Building with the Boys Brigade
The Boys Brigade, led by Raymond Deans, headed up the forest in February to make a start on our first mountain bike trail. I was hugely excited having walked the track with David Kilpatrick from the Bike Shed in Rothesay a few weeks before. Aidan, a teacher and Richard, one of our Directors and our volunteer Forester, came along to share their skills.
The lads were really keen, and helped out with every step of the process – collecting the timber, measuring the site, putting the first logs into place, nailing on the planks and covering the bridge with chicken wire.
They were keen to see where the full trails will go, so with much falling over and stepping into burns (particularly one young man – I shall name no names!), we walked up and down the trails talking about other places to bike and the continuous cover approach we are taking to managing the woodland we have. We had some debate about the grading of the trail, especially the red/black-possibly-even-orange trail which might need a bit more thought into how to downgrade the severity.
The lads learnt a lot in their afternoon, with many never having used a hammer and nails before and saying they would otherwise have spent their afternoon playing computer games (which led to a long discussion about the merits of various computer games!). They completed one bridge and almost completed a second -only 3 more to go!
What a difference a day makes…
I’ve had my fingers crossed so tightly for the last few days that the weather would be good that I almost couldn’t uncross mine to actually get stuck in when we had a day of light drizzle rather than relentless rain on Tuesday. Why was it an important day? Well, we had members of the Pheonix Centre or ‘Crew Pheonix’ as they prefer to be known coming along to help clear out and around the pond and regular volunteers and we had Channel 4 doing some research filming on the project and Karen from the Buteman. A busy day and of course despite staggering arrival times in the plan, everyone arrived at exactly the same time!
First thing was first – checking out the progress made whilst I’ve been slacking off. I’ve not been able to get up the forest for volunteering these last couple of weeks, so I was very pleasantly surprised to find the compost toilet virtually complete - hurrah! And quite beautiful it looks too… well, for a toilet. We shall have a ‘grand opening’ in the Easter school holidays.
The first to arrive, a group of our regular adult volunteers, got stuck in on the top pond area, clearing out branches and checking to see what wildlife they could find – absolutely nothing apart from loads of frog spawn which had sprung up since the afternoon before. After reassurances from our wildlife expert that the pond wouldn’t be able to support as many tadpoles as had already been spawned anyway and we wouldn’t disturb them if we were careful, we carried on, still making sure to disturb them as little as possible. (I popped back later when the group had moved onto another area to find the pond teeming with frogs going about their business having paid no attention to our ministrations whatsoever).
Crew Pheonix, Karen from the Buteman and C4 film maker then turned up all at the same time, creating a mini whirlwind of activity after an on-the-spot adjustment to our risk assessment determined a change of work area was needed. The team quickly sorted out access to the lower part of the pond and we all got stuck in – well those of us not learning how to start fires for sausage cooking anyway!
It was good to see Director Jim Mitchell finally getting his hands dirty too! (I’ll get a ‘oi’ from Jim for that comment no doubt.) Actually, he doesn’t know about it yet, but when he pulled out the final nail to ‘complete’ the compost toilet for the cameras, remarking ‘I’m getting all the credit for no work’, he was actually pulling out a rather vital part of the building – but I won’t tell anyone if you don’t.
Stephen from Crew Pheonix centre later gave me some great words of wisdom – when we work together, we’re a team, and being in a team makes him happy. I couldn’t agree more. Thanks everyone. The final photo doesn’t do justice to the difference we really made up there that day, but I can assure everyone that the treat of Hanne’s home-baked macaroons was very well deserved.
This Weekend- Mountain Bike Trail
This weekend we are hoping to complete the first part of our mountain bike trail. This runs from the end of the access track at the top of Sight Hill down primarily through spruce trees and joining back at the access track. There are some great views about half-way along.
We hope to open the trail in April, just as the better weather starts and of course ensuring the trail is completed before birds start nesting in the area. To do so, we reckon if we all get together over this weekend we can get it finished – hurrah!
