen will be outlined, accompanied by a demonstration of an “Iron Horse” timber extraction machine. Locally made small roundwood craft items such as hurdles, pea sticks and staffs will be on display and available to buy.

And if this were not enough, representatives of The Big Shed and Loch Tay Food Chain will also give talks and answer questions about the exciting projects unfolding “over the hill”.

We hope to have even more attractions nearer the date so if you think you could add to our highly informative afternoon or would like more details, please contact Tom Beels on 01887 866291

Community Woodlands: Sustaining heating; sustaining rural communities

With some 50% of the carbon emissions in the UK coming from heating - a move to a more renewable source makes sense - so it is encouraging news that the Forestry Commission have just announced that the threshold costs for planting trees has been increased from £250,000 to £750,000. But who will gain from this?

I listened to a presentation in my own community the other night about the benefits of 'biomass' or 'wood fuel' for heating energy. They were compelling and it struck me that above all other forms of renewable energy this is a sustainable one for rural communities IF the trees that are felled are replaced and IF there is some control over where felled trees end up. So that would point to communities owning woodland or being in partnership with other landowners. The danger if they do not do this is that large tracts of forest will be grown with a single objective in mind - as we have seen in the past - but more importantly the wood may not remain local.

As the Government moves towards meeting it ambitious Climate Change targets it is likely to move towards large scale wood fuelled biomass power plants. Look around the coast of Britain and you will find planning permission is being sought for such developments across the land. Already EON have a plant - Stevens Croft up and running in Lockerbie. Once commissioned, the energy providers will have the buying power that makes it attractive for landowners to trade directly with them unless the raison d'etre is more than the profit motive. So all the money going into reafforestation just now may be of scant benefit to rural communities. There will be little say in the kind of planting that happens or the destination of any produce. Yet wood can really help to keep the pound local and increase the viability of rural communities if what is grown locally stays locally.

Discussions with residents in Skye recently have emphasised that many people want to see more woodlands that meet diverse objectives including biodiversity, recreational aims and employment as well as wood fuel. Judicious planting can result in an enhanced landscape and a valuable resource for all. It seems ironic then that the one body in Scotland - Community Woodlands Association - that supports community woodlands faces a funding crisis. Beyond the summer, due the current financial climate, the ability of CWA to provide current levels of support to community woodland groups is in doubt. One of their members has put together a really inspiring video Wha's Like Us? This inspirational poem, written and perfomed by Eoin Cox reflects on the cultural contribution of community woodlands across Scotland.

Abriachan Community Trust exemplify what is possible when communities invest in woodland. In 1998 the community purchased 534 hectares of forest and open hill ground from Forest Enterprise(Now Forestry Commission Scotland). Since then, as a social enterprise, the Abriachan Forest Trust has managed this land to create local employment, improve the environment and encourage it's enjoyment by the public through a network of spectacular paths, family suited mountain bike trails and innovative education opportunities. Thanks to their continuous cover thinning, they also have seasoned firewood available and are planting for the future. The firewood operation raises funds to sustain other activities.

Rural communities have a golden opportunity now to build a sustainable energy source for the future that can also enhance the landscape, increase biodiversity, increase recreational options as well as provide local employment - if they gain some control of land or work in partnership with sympathetic landowners.