When: 10th & 11th March, 10am – 4pm
Where: At the bottom of the access track next to Rhubodach Cottage – if you can give anyone a lift please let me know as several people don’t have transport
The track involves fairly light intervention, with the removal of only a few small self-seeded trees, the removal of the lower branches from a number of spruce trees and the building of 3.5 (we finished one and got half-way with another with the Boys Brigade a couple of weeks ago) small bridges across burns. We will end up with a blue grade track with the option of a red or black route for part of the way. Mountain bike trails have been identified as key to increasing tourism on the island.
For most of us non-chainsaw users that means building the bridges, clearing aside the branches and levelling out the track in some places. Please bring gloves, sturdy (preferably steel toe-capped) boots, old warm clothes and lunch. The weather forecast looks sunny and dry for Saturday, with a wee bit of fog for Sunday – so definitely no excuses for the Saturday.
Please let me know if you are able to attend.
Final forest master plan to be published
The final master plan for Bute Forest is to be published by the end of March. The master plan has been adjusted to take into account feedback from the extensive consultations carried out by Bute Community Land Company (BCLC) and then Bute Forest Limited (BFL) since the forest was purchased in a community buy-out in 2010. Extensive negotiation and consideration has gone into the plan over many months to ensure it captures fully the community’s views and provides a balanced way forward for the project.
BCLC purchased 161 ha of forest on the northern part on Bute and have access rights to an additional 550ha of adjacent land. The area of ownership includes 79.3ha of woodland called the Oak or Balnakailly Wood which is mostly designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and 81.5ha of commercial plantation (called Rhubodach Wood) which consists of 33% conifer trees, 52% broadleaf trees and 15% unplanted. The master plan brings together the aspirations expressed by the community into a coherent long-term strategy and framework for the forest development, taking into consideration local planning designations and restrictions. It suggests designs for buildings although these are not conclusive. The detailed design of buildings, business planning and investigation into functionality will fall into the next stage of planning.
The plans for the Oak Wood include a shelter on the patch of land past the fence and before the bridge into the forest, new signposting to areas of interest, a small picnic area and interpretation board next to Balnakailly Farm, a wilderness campsite and kayak jetty in Wreck Bay and a building atop the WW2 bunker which will provide shelter and bird viewing facilities. The plans for the Rhubodach Wood include a multi-functional Forest hub which can be used as café, meeting place or training centre, a lodge for overnight groups of visitors, a set of eco-lodges for small groups or families, an adventurous play area including bouldering wall, mountain bike trails, viewpoints and picnic sites, a small timber processing area, an accessible woodland walkway, parking, outdoor performance area, sculpture trail, trim track (outdoor gym equipment alongside a pathway), tree house, children’s pixie dell and information boards at sites of interest.
The plans may take many months to come to fruition fully but producing the final master plan will ensure the project can now move forward to the next stage of development. There are several themes underpinning the approach which will be taken with the forest development; the protection and enhancement of the environment, opportunities for education and training, the use of local suppliers wherever possible, financial sustainability and employment opportunities. BFL want the Forest to be an exciting destination for local people and to attract additional visitors to the island.
The Forest Support Group has already endorsed the final master plan issuing a statement saying “We believe this exciting final version of the master plan will successfully balance the various opinions expressed by BCLC Members, the local community and other stakeholders. The Bute Forest Limited Directors and Forest Manager have worked hard to consult with local residents and the views expressed have been important in shaping the project, as seen with the downsizing of the shelter near the Balnakailly Farm settlement. We are reassured that the community’s views are and will continue to be taken seriously.”
BCLC Members will be asked to submit any final and reasonable justifications for rejecting the plan within two weeks of the plan being published. Assuming no major points are raised by members, the plan will be adopted by BCLC and BFL.
Forest Manager Emma Cooper said “Many months of work have gone into the master plan and whilst we cannot please everyone, we hope that we will have pleased the often silent majority of people. The time for consultation has come to an end and we have to now move forward with the plans. The master plan confirms the facilities and placement of these facilities. It does not confirm building design or functionality; this is a matter for the design stage. We are asking if Members have any justified reasons to reject this plan or can see any significant barriers to the achievement of the projects aim – to provide an excellent, exciting and responsible community asset which will attract local and international visitors to our beautiful island”
Neil Sutherland of Neil Sutherland Architects, responsible for putting the plan together, said “this is an exciting project to deliver facilities and opportunities which marries together a number of important elements including community ownership, the responsible use of natural resources and timber design and construction. The completion of the Masterplan marks an important milestone in the evolution of the project. We believe that it provides a firm foundation for interaction within this community forest asset for the future”.
People on the electoral register on Bute can become members of BCLC. People under 18 can become junior members. People with an interest in the project who do not live on Bute can become associate members. A membership form and information can be downloaded from http://www.bclc.co.uk.
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Master Plan Feedback
The feedback from the final master plan consultation indicated some minor changes were required:
- We should include mountain bike trails in Rhubodach and paths in both areas
- The shelter at the Balnakailly Farm settlement should be downsized and some kind of interpretation would be popular
- Development in the SSSI area should be minimal
- The shelter planned in the Balnakailly area should be raised off the ground and on the southern side of the bridge before you cross into the woodland to minimise impact
- Building design needs further work
- There is concern with the functionality of the forest hub (investigation into this falls in the next stage of planning anyway)
- The playground should be built to accommodate people with disabilities
- The bunkhouse should be called a ‘Lodge’ instead
In addition to the current proposed development in the forest, the master plan should include:
- A bird hide at the WW2 bunker
- Children’s Pixie Dell
- A woodland walk suitable for people with disabilities
- Sculptures alongside one or more walks
- Tree house
- Information boards
- Trim track (outdoor gym facilities placed alongside a suitable track)
- Viewpoints
BFL to take on new employees
Bute Forest Ltd is seeking a Forester and a Forestry Assistant for the Bute Forest timber business.
The Forester and Assistant will be taking a continuous cover approach to managing the trees in the commercial part of Bute Forest, Rhubodach. They will start by thinning out the trees, allowing the remaining trees more light and space which will encourage them to grow quicker. Over 20 – 25 years the current spruce will all be removed for milling and sale. By the end of the gradual harvesting process the seed bank will be receiving enough light to spring into life itself and it is hoped that a variety of trees will take the place of the current crop.
The Forester and Forestry Assistant will be employed to implement this process, using the timber produced to build and sell items locally including fences and sheds and progressing eventually to more complex wood building projects. The business principle has been established over the last 2 months with volunteers taking orders of over £8000. A more detailed cash flow forecast and budget for BFL is available here: Cashflow & Budget: April 2012
The Forester position is part of the TalentScotland Graduate Placement Programme and part funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and European Regional Development Fund who stipulate candidates must have graduated within the last 2 years. The additional funds for the Forester and the Forestry Assistants posts will be generated through the sale of timber products. The posts are fixed term for 1 year with a high likelihood of extension depending on the success of the business.
Hydro scheme
After extensive consideration, Bute Forest Ltd (BFL) has decided not to locate a hydro scheme in the Balnakailly Burn. Feedback from Scottish Natural Heritage and the local community raised concerns about the impact of the hydro scheme on the integrity of the woodland and the loss of habitat resulting from the proposed 2 x 3m turbine house and pipeline.
SNH did not rule out a proposed scheme but told Bute Forest Ltd that they thought that “this proposal [would be] very hard to accommodate without unacceptable impact and loss of habitat”. They raised concern that “Even with mitigation, we consider that this proposal will raise natural heritage issues of national interest.” Local experts have also raised concerns in particular about the impact on the rare bryophytes and birds which thrive on the unique conditions present in the Oak woodland to the North of the community-owned forest.
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) was also consulted as part of the hydro scheme feasibility study and responded more positively saying that the proposal “appear(s) to pass the SEPA sub 100kW guidance in regards to steepness of the depleted stretch, maximum abstraction volume and the mitigation proposed”. SEPA manage the licensing process for the hydro scheme under the Controlled Activity Regulations and take into account concerns raised by SNH and other stakeholders as part of their decision making processes.
Emma Cooper, Forest Manager, said “Whilst BFL is in favour of renewable energy this has to be managed in the right way. The feedback from SNH raised sufficient concern about the possibility of an adverse impact on this rare and special woodland site that the Directors of BFL have made the difficult decision not to pursue a hydro scheme in this particular area any further. We will continue to research other sites within the commercial forest”
Vacancies
Bute Forest Ltd is looking for a Forester and a Forestry Assistant for Bute Community Forest on the Isle of Bute, Argyll and Bute. The roles include felling trees, milling timber, constructing items for sale including sheds and fences and progressing to buildings, conservation and construction of forest facilities including paths, viewpoints and play facilities.
This is an exciting project developing one of the largest community-owned forests for the enjoyment of local and international visitors. There is extensive scope for role development and progression.
Both posts are fixed term contracts for 1 year initially with the expectation that these posts will be made permanent.
The Forester role only is part of the TalentScotland Graduate Placement Programme and part funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and European Regional Development Fund who stipulate candidates must have graduated within the last 2 years.
No qualifications are required for the Forestry Assistant role.
Closing date: 16th March.
Responses to Questions & Comments Received
Questions received through surveys Jan 2012
HYDRO
Is the hydro going to service the forest buildings or not? From the report it is not clear if it will produce enough energy to do that and have excess to go to the grid.
That is the intention. The amount left over will depend on how much electricity the forest buildings will use, which depends on what’s built, and the time of year (because when the flow is lower the hydro will take less out of the burn and the output will be lower). As we don’t yet know what will be built it is difficult to answer this question.
It’s not a good idea to seek volunteers, including children, to build a hydro scheme. Has this been risk assessed? I don’t understand why this needs to happen – please explain. Is it to try and keep the costs down because we can’t find funders?
The building of the hydro scheme has not yet been risk assessed, but would be before it takes place. The reason for involving volunteers is two-fold. It could act as an educational and training project if managed in the right way. It could help us to reduce costs, which reduces the payback time for the project. Any loan funder will need to know we will be able to repay them within a given time frame.
Who will lead the volunteers? Have SNH & SEPA been fully consulted on a plan to use volunteers – please publish their feedback.
We have not yet reached this stage of discussion; we need to decide if the hydro scheme is environmentally and financially feasible before moving onto these discussions. However, there is mention of the use of volunteers in the report which SNH and SEPA are aware of. When we receive formal feedback from SNH and SEPA we will publish it.
How many volunteers and what type of skill level will be required?
We are not yet at the stage of determining this. It may be only that we look for qualified people who are willing to help us with managing the construction of the scheme, but pay local companies or self-employed individuals to carry out the work. Or it may be that we ask the community for help in digging trenches, for example. Alternatively, we may work with a local college or University which has a group of students willing to help us with the project. We need to ensure safety is of primary concern and that we also have the right mixture of skills to effectively complete the build.
Anyone considered the effects of added light pollution?
As far as I am aware, no we haven’t. I will pass this on to the consultants for consideration and post a response here when I have one.
What does the design look like? What mitigating measures will be put in place?
The design and mitigating measures depend on the feedback from SNH and SEPA and we do not yet have this. When we do, I will update the website.
What are the figures?
The figures are contained within the report. I have no additional information but if you email me a specific question, I will forward it to the consultants and they will respond.
Have local experts been involved, such as the Bute Natural History Society?
The project has been discussed with various local experts and they have given feedback which is being taken into account.
The [archaeological] sites may be old, but are they significant?
This depends on your definition of significant. We are keen to protect them regardless of their significance because we consider them to be an asset.
MASTER PLAN
I’m not sure it’s a good idea to build in the SSSI. I can appreciate the desire to try and do something at the WWII bunker to exploit the view but shelters elsewhere in the SSSI may not be well received by SNH or the Forestry Commission. Has anyone consulted these organisations?
We are starting the process of doing this at the moment and preliminary feedback is positive. There is a long way to go in terms of gaining permissions from various organisations, but we don’t want to progress this too far until the BCLC members have agreed we should proceed.
All need detailed evaluation of how the designs fit in with patterns of use, for example, will they be suitable for winter use?
This is underway at the moment.
Is there a forest management plan in place yet?
The plan has been delayed somewhat because of personnel changes at BCLC and because of the time it can take government organisations to respond to our requests. However, we recently sent out the scoping document for the forest management plan to key stakeholders. This simply asks organisations such as Scottish Natural Heritage for their input into the plan and they have to respond within 28 days. Once we have this input we can develop the plan and hopefully publish a draft within the next few months.
What will be included to ensure ongoing monitoring of the archaeology and environment, will monies and roles be there for support of this?
We hope to not only protect the archaeology and environment but to enhance them. However, we are still at an early stage of discussing our plans with the relevant agencies and local experts. When we know more we will let you know.
Where and when will funding be available?
We are expecting to generate some income for ourselves, through the sale of wood-based products. We hope to appoint a Forester and an assistant in April who will be responsible for managing this aspect of the forest in a way which interferes as little as possible with people’s enjoyment of the forest. They will also be responsible for small projects such as building picnic benches and viewpoints.
We are also exploring grant funding and loan funding options and working out the most effective ways to invest the Johnny Bute fund. I will let you know more as our plans progress. The Scottish Rural Development Programme funding has ended for now and we are waiting to hear if there will be additional monies made available through this fund. The Big Lottery Fund also has pots of funding available, but as with most grant funds it is highly competitive. They also need our plans to have progressed further than they have at present before they can consider an application.
In my view it is a bad idea to rely on volunteers for some of the activities mentioned above. Are you really expecting volunteers to help build mountain bike trails and eco-lodges? Have you considered the health and safety risks of this? When the Scottish Government aapproved the right to buy it was on the basis of creating jobs and proper traing places primarily, not appealing for volunteers. Has this focus changed? Significant voluntary input into building structures needs to be properly ‘risk assessed’. Has this been done? This all seems slightly ridiculous when the company has access to significant funds with the Johnny Bute money.
The Johnny Bute fund was for £100,000. This fund has been earmarked for projects which will create a return on the investment – for example the saw mill has been funded in this way because we anticipate making a profit. The forest will need ongoing funding for maintenance so it is important we ensure this will be available. The fund is likely to also be used for match funding, if and when we apply for grant funding for the projects. Essentially, we need to be careful about how this fund is spent otherwise it won’t go far.
The input of volunteers would need to be carefully managed and risk assessed. We are developing our procedures over time and risk assessing according to the activities taking place. we are following HSE guidance on how best to manage this process. We already have a pool of people who have volunteered – watch out for my blog on the compost toilet build last weekend – so it does seem that people are willing.
We are currently planning to appoint a Forester and as assistant. As and the project develops we are likely to need further employees, but we can not do this until there is a sustainable way of funding their posts. We need volunteers at the moment to move the project forward with the intention of creating permanent posts and not temporary ones.
Minute are not kept up to date on the website and there are no minutes for Bute Forest meetings. And there is no information on the financial position of either company. Is it a big secret?
No, not at all. The minutes of one BCLC meeting are approved at the next, and there has only been one meeting since the last minutes were published. I will discuss with the Directors the possibility of publishing the Bute Forest Ltd minutes on our website at the next board meeting. The minutes would usually contain financial information and our accounts are being audited at present. Once they have been completed they will be presented at the AGM and be available for download from the website.
Is this really what the whole community wants ?
The community is made up of 7000 people and so reaching a consensus would be very hard. The best we can do is try to take into consideration people’s feelings and thoughts and achieve a balanced approach. It will be for the BCLC members to decide to accept the plans. Anyone resident on the island can become a BCLC member.
Do we need a kayak jetty?
Our feedback indicates that some people would enjoy the use of a kayak jetty and it may attract additional visitors to the island.
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